Be Excellent to each other...

Seven Streets recently posted an article entitled 'The Liverpool Contra Affair' you can read it here. In short it looks at the culture that seems to be growing in Liverpool that means that creators aren't always being fairly paid for their work. It's a very interesting read, and I'd highly recommend a look over it. 

I love my city. I love it's culture and the fact that really, anything is sort of possible. Because we're a pretty small city in the grand scheme of things, it means that our creative community is really tight knit with a lot of room for cross over between disciplines. If you want to make contact with someone, no problem! Your mate probably met them at a gig last year and can introduce you. That is what is truly awesome about Liverpool. So bearing this in mind, why can it sometimes seem so hard to grow something new and get it off the ground? Sometimes it can feel as though you spend your life doing favours which can totally devalue your skills. It's fairly easy to fall into the habit of undervaluing your work and it just breeds that expectation for the future. 

It seems to be a difficult rut to get yourself out of as a creative. It's almost an extension of the belief that a Creative degree is the easy option - so therefore it mustn't be a proper job? (yes, I have experienced this attitude before). I'd like to think that creativity is increasingly being taken more seriously in the city, it certainly seems so, but to really ingrain this behaviour, we need to first start helping each other. (At the risk of sounding preachy) why should anyone else truly value us if we don't first recognise the value in our own talents? It's time to stand up for ourselves, to stop throwing each other under the bus, and to start being excellent to each other. 

Svea xo

On the 5 Year Milestone

Today James and I celebrate five years together. So in honour of this occasion, I am deferring my normal post until Friday and instead, I'm going to indulge in some mush, I hope you can forgive me. 

I wasn't 100% sure about what I wanted to write about today, James will back me up when I say that I'm not very good at being lovey dovey. I guess I just wanted to say thank for you being there for me, sharing your life with me, being patient with me, for asking me to be your wife and most of all for loving me always. 

I have no idea what's in store for us, but I can't wait to find out. 

Here's to the next five (and beyond). 

Happy Anniversary, I love you 

Svea xoxo

One hashtag to bind them all...

Facebook has now (finally) started to include the ability to monitor the conversation courtesy of the #, a little overdue because recently trying to find out what people are talking about on the social networking site has started to become frustrating.

Despite Zukerberg buying the Social Media camera lens that is Instagram and the recently introduced Graph Search function, neither seem to have had quite the same social impact as the hashtag. 

So what does adding the hashtag mean for developing your brand or trend...well!

Promotion 

By adding the # to a tweet, you could effectively offer discounts for a level playing field when it comes to simple effective promotion for small businesses. Not only can you give discounts, and therefore bring in more customers, but this allows you to track promotional activity on-line.

Conversation// Hashtags open up the social media world to better converse about your company. A website or a URL post only brings you to the company’s website while a Hashtag allows people to use it in everyday conversations they have on social media. This also allows you to track the conversation and get a better idea of what is being said and how you can utilise that information. But be aware, your company has to have a good public perception. McDonald's tried this with #McDStories to hear from their fans about how McDonald's have centred around people's lives. Instead, if you type this into twitter you will see some pretty nasty tweets about their food, healthy choices and more.

Targeting// New marketing tools allow companies to target certain areas or people based on hashtags. For example, if you want to market to people with new homes you can use the hashtag #newhome to target those who are using that specific hashtag. Using this method is also beneficial because it allows you to pick out the individuals who are most likely to be using social networks and therefore more likely to give your company positive posting which you can then track using hashtags.

Innovations// Because Hashtags are so new they are still capable of great innovations. While hashtags and their use in business have begun to be utilised, there are still endless possibilities to what can be done with them. This is the most exciting realm of this new online world. With large companies like American Express announcing plans to allow customers to make purchases using hashtags the possibilities are vast.

So with just a hashtag this opens Facebook up to a whole new world for marketeers, brands and current events  – that’s a lot of valuable content Facebook’s been missing out on that it can now try to capture. Maybe you hate this idea, maybe you love it – but the attitude and feel of Facebook is about to get a major makeover. What you’re sacrificing is a sort of intimacy that many sites don’t have – and what you’re gaining is a News Feed that you can make even a modicum of sense of. But it’s ultimately up to you to decide if that’s worth it. 

At home with Pie Lab

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favourite places (that I've never been to!). This is Pie Lab, and it's based in Greensboro Alabama and it was funded by a small group of designers that wanted to create a space for conversations to happen and ideas to flow.  Now it's a space that not only serves great pie (but that's a bonus!) nut also encourages folks to get together, to create and to learn. What more could you ask for? 

Here's a little snippet from their site...

" What started off as a proposed, theoretical formula for positive change on the back of a bar napkin in Maine turned into a pie shop off of Main St. in Greensboro, Alabama. Founded in 2009 by a group of designers working for the greater good known as Project M, PieLab is a much more than your ordinary bakery. PieLab makes a tremendous impact in the community by being the platform for conversation, ideas, and design, as well as donating all profits to a charity(H.E.R.O.) which provides a multitude of housing and disaster resources, empowers Greensboro citizens, and much more.

PieLab = a neutral place + a slice of pie.

A neutral place + a slice of pie = conversation.

Conversation = ideas + design.

Ideas + design = positive change.

Any given day, PieLab can be the springboard for something great. Whether it is a community leaders discussing new initiatives, a band performing, an artist busy at work, or a local business conceptualizing new ideas, PieLab is a breeding ground for positive change. Everyday you can brush elbows with community members over a slice of pie and cup of coffee and create something new. Hosting art classes and concerts, PieLab is not only a bakery and place for lunch, but a hangout spot for fun and entertainment. We would love to have you stop in!"

Awesome right? 

This place calls out to me in many ways, mostly though it's because I would love to eventually be doing something like this. Their connection to their community is really cool and not something you see too often with design based studios. And I love Pie...obvs.

Svea xo

p.s. Watch out for a pretty tasty giveaway on the blog soon...and there's totally a clue to what it is in this post! #sneakey

The Console Wars: Who got it right?

Back when Sony first released the Playstation, I was hooked from the beginning, it was the future in a box. From the design of the joypad to using CD’s to play games, it showed us that gamers could be cool.

From then on in I was dedicated to Sony, hours spent playing Resident Evil to PES Soccer I had become obsessed and then the world got even brighter when the PS2 hit our shores. MY GOD, the Playstation looked like it was made with crayons I was still an advocate of the Sony family. Then Xbox showed up and proved that the future was not so one sided, releasing a new console. It had all the hallmarks of a great console, but couldn’t get my attention for love nor money.

Then I made the conscience decision to see what the party was all about with the 360, to my shock it changed everything I held dear about Sony, but for what? When the 360 came around it was the first of it’s kind, establishing itself as the only next-gen console ahead of it’s time, while Sony rested on their laurels with the PS3, Microsoft came steaming in. No more memory cards, wireless controllers, a whole heap of exclusive games, online gaming, first on the market and also a budget price. This is what made the 360 such a hit. Making me change my allegiance, they had won the battle but the war had only just begun. 2005 was the year Microsoft got their message right and steam rollered its' competition.

Of course we can't forget Nintendo's offering during this time, the Wii was a revolutionary console, but not the console for gamers like myself.

E3, for me, saw the shift change back to those folks at Sony.

Microsoft in their hesitation, showed their cards to soon. Delivering a key message not focused on their customers. Gamers.

Trying to become a rival to the television, while you need a television to play this on was not a good start, not being able to share games with friends or family was a brave decision and not the right one. Trying to capitalise on the entertainment market, left it’s core audience thinking, well…what the hell do I get? Showcasing some obvious games (Call of Duty, Battlefield & Halo) was not a hard decision. Leaving the Xbox One with its pants down.

So, history repeats itself, Sony listened, responded and gave its core audience a console that was designed for gamers and games first and foremost and entertainment second. Undercutting the Xbox in price, performance and not excluding people by being able to share games, which gave Sony the perfect ammunition to do this:

From all this, it showed me that being loyal to a brand can sometimes cause you to feel a bit dis-hearted when they become arrogant. I did miss out on the excellent Uncharted and God of War franchise, but I did get Gears of War in return…every cloud. Sony didn’t mess the customers it held dearly about and this is what is causing so many heads to turn now. All of the internet you can see the reaction by how poorly Microsoft misjudged the gamers.

But, inevitably when they get it right, it’s like coming back home from holiday.

It’s cosy, safe and you know where everything is. Welcome back into my life Sony, i missed you.

James x

5 Tips for New (or Old!) Graduates

'Tis the season of graduation, once again thousands of new designers will be on the loose and looking for work. I've been thinking a lot recently about the choices I made when I graduated and whether I'd have done anything differently if I had my time over.

With that in mind, today I'll be sharing my five tips for new graduates.

1// Pull your portfolio together

Well, this one is for before you graduate. Spend some time getting a really neat portfolio together. I'd consider having two to hand. One that is super duper creative and that can be shown around agencies, and a second more corporate one. I say this because when I interviewed for my current job, I had what I thought was an unmistakably 'kooky' portfolio with me, (I'm talking recycled card board and ribbon fastenings here). In my mind, this identified me as a 'proper designer' "look how quirky I am!". But guess what? When you apply for a corporate job (design related or not) you should probably turn up with a fairly reserved portfolio and let your work and sparkling personality do the rest. 

Anyway, what I'm saying is, Really spend time getting your portfolio up to scratch. It always pays to turn up with something that is beautifully presented and that shows your work off at its' best.

2// Consider an Internship (but don't sell yourself short)

I'm a fan of the internship personally. I am not a fan of working for nothing however. There is an argument that as long as you feel as though you're getting something for your work out of the experience that you don't necessarily need to be paid - but still. weigh up your options and make sure that you make the decision that's right for you, paid or not. 

For me, the right kind of internship can really be beneficial. If anything, it keeps you busy and gets you out of that (dare I say it, slightly lazy?) uni groove. 

3// Apply Apply Apply

Send those portfolios and CVs out like they're going out of fashion! Oh, and please tailor your covering letter/portfolio to suit the place that you're applying to. It makes the difference. 

I'd consider asking if you can drop in for a visit too. Even if you only come out of the experience with a belly full of tea and biscuits and a business card, it's definitely worth getting your face around. You never know if that brief connection could spark something else down the line. (True story: A friend of mine has just been contacted by an agency that he dropped in on for a chat two years ago).

4// Don't drop uni like a stone

I am guilty of falling slightly foul of this one. I've let my connections slide where I really should have been nurturing them. Learn from my mistakes. Keep in contact, go to degree shows, get involved. It's another way to maintain your connection to the local scene. You never know what you might be asked to get involved in. 

5// Don't lose heart and consider DIY-ing it

I know how it feels. You finish uni, full of hope for the amazing design career that lays ahead of you, and then suddenly, the reality of the job market hits you and you realise that maybe you won't be walking straight into an agency job.

But don't lose heart, keep reaching for what you want and you'll get there. Accumulate as much experience as you can and make yourself employable. Show willing to learn and to take risks.

But, if this doesn't work out (or even if it does work out actually), then consider taking the leap and doing it yourself. I wish I'd taken this advice sooner. Just go for it and do what you want to do. Crowd sourcing and collaborations are just around the corner and readily available. Do what makes you happy and maybe someone else will catch your enthusiasm then et voila! Your dream made real!

And like magic I appear to have written a 'what would you tell your younger self' post, but hey c'est la vie. I hope these tips have been useful!

See you round!

Svea xo

5 tips for Twitter

We're back!

After having such an amazing time in York (if you missed the pictures they're just below) we are well rested and back to bring you some more insight.

Last time I talked about setting up a business page on Facebook, this time around I'm going to give you some tips for the Twitter-verse. 

Make a Profile 

You first need to create your own profile on twitter. When you're done with this step, you'll need to go through the motions of populating it with the important information such as description of your business etc. If your business is a big one, it might be best to set-up two accounts, one for customers support and one for company. 

Listen and Learn 

At first you'll need to follow the other twitter users that are having maximum number of followers and learn from them as much as you can. Look at the tone of voice they present to their followers to gain an understanding how you can help grow your followers. By following them you automatically share similar interests and insights and will help similar users follow you

Information is currency 

Visit blogs and websites that you care about and tweet the useful and informative articles, to help build a strong rapport with your followers. Sharing information is just as valuable, you can retweet posts from other users.  Also find customers who are looking for your help, listen to their issue and solve it as soon as possible.You need to share news or updates about your company but keep in mind that ratio should be only one quarter of the posts. 

Grab attention 

Hold a contest on your website or blog by which you can get more twitter followers, use the discussion with hashtags in order for more twitter exposure or even a retweet competition will help grow your followers. You could start a blog under your company name and share article links on twitter to grab more visitors and readers for your website. 

Promotion 

The best method to get more followers and to promote your twitter profile is by featuring a twitter handle on your website or blog. This will help your readers and customers connect with you on twitter without them needing to search for you manually which could discourage some potential followers.

These are just some of the basic tips to help you get started on twitter to create a following. Now get out there and tweet.

'Til the next time, James x

Birthday fun in York

Hi all!

We've been away visiting York for my birthday this week. We had so much fun exploring the city and the weather stayed beautiful for us!

 

We'll definitely be back soon!

Svea xo

It's My Birthday and I'll Cheat if I want to!

Hi all!

As the title so rightly suggests, it is indeed my birthday today! And as a result, I will totally be cheating with my content for this post.
Today I give you a video which I sure some of you will have seen before, but it still gets me every time (and it also indulges my love for typography!) please enjoy the Font Conference...

I'm classing this as a cheat post because here ends any actual content. But I promise that I'll be back next week with super duper graphic design related  musings!

Right now I'm off to York with James for a couple of days, so excited for some days of sunshine and culture and a new city!

Have a great week!

Svea xo

Facebook from the start

Every business, brand or product has an army of people to setup a Facebook page and knows how to do it right. It's now essential to any medium or small businesses inbound marketing strategy to have one and I'm going to share some of basic to dos when setting up your Facebook business page. So, lets get started...

First thing first, choose a classification. Navigate to the following URL in a new tab to create your business page on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php 

Once there, choose from one of the following six classifications:

• Local business or place 
• Artist, Band, or public figure 
• Company, organization, or institution 
• Entertainment 
• Brand or product 
• Cause of community 

This classification will help you rank for more relevant searches and provide relevant information fields on your page. After selecting one of the six, choose the category you're in and fill out your business name. Keep in mind that your category and name cannot be changed once your page is created. So type wisely, otherwise you’ll have to delete the entire page and start anew, so get everything sorted before you commit.

Next, sort your Basic Information.

Facebook will now prompt you to upload the main photo for your page. This photo will appear as your icon every time you comment on a post or appear in news feeds. Ideally, it should be your company logo, the actual dimensions of your profile picture is 180 x 180. This will shrink on your page to appear as 160 x 160.

Next sort out your About Section, you need to write your 'About' information. This small blurb will serve as the main 2-3 sentence description for your company. It will be on your main page, so make it descriptive but succinct, be sure to include a link to your company website as well.

Use Your Admin Panel

Your admin panel is the main hub for managing your business page. It's filled with various features and options to optimise your page and your monitoring of that page. The 'Edit Page' option in the upper right provides various options. The first option, 'Update Info,' allows you to update the basic information you provided earlier in the tutorial. This will also allow you to enter a description, which is an extended version of the 'About' information you entered earlier. Users only see the description by literally clicking 'About' on your business page, so you should feel comfortable sharing lengthier and more detailed information in your description.

You can also manage the roles of your page administrators. This allows you to invite various employees from your business to be administrators on your Facebook page in order to respond to comments or messages specific to their function, without giving them complete power over your page. Make sure it is people you can trust as a disgruntled employee has a powerful tool on their hands.The other options under 'Edit Page' allow you to manage your notifications and add page permissions.

Build your Audience

Often, marketers get so excited they started a Facebook page that they invite users right away. But challenge yourself to think about a more strategic method for inviting users. First, you want your page filled with content. Then invite your brand advocates to start engaging with that content. Once your page has some interactions, invite more fans and contacts, and they'll be more interested to like the page when they see the buzzing hub it is. From that point, it's at your discretion if you'd like to use Facebook's advertising tools to further promote the page.

Fill the Page 

With the introduction of Timeline came the introduction of your best visual real estate on your business page: the cover photo. The exact dimensions of this cover photo are 851 x 315. Be sure to select a creative horizontal image that will appeal to users who land on your page. Custom Tabs Facebook also allows you to have an endless amount of tabs on your page with more social tools like Twitter and YouTube.

As you can see in the image above, you can only customise four of them. Think carefully about what you want to appear in these four slots, whether it's events, photos, groups, etc. Keep in mind that if you use third party apps, you should configure the tabs to be indexed on Facebook and not on the third party server. 

When posting on your page, be sure to use a variety of content. What images would your audience like to see? What stats would they like to read? What links would they like to click? You can also click the little star to the upper right of any post to highlight it horizontally across your entire page. Not only will this make it look like you have a cover photo on your actual timeline of posts, but it will highlight the page as a milestone in your company history. Use this feature for product announcements, business anniversaries, and other major events pertinent to your brand.

While sorting out a nice looking Facebook page is hard work, you want to ensure your hardwork isn't in vain, monitoring how fans are interacting with it. To the upper right of your Admin panel, you'll see all the private messages users are sending to your page. Meanwhile, the upper left and center of the panel shows all the posts users are liking and commenting on. Be sure to respond to comments and messages as needed to ensure your fans know you not only care about them, but to avoid the detrimental impact of ignoring these folks.

At this point, you've built and shared a Facebook business page that represents your business. Now you need to measure your efforts to ensure you're making valuable marketing decisions on Facebook. Click on the 'View Insights' option to the bottom-center of your Admin panel. You'll be able to monitor reach, engagement, and the like in order to help you grow and adapt your Facebook marketing efforts around what's working and what's not.

Boom! There you go, a Facebook business page ready to go. Now get post interesting content and build a loyal fan base.

'Til the next time, James x