Facebook advertising a serious contender?? you betcha!

With its demographic targeting superior to virtually any other website, plus immense numbers of daily and repeat visitors, Facebook is becoming a serious contender for sponsored advertising.   Already making significant inroads and increasing in numbers every day, it could even trouble the guys at Google AdWords for the coveted B2C marketplace!

When you think about it, visitor statistics and browsing patterns can be a rather grey area. Google addresses this in many ways via its excellent Analytics service, but there’s no denying that these stats are essentially the result of historic and ‘anonymous’ computer usage, albeit based on IP addresses and well-tracked click activity. 

Facebook would argue that it too knows exactly what people are clicking on and when, but crucially it also knows who. Not only who, but many personal attributes of that surfer such as their age, address, preferences – even hobbies and of course friends! These can prove pretty powerful nuggets of information for the marketer who wants to target a particular sector and avoid ‘wasted’ exposure. Look at this real-life example of a successful Facebook campaign for a Wedding Photographer, attracted by just such targeting parameters.

See what I mean? Powerful stuff.  Of course, through Google you can choose your geographic area and in an ideal world, people who are not 'obviously' interested in your ads won’t click on them anyway. But that is a different scenario, because Facebook’s offering is all about who is seeing the ads in the first place, not wasting impressions - and knowing you will hit your audience. There are also some demographic targeting options within the AdWords system, but it’s fair to say that these are not only far less accurate, they are real ‘under the bonnet’ work on a campaign set-up missed by many, as apposed to a standard feature. The launch of iGoogle does offer some voluntary information that can be used in targeting, but I just don't think it's got the numbers Facebook, let alone the fan devotion!

Traffic versus Visitors – the ultimate ‘Time Sink’

It’s also fair to say that Google is the ultimate ‘springboard’ website, quickly encouraging you to ping-away from their super-fast search results and onto your target destination. That means although visitor numbers to Google may be huge, but they are often gone in an instant.

But recent numbers released by research company Nielsen confirm Facebook is the web’s number-one ‘time sink’. Perhaps more interesting, is just how much more time we spend on the world’s largest social network today than we did six months ago!   Back in June 2009, Nielsen estimated that the average user spent four hours and 39 minutes on Facebook per month. That’s about 9.3 minutes per day in a 30-day month. In August, that number rose to five hours and 46 minutes, or 11.5 minutes per day.

In January 2010, though, the amount of time the average person spent on Facebook jumped to more than seven hours. Each Facebook user spent an average of 421 minutes on Facebook per month, which amounts to more than 14 minutes per day.

Even if you lump together the time spent on Google (1:23hrs), Yahoo (2:09hrs), YouTube (1:02 hrs), Microsoft/Bing (1:35 hrs) Wikipedia (0:15 hrs) and Amazon (0:22 hrs) it still doesn’t beat Facebook!

What This Means

There is a one big ‘but’ in Google’s favour. Google’s jewel in the crown is that it still retains over 90% of the Internet users search traffic, and would naturally argue that its monster market-share captures more direct surfer enquiries than any other website - and by a massive and seemingly unbeatable margin.  And as I write this in May 2010, Facebook enjoys nothing like the search-based advertising revenue from Google.

However, cross selling, incidental exposure, targeted advertising – all these things combine to produce massive numbers of online sales and this is where Facebook could win. Just think how appealing it is when buying on Amazon, and it says ‘you may like this’ and you think ‘yeah, I do like that actually!’ and go on to buy it.  We’ve all done it!  Could this familiarity and increasingly personal-based advertising prove to be Facebook’s ace in the hole?  One thing is for sure, it certainly cannot be dismissed as just a platform for virtual friendships.

Facebook and the Future – Open Graph

We hear a lot about Google’s domination, but take a quick gasp at some Facebook numbers. There are now more than 400 million people on Facebook, four times as many as there were a year or so ago. And it took just a year for Facebook Connect to have 100 million users on both mobile devices and Websites. And now it seems the trend will only increase...

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage at the company's F8 developer conference in April 2010 to unveil what he said is "the most transformative thing we've ever done for the Web." It's called the Open Graph.

Open Graph intends to pioneer ‘social plug-ins’, linking feeds, news, content and user experiences from major sites and resources all over the world.  Facebook plans to connect disparate corners of the Web that other social sites are building. "Yelp is mapping out the part of the graph that relates to small businesses. Pandora is mapping out the part of the graph that relates to music," Zuckerberg said. "If we can take these separate maps of the graph and pull them all together, then we can create a Web that's smarter, more social, more personalised, and more semantically aware."

"These connections aren't just happening on Facebook, they're happening all over the Web, and today with the Open Graph we're bringing all these things together," Zuckerberg said.

"We're going to make it possible to make those connections," Zuckerberg said. For example, a "news feed" item about a Yelp review of a restaurant could bring up more information about the restaurant and which of a user's Facebook friends have been there.  “We're going to connect all of those different graphs together to form the Open Graph, and when we connect all of those graphs together, the Web is going to get a whole lot better!"

So one thing is clear, Facebook intends to build on its ‘powerhouse’ status.   My advice is basically ‘be there, or be square’. It seems that if you’re not part of the revolution, you could quickly fall into obscurity…

Why not talk to us about your presence on the Internet, and about using social advertising and media to your immediate advantage!? - you'll be glad you did...

Are we not in the middle of a significant global financial crisis?

Was this recession not largely facilitated by greedy banks and their haphazard lending policies? And certainly here in the UK, don't you and I as good ole' Tax payers now 'own' a significant chuck of these fast-toppling institutions?

Any Government with balls should then surely say - 'Bank Holiday? Get stuffed - you've got work to do!!'  

Let the rest of us enjoy a Bank Holiday, yeah sure.  We could even spend some of them outside the Bank's head offices, poking fun through the windows and checking on their work-rate.  But the Bank itself? forget it man! They have catastrophically changed the face of our finances forever. The Government bangs on about ensuring there will be 'fundamental changes' to the way they are run and how they operate in general.  There's lots to do to make up for the lack on confidence and general hideous debt accumulated as a result of their incompetence. 

So all this work is to be done, just not on Bank Holidays? Gimme a break. 

Frankly, they don't deserve holidays; they should be wholly embarrassed just by the idea of ponsing off work for another week of the year because of some old fashioned notion from yester-year.

It's tough out there - and Banks need as much time as possible to make amends.  Why burden them by restricting their time to do it in..!?  

New slogan ideas: HSBC - The World's Local Bankrupt.  May catch on...

Valentines weekend off with a bang!

Buzzing off early on Friday, and thanks to the Xmas pressie from the Dynamics team, I started this weekend by seeing 2008 breakthrough act The Script (one of my favourite new bands) at Camden's Round House.  Stayed in Regents Park (not literally obviously) and took a client-recommendation to eat at the weirdly fantastic Gilgamesh by the Stables Market in Camden, before the gig. Food (sushi, crispy duck, dim-sum, rump steaks and a mad dessert) was great, and the place generally first rate so cheers to Kate at the Embassy in Mayfair for that!

Gig - venue was cool enough, quite intimate as only takes couple of thousands or so. Watched another very good band called Gary Go first, another breakthrough act and very much like the Script actually; could have been them!  We missed Will & The People (currently supporting the Hoosiers) who went on early, but I did spend the rest of the gig chatting with their vocalist Will Rendle and his brothers, whilst watching the other acts.

Glad to report that main act The Script did not disappoint, and took the whole night up a level. Only played for an an hour, but then they've only got about twelve songs down I guess! All in all, great night and a banging start to Valentine's weekend in London... thanks again guys!

Video works wonders! Stand out from your competition...

Video is a magnetic and compelling media - and has universal audience appeal.  Who wouldn't rather watch a broadcast rather than just listen, or have it laid out in paper and slides?

And as far as Corporate Video effectiveness goes, message or content-retention from video is near 80%, compared to around 20-30% from static or slide-based media.   We're all used to TV - and we remember far more of what we see on video, so corporate video is a superbly effective media for companies to take advantage of.

And once you have added a video production in your armoury, you can use it on DVD, Website, at events, on TV, emails and much more - increasing your exposure and certainly your company's profile.

Dynamics Media offer professional production services to make that happen quickly, and cost-effectively. See our show-reel by clicking below.. 

By chance or opportunity, Dynamics Media happens to be located smack between Milton Keynes and Northampton.  

This presents challenges in underlining our presence and authority, as we have to ensure we're represented in both of these large business-areas.  In our SEO for example, do we lead with web design milton keynes, or web design northampton? Most companies go with a main category, then their home town, which we can't really do ('web design on the A5 between MK and Towcester?' - doesn't really work as a key-phrase!).

Fortunately, 90% of our work is referral - and having successfully completed well-over 100 commercial websites and online projects, we seem to have made the impression we wanted. Our work can also be seen in England, Portugal, New York & France as well, so conquering our local area was never going to be a enormous challenge!  But what makes us number one?

The web is a great leveller of things, and that cuts both ways.  As much as competent and large companies succeed in making themselves look like one-man-bands, home-based design businesses can look like large agencies when representing themselves on the Web.  And of course, technically they should have the advantage of indulgence!  But when you look under the surface, the processes (we remain the only fully accredited ISO9001 design agency), the people, the premises, the back-catalogue, the heritage, the skill-sets, the testimonials, the client-bank - you can quickly separate the real-deal from the up and comings! 

But I'm convinced what makes us so successful, is our approach.  We are a full service marketing agency, which delivers via graphic design, web design, advertising, print design, video, tabloid - whatever it takes.  That means a web project is approached from a strategic marketing success view-point, not a 'lets make this look whizz bang' view-point.  We make things WORK: as in make money, or attract calls, or encourage positive action other than 'ooh, that looks cool'.  

When our clients give us fees, we assume they want them back - and more - in the form of increased clients, or market share or responses etc.. but in some measurable increase in success. That's what we commit to, that's what we do.  We're in it together, and we have the proven general, industry and professional knowledge to deliver. And that's what makes us number one!

There's nothing more intoxicating than curiosity.

And whenever you see a still of a video on an interesting web page, the little >Play button just HAS to be pressed, no? There's a voyeur in us all, and that's part of what makes Video such a magnetic media choice.  It's also easily syndicated as people share it with others, and with Google owning YouTube, it can be immensely powerful as an SEO tool. Whenever video runs on a web page, almost 80% of people stop to watch it - that's a huge percentage!

It's not as expensive or difficult as you may think, and Dynamics Media offer full design, along with pre & post-production and editing, right from a small feature to a full advert, viral-campaign or full-on TV style production.

See our showreel here: http://www.dynamicsmedia.co.uk/video/index.htm

This was sent to me by a friend, and it's a great demonstration of how often people see only their perspective, and then put the creative shutters down. Great Marketing and Design-creativity is all about getting past the first 'right' answer to an issue. I mean, if it's the first thing you thought of, chances are it's the first thing almost everyone would think of - right?  Read on... 

The Mechanic & The Cardiologist 

A mechanic was removing a cylinder-head from the motor of a Harley Davidson motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to take a look at his bike, when the mechanic shouted across the garage to him..

"Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?"

The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage and then put them back in - and when I finish it works just like new. So how come I make under £40k a year and you get the really big bucks, when you and I do basically the same work?"

The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, then whispered to the mechanic...

"Try doing it with the engine running."

Friday night (20 June) - as if moving offices wasn't enough excitement in one day - I went to see Santana on his Live Your Light tour. Those of you that know us will know we're into our music, and the tickets were bought as a birthday present for me by my colleagues.

What can I say about the gig though - completely mesmerising! Absolutely fantastic in every way. Thirteen of the world's best musicians on one stage, creating a real carnival atmosphere within minutes that lasted over two hours. We were totally immersed and in awe of the performance, I highly recommend seeing him if you have the chance.

It's incredible to experience yet at the same time of course, makes you want to give up any instrument you play! It was the most perfectly executed musical display I've experienced, in over 20 years of attending shows. Hugely entertaining and fun, and a masterclass in how to do it right.  Santana was supported by the UK's own Beverley Knight, who was also awesome. Shame she did only five numbers, as I could have listened to that soulful funky-vibe all night too!

A great night out and a real treat at the end of a tough day moving offices. Thank you again guys!

       
          On our way..

       the man himself...

The Algarve - my second home!?

Portugal has to be one of my favourite places.  I visit there about six times a year, yet still seem to crave going back shortly after getting home - must be the food! The food is great, it's almost criminal. It's fairly simple on the whole, just beautifully grilled fresh fish and meat dishes. I have managed to add about 4lb in over a two-week holiday, so it's always back down the gym or out on the bike when I get back. 

After half a dozen holidays, I bought a place out there - and this just makes it harder still not to keep going back! There's 330 odd days a year of sunshine, super-friendly people - and did I mention the food?  The sun is probably a curse if you work there of course, but for chillin' out and enjoying, it's the business. The Algarve is obviously the main place, but also check Sagres, the whole awesome Lisbon and Silver coast further North, and the spectacular wine regions like Alentejo & mountains ranges like Monchique, which are all the way in-between! Maybe you'll fall for it too...

Did I mention the food?

P.S.
I suppose, now England has embarrassed the whole nation and failed to qualify for Euro 2008, I'll be supporting Portugal! hmmm...