Concept 1:2:1 Interactive Marketing & Communications

Changes!

2010-12-11T21:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! May you enjoy a happy, healthy & prosperous 2011.

For those of you I haven't spoken with recently, I moved over to Range Online Media (an iProspect company) a few months back.

First, a little background on the move. While I loved running my own agency, I gravitated towards interactive marketing because I loved the blending of the creative & analytical as well as how it is an ever evolving space (just think about the explosive growth of social media & mobile this last year). I wanted to deliver successful online marketing campaigns for my clients with measurable results using both proven channels such as email & search while implementing emerging channels such as mobile, social media & location based apps.

Over the past year, I found myself concentrating more on being a business owner that doing the work that I really wanted to do.

When the opportunity to join Range Online Media presented itself, I had to listen. Their client roster as well as what I had heard about the amazing culture were very intriguing. While I knew of their reputation as a search marketing agency, I discovered that Range is so much more. They are a performance marketing agency leading successful campaigns in multiple online channels. . . search, display media, social media, mobile, location based apps. Range/iProspect handles more top 500 retail clients than any other agency. More than any of that, they are a collection of brilliant people, both personally & professionally.

That said, I am very excited about the possibilities for 2011 & the future of interactive marketing. Considering my move over to Range, the content and theme of this blog will be changing. In the coming days, I will give you another update.

Thank you to all who contributed to Concept 1:2:1. From customers to colleagues, I appreciate everything you have done.

New website launch- smwrightfoundation.org

2010-02-09T10:36:00.000-08:00

Concept 1:2:1 is proud to announce the launch of a new client website: http://smwrightfoundation.org. They are a great charity doing wonderful things for the South Dallas Community. The S.M. Wright Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides support and stability to inner-city, underprivileged children and less fortunate families through the areas of hunger relief, educational excellence, health, social service assistance and economic empowerment. Concept 1:2:1 also created the new branding of the S.M. Wright Foundation (new foundation logo, event logos and print collateral. Their Christmas event alone was organized with over 30,000 in attendance with all families that attending receiving hot meals, groceries, clothing, household items and toys for their children. The S.M. Wright Foundation Operation Hope Food Center provides food to over 5,000 families per month. Please check out their site and watch their testimonial videos to see how much they mean to the South Dallas community.

Alfred Van Hoven named to board of the DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) Interactive Marketing Association

2009-06-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Concept 1:2:1 is proud to announce that company President, Alfred Van Hoven, has been named to the board of the Dallas Fort Worth Interactive Marketing Association (DFWIMA). Mr. Van Hoven's board position will be website / operations.

The DFW Interactive Marketing Association goal is to be a forum for interactive professionals, businesses and educators in the Metroplex dedicated to sharing ideas, information and best practices that will help define and develop the growing interactive marketing industry and its disciplines.

Concept 1:2:1 looks forward to helping the DFW Interactive Marketing Association reach these goals as well as contributing to the growth of the organization.

Concept 1:2:1 has moved Uptown!

2009-03-31T15:00:00.001-07:00

Uptown Dallas that is! Concept 1:2:1 has moved from our original office space in Plano to the below address:

Concept 1:2:1

4141 Office Parkway

Dallas, TX 75204

(469) 831-3312

Directions/Map Link

The move allows us space for the addition of new creative and development team members to help you with your interactive marketing and communication needs.

In addition to more office space, we have a recording studio on site and plans are in the works to add video production and photography studios as well.

We would love to give you a tour! Call us at 469.831.3312 or send us an email (alfred@concept121.com) and let's get it set up!

Concept 1:2:1 Launches New Website

2009-01-30T09:54:00.000-08:00

Concept 1:2:1 is proud to announce the official launch of the company's new website.

Let us know what you think of the new design.

Web Video as a Training Tool

2008-12-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

By Concept 1:2:1 partner producer Silvana Rosero

Video as a Training Tool

Video has become one of the most effective communication tools in business today (see below for a short web product training video sample). Using video, companies are now able to share knowledge and bring employees together, through any distance, in a simple and cost-effective manner.

Video's unsurpassed ability to deliver high-impact and effective messaging has lead to heavy usage in the fields of advertising and marketing in the past. Currently, video is rapidly becoming equally popular in the demanding discipline of training. A survey conducted between June and July of 2008 by an American Marketing Research Company clearly reflect this trend – companies are investing in video, directly leading to measurable business results. Responses showed that sales training and new-hire orientation both benefit significantly from video’s ability to quickly transfer complex knowledge.

Why should you consider using video for training?
Industry experts say a desire to avoid travel costs is driving much of the demand. At the same time, regulatory compliance is boosting the variety and volume of training materials, and security and open-meeting requirements create more uses for video.

This brings up a valid point: when it comes to communication, face-to-face exchange or first- hand experience cannot be fully replaced by video. Yet it appears to be equally true that in today’s over-scheduled and increasingly global work environment, businesses are looking to shift communication to an on-demand format to accommodate asynchronous work flows whenever possible. Rapid advances in video technology are now making it increasingly possible to
integrate video into training activities and programs; many businesses are now finding video to be an excellent way to train efficiently and cost-effectively.

It is also said that out of the five senses, sight and sound account for 85% of the information we take in. Video allows you to minimize the time spent in training while maximizing the available productive time.

Control your message
A very specific challenge that trainers face is to communicate information in a consistent manner. This is especially true for industries where there is a lot of regulation in place such as health and insurance. Creating a video not only allows you to tightly control your message, but it also gives you the opportunity to craft your communications in the most compelling and attractive way.

In conclusion, video allows you to exploit rich media, replicating information that everyone in a group needs to know in the most efficient way possible.

Concept 1:2:1

Check out our new visual effects and video production demo reel!

2008-10-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

www.concept121.com

Inevitable - Mobile Marketing

2008-09-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

It is inevitible. Mobile marketing provides unparalleled exposure to products and services and the growth of this communications channel is not slowing anytime soon.

Tweens, teens and 20-somethings view their phone as "an extension of themselves". It is a part of their identity. 68% of global respondents say that their phone is their most essential personal device (followed by laptop/PC at 40%). Today's youth is growing up with mobile technology and any interactive marketing plan has to take this into consideration.

Here are some numbers to back it up:

On average, 94% of text messages are read.
80% of consumers keep their mobile with them all day
When given a choice, 39% of U.S. consumers (76 million people!) prefer text messages to other types of ads.

The demographics and survey results point out what is inevitable. If you don't believe the numbers, ask or observe any teen at the mall or Starbucks.

www.concept121.com

Instant Gratification is Here

2008-08-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

I just read that American Airlines will be adding broadband service to certain flights. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/082108dnbusaabroadband.134eeffe.html

Just another step to a world where your business is available to consumers online anytime and anyplace (instant gratification). Another reason that you need to be sure that your online presence is up to the expectation of today's E-commerce lest you get left behind behind the competition that does.

Think of all those people in line to get an iPhone at the Apple store. Part of the appeal is the web capabilities of that phone. To be able to see the web as you see it on your computer whenever you have your iPhone with you. Guess what. . . if your first impression stinks on a desktop or laptop, the odds of that iPhone user will think it stinks too.

It is crucial to any organization to take advantage of what technology gives you. People ready to find you NOW that want to give you MONEY for your service or product. People love to buy. They may not like to be sold, but they love to buy. Give them a chance to buy from you. Give them the instant gratification that they want. www.concept121.com

Perception is reality

2008-07-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

The phrase "Perception is reality" is truer today than ever. With the evolution of social technologies, what is posted online one day is reality in many minds the next. A well planned and executing brand can be tarnished by one bitter customer with a blog. It is a struggle for both Fortune 500 companies and small business owners to find ways to manage this threat. Instead of fighting it, embrace the change and use it to your advantage.

People want information NOW. Social technology has allowed the "always connected" generation to spread the word on anything in multiple channels. A teenager texts his or her friend about a rumor about a classmate. A twenty something posts a blog about his review of a movie. A forty something year old mother of 2 looking for a new daycare center "Googles" her local area for locations. A thirty year old single male emails a web link to his mother for a needed service. It goes on and on. The movement to online and mobile communications is in full swing and organizations that do not adapt are being left behind.

Your online presence may start with a website as the foundation. However, emerging technologies dictate that you find your target audience and influence the perception wherever they may be. A combination of traditional methods (print, TV, radio) must be combined with intelligent use of interactive technology (web, email, mobile) to help influence the perception of the people and manage your brand.

With the right interactive technology partner (such as Concept 1:2:1), you can start using technology effectively to minimize threats to your brand and to communicate with people on a more one to one level.