The Ocean Agency

When we get new clients who aim to improve their business through interactive design, search engine optimization, and interactive marketing– one of the first things we recommend is that they build a blog.

A blog that acts as the interactive hub of your brand is extremely important. As a company, a blog allows you to connect directly with  potential clients, brand yourself effectively, and, on the technical side, increases you search engine rankings and visibility. A blog is usually the centerpiece of any interactive marketing strategy, where all of your engaging content emanates from.

Pic: “B-L-O-G” ( The Ocean Agency does not support gang signs or activity. Promise. )

In Honor Of National Punctuation Day:

There are many who would argue that social media interaction has a language all of its own, exemplified by the way it turns verbs into adjectives (Fail, Win) and creates some sort of new hot abbreviation everyday.

Brands and businesses who use social media  aim to be open, transparent, and helpful. They need to be enthusiastic about their products and services, and genuine in their appreciation for their customers. You know what really comes in handy when trying to come off as positive, upbeat, and friendly? An exclamation point!

Two months ago, I received a birthday present that was quite possibly the best gift I’ve ever gotten.  It was an Amazon Kindle – and despite being a complete book nerd, prior to my Kindle ownership I was a staunch advocate of buying actual books.  After all, a small black and white screen couldn’t possibly replicate the experience of reading and marking up an actual book, could it? No way, no how.

Every DJ has heard this: In this day and age, just about anyone can “DJ” a party. All you have to do is make a playlist and hit play, right?

WRONG.

Every social media marketer has heard this:  Anyone can be a social media marketer, all you need is a blog, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn account.

WRONG AS WELL.

Interestingly, the keys to being a successful DJ and social media marketer are surprisingly similar:

Jimmy John’s Sandwiches is a sandwich shop that is impressively tech savvy. Hey fatso, you can even order sandwiches directly from your Facebook account:

Today was a big day for the Jimmy John’s franchise, as they gave their Facebook fans a sneak preview of what was to become their first televised commercial. They built up anticipation, posting links both on their Facebook page (they have 229,000 fans) and on their Twitter. They revealed the commercial at 3 PM central and fan reaction was immediate, and negative.  Here is a small sampling of the comments:

We  know that you absolutely never procrastinate at work– Neither do we. We found these entertaining viral apps at home on our own time, we swear. And we are only sharing them with you so that you can understand how to make your own apps viral– not so you can while away the last few hours til the weekend. Check these links out:

I was just having a conversation with a friend about one of his favorite Chicago restaurants, and it turned out that the place was right around the corner from my new apartment. (Incidentally, the conversation started because I saw him raving about Twin Anchors leftovers in his GChat status message– so there’s another example of online word of mouth for you.) This highly-regarded Chicago tavern is full of history; it’s been around since 1932 and claims to be a favorite of Frank Sinatra. But in the vast culinary landscape of Chicago, which is constantly expanding with new restaurants and bars, how does a traditional tavern and BBQ joint stand out? How does it parlay a crowd of loyal regulars into a new and growing customer base?

In honor of 9/9/09

These days social media may get even more press coverage than the recession. Most executives and business owners know they should be using social media, but everyday i’m shocked by the sheer number of companies that have little to no social media presence. Based on what we hear in our everyday dealings with clients here are 9 common excuses barriers to entry: