Why Windows got it right with their new identity

Most of us have seen it now. Last week, Microsoft officially revealed the new Windows brand with its Windows 8 logo.  Blog surfing for responses from people around the web, I’ve generally agreed with the consensus. Overall, everyone agrees that it’s a very clean, simple logo design that very effectively reflects what they’re doing in their new Metro Style UI with Windows 8.

Then, I came across this article from The Verge (one my favorite tech blogs), and they suggested that Microsoft “really missed an opportunity” to capitalize on its previous brand – carrying the most recognizable part of it, the waving flag, through in the new logo.  Usually, I’d be the first guy to argue in agreement with that point.  When creating a new brand, one of the first questions I typically ask is,  ”How recognizable and established is the comapany and their current brand?” And if the answer is “very recognizable and/or established,” I work pretty hard to creatively evolve their current brand into something new and fresh without losing the core of the old identity.

This time, I beg to differ.  In fact, I’d say Windows needed to dump the waving flag like a bad habit.

Why should your brand matter in video?

The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a:

“Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s good or services as distinct from those of other sellers.”

Your brand, in its definition, describes your company’s reputation. In fact, your brand can be known for excellence or for less than desirable by the tribes that follow your company.

Brand = Customer satisfaction. Brand = Value. Brand = Your next customer.

Take video, for instance. Video’s presence online has increased 400 percent since the turn of the century. So many people want to jump on the bandwagon of putting a video online that they forget they are affecting their brand’s reputation depending on what they post.  

Let it be known that video done professionally can elevate your brand. Professional video companies are trained to be aware of the brand guide or brand standards of their clients. This way, the effect a video can have on a brand is always positive.

“But, I’m a small company,” you say. All the more reason you should pay attention to your brand; otherwise, that’s what you will always be: a small company. If that’s your desire and growth is not a factor, this blog is not meant for you.

Many times we’ll visit with clients who don’t need a complete brand makeover but a “freshening” or “elevation” from their existing, tired brand. Because a brand’s foundation is so important, we ask our clients from the start of their projects with us (whether its video or web) if they would like to visit their brand with a new perspective. We have enjoyed elevating and freshening brands such as Essential Knowledge, Renzenberger, Indiana State University Foundation, and many more.  

One last item I should mention: Think about the videos you are watching. If they are poorly done, does that increase or decrease the brand of the company presenting it, from your perspective?

Quality Video equals Brand Elevation.

Don’t get caught doing your brand a disservice without the help of a professional video firm. Your customers and clients will notice, and you’ll be grateful for the sterling reputation your brand continues to have.

Google Fiber “status update” for Kansas City

Patrick Pichette, Google's chief financial officer

For the last 10 years, I’ve been personally following the progress of fiber connectivity.  I first started to hear about the “miraculously fast” bandwith of fiber-optic cable in the summer of 2001 – said to offer up to 100 times the fastest DSL/Cable connection available today.  But, to my dismay, the market has seen almost zero progress on this front over that time (except for maybe network infrastructure development to “prepare the way” of an eventual fiber offering.)  I thought by now the internet would be a completely different animal.  A place where websites, movies/TV and games would all be a seamless fully interactive experience.  But, even though the technology is here, it simply hasn’t happened.

Well, in July of last year, Google elected to use Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS as testing grounds for building a real-working Fiber connection service!  

Success in a Foundation Campaign

Prizm is honored to have been a partner with Indiana State University Foundation during its $85 million campaign.  The campaign was the first comprehensive campaign in the school’s 160 year history.  Prizm was engaged to elevate the brand, showcase the March On! Moments through video storytelling, and design both a live event experience and an online presence.

We are so proud of Indiana State and are honored to have them as a client. Read more about their campaign’s success here.

Google’s social search: Future for businesses?

Google search just came out with a new feature this week when they integrated Google+ updates into relevant Google searches. They are calling the feature “social search” and it has been getting quite a bit of press. (You can learn more about the service from Google’s promotional video.)

As for myself – having tried it for a week – I have to say, I am impressed with the functionality but more so the strategy it suggests Google+ will take and how it will help businesses profit from social media.

Facebook vs. Google+

Part of how I am forecasting social searches and Google+’s future success is in how I see where Google+ and Facebook differ, which is in the philosophy upon which they were built.

Merry Christmas from Prizm!

If you haven’t already seen our Holiday EVM (Electronic Video Message), catch all of the marshmallow-y, hot cocoa-y, Christmas Carol-y goodness here.

Wish you’d received this in your inbox? Email your contact information to marketing@prizmproductions.com to receive future videos like this one.

A testament to the power of social media

It’s amazing how quickly social media has taken hold of the world.  Why, just a short three years ago, I was completely clueless as to what the term “social media” even referred to.  And then when I did finally gain some grain of understanding, I flatly refused to be a part of it for months!  And now, as you can see, I am immersed as deeply as the rest of you crazy cool people. 

Although, there are days that I wonder what will become of everyone.  After all, like everything else in life, moderation is the key.  With all of the different games and fictional societies that seem to be flourishing on the internet, it really could be quite easy to become so fully immersed that one’s days would waste away until there was nothing of reality left to experience and appreciate.

Thankfully, there are many facets to the social media revolution, or perhaps I should say evolution, and it is a great one that I sing the praises of today.  Last year, I lost my beautiful cousin Joy to a very long battle with cancer.  I won’t go into the sad details, because this story is all about greatness precipitated by social networking.  You see, Joy’s children wanted to help her achieve her biggest goals and dreams before she left us, so they asked for a “Bucket List” of things she wanted to accomplish.  It wasn’t a very long list, and really, there were three items that I would consider the least bit challenging:  Go on a cruise;  Swim with the dolphins;  Be a part of the audience at a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Facebook’s Comments Box Now Indexed by Google

Posts made via Facebook’s Comments Box are now being read and indexed by Google’s search bots. This is highly significant, as this added data will affect search engine optimization (SEO), therefore adding value to every discussion, both inside and outside of Facebook.

What is Comments Box?

A common discussion thread on Facebook using Comments Box

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Inside Facebook: At its core, Comments Box is what allows for discussion threads on Facebook itself. The ability to comment on Wall Posts, Status Updates, and so forth is made possible by Comments Box.

“Mispellings” help your brand (suffer)

I can’t imagine I’m the only one who is immediately disenchanted with an online source when I come across a spelling or grammatical error. Especially when perusing news articles, blogs, and, yes, even service- or product-related corporate websites, I throw out the brand as soon as I come across an error so obvious. To me, it makes the people behind the brand seem really lazy…or at least lacking in precision and attention-to-detail.

Even in the world of “LOL” and “:)”, good writing skills are a necessity regarding brand reputation. Having clear communication shows professionalism, accuracy, care, and it proves credibility. Not having good writing skills may lead customers to believe you are also not careful with your business, or that you are apt to avoid double checking work.

Luckily, at Prizm, we have two robots who crunch all of our writing for us. Just kidding. We do, however, pay written communication special mind to avoid cranky customers like me who frown in the general direction of grammatical malpractice.

Consider the following ways to watch your back:

What we learn from Picasso

Every day in every industry, we try to help folks understand the value we bring and why we charge what we do. Prizm isn’t the most expensive company in town, nor are we the least expensive. We do charge industry standard rates and bill for our expertise and experience to get the job done right the first time.

Because the production industry is objective and intangible, I thought I’d share a story about Pablo Picasso to help explain the difficult nature and experience necessary to provide an outstanding end result for Prizm clients. The story goes:

Picasso was sitting at a café in Paris one day, having a cappuccino and reading the paper. A woman approached him and forcefully said, “You’re Picasso. Oh my. Could you paint my profile?” Picasso slowly set his cappuccino down, folded his paper and picked up his sketch tablet. Without saying a word, Picasso motioned to the lady to have a seat. He positioned his subject for the right angle and light that would highlight the image he was about to capture.

The lady began to speak again, and Picasso hushed her, repositioning her, and began his work.

About five minutes passed as the master sketched the subject into beautiful colors and hues. Once he’d finished, he turned the painting around to show his subject. She exclaimed, “It’s amazing! I knew it would be incredible. How much?”

Without hesitation, Picasso said, “5,000 Franks.”

“$5,000 Franks? It took you only five minutes!” she exclaimed.

“No,” Picasso said, “it took me a lifetime.”

As with Picasso, you have to create your brand, your reputation, and the reason why people would be crazy NOT to do business with you!

With everyone searching for the lowest price, they sometimes forget quality, service, and value. Our goal at Prizm is to compete on those three elements of success. Happy shopping, and check us out online to see what we’ve created for other clients like Renzenberger, Indiana State University Foundation, Essential Knowledge, and many other great organizations.