Dear Brands,

The more options that we can find to reach a consumer, we, as advertisers will most likely try if it’s in the right context. Most large brands have leveraged billboards, print, TV Commercials, Social Media, Display, Email or Paid Search at this point, in some way or form. So how can a strong brand ensure effective communication in all of these areas, and streamline messaging effectively and quickly to consumers to the point of purchase? Ideally, without creating any distractions for the consumers.

Try creating a “Brand Board” online for all of your advertisers and partners to access. Brands that can keep the conversation going internally will come out on top. Advertisers need to know what brands are doing across all mediums so that display ads have the same tone as commercials, and commercials have a way to tie consumers back online. Consumers, male and female, young and old, are spending more and more time online. That said, brands need to find a way to connect the dots offline and finish their experience or picture perfect message online.

We know a lot about today’s consumer: their gender, how often they buy, their income, age and where they go before and after they visit your site. We also know that consumers are moving extremely quick today, muti-tasking like we’ve never seen before. Having the right message at the right time is crucial for advertisers – more than ever. Creating a relevant connection from offline to online and even online to online has never been more important. This brings us to our example below.

We clicked on an online ad for Mobil 1 performance oil offering proven performance for up to 15,000 miles. The display ad we found was targeted, simple and clean.  The landing page was VERY text heavy with no connection of the “Next Service Date” graphic from the messaging we saw in the banner ad.   True, the banner takes me to a page where we can read about oil, but it still seems disjointed. The page does not contain the same theme or language as the display ad. Have we lost the ability to quickly reach the 18-34 year old male who may be looking for coupons to quickly print out to run to the nearest store after seeing a very similar ad on television?

Could the “Brand Board” have connected the display team with the landing page team and created a better experience for the consumer? We ask brands to think about this. Big brands that realize they have a responsibility to create a seamless interaction throughout their online and offline campaigns will have a leg up on the competition.

Brands know that their marketing dollars are going to go a lot further with a campaign that takes consumers to an end to end experience.

By Rob Dorsey and Christian Bright

Hobbies are a great tool used to bridge the gap between work, school, and personal time. They offer a unique opportunity to demonstrate your hidden talents or uncanny abilities in a setting, far removed from work or home. Personal expression of ourselves is crucial to maintaining the delicate balance between work and pleasure and to do the things we love without making a career out of them; although sometimes our hobbies manifest themselves into a career.

Unfortunately, when our hobbies become tied to any sort of monetary-gain they don’t hold the same value as something that is pursued purely for enjoyment. And often times, our hobbies can become an unhealthy addiction that drives us to ignore our responsibilities in life. It is important not to allow this to happen. For example, having a favorite TV show that you religiously watch and follow closely can be fun and entertaining; calling in sick to work because you want to finish season 4 of Lost to find out if Jack, Kate and the rest of the gang finally get off the island, well that’s another story.

Having a hobby can be very rewarding and gratifying; have you put any thought into what your hobbies might be? This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go out and collect stamps or study up on the latest quilt designs. There are a variety of hobbies one can engage in ranging from sports and personal fitness, concerts and music, arts and crafts to even dining out at new and different restaurants, testing your culinary intellect.  Allow your hobby to be an escape from your daily grind; an opportunity to decompress from your normal routine of things; don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Feel free to even “Hobby Hop” - no one says you have to stick with one hobby forever, get out and explore as many as you can. In turn you are exploring yourself.

Can you tell the difference between a hobby and a job? Are you appropriately designating time to indulge in your favorite hobbies, while not at the expense of your friends, family and career paths?

1. Gives you a chance to turn-off (or turn-on)

A hobby can give you a chance “turn-off” and stop stressing about your day job. You can focus on things that relax you or make you smile. Hobbies can also give you a chance to “turn-on”. Your talents might not be used at your day job but your hobby lets you shine whether it’s art, music, crafts, writing, sports, etc.

2. Injects Energy into your life

Focusing on one task or subject every day, 5 days a week, can take its toll. Most of us want to go home, sit on the couch and unwind. Are we really unwinding? I think work is still on our minds. A hobby can put our focus onto something that we enjoy and give us a feeling of accomplishment. Doing this can push the reset button in our minds. It can give us different perspectives or trains of thought to solve issues we were having at our day jobs. Or, it will simply give you more energy to make it through the next work week.

3. Develop & Nurture Talents

Few of us have day jobs that fall in line with our hobby. Those few get to develop and nurture their talents every day. Even then I suggest nurturing that hobby outside of work life to keep it fresh and fun. The majority of us don’t have jobs that manifested itself from a hobby. I find it crucial for those people to pick up one. Everyone has a talent… whether its one, two, three or more. Find what you enjoy and nurture this portion of your life. It can relieve a lot of stress and give your life more meaning.

4. Chance to explore yourself

If you have no hobbies, finding one is a great way to explore who you are. You can meet like-minded people or be exposed to something different that may change your outlook on life. You may find things that you never new you would enjoy. Explore what makes you feel happy and accomplished.

Become a fan of Hobbies

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hobbies/110094879012652?ref=search

By: Norma Villicana and Elias Pettengill

So many companies talk about creating a work-life balance, but in this economy the reality is that many of them still have employees who are working long
days and/or on weekends so the ratio is not always so balanced.  What can be or is being done to help create balance for those employees?  Well, it varies
with each organization.  At EMG, we are doing a couple of different things.  Besides closing down the offices every other Friday for all employees due to an
approved alternative work arrangement that was adopted in 2007, EMG sponsors various FUN events such as a Cinco de Mayo celebration, Halloween
costume contest, ice cream social and other holiday inspired events.  The events are generally held during the workday for a couple of hours and are a great
way to get each of the departments away from their desks and communicating with others that they may not normally talk to on a regular basis.  In addition to
the FUN events, members of the EMG leadership team are also doing one-on-one lunches with employees. 

Just recently, as a member of the executive leadership group, I sponsored a lunch with one of our web developers, Elias Pettengill.   Having a meeting with your
HR Director can be intimidating or can become the topic of new gossip within many companies.  Thank goodness that is not the case here at EMG.  We went
out to sample tasty Cuban cuisine at Felix Continental Café in Old Town Orange (http://www.felixcontinentalcafe.com/).  Since we tend to do FUN events that
are sometimes centered on food and culture, I coaxed him into sampling Cuban food as a potential option for a future FUN event.  Elias was chosen for no other
reason than the fact that he was one of the employees I have not had the chance to spend time with at lunch.  It also didn’t hurt that he happens to be the
owner of one of the heftiest appetites in the office.  When asked about lunch, here is what Elias said, “I had a terrific time with Norma and was very eager to try
Cuban food which was new to me.  I had never gone to lunch with Norma before, but she was certainly a terrific lunch partner. She knew her way around the
menu and was a terrific conversationalist. We talked about food, traveling and work while enjoying Medallion of Salmon. One thing I love about working at EMG
is the people I get to work with. At EMG, we are not just co-workers.  Many of us are friends outside the company.  I have tremendous respect for the people I
get to work alongside every day. “

“As for my review of Felix Continental Café, I would highly recommend it. The food has an authentic taste and the prices are just terrific. The food arrived
promptly, but my only knock against the place is that it is a rather small room and you’re a little cramped being so close to the other tables.”

Of course I thought the food was great.  They have wonderful appetizers that were absolutely delicious!!  I would recommend the place to anyone but you should
definitely get there early to get favorable seating outside. 

This is a small thing we do at EMG, but many times it’s a complitation of all the small things that can make the difference.  If you have an idea for a future FUN
event or hot spot to eat, or simply want to share what’s being done at your company, send us a note.  We would love to hear from you.

Now an annual company tradition, EMG was represented by three teams of five members each consisting of employees, friends and family on June 19 at the Armed Services YMCA Mud Run in Camp Pendleton. “This annual charity fundraiser raises money that benefits all programs and services offered to Camp Pendleton military personnel and their families at low or no cost, by the Armed Services YMCA.” (http://www.camppendletonraces.com/asymca.html) The Mud Run is not your average 10K race. As the name suggests, runners got dirty. Throughout the race were well placed obstacles like “Slippery Hill,” “Suicide Hill,” river crossings, crawling tunnels, two 5 ft. climbing walls surrounded by knee high muddy water, and last but certainly not least participants were forced to crawl through a 30 ft. mud pit before crossing the finish line.

The three EMG teams, Earth, Wind and Fire, had a Saturday afternoon fever and the only cure was more cowbell; but without one of those around they settled for some muddy waters (And no, we’re not talking about the legendary blues musician). Doing “The Hustle” all the way to the finish line, and finishing 5^th among all corporate teams, was EMG Team Wind. “Stayin’ Alive” behind them was Team Fire with a performance not to be taken lightly. Bringing in the company’s “Last Dance,” Team Earth has a lot to be proud of with a much improved time from last year. At EMG “We are Family” so in the end, we were proud of each other for finishing and were happy to have some competitive fun for a good cause along the way. With activities much like these planned throughout the year, EMG strengthens internal relationships and creates a company culture that team members are happy to be a valued part of.

If you live in Southern California, then you’ve probably heard about the Orange County Great Park which is being built on the former El Toro marine base in the Irvine/Lake Forest area. This park is going to be huge at about 2x the size of Central Park in New York.

The OC Great Park is going to be eco-friendly, which we love to hear at EMG. They will be recycling materials from the demolition of the old marine base to build new roads (concrete from runways), bridges (redwood from old hangers) and more. Other green initiatives include recycling water, renewable energy (solar power), habitat restoration and energy efficient transportation options throughout the park.

Phase One has just been announced and is going to be completed sometime in 2011 with many features available in 2010. The best part for us EMGers is that this phase is going to include part of the sports complex which includes soccer fields, as well as a bigger field for general use (football anyone?). Future phases will include tennis courts, baseball fields, skate park, and even a bowling green. This will be a great place to spend our lunches.

I even read an LA Times blog post that said that next year will be Wild River’s last season (for real this time) and that a new water park might open in the great park in 2011.

You can see a picture of the master plan here:
http://wiki.ocregister.com/@api/deki/files/70/=greatparkplanmap.gif

The preview park is currently open where you can take free rides in one of the world’s largest tethered helium balloons. It’s definitely worth a trip if you haven’t been yet.

One of my favorite social media “twitterati”, Amber Naslund (@ambercadabra), recently posted a blog titled “What would you not compromise on”. I think the answer to this question will provide a lot of insight into a person and the type of company they keep (or work for, in this case).

In an effort to keep your attention, I’ve decided to keep the list to 7. That may seem short, but the truth is the more I think about it, the more things come to mind tangentially. 7 has always been a good number for me and limiting myself to 7 will force me to really consider my own compromises. These are in no particular rank order.

1. Trust

   Without trust there is nothing. Not in business and certainly not in life. This was the easiest of the 7 to come up with.

   I trust those I work with to work to the best of their capabilities, tell the truth and I hope that they expect the same from me. I trust that a client has the resources and desire to conduct a project with my company, and they trust me to deliver our consultation based on their desires and budgets. My clients trust me to tell them what is and is not possible within their budget and timeline and if they sign with us they trust me to deliver. That is the only way our relationship work now and that is the only way I can see them working in the future.

   Violation of this trust means that we are done. It shows me that you do not respect me or our relationship enough to be honest about it and that will never fly.

2. Business Integrity

    

   If the company has done it before I will tell you. If I have done it before somewhere else, I will tell you. If this is a new avenue for me, I will tell you and explain why my past experiences will lead to our success. That’s what you can expect from me.

    

3. Family Time

   My son just turned 1 and learned how to climb up on the couch by himself, and how to slide off the couch (feet first please, safely) on his own. There is no equivalent work task, project or client win that will EVER equal watching him smile when he did that. Work is fun and important but I have to keep it in perspective of the things in my life that I love.

4. Loyalty

   Loyalty from me is built after the trust has been established. If I trust you to deliver quality work on a certain time frame and you come through for me, I promise you that will not be the last time we work together. Far too many people take delivery for granted. I am not among them. Work with me and help me to deliver a quality product and you have will help and a reference for life.

5. Flexibility

   I know how I work best, and it is not plowing through 8 hours and going home. I take breaks during the day to mull things over, collaborate and rearchitect. I respond to emails at night and create presentations early in the morning or late in the evening when the office is quiet. I appreciate the ability to take an afternoon off after we have been cranking on delivery or to take a mental health day as needed. These options and flexibility make me a better, more dedicated employee and allow me work under the most optimal conditions for me.

6. Belief in myself

   Our business is constantly in flux. We are in the arena where if you have done something once you are an expert, if you have done it twice you are the guru. I have seen that his can lead to a thought pattern where you have to follow what those who are boasting themselves the loudest have done.

   What we do is not easy, but that is no reason to think that we cannot do something new and do it better than what is out there now. That is what is exciting about our work and makes me want to come in to the office every day. I believe that we can learn from what is out there and challenge the so called experts, using what I know, have researched and experienced.

7. Enjoyment

   We all know that work is work and that some days are better than others. So when I say enjoyment I don’t literally mean every hour of every day, but as an overall trend. If I am not enjoying my work, the space, the people, the challenge, the camaraderie, it might be time to move on. But I have to think of these as a set that I can choose from at different times. I don’t expect to enjoy all at once, but as long as there is something I can derive enjoyment from and look forward to, then I know I’m going to be all right that day.

Being in HR, I hear from so many employees about how much they value communication from their managers and/or from the senior executive level. For many, it is the difference between respect and lack of respect. Everyone wants to know what’s going on, good or bad.

However, interestingly enough, many of the same people who say they value good communication are some of the same people who don’t necessarily exercise it properly.I think maintaining proper communication in the workplace is one of the biggest challenges but it is something that can be overcome. It is important because it helps to gain commitment and ultimately to achieve business goals. Here are some quick tips to help you communicate more effectively.

• Adapt because not everyone may need the same level or type of communication.
• Listen. Know when to stop talking and when to start listening.
• Facilitate. You not only have to listen to what is being said, you also need to learn how to address the topic and then move it on to the next topic of concern or agenda item.
• Ask. You have to be able to ask good questions to get good information.
• Be discrete. Some information may not need to be shared.
• Be clear. If you’re a manager and you have to tell someone to do something, make sure they know exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

There are several features that contribute to EMG’s most favorable professional environment: beautiful business/pleasure balance, casual dress, cool-and-oddly-cozy-hundred-year-old-lima-bean-factory location, healthy snacks of plenty, monthly team building events, etc. But the defining aspect of EMG’s refreshing and charming atmosphere is the team and its diversity. Team EMG is made up of 31 very unique individuals from an array of diverse backgrounds. In our creative environment, individuality, originality and even eccentricity are not only permitted, but fully encouraged. As a marketing agency that prides itself in being innovative and cutting-edge, we’re well aware that molds and boundaries need their limitations. Within weeks of working here, every employee quickly finds that they are at liberty to truly be themselves, 100%. And in the presence of such openness to diversity, we all learn how to communicate with, understand and genuinely appreciate one another - which, in many ways, has very much made us (oh dear Lord, I’m going to say it) a family.

Mid April brought us the paragon event in which EMG’s rich diversity is both highlighted and celebrated - our annual Earth Day International Potluck. On top of promoting the implementation of everyday green initiatives (bringing in plants for the work area and reusable dishes in lieu of paper products), each team member brought in a homemade dish that reflected their cultural background. During the course of a 2 hour lunch break smack in the middle of our work day, we got to know one another a little better through great conversation and the enjoyment of a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts that gave us a more personal perspective of our colleagues. Read the rest of this entry »

Hello everyone, my name is Jayson, and I am one of the newest additions here on the EMG team.  I am extremely honored and excited to have joined this team to work with some of the most creative minds that I’ve ever met.  The thing that excites me most about working at EMG is that we are a full service agency that focuses on technology, and anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE technology.

In my role here at EMG, I will oversee Entertainment marketing as well as offer consultative support for developing high-impact social media campaigns, because after all, based on my background, I would consider myself an expert in these fields as well as all aspects of social networking from products, widgets, UGC, but most importantly, marketing for social media (now known as “New Marketing”). Why do I consider myself an expert you ask? Well, I used to work at one of the largest social networking companies out there, and I have been intimately involved with the many facets of Entertainment marketing and social media on a daily basis. I am exposed to everything from advertising and media campaigns, marketing and promotional campaigns, new products and technology, social media strategies, widgets, and elaborate UGC contests.

The purpose of this blog is so that I can highlight all things cool in Entertainment and Social Media, while providing insight into best practices for marketing on social networking platforms, as well as provide tips for advertisers and brands on media allocation, products, and all things UGC.  In addition, I’m sure you’ll be catching me blogging about the newest and greatest technologies out there.

Let me set one thing straight, though…I absolutely will not be leaking any sensitive company strategies, unreleased products, or any other privileged information that would jeopardize my company’s or our client’s strategies in the marketplace, but if you stick around and read some of the topics here that I’ll be covering, you may gain some valuable knowledge and insight on social media that could result in new ideas, successful advertising strategies, or even to learn exactly how a certain product or technology works.

Best,

Jayson

“On Thursday, October 2, 2008, Earthbound Media Group was honored as the 3rd fastest growing private company in the Orange County area by the Orange County Business Journal. The awards ceremony took place at the Hyatt Regency Irvine and brought together technology consultant firms, software companies and many other businesses throughout Orange County. EMG partners Blaine Behringer, Damien Navarro and Lawrence Williford were all in attendance alongside company executives and staff to accept the award.”

I’ve had the pleasure of working here at EMG for over five years now and I have experienced first hand the growth of the company. It is amazing to think of where we started from and where we are now, but it’s not surprising. The vision and talent combined with a unique company culture makes EMG stand out and succeed.

I can’t wait to see where the next five years takes us. Congrats team!