From the start Twitter founders have placed emphasis on building a strong user base, before worrying about how to monetize the site. After the site’s recent exponential growth Twitter is finally unveiling a revenue model. The advertising structure, dubbed Promoted Tweets, will initially be implemented using Twitter’s keyword search function. Advertisers will have the opportunity to buy key words and link them to their ads. Eventually, Twitter plans to display promoted posts on user Twitter feeds, these will be placed based on relevance to each user’s interests. The question now is how Twitter users will react? Will they have a problem with Twitter integrating paid media into their traditional earned media structure?
News
How to Become a Social Entrepreneur
The concept of corporate social responsibility has become a hot button issue throughout the business world. Many businesses are feeling the pressure to become part of the social responsibility trend. But, what does it really take to be a social entrepreneur? Whether you are considering beginning a social enterprise, or plan to integrate a social mission into an established business, here are some useful tips for achieving success as a social entrepreneur.
Tags: onyx, social responsibility
Doing Things Right The First Time
After moving into a new house last year, it was time for me to upgrade from the old push mower I had been using. The new house came with a much larger area to keep up with and required a riding lawn mower if I ever wanted to do anything other than mow grass on the weekends. I shopped around at different stores for a couple of weeks and determined that most riding models were just too expensive. I decided to go with a used model from a local mower dealer–which was a little awkward to drive due to the square steering wheel, but seemed to be in good shape.
I brought it home where my wife immediately laughed at me and asked if I was “borrowing the old mower from the year 1955.” When I told her that I had purchased it, she was no longer laughing. She said that it had been a mistake to purchase the mower and that I should return it or I would regret it. This is tough for me to say, but my wife was right.
I had problems with the mower from the moment I engaged the cutting blade. I ended up spending a lot of time, energy and money getting a myriad of problems fixed. The real cost of this used mower far exceeded the price of the new mower (which came with a warranty and even — a round steering wheel).
Sometimes at Onyx Group, we see the same thing happen with business owners and their corporate identity. Often we are hired to help them create a stronger brand for their business. It is most often the case that they started their business years before and have grown to a point where their current brand and corporate identity have begun to hold them back from future growth. When they started their business, they either didn’t value great creative services or didn’t understand the importance of a strong, cohesive identity that could keep up with their growth.
Now, further down the road, they see the added cost of not only having us rework the identity, but also the expense of producing all new collateral. Shirts, signs, websites, invoices, letterhead, business cards, truck decals… The list goes on and even includes the time and energy of educating employees and customers of the change. The real cost of not hiring an experienced marketing and design firm in the beginning is much more than the higher cost on their quote.
Often times, you get what you pay for. Make sure you are getting the round steering wheel and new blades first or you will spend more time and money in the long run.
Tags: Branding, get what you pay for, Neil, onyx, strategic planning
What Will Your Site Look Like On An iPad?
With all the hype surrounding Apple’s iPad release, web developers are beginning to pay attention to how their websites look on the iPad. Want to see what your site will look like on an iPad, but can’t get your hands on the real thing? Never fear, just check out this new iPad Peek tool.
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week Apr5-Apr9
Every week we tweet tons of interesting links, highlighting excellent content that we find relevant and inspiring for designers. We compiled this list of our favorite links we tweeted in the past week, just in case you missed any!
Keep in mind this is only a small selection on the tweets we sent out this week. The best way to keep up to date with us and check out awesome links is by following @OnyxGroup.
We love Lamar’s creative new use for their “between ad signs,” providing a place for Conan:
Check out this sneak peek at Twitter’s Redesign:
A Basic Look at Typography in Web Design:
Looking for inspiration? These interviews with designers, developers and bloggers offer some excellent insights:
How to Make a Screencast for Your Website:
10 Steps to a Stronger Professional Network:
What Is YOUR Personal Brand?
For some Monday morning inspiration check out these creative white letterpress business cards:
Tags: inspiration, onyx group, tweets
In-Store Marketing Gains Importance
A study last year by Nielsen Co.’s Bases unit found in-store marketing is the leading medium for generating awareness of new package goods in the U.S. and five other key developed markets. With the numbers showing an increased impact of in-store displays many companies are placing greater emphasis on creative-packaging. In this Advertising Age article P&G shares some of their new brand-building and packaging design strategy.
Tags: Design, in-store marketing, onyx group
Our Next Steps
Onyx Group is pleased to announce Rachelle McClure as the newest member of our team. In her role as Business Manager, aka “Task Master,” Rachelle will be using her design and finance experience to streamline Onyx Group’s office and operations.
Here are some interesting facts about Rachelle:
- She is inspired by human-centered design, finding real solutions for real problems.
- She has been a pastry chef, an Alaskan canoe guide, an interior designer, and worked in investments. We dare you to find something she hasn’t tried!
- She is a green guru, she’s even a LEED Accredited Professional.
- She is a current events junkie, who reads The Economist and The New York Times.
- Graduated from Metro State Denver, B.S. Finance in 2002 and she earned her M.F.A. Interior Design in 2008.
For additional information about Rachelle check out her full bio under the about section.
We are excited to announce that Angel Acevedo will be transiting from his part time designer position into a new role as Onyx Group’s Art Director aka “The Snazzy Sensei.”Angel will be keeping Onyx Group’s creative fresh with his design expertise.
Here are some interesting facts about Angel:
- His creative process consists of a numerous amounts of smoothie and pizza breaks.
- One of the few people that believes paper and typography are equally as sexy.
- Fancy’s himself not as an award winning designer, but more as a super genius.
- Moonlights as a DJ in Miami.
- He uses Darkwing Duck’s motto as his personal creative strategy; “Let’s Get Dangerous.”
- Graduated with his B.A. from Miami International University of Art & Design in 2010
For additional information about Angel check out his full bio under the about section.
Tags: angel acevedo, onyx group, rachelle mcclure
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week Mar29-Apr2
Every week we tweet tons of interesting links, highlighting excellent content that we find relevant and inspiring for designers. We compiled this list of our favorite links we tweeted in the past week, just in case you missed any!
Keep in mind this is only a small selection on the tweets we sent out this week. The best way to keep up to date with us and check out awesome links is by following @OnyxGroup.
Define Your Personal Leadership Brand in Five Steps:
5 Kinds of Blog Posts That Attract Clients:
Inspiration Surrounds You. Get Out There and Experience it!
Happy April Fools’ Day! Top 10 April Fools’ Day Fake News Items for 2010:
Essential tips to help reduce e-commerce shopping cart abandonment:
Are You Prepared for Your Next Defining Moment?
Outdoor Ad Industry Finally Gets Its Improved Metrics:
IDEO’s Tim Brown on Using Design to Change Behavior:
Looking for creative inspiration? Check out this showcase of watercolor in web design:
Innovators: Become Active Experimenters.
The Fundamentals of Creative Culture for Companies:
10 Tips for Effective Creative Brainstorming:
How Facebook’s transition from ‘Fan’ to ‘Like’ could affect you:
4 People You Should Ask For Website Feedback:
Tags: inspiration, onyx, tweets
Welcome to the Attention Age, Now What? (Part 2)
Welcome back! Last week we covered steps one and two in the strategic planning process. If you missed it check it out here.
3. Know your market. By segmenting the market and learning the demographics, locations, values, lifestyles and behaviors of your clients, you can assess the revenue potential within these markets. This will help you develop a plan to reach your most profitable and viable customers.
4. Know the central players. Understanding the competition can help when planning is necessary for success of a new venture. You need to research what competitors are doing right and determine where there is room for improvement.
5. Be prepared to adapt. In other words, embrace social media. No, you can’t hide from it. It is not a fad. It is here to stay. Learn the platforms, determine your goals and use the vast array of analytics software to analyze what is attracting your customers and clients.
At the end of the strategic planning process you walk away with a deeper understanding of the market and your brand’s position. A successful strategic plan works as a road map to success by helping you to create achievable goals and focus on the core values of your business while conveying a consistent message to your customers.
When you’re starting a new enterprise, it pays to be strategic. We can help you develop a dynamic strategic plan to guide you in launching your business. Contact us at info@onyxcreates.com for details on our launch services.
Tags: attention age, launch, onyx group, rachelle, strategic planning
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week Mar22-Mar26
Every week we tweet tons of interesting links, highlighting excellent content that we find relevant and inspiring for designers. We compiled this list of our favorite links we tweeted in the past week, just in case you missed any!
Keep in mind this is only a small selection on the tweets we sent out this week. The best way to keep up to date with us and check out awesome links is by following @OnyxGroup.
For some Monday morning inspiration check out these beautiful business card designs:
Welcome to the Attention Age, Now What? Part one of our two part series on this new age in strategic planning:
Font choice can make or break a design. Here are four techniques to help you successfully combine fonts:
Discover the strategy behind this brilliant redesign! Chiquita Banana Brand Refresh:
Four Steps For Effective Cross-Cultural Website Design:
10 Essential Rules for Brands in Social Media:
How to avoid creativity burnout:
Why location marketing is the new point-of-purchase:
Why @ Is Held in Such High Design Esteem:
Check out this excellent new stop motion commercial for Amazon:
Tags: inspiration, onyx group, tweets















