2013 Trends and Classics

It’s a brand new year so let’s look back on some broad trends and some old consistencies.

Digital North is entering its 19^th year of business; we have seen a lot of changes over those years. This past year (or so) has for us really seen the turning point of the template. Word press of course has been around for years but this year we have really seen its impact on the business world. More and more businesses are jumping onto that system rather than a custom CMS. A word of caution though, some designs can be harder to program and the user interface that Wordpress isn’t as simple as our PHP CMS systems.

Going along with that template world is the preference for large blocks of graphic coloured space and loosely set design items (In my mind the two are connected). Simplicity seems to be the word of the day with clean straight lines and not a lot of design-y extras.

We have also seen the rise of the app and mobile site. If you’re not using a smart phone we are not talking to you, but for everyone else it’s have it my way, from iphone to ipad, galaxy tab, windows RT… ect, ect, ect… it’s all about the user having right looking content on the platform they are using.

In the end these trends come and go and we will continue to watch, respond and add to the greater online world but remember; the classics never change, you can’t beat a clear marketing direction, a focus on the user experience and clean navigation will get you there every time.

Oktoberfest

You say the word Oktoberfest around KW it brings to mind many images. Usually fun ones, beer, costumes, polka, parties and so on. You normally only hear the word around October, well maybe September and often with the words “are you going to”.

To us at Digital North Oktoberfest is an ongoing discussion as they are one of our clients. We work together often and are usually building some new online addition to the site for the next festival.

So when we received the email telling us of Mark Kreller’s death, we were shocked.  And to be honest I have trouble finding the words to express the loss.

Mark was a friend and colleague. We met over 18 years ago at CHYM when our offices were next door to them, we worked with him at the OAC, we built his logo for Kreller communications, kept in touch over the years and got to work together again on Oktoberfest for the last several.  Mark’s passion for the festival and for this community was remarkable, he was a joy to work with and his stamp will echo for years to come.

He made us better; he made the work we produced for Oktoberfest stand out and all I can say is he will be missed.

So much so that now, and I’m sure for years to come, when we say Oktoberfest, we will remember Mark mixed in with those images of fun and friends and polka and beer.

Thank you Mark for all the memories.

Afternoon delight

Here is what happens when it’s Thursday afternoon, it’s been a long, productive week and the third cup of coffee has just kicked in. (Please note, no actual phone solicitors where seriously harmed in the following exchange.)

Ring Ring!
I pick up, "Good afternoon, Digital North media"

"Hi there this is Ian, I’m calling from ****** & Co. may I speak with the person in charge of your companies marketing?"

"Sure, how can I help you?" says I, congenially.

"Well sir do you generate sales from you companies website?"

"Yes we do" still congenial.

"Well, our organization specializes in SEO, website optimization, key word management and design and we can put your company in the centre of the internet. We would…"
About this time I kind of tuned out, Ian sounded young and was excited to get his pitch off, not to hurt his feelings I waited and sipped my coffee, read a client email and checked face book. At the end of this I asked? (And yes, still congenial.)

"So Ian, do check the websites of the companies you call ahead of time?"

"well … no"

"Because Ian, we are web design company and experts ourselves in the fields of SEO, social marketing and online branding and to be honest, were better than you guys."

Ian responded "you think so huh?" (A little sarcastically I might add)

"Yes, I do Ian, first, you didn’t know anything about who you called and secondly, you’re the company using blind telephone solicitation to raise awareness about SEO and online sales."

CLICK (Ian had hung up.)

Ahh, the fun you can have on a Thursday afternoon.

time to mobilize

So here is the simple statistic.  In 2011 manufacturers shipped 487.7 million smart phones but at the same time only shipped 414 million computers, that includes laptops, desktops and tablets combined. So here we are in the days where mobile devices have taken the lead. As you already know, these are not cheap kid devices. They are fast little processors with customized to the user applications which are cheaply purchased on the android, BB and itunes stores. These apps cover games, work related, database driven apps and a huge variety of user specific needs in pretty much any arena.

So, how do you think this is going to affect your website?

Ever taken a look at your site through your Blackberry curve?

Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Yeah, pretty tiny huh?

Even sites displayed on the giant Samsung galaxy s2 are underwhelming. Customers will have a tough time navigating websites designed to fill 20+ inch monitors laid out to fit resolution of 1024 or more across with multiple level dropdown java enabled menus, and don’t even get me started on flash, which doesn’t work on apple products.

So what are you supposed to do?

Well welcome to the mobile site world, one more marketing bit you are going to need. The mobile website can be designed to fit your companies brand and marketing approach, but is simplified to meet the devices requirements and more specifically your customer’s wants.

The good news is you don’t need additional hosting or a new domain name. The site works from your existing server and domain hosting. More important is narrowing your approach to what the customer needs  and wants are, be it your contact info, your product or distributor list is of paramount importance.  Keep in mind the site will appear a little different on each different phone platform (android, apple and blackberry). Just remember less is more.

You can see an example of a mobile site, just point your browser at our page, DNM.ca and see the difference. Give us a call and we can show how to mobilize your website.

puzzle this out

we all love a puzzle, some more than others.
It can be a simple turn of phrase or and over the top video social media experiment.

in the vein of lost (which btw was a show I liked, then hated) a new online show is running brought to us by the director of "Disturbia" DJ Caruso.

Called the inside experience this live social entertainment venue is tying in YouTube video with face book.
Building on the premise that a young girl is kidnapped then held in a room with only a PC (not a Mac lol) and internet access. She uses her connection to plead help from the outside world.

the videos link back her face book page where ravenous fans scour clips and images connected to the site looking for clues as to Christina's whereabouts.
Christina herself adds clues daily in this real time online drama play.

what's interesting is the fans on this page actively participate in the search for this fictional girl
and run an active commentary as they compare clues.
While only on day 6 the show has over 20 thousand likes on facebook with over a million users watching the videos.

Beyond the obvious brand statement "inside" for Intel the buildup of this video link back to building audience attendance in the theaters
the director makes a requests for fans to be included in the final cut

see ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtYip3MFwFQ&NR=1
and hoards of wantabe fans respond by post casting calls .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD_hq08ufmA&NR=1

It will be an interesting result to see if that inside experience brings in box office numbers.
stay tuned

http://www.theinsideexperience.com/#/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Perasso/214021851970980?closeTheater=1&sk=wall

butter effect on your popcorn?

You know what advice is to anyone shooting a video? It doesn’t matter if you’re doing semi-pro stuff for weddings or your kid’s hockey game. Buy a tripod. I’ll say it again, BUY A TRIPOD.

I took the family last evening to see the movie Battle:LA. Quick aside; Not a bad man vs. alien movie, the usual fare of explosions, sacrifice and man overcoming the technologically superior ET.
About hour into the flick, my head is thick and dizzy. My teenage son is holding his head as well. The camera movements are dizzying.

It’s the shaky cam effect.

The latest addition to the director’s style arsenal is the idea that the camera is part of the shot. Breaking through that third wall to try to bring the audience into the scene with the actors. It was pioneered as early as 1925 made mainstream on TV shows and really taken to the edge on the Blair Witch. A few years ago while watching Cloverfield I had the same ill feeling. The whole film shot from a handheld camera. I would have happily swallowed the idea that the character broke into a camera store and used a tripod the whole movie. The effect, for me didn’t help the story, it got in the way.

I appreciate the idea that the director is looking to bring to the audience the immersive effect of being right in the action. Both movies did that, the camera jerked and swayed as the marines ran, flew violently when explosions happened, and the effect covered the short comings in the set when it needed to.

But as a technical way to cover mistakes or a vehicle to depict the scenes it doesn’t add to the story.
Legendary cinematographer Conrad Hall, (American Beauty, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) worked wonders turning mistake like lens flares into cinema art. The “mistakes” turned into the effects and built upon the story. Some were happy accidents, some not. But the shots told the story.

And that’s the important thing. If it doesn’t add to your story, it takes away from it. This is true for video, web or print.

Regardless of the effect, the popcorn was delicious. You can catch a video discussion with Conrad Hall on the below link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mas4zNdBhzo