April 26, 2010
We believe that business and creativity must be balanced in order to achieve marketing success. Regardless of the buzz around a certain approach the major question should always be, will this be profitable? So, have you been wondering if social media really is worth your time?
According to the 2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report the answer is a resounding YES! The study’s findings show that social media use can be both profitable and effective as a marketing strategy.
Social media was identified as being instrumental in closing business deals. In fact 74% of small business owners who were early adopters say it’s helped them close business.
Additionally, social media use increases overall web exposure. Respondents reported higher traffic to their sites and 73% of respondents reported a significant rise in search engine rankings.
Finally, the study show that social media is increasingly cost effective. Almost half (48%) of respondents said social media reduced their overall marketing expenses this is and increase form the 35% who reported savings on last year’s survey.
April 13, 2010
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.
http://www.inc.com/
April 12, 2010
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.
April 12, 2010
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.
http://mashable.com/
http://ipadpeek.com/
December 23, 2009
Happy Holidays from Onyx Group! Some interesting holiday related facts about our Onyx Group team members:
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Every year we watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while we put the tree up.
-Kris, “The Über-Doodler”
What is the most interesting gift you’ve ever received?
When I was thirteen my dad gave me a Bozo the Clown phone for Christmas. It’s still my favorite gift ever.
-Audrey, “The Whoa-man”
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
Two years ago we gave my daughter a Schroeder piano for Christmas. She was thrilled! The look on her face when she played it was amazing.
-Neil, “Mr. Media”
What is your holiday wish this year?
I would love for the Chargers to win the Super Bowl (a late present is okay), a Red Ryder BB Gun, and more camera gear.
-Nick, “The Man”
Happy Holidays!
With the holidays close upon us, I’d like to say a special thank you to all of our clients for their love and support this year! Have a joyful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. I’m confident that 2010 will be an even more successful year for both Onyx Group and our clients! Best wishes from our Onyx Group family to yours.
-Nadia, “The Check Signer”
December 2, 2009
Our fall interns offer insight into their Onyx Group experiences and provide advice for those who may be interested in interning in the future.
Juliette:
My internship at Onyx Group has been such a rewarding experience. I was able to work with a group of talented communications professionals. My projects provided me hands on experience in marketing communication. Tasked with creating a strategic marketing plan for Onyx Group, I was able to utilize my skills in research, critical thinking and strategic planning. Also, I had an opportunity to plan and execute the company’s charity event “Toast to Donate” with my fellow intern Megan, which was very fun and valuable to me. We brainstormed ideas, developed the action plan, and worked on every detail for the event.
I love the corporate culture of Onyx Group. The company encourages open dialogue and everyone’s opinions are valued. The team at Onyx Group is willing to share their experiences and give us great support.
Megan:
As an intern at Onyx Group, I had the opportunity to participate in various stages of a campaign from strategic planning to copy writing. For the ‘Shop Local Wakulla’ campaign, I was able to utilize my advertising education to help write a storyboard that became the final commercial. I attended networking events where I got to meet Tallahassee professionals and gained valuable insight into how Onyx Group lives their brand. Overall, this has been a great opportunity for me to gain real world experience in the marketing communications industry.
Onyx Group offers an excellent learning environment because the entire staff is passionate about fostering new talent. The best advice I have for future interns is to be flexible, Onyx Group is a fast paced and creative company where everyday offers something new.
For more information on internship opportunities at Onyx Group email info@onyxcreates.com.
