I'm having a hard time trying to come up with an answer when I am asked what I do for a living. For many years I have been saying that I am a graphic designer. But now but I don't think that is an accurate job description anymore. Those of you who are very familiar with iHOG know that about 3 years ago I ambitiously expanded my company and hired a web programmer, online marketer and had a few graphic design interns. During that time I immersed myself into learning as much as I could about online marketing. I had been in the print world for almost 20 years and I realized that, in the best interest of my clients (current and future), iHOG needed to do more than offer creative services. The internet had opened up so many possibilities to advertise and market one's products and services and there are new buzzwords to keep up with constantly. I wanted to help other businesses grow there businesses not only through ink on paper but by integrating that with landing pages, relevant emails, and a highly functional web presence. This was exciting stuff. If I had a nickel for every white paper, webinar, book, blog, etc that I read on online marketing, I'd have a bucket full of nickels (a really big bucket).
For example, I am currently working with a new client where I am not only designing the marketing collateral (brochure, media kit, etc.), which is what I had typically done for the previous decades, but now I am building the website as well as developing a marketing strategy that incorporates a blog, social networking sites, viral videos and email blasts to create brand awareness. Creativity is just one small part of it. Technology, I feel, has brought function over form. By that I mean that it has become less important how cool a website looks and much, much more critical on how it functions. As a designer at heart, it isn't easy for me to admit that creativity has to share the spotlight with technology but I honestly understand that it is in the best interest of my clients. So I have partnered with the best programmers and 'techies' that I could find to make sure I can offer the best of both worlds.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
iHOG update
Happy New Year! This is the year of the HOG right? Oh, it's not? Well, for me it is, so there...
I know I still have our outdated iHOG website but I have been working on a new one and it's going to be pretty cool - it's just taking longer than I thought. It's going to have a whole new look and I've even designed a new logo. Yup, our old friend the little piggy, is being retired. As I figure out this whole blogging thing, (yes, I'm new to this) I will try to add some sneak peeks at my new logo and site. I also plan to create a separate section with marketing ideas and tips as I've become obsessed with the countless marketing books, websites and blogs out there. I might add it to this blog or create a new one, not sure yet but I will give the opportunity to all of you to receive the info via email.
I don't usually make new year's resolutions but for 2009, I am going to try to dedicate some time to maintaining this blog. I have 2 main reasons for this. First, I feel that I constantly come across valuable information that many of you may be able to use in your particular business or organization. Second, I keep reading that successful businesses need to have a blog. Not that I feel I need to have one just to be successful but I want to see for myself if that is truly the case. That info might benefit some of you who may have been considering it. I have also looking into many of the most popular social networking sites for the sole purpose of - no, not to meet eligible singles who are looking for a good time, remember I'm very happily married - but rather as simple market research to see if some of these really offer true opportunities for business to communicate with new or existing customers. I hope to report on my findings.
That's it for now. Any comments, please post them here or email me.
GB,
John
I know I still have our outdated iHOG website but I have been working on a new one and it's going to be pretty cool - it's just taking longer than I thought. It's going to have a whole new look and I've even designed a new logo. Yup, our old friend the little piggy, is being retired. As I figure out this whole blogging thing, (yes, I'm new to this) I will try to add some sneak peeks at my new logo and site. I also plan to create a separate section with marketing ideas and tips as I've become obsessed with the countless marketing books, websites and blogs out there. I might add it to this blog or create a new one, not sure yet but I will give the opportunity to all of you to receive the info via email.
I don't usually make new year's resolutions but for 2009, I am going to try to dedicate some time to maintaining this blog. I have 2 main reasons for this. First, I feel that I constantly come across valuable information that many of you may be able to use in your particular business or organization. Second, I keep reading that successful businesses need to have a blog. Not that I feel I need to have one just to be successful but I want to see for myself if that is truly the case. That info might benefit some of you who may have been considering it. I have also looking into many of the most popular social networking sites for the sole purpose of - no, not to meet eligible singles who are looking for a good time, remember I'm very happily married - but rather as simple market research to see if some of these really offer true opportunities for business to communicate with new or existing customers. I hope to report on my findings.
That's it for now. Any comments, please post them here or email me.
GB,
John
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