Cloudsourcing

Cloud computing has been huge for a little while now, especially with Apple moving their data storage into the Cloud for their customer base, so it really just makes sense that there would be some new jargon that plays with word usage a bit.  Cloudsourcing refers to the move that many companies are making right now in putting their entire IT systems into the cloud.  While it may have once been used for simple storage and easy sharing, the cloud seems to be the biggest thing in tech right now, and cloudsourcing is clearly a word you are going to need to commit to memory.

Second Screen

As every cable company in the world seemingly works on getting its television content available for customers to view online, it becomes painfully obvious that people today are looking to do new things with television.  Even when we are at home, our tech addictions seem to have us clamoring for something else to do while we watch, and that is where the term second screen comes in.  According to a Yahoo poll, a vast majority of mobile phone users Tweet, Facebook, or otherwise engage with what they are watching on television even while they watch, and that interaction with television shows and advertising that takes place on your phone or PC screen while watching the item in question on the television screen- well, it has given birth to a new and apparently very popular new phrase.

Showrooming

Showrooming is a huge phenomenon right now, and it is one that is making brick and mortar stores very uncomfortable.  This term was coined by booksellers, but the fact of the matter is that it applies to a lot of businesses these days, as stores have turned into nothing more than showrooms where people can try out products and take a gander at what is on the market before going home to buy it on Amazon for a lower price.  Showrooming is the bane of these companies’ existence, and rightfully so, and figuring out how to take market shares back from Amazon will likely be the topic of a great many meetings in 2012.

Tumbld

Just as Facebooked and Tweeted have become viable verbs in the modern lexicon, Tumbld is quickly managing to work itself into conversations as well.  Tumblr is perfect for people on the go and people who need content even more easily accessible than a 140 character Tweet, and with the site’s audience growing by leaps and bounds, it only makes sense that the lexicon be updated to give users their own special terminology.

Plussification

If we can make Tumbld a verb, it only makes sense that we can do the same for the up and coming Google+, right?  Now that Google+ is starting to tweak your search results according to what you and the people in your circles have “plussed” using the social networking site, it seems that this tweak is getting a name of its own.  Plussification may look a little strange and may currently be difficult to work into conversation, but as this change becomes more popular the chances are good that every marketing expert out there is going to be doing whatever is necessary to ensure that the content they product achieves plussification from as many people as possible.

Gamification

Marketers have been using games and contests to attract and engage consumers for decades, and the introduction of apps, mobile websites, and online console gaming has done much to change this.  Log into some of the biggest games in the world right now and you can find company logos buried in the highly realistic 3D worlds that these companies have created.  Gamification is essentially the notion of engaging consumers by introducing an element of competition into your marketing, whether it is through social programs like GetGlue, company branded games (or branding within games), or even rewards programs that offer points and other rewards.  Gamification is growing wildly in popularity, and 2012 is likely to see some big entries from small and large companies alike.

SoLoMo

Spend five minutes on Facebook these days and you will find out where just about everyone on your friend list is currently hanging out.  Thanks to apps like Foursquare, checking into local businesses to show your support is a breeze, and that is where SoLoMo, or social local moble, gets its name.  The term refers to the ability of our mobile devices and computers to spit out local results when we type what we are looking for into Google or Yelp.  You type “best pizza restaurant”, and you know that you are going to get a result that is nearby.  It may not be the best, as taste is always subjective, but thanks to the concept of SoLoMo, you can find what you seek on your cell or PC without having to type out your exact location every single time you search.

It’s likely that there are dozens of new buzzwords developing and gaining in popularity even as I type these words.  Technology and marketing are rapidly changing industries, and we are always looking for the best terms to describe what is happening in the best way possible.  Whatever new terms 2012 may bring, I am certain that they will catch on quickly.  At least now you have a head start that you can use to dazzle fellow Facebookers or to show attendees at your next meeting that you are on top of the year’s hottest marketing terms.

In truth, this question can be very hard to answer.  For many companies, QR campaigns have been spectacular failures, leading the marketing teams behind them to discount the notion of QR codes as a viable marketing tool.  There is a flaw in this logic, however.  QR codes can absolutely engage and enthrall consumers, but in order to achieve this they need to do more than link to a traditional webpage or a single-shot marketing gimmick.  QR codes are designed to enable consumers to instantly interact with a product or company, but to do this, they need to lead the consumer to a destination designed for the mobile market.

In order for a QR code campaign to be truly successful, marketers are going to have to start taking a new approach.  Some companies, such as Macy’s, Starbucks, and Sony have gotten the right idea.  The key is not to simply create a QR code and link users to your website.  In order to be successful with QR marketing, you have to create a mobile platform that really engages and interacts and only then should you be creating QR codes to allow consumers to do so more easily.

The bottom line is that the future of QR codes is definitely uncertain, but it is not because they will become obsolete or because people are unwilling to adapt to them.  Consumers have proven time and time again that they want to interact via Smartphone, but if marketers keep putting the cart before the horse and if campaigns continue to ignore the need to first create a mobile marketing strategy, consumers are going to give up on QR before the technology even gets a chance to shine.

Even if you have no idea what a meme is, I can assure you that you are familiar with them.  Some of the more familiar memes in recent history include planking, LOLCats, and the phrase “Winning” (thanks, Charlie Sheen).  Memes are nothing more than ideas, photos, or behaviors that inadvertently make their way into our culture, our lexicon, and our daily lives.

While most people think of memes as nothing more than jokes, think a little harder about the concept and you can see why marketers are suddenly taking a much bigger look.  LOLcats may be just a laugh for those of us who venture onto the site to get a break from a long work day, but they have made the Cheeseburger network one of the biggest humor networks on the Internet today.  All it takes is a clever slogan, accidental phrase, or funny photo making its way around the web for a meme to be born, and more often than not it brings the company behind it a fair amount of success.

So how do you, as a marketer, utilize memes to help boost your brand?  Well, the first step as always is to do your homework.  Look at some of the most popular memes on television, on the web, and in real life.  Look at how they spread, what made them popular, and what it is that makes the public connect to them so deeply.  Once you have a good idea of how memes help connect people and what it takes for a meme to really resonate with a certain demographic, you will be in a better space to make them work for you.

Another thing to realize is that creating a meme is harder than it seems.  Most memes are inadvertent.  Charlie Sheen had no idea that phrases such as “winning” or “tiger’s blood” would become part of the public lexicon, while advertising catchphrases and meme attempts often just fail to go viral.  This doesn’t mean you can’t create a meme on purpose, but it does mean that it isn’t always going to work.  The best memes are simple, unique, funny, and easy to implement in daily conversation or online postings.

A great meme can span demographics, borders, and genres with relative ease, providing a significant marketing boost and even increased brand awareness.  Some memes even transcend their original form of media.  Think about how the “where’s the beef” meme went from a running television meme to making its way onto t-shirts, bumper stickers, and more back in the 1980’s.  It is even making a surprising appearance in modern commercials these days, giving Wendy’s yet another marketing boost.

The key to creating a meme that really reaches out to the world is in finding something that people want to spread and share, but it is also in capitalizing on that spread and taking part in the conversations that follow.  The meme has been around as long as anyone can remember, but in the age of the Internet, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the concept of viral thoughts and to harness the power of memes to further your business.

Celebrating its 17th year, the Summit Creative Award spotlights works created by small and mid-size marketing firms around the globe.  Recognized for its prestige worldwide, the SCA has become a coveted honor to its award recipients.

About The Summit International Awards (SIA) Organization

The Summit International Awards (SIA) organization was founded in 1994.  The organization conducts the Summit Creative Award, the Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award and the Summit Emerging Media Award. The 2011 competition is the 17th year for the creative competition. Additional information about the Summit International Awards organization, its competitions and winning firms can be found on the Summit Awards web site at www.summitawards.com.

About Indezyn

Celebrating our 11th anniversary in May 2011, Indezyn is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: website design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, and exhibit graphics. For more information: 616-530-0095 (MI) or www.indezyn.com.

“We work closely with our clients and that combined effort – agency and client – is what has contributed to the award-winning end results,” said Amber Antozak, Creative Director. “When you realize that your work has been selected from among thousands of entries, it really hits you that great creative has a way of rising to the top, no matter how crowded the field.”

The Winning Entries

Print Promotional — Print Media, Zipper Studio, the highest honor, Award of Excellence, Print Media, Cover Design
Print Promotional — Print Media, Zipper Studio, the highest honor, Award of Excellence, Print Media, Overall Design
Logo Design — Logo, AcuTread, Award of Distinction, Logo Design
Brochure Design — Brochure, Zipper Studio, Award of Distinction, Print Media Capabilities

About Indezyn

Indezyn is a team of limitless creative including Addy Award winning work centralized around the global concept of personality for your brand and real-time media.

About the Communicator Awards

Now in its 17th season, the Communicator Awards competition is sanctioned by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from an acclaimed circle of media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms.

SOURCE Indezyn

The Logo SIAA Merit Award was presented in the Logo category for the City of Wyoming 50th Anniversary Logo. Indezyn worked with the City Board Leaders to create the perfect design of nostalgia and contemporary using the base of their current branded logo.

The 2 Website SIAA Merit Awards were presented in the Website category for the Superior Ground Cover website and Turnkey Network Services website. Superior provides Landscape Mulch Installation, Playground Safety Surfacing Installation, Aggregate Installation, Erosion Control Solutions, and Green Roof Media Placement. Superior utilizes its fleet of Express Blower trucks throughout each service, offering clients a competitive advantage in each specific market. (@ www.superiorgroundcover.com) Turnkey Network Solutions is the premier fiber optics services organization of the Midwest. (@ www.tkns.net)

The 2 Brochure SIAA Merit Awards were presented in the Print category for Grand Home Automation and Zipper Studio brochures. Grand Home Automation is the midwest’s award-winning home automation & electronic control systems integrator. (@ www.grandhome.com) Zipper Studio is a consultant firm specializing in taking businesses with big dreams to the top.

All entries were carefully reviewed by a national panel of judges for creativity, quality, execution, consumer appeal and overall breakthrough advertising content.

About Indezyn

Celebrating our 11th anniversary in May 2011, Indezyn is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: website design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, and exhibit graphics. For more information: 616-530-0095 (MI) or www.indezyn.com.

The West Michigan Addy Awards support the best in local creative. “We are excited to be recognized as part of the group of leaders in creative,” said Amber Antozak, creative director. Local judges selected winners in 70 categories from more than 400 entries. See more event coverage online @ mlive.

About Indezyn

Celebrating our 11th anniversary in May 2011, Indezyn is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: website design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, and exhibit graphics. For more information: 616-530-0095 (MI) or www.indezyn.com.

Indezyn was selected as a Platinum MarCom Award Winner out of nearly 5,000 entries from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies, and freelancers around the world. The MarCom’s prestigious Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding entries in the competition. Platinum Winners are recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness.

Indezyn’s winning entry was the “Zipper Studio Promo” within the Marketing/Promotion Campaign/Corporate Branding category. This includes the logo/identity, print brochure and business card for this new alliance-driven studio. Visually exciting and modern – the print materials are creatively savvy and exhibit design excellence.

MarCom entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world. A look at the winners shows a range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. The competition is so well respected in the industry that national public relations organizations, local ad clubs, and local business communicator chapters are entrants.

Winners were selected from over 200 categories in seven forms of media and communication efforts- marketing, publications, marketing/promotion, public service/pro bono, creativity and electronic/interactive. About 15% of the entries won the Platinum Award, the organization’s top honor. A complete list of Platinum Winners can be found on the MarCom Awards website at www.marcomawards.com.

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About Indezyn
Celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2010, Indezyn is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: website design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, and exhibit graphics. For more information: 616-530-0095 (MI) or www.indezyn.com.

Indezyn was selected as a MarCom Gold Award Winner out of nearly 5,000 entries from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies, and freelancers around the world. The Gold MarCom Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry norm.

Indezyn’s winning entry was the “AcuTread® Logo” within the Design/Logo category. AcuTread® is an innovative tire retread technology that remanufactures tires to be like brand new again. This highly advanced system, engineered second to none, is the predominant method of retreading in Europe and Japan by leading new tire manufacturers. The AcuTread technology reduces new drive and trailer tire purchases as well as reduces costs through increased performance where conventional retreads are currently being used.

MarCom entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world. A look at the winners shows a range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. The competition is so well respected in the industry that national public relations organizations, local ad clubs, and local business communicator chapters are entrants.

Winners were selected from over 200 categories in seven forms of media and communication efforts- marketing, publications, marketing/promotion, public service/pro bono, creativity and electronic/interactive. About 18% of the entries won the Gold Award, one of the organization’s top honors. A complete list of Gold Winners can be found on the MarCom Awards website at www.marcomawards.com.

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About Indezyn
Celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2010, Indezyn is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: website design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, and exhibit graphics. For more information: 616-530-0095 (MI) or www.indezyn.com.