Archive for the ‘News’ Category

The office kitchen chronicles

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

I know we’re not the only office who deals with diverse, shall we say, cleanliness habits.  We’re an equal opportunity employer, after all.  We’ve got neat freaks, chore-challenged and just about everything in between.

We are all swamped, and we’re all professionals.  We admittedly struggle with the concept of cleaning at work.  Should everyone take a week of duty? Are executives exempt? Is cleaning up after our own clients and visitors expected, or should the receptionist or assistants do it?

We’re delighted that our commercial cleaning service, Liberty Building Maintenance, not only cleans offices and restrooms, but kitchens, too! We all clap and smile the minute they arrive, knowing that our sometimes-cluttered-sometimes-clean kitchen will, at least today, be spic-and span.   Liberty’s building maintenance services and construction clean up have been grade-A since no one is quite sure how to perform anything but light maintenance duties around here. We’re mostly creative types, not engineers.

We’re growing and we need your help. How does your staff handle office kitchen duty?   In the meantime, I’ll keep leaving notes like this. It doesn’t change behavior, but it sure makes me feel better!

 

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Does your little one have a digital trust fund?

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Hmmm. A digital trust fund. Is that like Monopoly money? Didn’t we get better checks and balances on our financial systems recently, you ask?

A digital trust fund is not monetary. To the contrary, it takes little more than your time to set up. It’s a way to claim and safeguard certain accounts for your child; for instance their name as a Gmail address, domain, Twitter handle and personalized Facebook url.

I first heard this idea from Tess Vigeland on Marketplace Money. Here’s a link to the podcast if you’re interested.

When I mentioned the idea to our very own Amy Kramer, she confirmed that she had her childrens’ names as urls. Being the president of a digital marketing company, this came as no surprise. But then I started thinking about all the ways this made sense. It would be helpful to have these digital addresses in place to:

  • beat out any other kids who could possibly have the same name as your child
  • prevent anyone from posing as your child and ruining their reputation – especially if they want to be a politician when they grow up
  • could potentially boost their SEO rankings due to their longstanding accounts

Will all this really matter in 12-15 years when your little bundle of joy is taking their first steps into the digital world? Here is where I start to think this could be a time waster. I love Facebook, but will it really be around for that long? I’m dubious. But I’ve also been wrong before. What do you think?

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How to run a winning Facebook contest

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

A recent study by Exact Target showed that the main reason people “Like” a business’s Facebook Page is to get special offers and promotions.

Facebook contests offer many benefits. They can increase Likes and fan engagement on your page; secure relevant and targeted fans; add to your e-mail list; increase traffic on your website; and more. Is it time you held a Facebook contest? Here are some tips:

1. Plan ahead
Running an online contest takes planning. What are your social media goals? Do you want more fans or more engagement? Are you running a contest or a sweepstakes? Who will fulfill the prizes? Be sure to have a detailed plan before beginning any promotion.

2. Consider your target demographics
Do you want to microtarget your fans or not? If you’re strictly B2B, how can you ensure that you get businesspeople rather than stay-at-home moms to enter? (Offering an iPad is great, but everyone wants one.) Think ahead and target only the entrants you want.

3. Follow Facebook’s rules
We see promotions daily that are being run in violation of Facebook’s terms. Be sure to read and understand the rules here before beginning any type of promotion. Note that votes and entries can’t be made on the wall without a third-party app like the one we made for our client Hotel Amarano.

4. Promote, promote, promote
Just holding a contest doesn’t mean that droves of people will enter. You need to promote your contest via advertising and online posting as your budget permits. Unless you plan to give away loads of cash, you need to continue to spread the word throughout the contest.

5. Make it easy to enter
Scavenger hunts, point-accruing games, essay contests and other multistep contests are too hard and turn people away. Make it easy to enter and even easier to win, and you’ll get more participants. Of course, collecting emails must be part of the process.

6. Reward participation
Keep in mind that people are taking the time from their busy lives to help promote your company. Respond to all questions and comments and continue to engage with your community. Thank each entrant and perhaps even give a token gift for every entry. We saw bumper stickers (cost: under a buck) fly out the door for a contest we ran recently; for another, we gave every entrant a surprise discount code.

7. Follow up
Make sure prizes are awarded and sent in a timely manner. Ask the winner to send photos with the prize to share with your Page, and send out press or social media posts. Participants want to see that a real person won. Be sure to use the emails you collect from participants to send follow-up messaging.

If you want to get more qualified leads easily, and want to run a contest on Facebook to help, call us at 818-848-1700. We’ll help you do it right.

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There’s no such thing as a free (plane) ride and other Facebook rumors

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

It’s hard to believe that my Facebook friends–mostly college-educated–are so gullible.  The same people that teach their children not to take candy from strangers are the very ones who are propagating the most ridiculous rumors on Facebook, without even checking their facts.  Just to be clear:

1. Costco is not giving away $1000 gift certificates to all of their Facebook fans–or $100 ones.  Nor are Cheesecake Factory or Walmart.

2. Facebook is NOT shutting down on March 15th.  Probably not ever.

3. Southwest Airlines is NOT giving away two free air travel tickets to those who follow a special online link.  The only thing you’ll get from that link is a virus and a headache.

Actually, about the only free thing you can get on Facebook right now is Facebook itself.  (Hoax #4 solved-Facebook is not planning on charging a fee).  That, and my sage advice: Don’t pass on links you know nothing about just because your neighbor’s second cousin posted it on his wall. Trying to take back a stupidly shared rumor is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.  Messy and ultimately impossible.

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Counterintuity wins 10th major award of 2011

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Counterintuity LLC, a Burbank-based marketing, website design and social media company, has won yet another major industry award, this time from the Davey Awards. This brings to 10 the significant awards Counterintuity has won in 2011, including “California Small Business of the Year” for Assembly District 43 and 2011 Small Business Award from the United Chambers of Commerce, San Fernando Valley & Region.

Counterintuity was awarded a Davey Award in November for Transportation Website Design for www.BraggCrane.com, shortly after receiving three W3 awards, which were announced in October. The Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small firms, agencies and companies worldwide.

The company won three W3 Awards: Both General Construction Website and Visual Appeal for www.BraggCrane.com; and Online Film and Video – Political/Commentary for “Where Will You Go?,” made for client “Yes on 21” Committee, Californians for State Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

The W3 Awards honors creative excellence on the Web, and recognizes the creative and marketing professionals behind award winning Websites, Web Video and Online Marketing programs. W3 is the first major Web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms, and everyone in between.

“All of these awards highlight the out-of-the box thinking and creative execution that exemplify what Counterintuity is all about,” said Lee Wochner, Counterintuity’s CEO. “We are honored to be recognized for being at the forefront of our industry, pushing the limits in creativity and design.”

Both awards programs are judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), a 200+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current IAVA membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Yahoo!, Estee Lauder, Wired, Insight Interactive, The Webby Awards, Bath & Body Works, Brandweek, Polo Ralph Lauren, ADWEEK, Alloy, Coach, iNDELIBLE, MTV, Victoria’s Secret, HBO, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Myspace.com, and many others. See www.iavisarts.org for more information.

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Google+ has launched business pages!

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Counterintuity's Google+ page

We wanted to be sure you knew that Google+ launched Business Pages yesterday. Here are some questions we thought you might have:

What does this mean?

Google now allows business and brands to join Google+, Google’s social network. Facebook has had business pages for a while and we were all waiting for Google to join the party.

Why should I care?

  • This is Google, the king of search. Google+ will impact your search rankings. If not today, then probably tomorrow.
  • Now you can tie in all of Google’s features – Google Places, Google Search, AdWords, YouTube… you get the picture.
  • This is Google, the king of search.

How do I create mine?

Go here:  https://plus.google.com/pages/create or call us at 818-848-1700.

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Priorities

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Last week, I was supposed to post here. But I didn’t.

I had even put a reminder into my schedule. There was even an alarm attached to that reminder. It went off on my laptop and on my iPhone. But I still didn’t write a post.

Now, we need posts written. As a social media firm, we know the impact that regular posting makes on traffic, on awareness, on SEO, and more. But I didn’t do it.

So why not?

Here’s one tip: over the past two weeks, we’ve notched record sales. We’ve gone after projects that we wanted, and we’ve booked them. So it looks like I was doing something else, something that had another quantifiable impact.

Yesterday at a private lunch meeting with board members of a foundation, our attorney confessed that he kept his old, limited, cellphone, and stayed away from Facebook and Twitter, because he was afraid of getting sucked in. I said, “What you’re really talking about is priorities. Focus will take you far. We tell clients all the time, ‘You don’t need to do everything. Decide what you want to achieve, and do what you need to do to accomplish that.’”

And that’s why, for the past week, even though they’re all useful tools, I’ve spent far more time with Salesforce than Facebook or WordPress. And why now, with last week’s priority achieved, I’m writing this blog post. Because like everyone else in business, we have objectives we’re working to meet, and my priorities have to flex to meet those objectives. It’s good to define your goals, and how you’re going to reach them. Focus takes you far.

And as for our attorney: He seriously needs an upgrade.

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We’re on the awards path!

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Counterintuity is proud to have added to our expanding trophy case with three new awards from W3, honoring creative excellence on the web, and recognizing the creative and marketing professionals behind award winning sites, marketing programs, and video work created for the web.

Counterintuity gold awardLess than 10% of all W3 entries (3,000 in all) were selected as Gold Winners, and we are thrilled to announce our website for Bragg Crane took home the gold in the construction category.

In determining winners, entries are judged based on a standard of excellence as determined by the IAVA, according to the category entered. To uphold a high standard of excellence, a category may have multiple winners, or may have no winners at all. Entries are scored on a ten point scale by the judges. Outstanding entries are are awarded Silver Winners, and we’re happy to claim two of these: Bragg Crane website for Visual Appeal, and our political satire video “Where Will You Go?” created for a 2010 state ballot initiative.Counterintuity silver W3 award

“This year’s W3 Winners demonstrate the out-of-the box thinking and creative execution that exemplifies what the Web is all about” said Linda Day, the Executive Director of the IAVA. “On behalf of the entire Academy, congratulations to this year’s W3 Award entrants and winners for their dedication to pushing the limits and finding new ways to raise the bar in Web Creativity.”

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Don’t disturb the ghosts…ghost tweeters that is

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

We’ve heard whispers. Hushed conversations in the back alleys of social media. There are those among us that aren’t writing their own tweets.

Ok, so ghost tweeting may not be the biggest of news. But ghost tweeting gone wrong is always humorous. Check out what happened to @MarkDavidson this morning:

Don't disturb the ghosts...Ghost tweeters that is!

There’s a few take-aways from an escapade such as this.
1. If you’re keeping up the facade of an online personality, then it should actually be you. Companies have many voices but individuals should be genuine. Don’t mislead the online audience.
2. If you let go of someone in your employ, it’s standard practice to change your passwords. Everywhere. Make sure that your identity, your bank records, and any other documents are secure.
3. Follow the golden rule. If you don’t treat your employees – or for that matter your clients, colleagues, or neighbors – with respect, then you run a higher risk of something like this happening. There are always two sides to every story, so we’re not passing judgement on @MarkDavidson. Just reminding people to be nice! Or you could end up with this:

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How my Facebook profile got hacked

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Last week, my Facebook profile was hacked.  ”I” began sending messages to my Facebook friends about a getting a great deal on Viagra.  I became suspicious when I began getting e-mails from friends wondering how I knew they needed that particular product (or proudly boasting that they didn’t).

You’ve no doubt seen them: “Lisa, I won a FREE iPad, click here to see how!” “I got a new Dell computer for free, NO JOKE.”  The messages usually contain a link, which will take you to a website that tries to extract personal information from you.

Everyone seems to know what to do if you receive one of these posts or e-mails: DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK.  Those who unsuspectingly send the posts know to immediately change their password.

But I wanted to know HOW my Facebook page got hacked.  I use a secure connection on Facebook.  I have the best anti-virus, anti-phishing, anti-malware programs I can get.

It turns out that most scams come from users themselves.  The times I took a quiz, installed a Facebook game, or added an app to my profile? Who reads the “fine print” screen specifying what permissions the app needs to proceed?  Guess what? These permissions can include almost anything they want to ask for, and may even include accessing your Facebook account even when you’re not logged in. If you’re like me, and don’t read these screens carefully, you can actually be responsible for giving  away your personal information – and that of your friends – and inviting hackers in.

Yes, it turns out being hacked was my own fault.  It could have been adding “Words with Friends”, or maybe “Twitter” or even “Birthday Calendar”.  My hack happened right after I imported my Facebook photos to my new Droid. Whatever the case, I never even looked to see what info I was giving them, and I have no idea who “them” may be.

Facebook continues to work on improving security, but it turns out they just can’t save me from myself. From now own, I will pay close attention to what permissions I give apps, if any.  And if it asks for too much information, I’ll just say no.  I may have to stop playing Bingo or chatting on Facetime, but I promise you’ll never get a Viagra message from me again.


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