You have to watch it on Youtube to even have a chance, and then only if you pause it *just* right. And where does it take you? A site that's only semi-mobile friendly!

It’s rare that I eat out, and one of those occasions recently found me at Buffalo Wild Wings.  If you’ve ever been there you know its loud and animated with 427 televisions all tuned to some sports program or one of those closed circuit trivia games. Try as you might you can’t help but glance up at the screens from time to time (I don’t know why I bothered trying, either).

The intense shredding of renowned surfer Dusty Payne caught my attention, so I paused from my water-no-ice-no-lemon and nachos to watch. It was obviously a commercial, but it was captivating just the same. Graphics were cut in between video of Dusty ripping the waves, appearing for microseconds – things like Volcom’s logo, website, Dusty’s name, board shorts, and a QR code. Wait, what? A QR code?

QR Code Fail

Okay, the ad is striking, I admit. It’s has some power. But placing a QR code in a 30-second ad and showing it for only microseconds…that’s a little perplexing. Sure, you might have your smartphone sitting on the arm of your lazy-boy recliner as you mindlessly consume electronic entertainment, but you certainly aren’t sitting at the ready waiting for a barcode to pop up, right? I mean, it takes half the commercial to load up your barcode scanner app! “Oh look a QR code – wait – hold on let me pull up the app…ok it’s loading…loading, wait wait! Crap!

If you’re thinking of doing something similar in your next television commercial, consider the user and how they might respond to seeing a 2D code. Recognize that while a lot of new technology is fast and convenient, it isn’t that fast and it isn’t always convenient.

Yes, new technology is sexy and you want to be one of the first to use it in exciting new ways. But exciting and new isn’t always effective. Users of mobile devices are generally on the go, a little too busy or engaged to be disrupted by ill-conceived and irrelevant marketing. Flashing a QR code at them on a TV screen is like putting up an electronic billboard in the middle of a desert.

QR Code Win

Tesco Home Plus of Korea understands mobile users. They realized, for this person, the weekly task of grocery-go-getting was time consuming and sometimes difficult to accomplish in a hurry. So they brought the grocery store to where their customers might have some downtime – the subway.

Tesco created a virtual grocery store on the subway walls, each item bearing a QR code allowing customers to shop while they waited. Tesco did their homework. First they studied their customers’ habits, then identified a problem the customer faced on a weekly basis, and finally devised and implemented a solution to their customers’ problem, ultimately increasing sales.

QR codes can be a great tool when used correctly. The next time you are at a creative meeting, don’t be afraid to suggest using them. Just be sure to use them in a way that engages people rather than just riding the novelty wave as Volcom did.

The Fail and Win of QR Codes is a post from: RSA Blog

Places

Did you know one in five Google searches is for local information? People of all ages now go online to look for details about local businesses and organizations. That’s why it’s so important for business owners to make sure they manage their web presence – one place to start is your Google Places listing. Are you listed? Have you “claimed” your listing? Updated it with correct phone numbers, addresses, websites, business hours, special deals and promotions, photographs and even videos?

Google creates basic Places pages for many businesses automatically, but the business owner has to “claim” and update it with complete information. Check if you already have a Places page by searching for your business name under Google maps, and clicking on your link when it shows up on the left. If there isn’t a listing for your business, you can create one. If one exists, you’ll have the option to claim it.

When claiming a business, you’ll need to choose a way to verify your listing. Google will either send you a postcard with a PIN number or call you with a PIN number; either way, you will need to type in your unique PIN to verify ownership and complete your Google Places listing.

Your Google Places page comes with a slew of benefits. Not only are the pages free, but they usually appear on the first page of local search results for your business. That’s because Google has given precedence to local searches, and this only helps your overall visibility.

Most importantly, your Google place page is interactive. Your URL, address and phone number are all right there, so a potential customer can go directly to your website, call your business, click on pictures of your business, see your location on a map, and get directions to travel there. All the information is in one place, which makes customers happy – and more likely to visit you.

Is Your Place on Google Places? is a post from: RSA Blog

Love your nuts

Have you ever been so excited about something that it didn’t matter who you were talking to you just had to share it with them? Maybe it’s your favorite team or band, or maybe even your favorite brand.

That happened to me recently. I picked up a book and it’s one of those that just sets your brains on fire and you find yourself nodding or commenting audibly as you read. I happened to be lounging by the pool while I was reading this book, and as I laughed out loud and frantically made notes in the margin a shadow was suddenly cast over my pages.

“What’s that you’re reading?” I looked up and the person asking was notably intoxicated, barely able to stand on his own. Now the average person might not have bothered to give a serious answer, but I, being not average, took off into an animated rant about how the contents of the book could change people’s lives. The inquiring drunk stumbled off mumbling to himself, “that lady is nuts,” while I sat there grinning, thrilled to have shared what I was reading.

And I keep sharing! Why? Because I believe it; it resonates with me. It’s something I can identify with, something I can get behind and be a part of.

Maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of a similar diatribe and thought the very thing my inebriated Sherlock Holmes did: “this person is a nut!” But imagine for a moment this “nut” was raving about you or your product. Would they have your full attention then?

These proverbial nuts are the kind of customers every business should strive to have! They are your biggest fans. These are the people who will champion your brand long after you are gone. So rather than stumble away from them shaking your head, instead shake their hands and get to know them. Discover what it is they love so much about your brand and what you can do to make them happier still. Start a conversation that will keep them talking and ranting to everyone they meet – sober or otherwise.

–

Photo courtesy of strangeones

Love Your Nuts is a post from: RSA Blog

When you’re searching the web for a product or service in your area, where do you go to find it?

Many people start with Craigslist, then check out the area listings on Ebay and as a last-ditch effort they might even browse the Facebook Marketplace. These services are all tried-and-true methods of person-to-person commerce because they are well established and used by thousands of people each day.

Now, lets take a look at Zaarly, a brand-spanking-new e-commerce site who’s motto is,“what you want, when you want it.”

I’m telling you, this could be the next big innovation in person-to-person selling, and with over $1 million in transactions in less than a month, I don’t need to explain why.

Zaarly is completely location based and has a super clean interface, unlike Craigslist, which is cluttered and unattractive. The social backbone of Zaarly lets you easily login with your Facebook or Twitter account and provides an internal means of communication between the buyer and seller.

Unlike other websites, Zaarly lets you do favors for people. This simply means that not all transactions that take place on Zaarly involve the exchange of money for goods or services.

Say someone needs a chainsaw but they don’t want to pay big bucks to buy or rent one. Well, just Zaarly it and see who will provide. You could say, “I’m looking for a chainsaw to use for three hours,” then add some details about the preferred chainsaw (engine size or blade length specifications), and post it.

The most frequently exchanged items on Zaarly are tech gadgets like iPods, but there are also some unusual requests, like a space suit or in-office concert.

What’s going on in South Dakota?

Zaarly action as been pretty limited in South Dakota, but that goes with the territory. It’s a common trend for new technology to start at the coasts and major U.S. cities before working its way into the Great Plains. Currently there and only a few dozen Zaarlyers, and most of those transactions are odd requests, like a Dairy Queen Blizzard delivery in Sioux Falls.

There’s no reason why South Dakotans need to be the last group of people to adopt a cool new idea. Make a listing on Zaarly today and see what can happen. Tell your friends about it and you might be surprised how quickly the idea can spread.

The goal of Zaarly is to make sharing your skills and resources easier; I don’t have time to wash my car, but maybe the guy just down the street would like to make an extra ten bucks. Take advantage of this new service and see what can happen!

What do you think of Zaarly? Will you, or have you tried it yet? Tell us in the comments section below.

Zaarly: Craigslist, only cooler is a post from: RSA Blog

Your marketing materials may target various demographics, but they should also present a consistent message about your brand; including the features, benefits and quality of your products. When potential customers encounter your business card, brochure, catalog, billboard, television ad, website or other marketing materials, it should be apparent they have a connection with the same brand.

Here are 5 ways to keep your brand consistent:

1. Use similar graphics on each piece

Keeping the imagery similar and repeating some elements across different materials and media creates a clear connection between them all, making sure those who encounter multiple pieces ‘get’ the repetition. Without doing this, your pieces may seem to be disconnected as if they each advertise a different brand.

2. Place key graphics in similar locations

If there is a focal image for the campaign, or even just your logo, keeping it placed in the same or similar place on each piece helps create that cohesive feel that speaks to people of a solid, consistent brand.

3. Use consistent fonts

Much like imagery, typeface inconsistency can be detrimental to your campaign. Many small businesses and new marketers and designers fall into the trap of trying to use too many typefaces in one piece or across a whole campaign. This ruins cohesion and can create a sense of chaos and instability; useful sometimes, perhaps, but most likely not in your case. Avoid this by choosing just 2-3 typefaces for the campaign.

4. Use the same color palette

There’s no good reason to use one shade of blue on one piece and another on a second piece. Yet there are many reasons to use the same shade on both: consistency, cohesiveness, and efficiency, to name a few. Help give your brand a solid position in the minds of consumers by keeping your colors consistent across media.

5. Coordinate paper for your print materials

The kind of paper you print on can be just as important as the imagery, type, and colors you choose. Make sure each paper you choose works together instead of creates a sense of inconsistency.

Bonus: Don’t forget web!

If you’re also developing a website for your company, it should have a clear marketing message that fits your product. It should offer support materials, contact availability and background that is suitable for the product or service you are selling. The visual appeal of the site should reflect that of your printed marketing materials. Using similar graphics and even repeating some of the same elements in consistent places will aid in unifying your marketing message.

5 Ways to keep your advertising consistent is a post from: RSA Blog

RSA’s print department is like a well-oiled machine, a machine that runs on variety and creativity. Our passion is providing clients with top-notch designs and superb customer service. We thrive on the day-to-day challenge of conjuring fresh ideas for effective graphic design. No two projects are ever the same – and we love that! Here are some of our latest endeavors:

• Dakotah Steakhouse menus, billboards, print ads and table toppers
• South Dakota Lottery game POS and banners
• Jolly Lane billboards and newsprint
• Sturgis Rally magazine ads
• Sioux Empire Fair event guide and newsprint
• Black Hills BBQ Festival billboards and posters
• American Sprayed Fibers Inc. logo
• Casa Real mailer, restaurant and bar menus
• Reptile Gardens posters, brochures, billboards and van wrap
• MyTown.kotatv.com logo
• Security First Bank annual report and brochure
• South Dakota Community Foundation annual dinner collateral materials
• Wyoming State Fair event guide, billboards, newsprint and magazine ads
• Western Dakota Tech car wrap
• Ramada Inn & Suites rack cards and billboards
• Wheel Jam posters and print ads
• Rapid Transit outdoor signage
• McDonald’s signage and billboards
• Coupongous logo
• 24/7 Intoximeter brochure

Our expert team truly enjoys helping clients keep their print projects and brands consistent, yet fresh. Far too many times we see brands using a variety of fonts, colors and logos from one design to the next, making for an inconsistent design and confusing brand. We know it’s tempting to try designing everything on the cheap, but realize when you hire us you are hiring a team of professionals who eat, sleep and breathe design every day.

Ask our clients, then become one. We’ll make sure your product or service is highlighted in a uniquely creative way.

- Justin Mather, Print Production Director

Inside RSA Print Production is a post from: RSA Blog

Scanning a QR Code with a smartphone

I first crossed paths with a QR code a couple of years ago. I was in the Denver International Airport, with a long wait ahead before my flight to Rapid City. Displayed at a huge size on a 1stBank billboard, and looking more like modern art than advertising, a beautiful blue QR code was accompanied by an invitation to get free books and Sudoku puzzles. Just what I wanted! Just what I needed!

But with no concept of how to proceed…no free reading materials for me.

By now you’ve probably seen QR codes.  They’re increasingly common these days – on billboards, in magazines, at websites, in malls and stores. With that eye-catching appearance, they look creative and artsy, but they originated for a more mundane purpose: to improve the scanning and tracking of inventory.

Japanese company DensoWave came up with QR codes (also known as 2D codes) as an improvement over bar codes. The more complex pattern can store more information for scanners to read. From there, QR codes quickly made their way into the advertising arena in Asia, riding the growing wave of smartphones with scanning capabilities. They’ve been slower to take hold here in the U.S. but with the smartphone market still growing swiftly, it’s likely you’ll continue to see more of them.

QR Codes and You

So let’s back up a step – what did I need to do in Denver to get free books and puzzles? I needed a smartphone with a camera and a bar code scanner.

Once you have a smartphone, you can download a bar code scanner app for free. Use the camera in your phone to scan a QR code, and the code’s message will be revealed by the QR reader. It’s usually a website URL, phone number, or a short text message. You might be directed to videos, coupons, maps or other kinds of information.

Advertising with QR codes has its advantages and its drawbacks. On the plus side, it’s inexpensive, cutting-edge, gets attention, and allows the quick communication of a significant amount of information. Museums, parks and libraries are using QR codes to provide detailed directional information. Rock bands have used them on their promotional materials, even on their clothing, to help connect their fans with their music. Creating your QR code is easy – there are many free QR code generators on the internet.

Drawback of QR Codes

The drawback, of course, is that there are still a significant number of people who will be as incapable of reading your QR code advertisement as I was of getting free Sudoku in Denver. You can’t rely on it alone to reach your entire audience. But with more and more people getting smartphones, QR codes should grow in popularity.

If you plan your campaign carefully and understand the audience you are going to reach, it might be a perfect time to use QR codes. It’s new enough to still have an element of novelty, and established enough to have a user base that will engage with it. RSA can help you with a creative QR code strategy.

It worked for 1stBank – their billboard campaign at DIA resulted in 25,000 scans of their QR codes, and won them an OBIE award for excellence in advertising.

–

Photo courtesy of preetamrai

QR Codes…the medium is the message is a post from: RSA Blog

Smart Phones

Mobile devices are becoming more and more popular, and the mobile web is an alluring place for web surfers, offering all kinds of communications capabilities on the go. Yet it’s still a very new arena for many people, especially here in South Dakota.

The capabilities of mobile phones and devices now make mobile a serious contender to traditional website access. In the next few years this technology is predicted to surpass the amount of internet users currently utilizing desktop computers.

Why should I create a mobile website?

There are limitations to mobile web such as limited screen space & slower connections speeds. To date, a large amount of mobile web users are attempting to get to vital information about companies and topics quickly, but they can run into problems because many websites are not ready for mobile viewing.

A traditional website won’t always work. Having all the content from your website show up on a mobile device may frustrate the visitor, making their experience slow and hard to navigate. A little forethought can help reduce frustration.

Is mobile browsing really that popular?

Consider the following:

• Cell phones are in the hands of 5 billion people worldwide and over 290,000 in the United States.
• Over 93% of U.S. adults own a cell phone and the demand for mobile access to the Internet has skyrocketed with experts predicting broadband subscriptions surpassing 1 billion around the world this year.
• One third of those who do not own a cell phone live in households where someone else has a cell phone.
• 20% of all U.S. households are now “mobile-only.”
• More adults have a cell phone than have an iPod or mp3 player.
• As of July 2010, 23% of mobile phone owners have accessed a social network via a mobile phone, 20% have used a phone to watch a video and 11% have made a charitable donation by text message.
• 11% of mobile phone owners make purchases through their phones.

Now the question should be, “do I want my business to be found and easily accessed on the mobile web?” I would think the answer is yes!

Based on the work we’ve done for clients getting their websites mobile ready, I can say this is an increasingly popular trend, and a cost-effective way to reach web users in a whole new way. If you want to create a mobile website, give us a call!

–

Photo courtesy of Robert Bejil Photography

Why Create A Mobile Website? is a post from: RSA Blog

[When asked to write a post for the RSA blog I thought, hey I'm not a writer - and what was I even going to write about? Think Justin....think! Then it happened, my WDT intern Pierre (his name has been changed to protect his innocence) walked in and said "what's goin’ on?" And just like that I had a topic. I tried to get Pierre to write this, but he's lazy and doesn't prioritize very well. You know, he puts school and his job before his internship. Silly intern. Anyway, here's my masterpiece…]

Don't forget my coffee

We love us some interns!

Each year many brave souls apply for various internship positions here at Robert Sharp & Associates, and each year we select a few candidates who show us they want to learn and are excited about what they can do. When they show up for work, we show them what an ad agency is all about: sex, drugs and Facebook!

An internship at RSA starts with you getting me coffee and a Taco John’s breakfast burrito (relax, I’ll pay every third time) and ends with REAL world experience. Rather than just filing and other menial tasks, you’ll attend important meetings and be encouraged to participate in discussions. You’ll be shadowing a professional and actually doing real agency work. Whether it’s brainstorming a creative idea to promote a product or helping to maximize the most out of a budget (or the coffee grounds), you’ll gain valuable experience during your time here.

Internship Opportunities

Is it cheap labor for us? Maybe. Is it a great opportunity for you? Absolutely. We have internships available in account management, graphic design, audio/video production and event management. There is plenty of room for growth, and we like to bond with our interns. Some have even been known to work here after they graduate.

Just like our team here, we like our interns to be a well-rounded bunch. There is no mold to fit into when it comes to our agency – just read our bios. Do you love motorcycles? Are you a bookworm? Obsessed with online gaming? It doesn’t matter. As long as you have a passion for what you do (and a 4.3 GPA), you are welcome here. That’s right, we only accept smart people (insert overly-used acronym here).

It’s a melting-pot

Many unique personalities have come through these doors. A variety in attitude and style is what we want. We like the free-thinking and detail-oriented creative, as well as the OCD project manager with the loud boots. It takes all types of pieces to put this puzzle together, and once you think you have it done, the picture changes and it’s a whole new puzzle.

So be welcome, all applicants, and don’t forget the coffee and tacos.

Shaping the minds of tomorrow is a post from: RSA Blog

[This guest post from Darcy Norfolk at Adworkshop was originally posted on the Alliance of Marketing Communications Agencies blog.]

In this age of web-enabled Smart phones and other “Smart” devices that are flooding the market, we here at Adworkshop have noticed that the number of “apps” (applications) and mobile sites being downloaded is skyrocketing.  As a matter of fact, our advertising agency in upstate New York came across an eMarketer report on a recent survey conducted by Adobe which found that most mobile users prefer to get their content from mobile websites rather than mobile applications. The only categories that showed a higher mobile application download preference were games, music and social media.

It seems to us that the same businesses that were saying a year ago “we need a mobile site!” are now starting to think “we need an app!”, but may not be aware of the details involved in developing either one.  Apps are generally easy to download, but research by Pinch Media recently revealed that unless the app is a game, “less than 5 percent of downloaded apps continue to be used 20 days after being downloaded.”  That means that the life cycle of an app has run its course in under three weeks, which loosely translates to a wasted investment.

Adobe also found this to be true. Two thirds of the surveyed group preferred to download an app for a game rather than browse a mobile website for one. eMarketer’s report noted that “while consumers may use the mobile web more often, the immersive nature of apps allows them to play just as large a role in marketing communications.”

Mobile web development costs are lower (no need to develop an app for different platforms such as iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc. etc. etc.), it’s much easier for a site to be found in search engines, and consumers seem to prefer using the familiar format of a mobile website for sourcing content. However, our website design team has noticed that the performance of an app is quite high compared to some mobile sites because the code runs locally on the user’s device.

Even so, many signs seem to point toward mobile web.  Besides the lower development costs, there are no “additional costs” tacked on, such as entry costs, which some app stores charge with each upgrade.  Plus, there’s no need to share any sales revenues as a result of someone using a mobile website (app stores can take up to 30 percent of your revenue!).  Anyone on the web has access to your mobile site, but with an app, you rely on the app stores’ policies and procedures on how many users can download and install the app.

Some marketing professionals feel that apps are temporary; others feel they are here to stay. There are conflicting opinions all over the place.

We here at Adworkshop encourage you to do some research or consult a marketing agency when deciding if now is the time to go mobile with either an app or mobile web.

Mobile Website vs. Mobile Applications is a post from: RSA Blog