When NOT to delete a customer’s Facebook post

For several months, I had been looking forward to a trip to my favorite place in the world: Colorado. Accommodations booked and recreation planned, all I had left to do was drop off my dog at the boarder’s the evening before my 6:30 A.M. flight.

On the drive to my dog’s “hotel,” I chatted with a ride-along friend about why I enjoy this particular dog-sitter. They let the dogs run free all day, a far leap from the jittery cabin fever he experiences when emerging from other boarders. Plus, the doggie hotel is extremely connected with social media. I can make reservations on their Facebook page and often interact with the staff while I am away to check on my furry friend. They made such an impression on me, I had voted for them in our city newspaper’s “Best of…” small business contest.

My dog at the Prizm office

We arrived, and my dog ran to the door, excited to be at his weekend play place.

Unfortunately, we arrived to a “Closed” sign. Lights out. Dogs in pens. No creature with a key or opposable thumbs in sight.

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.

Windows 8: the TOUGH transition from click to touch

Yesterday, Microsoft made their biggest and most formal announcement on Windows 8. You can watch some, or all (if you’ve got nothing to do), of their massively long BUILD developer conference keynote here.  Windows 8 is easily the biggest paradigm shift from any previous OS since the desktop w/ icons was made popular in the late 1980′s and early 90′s.  And because of how Apple and Google have completely changed the needs and expectations of consumers today, it is a desperately needed reinvention of Windows.

Creative vs Branding

People are extremely tired of advertisements. People want to be entertained — now!

Creating a brand for your company or product is extremely difficult these days. You have the typical marketing aspects like a logo, website, tag line, etc, etc, etc., and then you have interactive marketing, too. Everyone is pushing video. Ratings of American demographics across the board are showing increases in online video viewership compared to that of standard television programing.

It’s time to step into the online video realm. How?

Video on Website Improves Brand

Why do you need video on your website?

As a video production and web design hybrid company, we are asked this question a lot. And while the answer may seem straightforward to us, many businesses are still miffed about what they can gain from online media.

Video is a Large Part of Google+

Last week, Google introduced its latest attempt at social networking with Google+, a direct competitor to Facebook. Bloggers and tech geeks everywhere are quick to draw parallels and note plenty of differences between the two. Our own Creative Director, Doug Johnston, scored an invitation and has since been testing the waters.

One of our favorite differences (which may be a short-lived differentiator, according to this announcement by Facebook) is Hangouts, or group video chat.

Prizm Party – Success!

Prizm held a party in our new office space last Thursday, and it was a success with a constant crowd throughout the evening.

Several past, current, and future clients stopped by to check out the new digs, great food, and new demo videos. Several of our clients were very surprised and happy that their projects made our demo reels! We celebrated receiving 3 national Telly Awards for “Hello Baby” with a movie poster and the trophies on display as well.

The great food was provided by 9-time world BBQ champions of Ace of Hearts BBQ and the Three Little Pigs BBQ team, Silvia’s Deli and the Cafe at Briarcliff.

Prizm had prizes donated by several clients including Ace of Hearts BBQ, The Spa Tuscano, the Cafe at Briarcliff and Spyder Scraper. The winners of the prizes dropped their business cards into a bowl and were drawn Monday. Look for the winners via our Twitter feed. A big thank you goes out to all those that made this possible!

Clients were also asked to sign our “Client Wall” to jazz up the office words of wisdom, thanks, and motivation.

Look for another Prizm Party in the future and make sure you stop by as we are big fans of food, drinks, laughs, fun, music, and of course…getting “Prizmized”!