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I first want to say thank you to Moosylvania for the chance to attend a great conference this year, Future Insights Live, an event covering all areas of digital from the business and planning side, to design and development. During many of the sessions a few key topics kept reappearing that I feel every digital agency must take to heart.

1. Mobile is here now and only growing so you must be ready for it. During a talk by Brad Frost (@brad_frost) some key stats were shared talking about the mobile user experience.

• Currently, there are 6 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide and 2.4 billion are currently accessing the internet. This user space is growing faster than any market and users are expecting more every day.
• On average, 71% of users expect the mobile version of a site to load faster than on desktop, even though the connection speed is slower on a phone. 74% of users will abandon efforts if the initial load time is greater than 5 seconds. This is a very important stat to consider. We really need to take our mobile experiences and consider what the user truly wants and that we need to get it to them in very convenient and fast manner. This leads to the second key takeaway -

2. Use Responsive Web Design when possible. Responsive Web Design (RWD) is a methodology of setting up your site in such a format that no matter what the screen size is, your site will adapt to the user’s screen. One thing, though, that digital agencies and clients must consider is that responsive normally does take longer to do it right and is more expensive. But, it is very flexible and will allow you to provide your content to the user in a manner that is appealing to them, along with providing great functionality.

In a talk by Erik Loehfelm (@eloehfelm) he shared a graphic that talked about the pluses and minuses to going with various design methodologies. Below is the diagram that was shared:

Future Insights Live has been a great conference and I recommend you checkout their hashtag on twitter to see what people have been saying from the conference – #filive.

As an account manager at a digital advertising agency, I’ve had to overcome many daily obstacles—from strict deadlines, to creative vision disagreements, to developers talking in what seems like a foreign language.

So as I prepare for my first Warrior Dash—a 5k obstacle course that will challenge my endurance and agility (maybe to its limits)—here are the three advertising lessons I’ll be taking with me:

1. Stay calm

No matter how bad the problem or tough the obstacle, always stay calm. A true leader will stay strong even in the most stressful of situations and your team will learn to look to you for guidance.

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The trip to Social Media Marketing World in San Diego still has me buzzing with energy and excitement. As with any conference, there was a dizzying amount of information and insight. The best way I find to keep up with it all is to live tweet during the event, and then review my tweets for the top nuggets of information gleaned from the event – as judged by my peers’ RTs. I call these “twuggets”, of course. Here are my favorites ones from the conference (tweet them if you agree!):

1. #Social trigger #1: CONTRAST: What stands out is remembered, what blends in is ignored. #smmw13 @derekhalpernTweet
2. REDIRECT Don’t attack your customers by telling them they are frustrated, tell a story about someone else that is frustrated. #smmw13Tweet
3. #social trigger #4: SIGNALING: people share things to show people who they are #smmw13 @derekhalpernTweet
4. You have to connect #socialmedia to real revenue or you will lose funding. #smmw13 @nichole_kellyTweet
5. Make it STUPID EASY FOR PEOPLE TO CONVERT!! #smmw13 @nichole_kelly <–so true and yet so overlooked a lotTweet
6. Make sure you are adding custom URL parameters to any links shared in #social to tie back to Google Analytics Goals #smmw13 @nichole_kellyTweet
7. problem w/google analytics is it is based on last touch attribution. #SM usually affects the user higher in the sales funnel. #smmw13 @nichole_kellyTweet
8. #Social ROI convos should begin with showing your boss how #sm fits into the sales funnel. #smmw13 @nichole_kellyTweet
9. “Be a value creator, create connection currency, change your life” #smmw13 sage advice from @larrybenet!Tweet
10. smartphones: psychological shield giving introverts ability to go out to be “social”- but focusing on #instagram filter selection. #smmw13Tweet
11. What is the utility is your app offering? It better be super valuable, or people will delete it. #smmw13Tweet
12. stop mythologizing hustle. Are we overvaluing workaholism? #smmw13 @jaybaerTweet
13. resist the urge to follow everyone. Follow those that add value. #smmw13Tweet
14. The secret to success: “Therapy, drugs and buddhism” - @chrisbrogan #smmw13Tweet
15. once again at #smmw13 - #email mentioned mentioned as a core need, with impressive ROI. via @chrisbrogan <–agree!Tweet
16. Twitter tip: provide real-time, exclusive access to content your audience cares about and normally could not get. #smmw13 @iizlizTweet
17. 50% of Twitter users expect a response within 2 hours. 70% expect a response on FB within 48 hrs. #smmw13 @pisaroseTweet
18. People are 3x more likely to recommend a brand if they receive a response in #social. #smmw13 @pisaroseTweet
19. Community Mgr tips: be helpful, humble, fun, positive, creative. #smmw13Tweet
20. Twitter best practices via @bepkoboy from @wholefoods #smmw13 pic.twitter.com/4kwQSoqKuHTweet
21. the biggest ROI in #socialmedia is humanizing your brand. @ekaterina #smmw13Tweet
22. .@Sharpie #SM Strategy: inspire creative use, shine SM spotlight on our fans and the amazing things they are doing with our product #smmw13Tweet
23. How @sharpie made such amazing #SM traction: test and learn environment – push the envelope, test the waters. #smmw13Tweet
24. quick social test – when’s the last time you highlighted a fan? Take a note from @sharpie and make it your focus #smmw13Tweet
25. if you are a service-oriented company, you have no other choice than to be in social media. #smmw13 @fsaustinTweet
26. Visual content is currency today in the social space. Split btw UGC and brand-created content. #smmw13 @sharpieTweet
27. Keys for #HR: Social media policy, allowing social network access within company walls! #smmw13Tweet
28. .@Sharpie is producing all content they are posting on instagram #smmw13Tweet
29. Avg #socialmedia purchase $85, avg Pinterest user purchase $180 – @callanpaola #smmw13Tweet
30. Good #Pinterest strategy starts w/user research: what is being pinned about your brand or industry (type, look, boards) #smmw13 @callanpaolaTweet
31. Another #email plug from #smmw13 – key for building your #pinterest following as @sonyelectronics did!Tweet
32. It’s about the experiences surrounding your product – not the product itself. Share those photos on #instagram #smmw13 @sandiegozooTweet
33. Use #instagram to pull back the curtains, show the images behind your brand. #smmw13 @sandiegozooTweet
34. Nice #instagram tactic – asking people to caption your photos #smmw13 @sandiegozooTweet
35. Another tactic heard a few times at #smmw13: use internal company launches to get employees knowing and sharing your #SM campaignsTweet
36. Stop thinking as the biz owner/marketer. THINK AS THE USER to really succeed in Pinterest (and #SM)! #smmw13 @melanieduncan7Tweet
37. #Pinterest tutorial pins see 42% higher CTR. #smmw13 @melanieduncan7Tweet
38. 80% increase in engagement with adding a CTA “button” in your #Pinterest image. #smmw13 @melanieduncanTweet
39. Good #Pinterest strategy starts w/user research: what is being pinned about your brand or industry (type, look, boards) #smmw13 @callanpaolaTweet

Have any good twuggets from the conference? Share yours in the comments below!

When attending events such as Social Media Marketing World, providing relevant information live can have quite a few benefits for your brand. When done right, it can position your company as an industry thought leader and resource, provide your fans a reason to continue engaging with you in the future and allow your employees to get the important facts right alongside you.

Here are a few quick tips for leveraging social media to get the most out of niche events, conferences and conventions. (more…)

Our industry fuses artistry, strategy and vision with wildly different personalities and clientele. Life in an internet advertising agency forges all of these largely ethereal ingredients with exciting results. I love my job. However, it’s not for everyone and the industry is self-policing. People are regularly ejected from the biz, not because they aren’t talented but because their attitude sucks. So to anyone in school thinking about a career in design or marketing, please heed this advice. At the very least you won’t suck. You may even thrive.

ART DIRECTION: Stefan Sagmeister DESIGNER: Richard The, Joe Shouldice PHOTOGRAPHY: Jens Rehr

1. Have an insatiable desire to do next level work: Mediocre work in school garners you a C. If you’re good with that, you will graduate, but you will not have a long career. I’m sure you’ve heard that art school grades don’t mean anything, and they don’t, but your portfolio does. The reason many who graduate don’t land positions is that they were doing the minimum. They passed. They graduated. They “succeeded”. The minimum does not cut the muster after graduation. There’s nothing wrong with getting C’s. It’s the acceptance of that mediocrity that’s problematic. Anybody that is excelling in this field is driven and self motivated, and to a certain extend, dissatisfied with their work… (more…)

Here at the Embassy, there’s a group of us Game of Thronies who are highly anticipating Sunday’s season 3 premiere. The build up has reached its peak after last summer’s finale and the marketing behind this upcoming season has left us all feeling a bit more anxious and excited.

Even if you don’t know a Lannister from a Stark, you should still take note of this year’s Game of Thrones promotional marketing efforts. Check out these three key takeaways and consider how you can incorporate them in your next marketing strategy.

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Creating content to be shared and liked in any social media setting is no easy task. A 403×403 pixel canvas can be frightening at times, but do not fret, my friends. To help you engage as many fans as possible, in such a small area, here are four guidelines to go by that will ensure social media marketing success in any image post.

1. Less is More

Do not think for a minute that you need all the bells and whistles, plus the entire Macy’s Day parade to make a post impactful. Sometimes a stunning hero shot of your product can go a long way. Remember, it’s a brand sponsored page, and your fans actually like YOU! (That’s why they hit that Like or follow button after all.) So give them what they want.

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Facebook announced last Thursday that they will be rolling out updates to their interface over the coming weeks.

Here’s what’s changing:

Newsfeed updates:
—More prominent media display in newsfeeds (larger images, videos, link thumbnails, apps, etc.)
—New sub-feeds that users can toggle to via the left-hand menu bar:

All Friends: a feed that shows you everything your friends are sharing
Photos: a feed with nothing but photos from your friends and the Pages you like
Music: a feed with posts about the music you listen to
Following:  a feed with the latest news from the Pages you like and the people you follow.

We hear it time and time again. When it comes to social media marketing, creating compelling content is a big part of interacting with your community — and results in higher engagement rates. Well that all sounds great, but leaves us with a couple of questions, like “How does one create content that will stand out?” And, “How can I optimize my strategy to be more engaging, in terms of Likes, RTs and Vine Smileys?”

After listening, reading and playing in the social realm, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you improve your social media marketing strategy simply by being more compelling.

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Let’s start by thinking of the last “brainstorm” you were a part of. Did no one talk for the first five minutes? Did one person take the group insanely off course? Maybe you even (gasp) nodded off. Brainstorming is supposed to be one of the awesome and rewarding benefits of working at a creative advertising agency, but the traditional “lack of a road map” approach can leave great ideas in the dust. Keep reading for tricks to make your next brainstorm super fun AND functional.

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