Guest Blogs
This post was contributed by Ian Kennedy and originally appeared on the Chatham-Kent Sports Network.
While some nostalgic, diehard traditionalists that were upset by the new Winnipeg Jets logo, there was an equal group of fans who were thrilled by the choice of the NHL’s newest ownership group.
The old Jets logo holds memories for thousands of hockey fans from their roots in the Manitoba city dating from 1979 until 1996, and when the team packed up and moved to Phoenix in 1996, Jets fans clung to the old logo like it was the last bit of their community identity and the last thread connecting the city to a team they loved.
While the old Winnipeg Jets logo is long gone, the new logo does integrate some of the best aspects of any logo. Like the logos for Coca Cola, the Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, and McDonalds; it’s timeless, it’s simple, and it’s meaningful.
The new Jets logo looks classic, and honours the Canadian Military, something that is a hard theme to bash. It’s also distinctly Canadian, and plays on a compass pointing North; likely a combination of a tribute to Canada, and the owner company’s moniker, “True North.”
Most new sports logos from the last two decades have been cartoonish and overly complex, mixing out of proportion graphics, with a trendy colour scheme or design that eventually looks grotesque. This, instead of sticking with what has always worked, clean, simple, memorable lines and basic colours.
For fans who flock to the rink this winter to cheer on their new Winnipeg Jets, the old jerseys and old logos won’t look out of place considering the new colour scheme still honours the original Jets, and by keeping the team’s traditional name, the retro-sweaters still fit.
When they first announced the new Winnipeg Jets logo, I was expecting to be offended as a sports fan. Many were. Many marketers see the logo as an overly military, overly governmental, and a complete departure from the old Jets. In essence though, when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Manitoba, it marked a new era, and a new logo seems fitting. Overly military? It’s a Jet, they’re called the Jets…get it? Makes sense. Maple leaf too governmental? It’s a new Canadian NHL franchise…something Canadians have been praying about for decades…again, makes sense.
I loved the old Winnipeg Jets logo, I thought it was a staple in the NHL, but I also loved the Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques logos, and they’re no longer a part of the league, and I wouldn’t expect a new franchise in these cities to revert to the original logo.
Would I be at all surprised to see the new Winnipeg Jets playing a few games in coming years wearing their nostalgic logo and sweaters? No. In fact, I think it’s inevitable.
Really, I don’t think True North made a marketing blunder by re-branding the Jets with a fresh logo. Simple colours, a tribute to the country, an obvious connection to the Jets name, and clean lines. Most importantly, the name “Jets” is still there. People will always love the Jets regardless of the logo, and that’s why this combination of new logo, and old name is genius. It will sell apparel, the name appeals to pure traditionalists, it honours a proud country, and it has the chance to interest a younger generation.
At the end of the day, when Winnipeg’s arena is filled to the brim this winter, and you look out on the crowd, what will you see? Undoubtedly, you’ll see a crowd blended with new and old Jets jerseys and logos. But more importantly, when that arena is filled, and the TV cameras are rolling, what will you hear? My bet? You’ll hear the new logo, and old logo fans, screaming in unison…Go Jets Go!
The following post is a great guest blog on infographics from Topher Lee. Want to guest blog with CIK? Then drop us a line!
In the world of marketing, if people aren’t talking about you or your products, you are probably doing something wrong. Business owners know this and so do marketing firms. Need evidence? You need not look any further than the recent push in social marketing, where success is measure in things like Tweets, Diggs, Bookmarks, Likes, StumbleUpon’s, and Shares. These are all societies’ ways of letting us know what’s hot and noteworthy.
Businesses have started to take notice, and campaigns are being enacted every day in order to create as much social buzz as possible surrounding their brands. Great idea, but implementing it is a fairly daunting and time consuming endeavor. With so many social avenues out there and new ones creeping up each day, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to get the buzz to come to you? In some cases this isn’t too difficult. Where your more sensational or trendy brands and products are concerned, social interaction from consumers might be a given. Logistics companies on the other hand? Sorry, you are going to have to create your own social buzz.
Infographics Make Everything Cooler
Let me offer up an example. Take for instance, once of the most mundane subjects (outside of Excel spreadsheets) known to the business world . . . shipping. If you were to produce a dissertation relating to information surrounding say, shipping and customer conversion rates; I would guess you might be fairly surprised if that document even made a ripple in the social realm. I know I would. With the exception of a few outliers, most people don’t want to sit and read someone’s statistic-packed 52 page dissertation about shipping cost and conversion rates. Most consumers wouldn’t be likely to even read it. I don’t image even if they did, that they would “Like” it. And they certainly wouldn’t “Tweet” about it. So how does one go about conveying relevant information to business owners and consumers, while also causing a bit of a stir in the social realm? One answer, my friend, lies in infographics.
Visually stunning, while still being informative; infographics are like the double edged sword of the marketing world. Not only can they cater to the intellectual side of your audience with the top notch information they can provide, but you also get the benefit of addressing those whose proclivity is more towards shiny objects, (I myself like shiny objects). Being a designer at heart, I have always known the benefit of well-designed marketing materials. I was astounded though when a friend of mine showed me how well a recent infographic he designed was doing socially. Within 4 hours of going live, the graphic had made it to number 4 on Delicious, been “Tweeted” 107 times, “Liked” 60 times, shared on LinkedIn 20 times, submitted to Digg 65 times, and renamed by one user as “The Holy Grail of E-Commerce” (which was the number one result Googled returned when searching for the article).
I find this interesting seeing as how the topic of the graphic, which relates to how people make purchases according to shipping options, is vaguely interesting at best. The design is top notch, but I’m probably just biased. Put them together though, and you have something with some real mass appeal.
Below is the infographic in mention. Marketing professionals and business owners may want to take note.
[Via: Fedex Shipping]
This is a guest post by Topher Lee. Topher admits to having a slightly unhealthy obsession with all things related to marketing and social media. When he is not utilizing his talents as a designer at his 9-5, he can be found spending time with his wife and two daughters.
I’m happy to announce that James Adams has returned with yet another great guest post for the CIK Marketing Blog! Past posts from James have included How to Market Really Boring Products and 10 Lessons to Learn from Print Newspaper Ads.
Social networking sites are great ways to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances. But sometimes the usual ones can seem a bit childish and silly, more of an entertainment site than an actual professional networking site. LinkedIn is the social networking site for those who are looking to establish professional contacts and stay in touch with peers, clients, and potential employers or financiers. It offers the networking aspect of other sites, only without the juvenile aspects of other sites. But since it is a location for professionals to network, it is vital that individuals treat their presence on LinkedIn seriously. LinkedIn is not simply a place to put your resume online. It is a reflection of yourself and your professional career. Here are five tips to make you more attractive and to stand out in this networking jungle.
1. Brand Yourself
In the professional world, everyone is competing for something. Whether it’s for a particular job, for scare financing of a venture, for an influential position, or simply for the opportunity to improve skills, it is vital that you are able to stand out in the crowd. You must sell yourself to others, and like any other product, creating a positive brand is very important. What do you want others to think about when they see you? What aspects of your life and career are you trying to highlight?
The initial information that someone will see when they visit your profile page is your summary. The summary should be treated like a resume and cover letter. Whether you’re currently searching for a job or not, it is essential that your summary be well written, accurate, and interesting. Highlight core skills and experiences in a concise manner.
2. Stress Your Previous Experience
While many people view LinkedIn as a glorified resume, it is and should be much more than that. It is true that much of the information on a resume will be found on LinkedIn, but the website allows for much greater interaction and explanation. While a traditional resume physically limits how much can be said, LinkedIn allows for nearly unlimited space to expound upon previous jobs or other experiences. You can give an in-depth description about your role at your previous jobs, familiarity with certain systems, skills that were gained or utilized, and important accomplishments that were achieved.
3. Develop Your Network
At its core, LinkedIn is meant to facilitate a network of contacts. In order to take full advantage of this, you must grow your network and maintain your connections with others. The easiest way to get started is to import contacts from your current e-mail account or by connecting with current or previous coworkers or even classmates. Focus especially on those with whom you’ve had extensive personal contact. Contacts who remember you, have worked with you, and have a good impression of you are far more valuable than those who don’t even know you. Continue adding to your LinkedIn network as you meet and interact with new people in your professional or even personal life.
It is also extremely important that you maintain your network by interacting with them. Be sure to answer any messages or invitations quickly. Not only is it courteous, but it also helps build professional relationships by being responsive to any requests, questions, or other conversations.
4. Be Active
It is easy for anyone to fill out a LinkedIn profile. In order to set yourself apart, it is necessary to be active. Joining relevant professional groups will put you into contact with people who share your interests. You can message other members of the group or get involved in conversations within the group. By establishing yourself as an active member of the group you show others that you are enthusiastic and knowledgeable and are much more likely to differentiate yourself from the crowd.
You can also create a group and invite others to join it. By being the creator of the group you establish yourself as a leader in the eyes of others. You can create a group based on your industry, own private business, or an issue or topic that you are interested in discussing.
5. Connect With Your Other Online Profiles
Most people are involved with other online ventures. Other social network sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, can easily be linked to from your LinkedIn profile and can supplement the information already on your LinkedIn site. Blogs or other relevant websites should also be listed. Your online identity may be spread out over a wide variety of places. The trick is to make all these pieces of the puzzle fit together to give a complete picture. Be sure that any linked profiles or websites are consistent with the brand that you are trying to establish and advance.
By applying these five tips, you can utilize LinkedIn to its fullest extent to distinguish yourself and to assemble many influential contacts that may be of great service to you in the future.
John works as part of the team of office stationery supplies reviewers at OfficeKitten.co.uk, an up and coming store specialising in B2B supplies.
