Let me start by saying, I’ve been a loyal Mac user since before it was hip… using it for design, web dev, etc. I was content paying more for a product I felt was superior, and was truly steeped in the culture of all things Mac. Innovative ideas, by free thinking people, the opposite of the Microsoft camp. When all that innovation paid off and Apple started emerging as the biggest brand on the planet, I thought “good for them, the good guy finally wins”… That sentiment is quickly fading.

When the iPhone came out and it was only on one carrier (not mine), I suffered through not being able to sync my phone to my Mac, blaming the phone manufacturer. I’d owned and loved an iPod for some time, so I figured I wasn’t missing out on much. Then, I realized Apple had done the unthinkable, they started kicking their biggest, most loyal, fan base right in the a$$. Designers who had been using their products for years were now facing the realization that a large part of their skill arsenal would no longer be useable for any content they wanted viewable by an iPhone, and now iPad. That’s right my friends, Adobe Flash! Initially there were reports from the Apple camp claiming it was clunky, used too much CPU power and killed battery life. Did they think no one would investigate these allegations and just nod in cult-like fashion? Bottom line is there was no slow down in performance or battery life with Flash. The real reason Apple is killing Flash for its internet ready devices is to PROTECT THEIR REVENUE STREAM! What? Where did the free thinking, choose as you please California love children go? They went straight to Corporate America, where independent thinking is sacrificed for the bottom line.

If Apple were to allow Flash a fair shake, you could go play free online games instead of buying them from the App store, and you could watch shows on Hulu instead of buying them in iTunes… all of which Apple gets a solid 30%. IMO that’s pretty short-sighted on Apple’s part, inhibiting development and holding back their loyal customers. Not to mention, pulling from the pocket books of some of its most loyal base, the designers. What about the folks, like me, who are considering buying their first non-Apple technology and looking at Android tablets? What part of your revenue stream will we account for? I’m fine with you being successful and that capital funding great new innovations, but there is nothing innovative about blacklisting technology because it MIGHT affect a very small part of your revenue stream. Is the damage to your brand and its perception among your long time loyals not more important? Go back to hacky sack lunch breaks or whatever the hell it was you were doing before corporate life killed the spirit that made Apple cool, not just trendy.

Before all you PC coders writing HTML5 and Cocoa chime in remember, I’m doing the the unthinkable here, I’m going against his holiness Steve Jobs. In all honesty, I hate to admit it, but I’ll still keep using my Mac. I will, however, begin to look in other areas of technology moving forward… something I never though I’d need to do.

If you’d like to check out some development initiatives that actually ARE innovative, click here to see Adobe’s Open Screen Project. This project will attempt to give users a rich media experience across any device, anywhere (although probably not an Apple device). This is the future my friends: seamless integration of computer, TV, phone, chat. I hope Apple can get on board before they get left behind by companies like Google, who may have an agenda of feeding you every bit of content on the internet, but are smart enough to make that a reality.

Night of Country Music in London

(LONDON, England – PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee, 24 March 2011) – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (UK) and the RURAL TV Country Club have teamed up to host a night of country music and good times in London on Friday, 22 April 2011. The event will be held at Mestizo (The Downstairs) in North London.  Doors open at 8:00pm. The event will feature a Silent Auction with tickets to Dolly’s UK Tour, signed CD’s, signed books, and other exclusive items up for bid. All proceeds from the silent auction will go directly to the Imagination Library project in the UK, which provides books and literacy programmes for children in the UK’s impoverished and rural areas. The evening will feature live performances as well as a DJ and dancing.  Cameron Tiilbury will provide his MC talent. Tickets are £50 and a LIMITED NUMBER of 150 are being made available. Tickets include 1 free drink, light bites and specially discounted meal/drink tickets for Mestizo’s fine, authentic Mexican cuisine RFD/RURAL Country Club Members ONLY are eligible for RESERVED ticket sales, and can purchase their tickets from today by calling Sarah Chase +44 (0)750 300 1499 or emailing her (sarah@ruraltv.tv). All remaining ticket sales will be open to the general public on Friday, 1 April. A web site will be provided for reservations.  Tickets are non-refundable and proceeds benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the UK. For information and directions for the venue, please visit: http://london.mestizomx.com/ PLEASE NOTE: There are currently 2 slots available for country music artists. Serious enquires only, please email Cameron: cameron@camerontilburypublicity.com Artists Booked: Raintown Ahab Christian Sleep Main Sponsor: RFD/RURAL TV Country Club Media Sponsors: Cameron Tilbury Publicity Cowboy Syndicate Kickin’ Media Siren 107.3FM & Southside Broadcasting Venue Sponsor: Mestizo Note: All of us at Cowboy Syndicate are excited to be a part of this event. If you, or someone you know, is in London, definitely consider attending! It’s sure to be a fantastic evening. If you’d like to donate to the charity, be sure to visit their website – what they do is amazing!

]]> http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/2011/03/24/rural-tv-and-dolly-partons-imagination-library-host-night-of-country-music-in-london/feed/ 0 http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/2011/02/07/from-our-uk-affiliate/ http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/2011/02/07/from-our-uk-affiliate/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:19:30 +0000 Kelly http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/?p=413 We’ve just received the latest update from our friends at Cameron Tilbury Publicity! Here’s what our UK Affiliate had to say:

It’s been a really busy new year so far.  In January, we launched rock band One Soul Thrust, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  If you like bands like Heart or Rush, I think you’ll like these guys.  We’re already getting airplay in the USA, Australia, France and the UK.  Their debut single is called Go Home And Melt and it features rock legend Glenn Hughes.

Marlee Scott continues to do well around the world with her single, Here To Heaven; and Jessica Ridley is doing well worldwide too—with her debut single, Flaming Red.

In January, we also signed Canadian Country Music Award-winner, Aaron Pritchett.  Aaron’s new song is called Light It Up and it’s the first release from his fifth album, In The Drivers Seat.  That went to radio around the world in late January—and the response has been incredible!  If you like high-energy country that rocks, Aaron Pritchett is your guy!

On February 1^st, we launched Americana sweetheart, Tia McGraff’s new song, Radical Road—and the early signs are good with radio stations in Northern Ireland and the Netherlands adding the song as soon as they received it.

We’re also doing some work with Americana/roots/blues singer Mati Haskell.  Mati’s debut album features John Cowan and Glen Worf among others.

The Western Swing Authority made it into one of The Alternate Root Magazine’s top-20 albums of the year—an unexpected surprise.  We had great radio response from Texas last year, so we’re hoping to put together a short tour.

These independent artists need all the support they can get, so check them out online and buy their music.  Aside from being great talents, they’re all really good people.

We’re hoping to work with Cowboy Syndicate on some projects this year to make our combined clients true international brands.  Stick around, there’s lots to come!

-Cameron Tilbury Publicity

All of us at Cowboy Syndicate were ecstatic to hear about the artists and how well each of their latest releases are doing! For more information about Cameron Tilbury Publicity, head on over to their website. Be sure to check with them often for more updates and new info on their recording artists!

Most every business recognizes the need to have a presence on social media networking sites. The most popular sites among our clients are Facebook and Twitter. There is definitely more to it than posting random information, so we wanted to share a few basics for your social media plan.

1. Social media is not a strategy in and of itself. It is simply one element of your overall brand strategy. Having a conversation with your customers via Facebook and Twitter should fit into your marketing goals and complement your public relations policy. You should have metrics in place to measure its effectiveness just as you would with any marketing initiative.

2. Social media is not a popularity contest. Many companies assume that the brands with the most followers or fans wins, but that’s simply not the case. High follower counts should never be the number goal when approaching social media. It’s not quantity, it’s quality. The way you engage the followers you have – fostering brand loyalty and repeat business – is the end goal of any successful social media strategy.

3. Social media is not a loudspeaker. Social media is a conversation – a way to engage with customers and receive valuable feedback about your brand. If your Facebook and Twitter posts are just a series of coupon codes and product plugging, you’re making a big mistake – your followers will get bored and start to tune out what you’re saying. Beyond that, you’re missing the opportunity to talk to existing and potential customers and have a real conversation with them about your brand, your products or even what they want to see in the marketplace.

If you haven’t joined the social media conversation, take the time to really think about your strategy. Look at what your favorite brands are doing and figure out how you can do it better for your audience. Already part of the community? It’s never too late to re-evaluate what’s working and what isn’t and redirect your efforts. Most importantly, give your audience a reason to interact with you.

Coming up next – our tips to drive sales through social media.

This has been an incredible year for all of us at Cowboy Syndicate! We’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing companies and individuals, along with getting to create some fantastic marketing pieces and do some serious media blitzes for our clients. We have also met some super talented people that we hope to get to work with in the new year, but even if we don’t work them, we’re just happy to know them!

Thanks to all of our clients for choosing our agency and giving us the opportunity to work with you. You truly make it all possible. Thanks also to each of you that follow us on Twitter, check us out on Facebook and visit with us on the Cowboy Syndicate Network! All of you make our days brighter!

As we head into the new year, our team is gearing up with some BIG plans for the agency (and maybe a few new ventures as well). We look forward to all that 2011 holds. Our hope is that you will have a year full of blessings and new opportunites.

Dream big, friends! Happy New Year!

-The Cowboy Syndicate Team

Here’s our first Bright Idea for you:

Rotate marketing tactics and vary your approach. No single strategy works all the time for your business – any business – for that matter. If you’re constantly singing only one note, your customers will eventually tune you out. And let’s face it, eventually YOU get bored from singing that one note. Marketing is fun, so take advantage of the plethora of opportunities available for demonstrating your value to your current, and potential, customers.

Important Note: Don’t choose random marketing ploys either. Plan carefully. Get feedback from customers and adapt your efforts accordingly. If you’re not sure which next step to take, or which method to try, hold a company brainstorming session or get a consultation from a marketing agency.

In short, be creative with your marketing strategy. Let it work for you to drive sales and interest in your brand.

Those of you who have worked with Cowboy Syndicate or have seen our team out at an event, have most definitely met our Creative Director and Executive Team member, Chris Cooper. His design work has been seen in major western industry publications, websites and product packaging. Chris has also created the brand images for some of the biggest names in rodeo. (Since he’s too modest to point that out, we’ll do it for him.) What you might not know is that besides being a phenomenal graphic designer, Chris is also an artist. He grew up drawing, painting and practicing leather- and wood-burning. He has crafted pieces that hang in the homes of his family and friends and pieces that have been sold in high-end decor and art stores.

Now back to the ukulele! Chris used wood burning and carving, along with a little paint to create something unique. (Don’t let these pictures fool you. The detail on this is amazing!)

Cowboy Syndicate was invited to a house concert where we all got to see this piece of art in action. You’ll see Jarrod on the right playing fast and furious. (That’s Sergio G Martinez on the left. Another great local Austin musician.)

Our team is constantly amazed by Chris’ creativity and enthusiasm for all things design related. What do you think of Chris’ most recent non-computer related work? We think you’ll appreciate it just as much as we do. For more information regarding Chris Cooper’s art or Cowboy Syndicate services, visit our website.

Finding an agency that specializes in branding, graphic design and marketing strategy is the best start. Even if you have an in-house marketing department, an agency can give life to current branding or help develop a whole new strategy. At Cowboy Syndicate, we like to learn about every aspect of your business, your goals, what’s worked for you in the past and what hasn’t, and then develop a plan that specifically helps your company reach its highest potential. We look at all aspects of your current branding and help you figure out how to best use your current look or create a whole new re-branding strategy.

As you look for an agency that meets your needs, it’s important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Top-level design and strategy takes a lot of time (within the agency – man-hours) and work to produce at a quality level. The investment in your company’s brand will pay off in the long run. When branding and marketing is done right, it leaves you with collateral (logos, websites, advertisements, brochures, etc.) that not only look good, but offer long-term flexibility in the way you’re able to use those pieces for future marketing. Working with the right agency is a commitment that almost always pays off in terms of what good design and marketing can do for boosting sales and overall brand awareness.

Keep these tips in mind when looking for/working with an agency:

• Have a game plan for what you would like accomplished. A creative brief outlining your company goals, followed by your marketing goals helps direct the agency. (A good agency will give you their ideas too!)
• Find an agency whose work you like. Make sure what they are promising you matches (quality-wise) work they’ve already done.
• Ask for references if necessary.
• Make sure the estimate or contract the agency provides spells out exactly what you’re getting.
• Have one person at your company responsible for contacting your account manager at the agency. Too many people trying to communicate almost always leads to miscommunication. If you have a meeting involving decision-making, make sure all the decision makers are present at the meeting.
• Be open to new ideas and new directions.
• Remember that one of the benefits of an agency is having a team of people with a totally different perspective looking at your company from the outside. This can mean huge opportunity for growth and positive change.

Think About It:

Have you worked with an agency before? Do you think having a new perspective on your marketing and branding would be beneficial? Would having an agency help you reduce overhead within your company? Are your current branding and marketing strategies working for you or against you?

Keep in mind that the branding you create is a long-term commitment. At the very least, you want 3-5 years (sometimes a company’s branding is in place for 20+ years) of that consistent look and feel. You have to give the consumer time to associate that branding with your company. Changing your branding more often can create confusion. That’s why in re-branding, most companies choose to do a big re-launch – promoting the new look and feel, new website, new tools or applications, etc. While you want branding to remain consistent and in place for the long-term, re-branding is an effective and useful way to drive sales and create buzz for your product or service. Let’s face it, sometimes re-branding is absolutely necessary to ensure your company’s success and foothold in the marketplace. Being current in the market is just as important as the brand experience you create.

Another way to look at branding is to understand the difference between creating a brand and an ad campaign. They are most definitely different beasts, yet undeniably linked to one another.

Our good friend Wikipedia.org defines an ad campaign as “a series of messages that share a single idea and theme. Advertising campaigns appear in different media across a specific time frame. “ Advertisements are meant to create interest in, or buzz around, your product or service. They keep your company top-of-mind with your target audience. They support the overall message of your brand. Ad campaigns are the short-term attention-grabber, which supports your long-term branding message and consumer experience.

As a side note, ads need to be targeted and specific, catch a person’s eye and coerce them into contacting your company or finding your product. An ad cannot be your only selling tool and too much information in an ad will immediately turn off your audience. You have maybe 4 seconds to grab someone’s attention as they flip through a magazine or drive past your billboard. Our clients will typically run an ad no more than twice in any one publication. After it runs twice, we place the next ad in the campaign series.

Think About It:

How long has your branding been in place? Would re-branding give you a new foothold in the marketplace? Do your ad campaigns support the vision of your overall brand? Are you running effective advertisements that catch the reader’s attention and give them a reason to seek you out?

We want to know what you think and hear your answers to these questions! Next week we wrap up our posts on branding and announce our next series!