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for the marketing communications community. This blog welcomes your posts and comments. Once you have signed in click on the gray New Post link in the left column to start a topic. Click on the blue Post Comment to existing topics. To include a link in text just use www. Submit links for the page to topbanana.
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Bejamin Boudreau
Big Nerdy Design
Firefly Digital
Carman Pirie
Joel Kelly
Robert Snell
Chris Garrett
East Quest Communications
Buzzmakr
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Mike Gillis
Brightwhite
Justin Gill
Paul Wesson
Marketing Integrity
MediaBadger
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The Underlying Issue with most Online Display Advertising |
 DECEMBER 29, 2008 (POSTED BY: TOP BANANA)
Pete Spande, a vice-president at Federated Media, spends much of his time helping leading brands create conversational marketing programs.
He has written a great post on his blog about media, technology, and advertising that everyone involved in online advertising should read:
The Underlying Issue with most Online Display Advertising
Here's the link:
http://continuousbeta.wordpress.com/2008..
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A New Business Section: Online Media |
 DECEMBER 3, 2008 (POSTED BY: TOP BANANA)
We're working on a new business section that concentrates on information about online media in Halifax (and Nova Scotia).
http://halifax.infomonkey.net/business/
There are a wealth of links to great posts from the local online marketing crowd already on the site. I encourage all and any designers, web developers, interactive agencies and consultants to post their news, personnel promotions and press releases.
One new feature is called "4 Questions" in which individuals provide a brief bio and talk about issues and events in their sphere of interactive activity.
The section also includes a "Who's News" feature and a links Directory of local providers. Please submit a link to y...
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A simple, small business website can have big impact |
NOVEMBER 4, 2008 (POSTED BY: TOP BANANA)
If you are selling to customers under 35 you have to have a web presence. Those customers are at home online and they are difficult to reach with traditional media. If they know about you they will be looking for you on the web.
A lot of small business owners tell me the internet consumes too much time and expense for little or no return. Many of them describe their website as little more than an online brochure. They complain that additions or changes are a hassle. They need a tech person. It's not cost effective.
To that I say get rid of the website. You can still be on the web - but without the hassle. Switch to one of the free content platforms like wordpress.com or blogger.com. Th...
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Social Media? In Nova Scotia!? |
 OCTOBER 16, 2008 (POSTED BY: TOP BANANA)
All right. The headline is an exaggeration. There are people who are deeply involved in Social Media in Nova Scotia. You, and the six other people who have read this have been active on Facebook, Twitter and blogs from the get go.
I'm kidding - but I'm not.
Infomonkey will be selling display advertising soon and one of the points we will make to advertisers is: the fastest way to get someone to your website or blog is on the web - not from an ad on the side of a bus, or from a television spot, or from a URL at the bottom of your ad in The Coast.
So, what then? What do these businesses offer with their website?
Many businesses in Nova Scotia have no idea what to do online. If the...
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Public Relations is facing its own Creative Destruction |
JUNE 26, 2008 (POSTED BY: TOPBANANA)
Creative Destruction is the term economist Joseph Schumpeter used to describe the process when business goes through radical innovation. Some entire industries die and are replaced by new ones. Think typewriters, dial telephones, the horse and buggy. Think Public Relations.
The thought occurred to me on visiting the website of an establishment PR firm in Halifax whose name is remarkably similar to an old Maritime telephone company.
I was looking for an email address but this firm's buttoned up website offered limited options: an email to reception@ and phone numbers for its two offices. Sure, there were bios for each of the staff, but one had to get through a filter to contact them.
...
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CBC's trying to play it cool |
 JUNE 10, 2008
Okay, really CBC? Did you not see this one coming? Did you REALLY think you could act all aloof with the Hockey Night in Canada Theme?
If this were a divorce, you would be the one picking your crap up off the front lawn in the rain while the theme song is in bed with your best friend.
CBC seems to think that the song is so intrinsically linked with their station that they don't have to worry about the fact that CTV just bought the rights to play it on their news and sports stations.
This must be some sort of post-fight defense mechanism because it's the SONG that is recognizable in its own right. It's the SONG that people were scared of losing from the airwaves. It's the SONG that ...
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National CPRS Conference hits Halifax |
 JUNE 9, 2008
As of yesterday, my little city has been flooded with a lot of people a lot like me. The Canadian Public Relations Society is holding its national conference right downtown, bringing hacks, flacks, writers, designers, and other corporate mouthpieces to the east coast - far from the comforts of the Toronto agencies, their Vancouver firms, the Capital HQs and the Calgary oil fields.
On the plus side for our visitors, it's a scorching 26 degrees outside making our habour views beautiful rather than dreary. So, they find themselves among other chatty, networky folks in the midst of all the bars and restaurants that anyone could ever want.
While I am tragically not getting to any of the con...
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The best way to get someone to your website is NOT from a billboard. |
JUNE 9, 2008 (POSTED BY: TOPBANANA)
The best way to get someone to your website is on the web.
Yes, we use that slogan in Infomonkey’s ads, and yes, I do have a self-interest in this conversation.
But I keep seeing websites being advertised on billboards around town and I ask myself, ‘What are they thinking?’
The first instance was for a site called halifax.com, but every time I typed in the URL I ended up on an nTelos page. What’s that all about?
Then I saw big Salvation Army ads on the side of Metro Transit buses urging people in need to go to their website. Since the bus was going in one direction, and I was going in another I didn’t even catch the URL. Even if I had, I’m in my car. I’m going to stop and write i...
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Halifax's Next Top Spokesperson |
 JUNE 5, 2008
With the apparent return of the spokesperson through brands like Apple, UPS, and Presidents Choice, I started wondering if we had any truly relevant, branded spokespeople here in Halifax. Someone who embodied what he or she stood for. Someone who people respected as a force within his or her industry. Someone instantly recognizable as a representative of a larger entity.
What did I come up with?
Not much...at first. Little more than a list of newsanchors. Likely some of the most recognizable names and faces in the province but yet, I removed them from the competition just for kicks. I can do that. It's my competition.
Then I thought perhaps Fred MacGillivray. He's a strong voice for...
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Do the old boy's club shuffle! |
 JUNE 3, 2008
Thanks to Infomonkey's blogroll, I just read an interesting post (http://hawkeyenews.blogspot.com/2008_06_..) claiming that Mayor Kelly just offered the head communications gig for HRM to recently stepped-down (fired?) radio host Rick Howe.
My first thought? Yes, trying to manage crazed radio call-in listeners would actually be great experience in trying to keep a handle on the mayor, who is nothing if not spirited when the cameras aren't rolling - usually just spirited in his complete disregard for formal communications and proper protocol in certain situations but that's a story for another day.
Honestly, I don't have much to say about Howe's potentia...
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Battle for the airwaves |
 MAY 30, 2008
So after z103.5 briefly ruffled some feathers two years ago before becoming a source of trashy on-air discussions and an advertising outlet for cage fights, we're seeing the retaliation from the CHUM Radio group.
My guess is that C100 didn't want to take the plunge to fight for the younger audience - and it's very likely that their usual crowd got mad that the censorship of bad words went out the window for at-work listening - so they have come out with...
101.3: The Bounce. Ugh. Bad start. I hate the name. It's trying to be too "funky fresh" or "phat".
Give it up.
Play good music. Offer a strong indie or local artist alternative since that's what we seem to lack. Don't get too...
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Talking WOM with Labatt |
 MAY 28, 2008
A few months ago I found myself in Free Beer Land.
The Alexander Keith's Brewery extended an invite to a specific group of young professionals (FUSION Halifax) to try the new Keith's Traditional Lager...on the house...by the bucket load...
I'm not going to bother talking about the beer itself because once it's free, nothing else matters. But I would like to chat about the word of mouth marketing approach that everyone's talking about (pun intended).
WOM marketing has risen from wishy-washiness to a solid tool worthy of numerous national and international conferences and professional development sessions. The issue, it seems, continues to be the measurement of this approach. That is,...
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Web-hip MarCom agencies: WHERE ARE YOU? |
MAY 27, 2008
With two social media meet-ups behind my back, I'm ready to ask some tough questions.
I was thrilled to see that our numbers are growing already and that word is spreading as expected through the web 2.0. It's a pleasure to see my favourite local bloggers as well as the IT innovators who are making things happen here in Halifax. Still, I can't help but wonder why there isn't as much buy-in from the marketing and communications agencies in town.
It's not like we have a shortage! Between Extreme, MT&L, Cossette, Colour, Revolve, Trampoline, Queen Street Studios, we have a hub of creative excellence right here. Yet, each time we've only seen a handful of representatives from this industr...
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Let the games begin |
 MAY 26, 2008
While she's no Hillary and he's no Obama, there is no question that the Mayoral race here in Halifax is well underway. This past Friday saw a double-bill of articles in The Chronicle Herald with Mayor Kelly attempting to stand strong despite criticism from supporters of Councillor Sheila Fougere.
Boasting eight deficit-free years and highlighting events like The Rolling Stones and the IIHF world hockey championships, Mayor Kelly seemed determined to win over the crowd at this year's Halifax Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Placing an emphasis on great Halifax events is all well and good but is this really how you win an election? So far, these look like his two big platforms: financial re...
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Think of the children |
 MAY 25, 2008
Recently, the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union unveiled its latest looming-strike television spot. Put together for a reported $120K, the ad features a well-balanced adult and the teachers who made that happen. Unfortunately, like the potential for a strike, the ad is rubbing people the wrong way.
Rather than remind grown-ups that we have teachers to thank for our successes - teachers that would have worked in entirely different environments than those in classrooms today - I would have preferred to see the ad appealing to today's parents who are really quite clueless as to the extent of teacher generosity.
Teachers today are feeding kids who are sent to school without breakfast. Teachers a...
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Direct from the experts |
MAY 21, 2008
The Other Librarian: Last month, we had some great fun attending the Halifax, Nova Scotia Social Media Group Meet-up. We’re doing it a second time, and I hope anyone in town will consider joining on in for some beverage and chat. http://otherlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Brightwhite: Thursday, May 22nd, meet at the Argyle Bar to connect with Halifax's digerati and well-connected web designers, developers, writers, pr folks and other internet-interested folks. http://brightwhite.ca/node/23
Carman Pirie: Geeks, agency arses, et al unite... at the Argyle, starting at 6PM. Come one, come all, etc. http://pirie.typepad.com/1/2008/05/halif..
Paul Wesson: Why: To meet other web geek...
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Myles, a Maritime Mascot |
MAY 16, 2008
About 8,000 people are looking forward to pounding the pavement over the long weekend for this year's Bluenose Marathon. If that's not exciting enough, 2008 marks the fifth birthday of the memorable Bluenoser mascot, Myles.
"In the first couple of years, we tried to set a really approachable tone – using humour to demonstrate that we didn’t take ourselves too seriously, that you didn’t have to be a hardcore runner to participate," said Craig Cherrett, chair of marketing for the race. "This was a marathon, an event, for the people."
Bringing Myles to life meant tapping into the runner mentality. Armed with local war cries like "Just Giv'er!", Myles quickly became a recognizable and cele...
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Recycling the old catalogue (The Chronicle Herald) |
MAY 14, 2008
EARLIER THIS MONTH, Sears said it was considering relaunching the famed Eaton’s catalogue (in conjunction with a web presence) to cater to an upscale audience.
While many baby boomers may have wonderful memories of poring through the pages as kids, the Eaton’s name is almost unknown to the Internet generation.
So what was Sears thinking? Is there enough cache left in the brand and the Eaton’s catalogue tradition to make this work or should the icon be left to rest in peace? We asked our Marketing Monitor panel for their thoughts.
Read what the experts are saying here: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/10..
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No more long distance relationships for the Maritimes |
MAY 13, 2008
Cross-posted here: http://www.onedegree.ca/2008/05/no-more-..
It all happened so fast.
One week I'm happily blogging for my mostly American audience (I'm huge in Chicago...okay, not really...) and the next I'm reading posts, comments and tweets about places that I know, businesses that I recognize and bars that I’ve stumbled out of.
But I should start from the beginning...
About a month ago, thanks to Twitter, I connected with a social-media-centric agency guy here in Halifax. We chatted about the opportunity to get a monthly meet-up going like those for wired professionals in other cities throughout Canada. With that came the challenges of finding the elusive Nova Scot...
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Excerpts from AIM |
MAY 7, 2008
Updated: 1:15pm
The Atlantic Internet Marketing conference ended yesterday and since I couldn't be there to report (free ticket next year, guys?) I've collected two blog posts which have covered some of the seminars. I'll edit this post with more links if they pop up over the course of the day.
From Joel Kelly:
So I'm at the AIM Conference and I just heard a presentation by the General Manager of Yahoo! Canada talk about Social Networking DNA.
His point was, basically, it's unreasonable to expect social networks to continue to operate as they do now, because currently they're the only space where people of all ages interact together. He gave the example that if he started shoppin...
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Pretending to be a journalist |
MAY 5, 2008
Thanks to the generosity of Rob MacCormick of Canada NewsWire, I spent a beautiful Saturday morning in the incredible new NSCC campus surrounded by journalists ranging from student to expert. This was a new venture celebrating journalistic excellence as part of the annual Atlantic Journalism Awards held that evening.
Now, I've had my writing looked over by hundreds of people throughout the past five years, but never have I been faced with fast-paced writing challenges from Rob Russo, bureau chief of the Canadian Press in Ottawa, before I've even had a juice.
That's exactly what happened at my first professional development session that ended with us listening to Pierre Trudeau's speec...
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These are our ambassadors? |
 APRIL 25, 2008
Iceland has always been on my list of places to see before I die (I've made it to three of them so far for anyone keeping track). I've spent an hour in their airport but that really didn't do the one of the most unique country in the world any justice.
For the past eight years (maybe it just seems that long and it has actually only been a month), mainstream radio station C100FM has been paired up with www.icelandair.com to promote their vacation destinations. This has been painful for me on many levels.
1) It's cruel to keep reminding young professionals with the travel bug that they really can't afford to run off to Iceland. 2) The on-air personalities may be painting a pretty picture...
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One down |
 APRIL 25, 2008
Wow. You'd think the fact that it's only seven in the morning might mean that I would have a chance to post a little about last nights social media meet-up here in Halifax before the world got started. NOT TRUE.
Seeing how I decided that going for Thai when tired and more-influenced-than-expected by three gin & tonics (Bombay, thank you very much) was more important than getting the first recap online, I am very much late on the draw here. That's what I get for thinking I can slack off when it comes to a crowd of social media mongrels.
I'm thrilled with how the inaugural event went and happy to meet so many smart, interesting and pleasant folks. I'll leave it at that and recommend that...
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The Talk: Live and in colour |
APRIL 24, 2008
If you're up for some fun tonight, join me at The Argyle (1575 Argyle Street) at 6:00 p.m. for a casual evening of drinks and snacks with some of the most wired people in Halifax.
This will be the city's first Social Media Meet-up, a low-key event where you can get to know other bloggers, twitterers, and social marketers in person, learn from what they have to say, or just relax after work with like-minded individuals.
Sure, there'll be a bit of a learning component but we're keeping the formal chatter to 15 minutes or less.
Thanks in advance to Colour (http://www.colour.ca) for the grub and to Carman (http://pirie.typepad.com) for getting the ball rolling!
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Seriously, don't read this |
 APRIL 24, 2008
When Extreme Group came to Mount Saint Vincent University, advertising campaigns for post-secondary institutions were awfully bleak. In their pitch, they took an entire wall of the boardroom and plastered it with over 100 photos of university ads, each one showing the typical student typing on a typical laptop in front of a typical ivy-covered building.
"Care to venture a guess as to which ad is from which university?"
The drastic measures suggested in that meeting came to award-winning fruition in the Seriously, don't come here campaign. While it never sat well with my PR classmates, it was spot on for catching the interest of high school students with bitchy humour, exclusivity and p...
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