Responsible for finding the next generation of digital pioneers, the likes of Foursquare, Tumblr, Quora and all started out here. As a hotbed of up and coming talent SxSW’s Accelerator series will be held for the fourth year running in the Startup Village, with a call for entries from product or services launched no later than 13th March 2011.

As part of PanelPicker initiative, SxSW are giving their active online community a voice. Grouping together over 600 accepted discussion proposals into manageable chunks to help inspire and discover trends for what SxSW describe as ‘an industry zeitgeist’.

These accepted proposals will take the form of panel talks, Q&A sessions and discussions covering hefty topics from social media gender profiling to human psychologies of digital media, no doubt sparking some revealing discussions. With each talk handily labelled beginner, intermediate or advanced and even a beginners guide to SxSW, organisers are really gearing their offer to the wider community this year.

Here’s a few of our favourite proposals to look out for:

• Sex On The Web: The Sabotage of Relationships?
• It’s “Ms Bitch”-How Gals Grab Digital By the Balls
• Modern Weaponry: Using Digital Media to End a War
• Mobile App Design for Young Minds and Small Hands
• Creative Social: Where do old creatives go to die?
• LiberationTech – How Geeks Overthrow Governments

Keep your eyes peeled for more SxSW info here.

Bloggers are now permanent features at key events, like the front rows at fashion catwalk shows 2010

We are facing an exciting year for the fashion industry. It seems that brands are (finally) fully embracing the digital sphere and online has become a vital ingredient in the marketing mix of most high street retailers. The most important driving force behind this is of course the behaviour of us, the consumers. It is no longer a competitive advantage for fashion brands to have a well established digital presence, but it is indeed a disadvantage not to. Social channels to tune in to, blogs for us to follow, online competitions, members areas with exclusive content and previews, these are all examples of what consumers expect from fashion brands of today. If they fail to deliver the fans will go elsewhere.

This development is further empowered by the new generation of fashion editors – the fashion bloggers. These people represent the self-exclaimed, international fashion elite currently picking up and sharing trends and industry news quicker than any other channels. They have not only become style icons with their own fashion tribes, but they are also considered to be reliable sources of information for trend and lifestyle advice, something which retailers ought to acknowledge and respond to.

Here’s a few of our fave fashion blogs:

http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
http://stylebubble.typepad.com/
http://00o00.blogspot.com/
http://kingdomofstyle.typepad.co.uk/
http://facehunter.blogspot.com/
http://thefashionisto.com/blog/

We work together with several key fashion brands in the UK, developing their digital presence and helping them to gather and engage with their own tribes. If you are curious to find out more about how we do this get in touch with Lexy, our Fashion Account Manager.

OK so it’s what we expected – isn’t it? Maybe that’s the thing missing? Apple has delivered the iPad and it’s exactly what we thought it would be  – a large iPhone. Maybe all the hype surrounding it meant it was always going to fail in some respects. Unlike the iPhone, which filled an already well-established need, there is no existing need the iPad fills.

The success of the product is going to be in the deals that are made with publishers and such like. It feels like the opportunity the publishing industry has been wanting and waiting for. The device does look like a natural digital fit for books and magazines. We’ve been talking to a few clients for some time now as to how to turn their print publications into successful digital publications. With the current size of the iTunes store and the press around launch this maybe the platform that gives each party what they are looking for and give more power and profit back to the publishers themselves.

The locked-down platform strategy will help the success of the product, raising the quality standard of the content and Apps as it has done on the iPhone. This strategy can only benefit the end-user who already knows how to interact with this new technology before it goes on the sale.

The tablet concepts that have been floating the net prior to the launch of the iPad all seem to have a similar solution for the user, which is to have a web ‘esq’ digital interpretation of a magazine layout. Much like the iPad itself, this is what we would expect. However, we’re going to want much more very quickly.

The content and interface should be focused around the device and the user, not existing magazine or website formats. Publishers and designers are going to need to get over this hurdle quickly if they are to help this industry cherish and grow.

The opportunities for such an intuitive device are massive, but it does require lateral thinking, better use of content integration and mix, and a client who is willing to lead the market. The device should throw up some really exciting solutions which I can’t wait to see.

Overall it looks like it’s going to be a very successful product for them and exceed expectations. I guess the bottom line for the consumer is do I want one? I know I do!

Lots of debate about DM, Data and Digital - not sure about the Monty Python reference though

Thanks to Results International and Lewis Silkin for inviting me to the round table debate.

Attendees included:

• Richard Lees, Database Group
• Leighton Morgan, Eclipse Marketing
• David Perkins, Indicia
• Benn Achilleas, Neoco
• Mark Patron, Red Eye
• Malcolm Duckett, Speed-Trap
• Simon Morrissey, Lewis Silkin
• Cliff Fluet, Lewis Silkin
• Keith Hunt, Results International
• Caroline Johnson, Results International
• Jo Sensini, Velvet PR

Notes and podcast audio released soon.

Benn said he will only attend if he can wear his King Arthur costume

Neoco co-founder and director, Benn Achilleas, has been invited to a roundtable debate on DM, Data and Digital. The event is being hosted by Lewis Silkin and takes place June 3rd. Watch this space for insight from the debate.

It is increasingly clear that the level of a brand’s engagement with the ever growing online community is beginning to have a direct correlation with that brand’s reputation. Social media is booming. Every day new statistics, white papers and articles appear discussing its continued growth. Independent market analyst Datamonitor has revealed how quickly the number of people participating in online social networking is growing: the UK currently leads Europe, in terms of membership, and is expected to Reach 27 million users – a threefold increase on today’s figures – by 2012

Across the globe, consumers are more connected than ever before, thanks to easier internet access, the rise (and reduction) in price of broadband and an increase in home usage. With the continual development of tools to aid communication, including blogs, Social networks and photo/video sharing sites, this trend looks set to continue.

But what exactly is social media? The term reflects the sharing of information, experiences and opinions through a series of widely available, easy-to-use tools. Very simple, very public, very hard to ignore.

According to VNU.net, nearly half of the online adult population around the world is a member of at least one networking site, with Facebook and MySpace between them housing over 170 million monthly active users.

Other social media activity is also continuing to grow at a frenetic pace. According to Wave3 research of active users:

* 394m watch video clips online
* 346m read blogs
* 321m read personal blogs
* 307m visit a friend’s social network page
* 303m share a video clip
* 272m manage a profile on a social network
* 248m upload photos
* 216m download video podcasts
* 215m download podcasts
* 184m start their own Blog
* 83m upload a video clip
* 160m subscribe to an RSS feed

Want more insight like this? Neoco send out a regular email with a collection of great facts and insight like this, combined with a series of workshops for that enable you to maximise that knowledge. Just get in touch with Benn for more info.

We often get clients asking us about all these different channels and the best way to communicate across them. Good news is that we are going to start running workshops and training days to help expand the knowledge and ability of our clients and their internal teams. This is open to people on either side of the fence (client or agency side).

Are you interested in any of the following? If so, go to http://ping.fm/rSWYc and register your interest.

* Mobile Marketing – Harnessing the power and potential of media targeting
* Online Marketing – Getting to grips with the power of online marketing
* PR – Getting to grips with how online fits into the PR mix
* Audience Building – Unlocking the keys to boosting your traffic and retaining customers
* Blogging – Authoring blogs that get readers and ratings
* Community & Web 2.0 – Building effective online communities
* How the Internet works – Understanding the key components that make up the Internet
* Podcasting – Getting to grips with designing and building podcasting strategies
* Media Targeting – Harnessing the power and potential of media targeting
* Search for Advertisers – Getting more profitable customers through search
* Search for Agencies – Getting more profitable customers for your clients through search
* Email Marketing – Getting to grips with email marketing
* Viral Marketing – Creating effective viral marketing messages
* Research for Online Audience Behaviour – Understanding your customers
* Word of Mouth & Advocacy – Engaging and motivating your audience to promote your brand
* Widgets – The way to create widgets that get results and exposure
* Trends – Understanding the strategic trends driving the digital economy
* Web 2.0 – Harnessing Web 2.0 practices and technologies in your business
* Web Project Management – Running web projects to deliver on time and within budget
Go to http://ping.fm/IqnOz and register your interest.

If only I was a little taller I could have fixed everything. Wondering how? Turned it off and on again, of course…

IAB banner

Another event that you can catch the Neoco team at – or ask us for a report from is the IAB B2B forum: B2B marketing can be hugely different to consumer facing campaigns, particularly when using online advertising, but it can also be incredibly powerful when used correctly.

This essential IAB afternoon forum will give you everything you need to use internet advertising correctly to attract, convert and retain customers in the B2B sector. Whether you are entirely new to internet advertising, or are simply looking to refine your skills, this event will equip you with actions to take back to your teams, improve your business systems and ultimately increase your return on investment in 2009 and beyond.

The IAB has been providing educational material and thought leadership in the B2B sector for many years through its B2B Council. Consisting of the industry’s leading experts, the Council has put together an agenda that is packed with case studies, helpful tips and facts. It will cover most forms of internet advertising from a strategic perspective, including search, email, display and video marketing.

At the event, the B2B Council will also be launching their latest publication with every delegate receiving a free hard copy.

AGENDA

12.45 – 1.15pm
Arrival and lunch

1.15pm – 1.30pm
Chairman’s welcome and B2B Market Overview
Joel Harrison Editor for B2B Marketing

1.30 – 2.00pm
ATTRACT – Innovative online thought leadership
Hanne Tuomisto-Inch – Banner Corporation
Andrew Sibley – Head of Brand & Advertising – Cisco Systems
Cisco’s European head of brand and advertising, Andrew Sibley, will shed light into Cisco’s worldwide experiences and strategies in branding and marketing to business and IT decision-makers in the digital space. Cisco, one of the IT industry’s leading innovators, is a good example of a company that is at the forefront of innovation in digital marketing. Online is key to all Cisco’s communications from enhancing brand experience to launching new products.

BREAK

2.20 – 2.50pm
CONVERT – Delivering business intelligence through digital acquisition 2 x breakaway sessions: long and short closing cycles
Edward Weatherall – Concep

Matt Cooksley – Global eMarketing Manager – Cushman & Wakefield LLP
Long closing cycles: Cushman & Wakefield is the world’s largest privately held real estate services firm with 221 offices in 58 countries and more than 15,000 employees. The firm offers a complete range of services to various clients, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Based around the long cycle, if you choose to attend this session you will learn how to convert clients for larger purchases that require a longer period of consideration.

Alastair Douglas – Simply Business
Short closing cycles: If you run campaigns within quick closing cycle sectors, this session will be perfect for tips to improve upon your campaigns from an expert in this field. Simply Business is the UK’s most popular business insurance and finance portal, using many internet advertising tools including search to deliver undeniably good results.

2.50 – 3.20pm
RETAIN – The role of Internet marketing in Retention
Richard Bush – MD – BaseOneGroup
Retention is key, we all know that, but what role can the internet play in developing and retaining our most valuable customers. In this interactive session we’ll be investigating the retention potential of a whole range of web based techniques from search to virtual seminars.

3.20 – 3.40pm
FUTURE – 2009: an IAB insight
Guy Phillipson – CEO – IAB UK

3.40 – 4.00pm
Q & A

Konica Minolta ad with Ronaldinho

One of the great things about online and digital advertising/ marketing is how responsive it can be. The fairly recent BA T5 ads were great as they streamed almost live images of the queues at the airport to show you that things were back to normal (or not). There was also a lot of effort to make these ads appear in relevant places both online and offline. Well done BA marketing team and agency. Which leads me to the Konica Minolta marketing team and/or agency…

The other morning I saw this new(?) ad campaign, a £1.4m ad campaign that clearly shows bad advertising is bad regardless of media. The ads are for the print machine manufacturers Konica Minolta and dedicates approx. 80% of the media to the less than pretty face of footballing maestro Ronaldinho. The lone statement reads ‘Ronaldinho brings dramatic improvements to football. KM brings dramatic improvements to colour output’. A little more research in to the campaign shows that maybe this is not totally bad advertising but more out of touch. It appears the campaign was masterminded in Japan and handed down to territories. Now, maybe in the Land of the Rising Sun, Ronaldinho is still seen as something special but for anyone who actually keeps up with football (which is surely a large part of the target audience for this ad?) then they would know Ronaldinho has been struggling with his football game, weight and lifestyle for about 18 months or more. Famously dumped from Barcelona for being unfit, unmotivated and a little petulant, why on Earth would you think this is a good image for your product? So the ad campaign was launch exactly a year ago but he was struggling with all these issues back then.

Importantly, why keep running the ads now? This billboard went up a matter of days ago and highlights the issues of advertising offline. At least if this was online, the banners/ MPU/ whatever could be updated with new content or even a new tagline, maybe something like ‘KM printers stay in their prime long after others have lost theirs’