Posts Tagged ‘isource digital’

« Older Entries

The Dos and Don’ts of Web Design

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

By Natalia Rodriguez

Sayings like never judge a book by its cover and what really matters is what’s on the inside are values that many people should live by, but unfortunately, this is not something that works in the world of digital marketing.

Like it or not, people do judge a book by its cover, and in the digital world, the importance of beauty is magnified. In this world, people only have their eyes to formulate an opinion about the product and the brand. That’s why it’s so important for organizations to invest time and resources in their website.

As a marketing agency with clients in the United States, South Florida and Latin America, we understand that having a well-designed and user-friendly website is a must for the success of your business.

What did it have that mine didn’t?

The appearance of a website is highly important. It can be the factor that can make your audience leave or stay on your website.  It doesn’t matter how credible and honest you know your business is. If your website doesn’t look the part, it’s likely people won’t want to buy from it.

The layout of your website needs to be clean. It needs to have the right amount of white space and high-quality images. In other words, it has to look as if time and effort was put into it. The only thing worse than not having a website is having a website that is poorly done.

Let’s eat grandpa vs. Let’s eat, grandpa

Grammar is a big part of credibility. If your website is full of grammatical and spelling errors, it tells your audience that you don’t know what you are doing. In the real-world, people measure your educational and intelligence level by the way you speak, in the online world, it’s by the way you write.

Take the time to carefully proofread everything you write and to make sure that there are no spelling and/or grammatical errors.

If you’re not nice to me, then we can’t be friends

The third and most important factor is how user friendly your website is. If you have the most beautiful website in the world and it’s not easy to navigate, chances are people will get sick and move on to the next thing. The last thing people want is to try to figure out how to navigate your website. Keep the goal of your website in mind and make sure that your website meets that goal. If the goal of your website is to sell a product or services, make sure that the buying process is easy for customers.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that your website is the face of your organization in the online world. Your website should be an asset to your business. If it’s not helping you, then you should consider making changes to it.

Tell us, as a user what’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to websites?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 2012 Trends, Businesses, Current Events, Everything iSource, Uncategorized, Web Design | 1 Comment »

Creating a Social Media Campaign

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

By Natalia Rodriguez

Luck may exist in life, but not in social media marketing.

As an interactive marketing agency in South Florida, here at iSource Digital, we understand that having a successful social media campaign it’s not about luck, but about the content, strategy and understanding of the target audience.

One of the biggest mistakes many organizations make when embarking onto a social media campaign is that they go into it with little understanding of how social media works and with unrealistic goals and expectations. They think that to gain people’s interest the only thing they have to do is post random content on their Twitter or Facebook page. But social media doesn’t work like that.

To create a successful social media campaign, there needs to be a concrete strategy in mind. Organizations should establish goals and objectives that are relevant to their organization’s needs.

For our most recent social media campaign for BenQ Latin America (BenQ Latam), the first thing we did was establish a strategy relevant to their target audience. Our objectives and goals were relevant and realistic. We dedicated important resources to the campaign. Thus far (the campaign is still in progress), this resulted in more than 10,000 likes on BenQ Latam’s Facebook page in less than a week, and that number keeps on growing.

“Kony 2012” is another great example of a successful social media campaign. The short film, created and produced by Invisible Children, was launched on March 5, 2012. It didn’t take long for the video to go viral. As of March 30, 2012, the video has been viewed 80 million times on Youtube. By creating concrete goals and strong content and by keeping followers updated and active, the campaign has been able to acquire the interest of the public and the press.

Don’t just embark onto a social media campaign if you are not willing to dedicate the resources and time that it needs. That will only lead to failure, and it could do more harm than good. Concentrate, research and communicate correctly to obtain better results.

Social media can do great things for an organization. It’s one of the best tools out there. Give it the attention and resources it needs, and you will see a great improvement.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 2012 Trends, Businesses, Current Events, Events in Review, Everything iSource, Facebook, Facebook trends, Social Media, Social Media Tips, SocialNitro, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Facebook Timeline for Your Business

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

By: Carolina Perello

The idea of switching to the new Facebook Timeline may come uneasy to some businesses. As an interactive agency in South Florida, here at iSource Digital we understand that changes can be nerve-wracking, but it is an investment that’s worth it.

Unlike the previous Facebook set up, Timeline allows your business to represent itself in a more personalized way using features like interactive posts and the new cover photo. Timeline has also made it easier for businesses to keep track of how many people “like” the page and how well they are interacting with it. Additional advantages include milestones to capture significant moments over time along with the feature and pin options that allow you to draw the visitors’ attention. This all may sound complicated (and scary), but no need to worry! I’ll explain in a brief breakdown all of Timeline’s new features and how they will each benefit your business.

The first thing you need to do is choose a profile and cover photo. Think of this process as building the brand identity for you Facebook page. The Profile picture is ideally the company logo or what represents your business best. Along with the Profile picture, the cover photo is also essential in characterizing your business.  Keep in mind that the cover picture is the first thing people will see when visiting your page. There is also a section at the top of your page that includes your “likes,” photos and other additional apps that can be incorporated into your business page.  These features serve as visual aids to the public so they can paint a better image of what your business is about.

In the Timeline itself, people can see the current activities following your business, and this allows them to feel more connected with your business using your profile posts in a timely order. It’s all about staying connected in this fast-paced world where people (especially in cities like Miami) no longer have time to sit down and read a page full of words. Your latest update is what catches the audience attention. Your post is not only what promotes you but what connects with your followers. For example, at iSource we are trying to personalize our posts so followers recognize that there are actual people they can connect with working here and not just robots that type all day and answer calls. Some other features on Timeline are also good to keep in mind, like a pinned post. Pinned posts allow you to keep the most important message at the top of your page for up to seven days, making sure it gathers more attention than other posts. It is also good to take advantage of larger stories to use pictures and videos to capture attention and build interaction. You can also keep track of when people engage most with your content by using Timeline’s insight. This way you know when the best time is to post certain items on your page.

Don’t think of Timeline as the monster under your bed who is out to get you. Instead, think of all the benefits your business will receive from it. Not only will you gain more followers and recognition, but you will also have a chance to develop a meaningful connection with your target audience that no amount of research can give you. We’ve been able to manage iSource Digital’s Facebook much easier since switching to Timeline, and you can use it as an example so that you have a better idea of everything explained on this blog. Don’t be afraid and make the switch!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 2012 Trends, Businesses, Current Events, Everything iSource, Facebook, Facebook trends, Social Media, Social Media Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

St. Patrick’s Day 2012

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Here at iSource Digital there is nothing that we love more than a holiday where we get to drink beer at the office, thank you Ari!  St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect reminder that life is more than work and that having fun is a must, especially when you live in Miami.

A lot of people think that living in Miami or in South Florida life is all play and no work, but those who live here know that’s not necessarily the case. I’ve been living in Miami for almost a year, and I haven’t been to the beach in moths! Days like this is the perfect opportunity to have some fun and enjoy yourself. Go to your favorite restaurant, let loose, wear the most hideous green outfit you own and enjoy what this beautiful city has to offer.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Current Events, Events in Review, Events in Review, Holidays, Uncategorized | No Comments »

PIPA, SOPA and the Future of Piracy

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

By Natalia Rodriguez

A world without the Internet is inconceivable. If it weren’t for the Internet, iSource Digital and other social media and marketing agencies here in South Florida and across the United States wouldn’t exist. However, despite its usefulness, the Internet isn’t without imperfections. One of the main criticisms of the Internet is the lack of protection for copyright work.

To fight the lack of protection, Sen. Patrick Joseph Leahy and Rep. Lamar S. Smith introduced PIPA (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), respectively.

The main goal of PIPA and SOPA were to protect against copyright infringements and piracy. SOPA allowed for the government to seek a court order to any site violating copyright laws, and for the property right holder to send a seize and desist notification, seek compensation and even petition to close the site.

These initiatives caused a public uproar. Internet giants like Google, Wikipedia and Yahoo, law experts and the general public raised their discontent against the bills claiming that these bills will kill the Internet as we know it, and that they violated the First Amendment.

To show their discontent against these bills, on Jan. 18, Wikipedia and Google joined a massive cyber protest. Wikipedia censored its English-speaking site with a message that read: “For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the US congress is considering legislation that can fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.” Google added a black block over its logo with a message that encouraged people to tell congress “please don’t censor the web!”

Many politicians also showed their concerns regarding these bills. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was a co-sponsor of PIPA, posted to his Facebook on Wednesday that he was not going to support the bills because of the impact they could have on the Internet. He added: “A strong interest in stopping online piracy that costs Florida jobs, Congress should listen and avoid rushing through a bill that could have many unintended consequences.”

With the digital world in chaos, the Senate has decided to “postpone” the scheduled vote for PIPA that was to take place on Tuesday, Jan.24 . As for SOPA, the House of Representatives has also backed off due to the recent uproar of protests.

Not everyone was against these two initiatives. The three most outspoken organizations in favor of SOPA and PIPA were the Motion Picture Association of America, Recording Industry Association of America, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter to the New York Times editor, The Executive Vice President of the Global Intellectual Property Center, Mark Elliot, argued that websites that steal American’s innovative products threaten more than 19 million American jobs a year.

Little by little, initiatives like SOPA and PIPA have spread to Latin American Countries, where piracy is a huge problem. In Mexico, soon after SOPA was introduced, Federico Döring–a Mexican senator–proposed a similar initiative called the “Ley Döring.”  This initiative also seeks to end online piracy by regulating the Internet.

It seems that we are still far from reaching a solution. As an interactive agency, it’s hard for us to take a stand. On one hand, these acts could protect our clients’ work, but on the other, our day-to-day jobs would become increasingly difficult. We rely on content from the Internet to keep us up to date on the latest digital trends, to share information with our social networks, and keep our business running smoothly. I can’t imagine a world without the Internet, and I’m not sure I want to. These initiatives have opened the doors for a solution to piracy. As they are now, the price to pay is too high.

What are your thoughts?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 2012 Trends, Current Events, Everything iSource, Social Media | 2 Comments »

Getting Social for 2012

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

By Natalia Rodriguez

For many people, the New Year symbolizes a new opportunity to invent themselves. The most common New Year’s resolutions are to quit smoking, lose weight and/or get promoted. Like people, businesses also make resolutions for the New Year: increase revenue, move to a better, brighter office, etc. One resolution every business must have on their to-do list for 2012 is getting social.

Like it or not, social media is here to stay. You don’t have to be a marketing agency or social media guru to get on board. Since here at iSource Digital we fall under both of those categories, we’d like to share some tips on how to successfully utilize social media platforms in 2012 to better your business.

1) Take advantage.

If you don’t already use social media for your organization, it’s time to start now.

Social media offers a variety of opportunities for businesses to build their brand. It’s an economical way to stay in touch with your audience, communicate your messages, listen and learn what they have to say about you and your products. It would be foolish not to take advantage of all these opportunities.

2)  Just because you know, doesn’t mean you’re an expert.

One of the biggest mistakes people make regarding social media is thinking that just because they have a personal Facebook or Twitter they are an expert on social media. Doing social media for business purposes requires strategy, research and time. Don’t think that just because you have 1,000 friends on your personal Facebook you’ll have 1,000 “likes” on your business page.

3)  Don’t sell. Engage.

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is that they use social media to sell, and that’s not what social media is about. Social media is about building and creating relationships with your fans and followers. The best way to achieve this is by creating two-way communication with your audience. Make them feel included and important. Listen to what they have to say, even if you don’t want to hear it.

Believe me when I tell you that posting more than three times a day about your brand will drive your fans away.

4) Quality over quantity.

When it comes to social media, it’s hard not to fall into the trap of wanting as many followers and fans as possible. While that’s a great thing, and you should always strive to reach as many follower and fans as you can, it’s important to remember that quality is always better than quantity. It’s better to have 10 followers or fans who care about what you have to say than 1,000 who are only following you so you’ll follow them back. The best way to gain followers who care is by keeping your target audience in mind. Always ask yourself, “What is my target audience interested in?”

6) Stay informed.

Social media is constantly changing. That’s why it’s important to stay as informed as you can. Invest time and effort in educating yourself and employees about new trends and platforms. Try to take at least 30 minutes of your time to read about new trends. Learn something new every day.

7) Have Fun!

The most important thing to keep in mind when utilizing social media is to have fun. Don’t be afraid to try new things and get creative. Our South Florida office is always coming up with innovative ways to engage our clients’ consumers through social media, and we live for the challenge. I know social media can be an intimidating field, but don’t let it push you around. Don’t fight social media; embrace it. Let social media give your business the edge it needs to make 2012 a social success.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 2012 Trends, Everything iSource, Holidays, Social Media, SocialNitro | No Comments »

iSource Digital CEO Gives Lecture to University of Michigan Students

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Recently, our CEO, Ari Lisjak, spoke with MBA students attending the University of Michigan about the current status of digital marketing. Ari gave the students an inside look at the digital marketing world. See what Sebastian Valencia of Clarkston Consulting said about the experience:

As part of a research study being conducted by Clarkston Consulting and a group of MBA students from the University of Michigan, we had an insightful conversation with Ari Lisjak from iSource Digital. Ari was extremely helpful in discussing the current state of Digital Marketing metrics, return on investment measurement, and the potential gaps to be closed in the near and long term horizon. The perspectives shared by Ari provided not only a complete baseline for the current state but additional insight into what clients are looking for in order to make a better assessment of their digital investment.

- Sebastian Valencia

Clarkston Consulting

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

iQmetrix Wireless Summit 2011

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Happy to be a part of this today: http://www.iqmetrix.com/article/2011/03/iqmetrix-announces-2011-wireless-summit-miami-oct-16-18-1

Tags: , ,
Posted in Events in Review, Everything iSource | No Comments »

A Man to Remember

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

A Great ManYesterday, the world learned of the untimely death of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Although few people really knew him, today millions will mourn him.

In a written statement, President Obama said, “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.”

Jobs has forever changed technology and more importantly, the way we use it to communicate. The creation of apps has had an incredible impact on the way we market, and for that, we cannot thank him enough. Jobs was an inspiration for entrepreneurs everywhere. He understood better than most that products would be more successful with a powerful brand behind them. Jobs took the time to build his brand and understand his consumer. He will be remembered for improving the lives of those he never knew in ways never imagined.

From the ISOURCE team we say: “Thank you Steve for making our live’s better and easier. We’ll forever remember you and be thankful. A true inspiration to all of us.”

15 Inspirational Steve Jobs Quotes

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

But You Can Call Me Carmelita

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

By Katherine Schober, Account Coordinator

Like most recent graduates, the job search was an exciting and overwhelming process. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, I wasn’t sure where I’d end up. But still, I packed my bags. Finally after more than enough interviews, I made the long drive to the beautiful sunshine state, where shorts are almost always in season and wearing sandals in December doesn’t mean frostbite. I am embracing the sandy beaches and leaving the heavy winter coat and snow boots behind. With more places to Check-in on Foursquare in a five mile radius than in the entire town of Norman, Oklahoma, adjusting to the large city of Miami, Florida has been easier than I expected.

The size of this city is only one of the changes I’ve had to get used to. There is a strong presence of cultures from all over the world in this city. I have spotted families from Russia, Argentina, and Cuba in my apartment complex alone. These people may not speak the same language, but they have a common ground. Miami is truly a modern-day melting pot, where anyone from anywhere can come to reinvent themselves. With that in mind, I’ve decided that this culturally-diverse city demands something of me, of all its inhabitants; to be the best version of ourselves to make up the best city in the state. I’m in a new place, with new faces, a new job in downtown Hollywood, FL, and a new name? Well, maybe not a legal new name, but maybe a nickname to embody this fun and fresh new path my life has taken.

Allow me to introduce myself: I am iSource Digital’s newest intern; a determined gal from the south who dreams of success and is best known by friends for a feisty personality. My name is Katherine, but you can call me Carmelita.

My first week as an iSource intern has flown by. I’ve taken it upon myself to rename my position “The Human Sponge,” as I am soaking up any and all relevant information about the industry. I’ve become so focused on experiencing everything I couldn’t be taught in a classroom, which of course they don’t tell you in school, happens to be a lot. The way we advertise and communicate continues to change drastically, and a university’s curriculum should reflect those changes. The use of Facebook, for example, has gone from a database of student profiles to a directory of people, businesses, and common interests. Social media is not something to be ignored, by universities, advertising agencies, or their clients. For the past week, I have been using sites like Facebook and Twitter to implement marketing strategies that help a client reach their target audience and company goals. I thought because I had been on Facebook for years and taken part in the occasional “tweet” that I knew everything worth knowing about these social media venues. Wrong. I was incredibly wrong. Don’t even get me started on the programs that are available to help manage accounts and schedule activity. I was shaking my fist (with some choice words) toward the social media class I never took. Fortunately, I’m a fast learner and feel more confident in my knowledge and experience with social media after just one week. Working for an interactive agency is opening my eyes to the world of digital marketing and even after a short time, I already feel confident that when my internship ends, I’ll be ready.  That being said, I’m still far from seasoned in agency experience, and so with much to learn, my “sponge-hood” continues.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Everything iSource, Social Media, SocialNitro, The Life of an iSource Intern | 1 Comment »

Pages: 1 2 3 Next
« Older Entries