We recently launched the redesigned website for High Five Skateboards—a well-known skate shop in South Florida. This website design utilizes bright oranges and yellows for a sunshine and beachy feel, while also using a solid, contrasting black to make the site images pop. The newly designed and programmed High Five Skateboards incorporates a product feed from Eastern Skateboard Supply. In addition to including a Shop By Brand drop down, the home page also displays a visual Flash piece that rotates images and popular brands seen throughout the site. Clicking on the Flash will drive viewers to that brand’s specific page.

Microsoft released their newest build of Internet Explorer today, IE8.  Whenever there is a new web browser released to the public and officially out of ‘beta’ testing, there seems to be a lot of hype to follow.  Typically the most common concerns or questions about a new browser always fall into two categories: speed and security.  With the release of IE8 there is a new topic: compatibility.

Security

A web browser’s security is always a hot topic of discussion.  As more and more businesses take their storefronts online, hackers are becoming even more clever to defraud the end user.  IE8 was supposed to be leaps and bounds ahead of other browsers in the marketplace. However, it was the first browser to be hacked at the 2009 CanSecWest Conference.  This particular vulnerability has since been patched.  Mind you, IE8 is a secure browser, just be careful in viewing sites and purchasing goods online – with any web browser.

Speed

IE8 is actually the fastest web browser in the Internet Explorer family, as it should be.  Microsoft wouldn’t want to digress in this category.  But Microsoft is claiming it’s the fastest browser currently available.  Based on my personal testing, it seems just as fast as Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome, but I can’t tell if it’s any faster.  I’ll leave this one to benchmark testing …

Compatibility

IE8′s skin looks similar to IE7 on the outside, but is definitely different under the hood.  So much so, that some websites optimized for IE7 don’t render or display properly in Microsoft’s newest browser release.  There is hope though.  Built into IE8 is a new feature called “Compatibility View” that will render sites just as IE7 would have.  Compatibility view will also remember which sites the user has selected to view in this mode for future visits. This should prevent compatibility issues from hampering the user experience too much.

Will this latest release keep Microsoft at the top of the browser war?  Who knows?  Only time will tell.

This morning Sage Island CEO and creative director Mike Duncan participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal on leveraging the power of the Internet for business. More than 500 community members and business leaders attended. Mike and the five other panel members — including Chip Mahan, president of Live Oak Bank; Brett Martin, president of Castle Branch; Fred Meyers, president of Queensboro Shirt Company; Justin Queen, president of Blu Zeus Interactive; and Debbie Elliott, president of Talk Inc. — answered questions from the audience about online marketing and social media.

For those of you who couldn’t attend the event, here are the CliffsNotes:

Talk to your customers, not at them.

Social media has changed a lot about the way that businesses market themselves online and offline. But most of those changes can be summed up with one simple idea: the practice of talking at your customers through your marketing has been replaced by conversation. Talk to them through social media, blogs, and other interactive sources. The conversation is happening with or without you. Your customers are probably already talking about your business, reviewing your services, and recommending you (or complaining) online. By participating in the conversation, you’ll build a stronger relationship with your customers and put yourself in a better position to control your brand.

User generated content is the new king.

According to a recent Forrester survey on how technology decision makers in business utilize social media during the buying process, 69 percent of the 1,200 respondents “read blogs, forums and reviews, keep track of podcasts, and watch video from other users” before making purchasing decisions. People trust these sources, because this content is coming from users just like them.

Becoming a participant in blogs, forums, and review communities where your customers are likely to partipate can help stimulate conversation. Seek opinions about your business and your services, and listen carefully to what they’re saying about you. Monitoring the conversation allows you to respond quickly to complaints and make the situation right with the customer — and potential customers who may see the negative review. But remember, transparency is essential. Be clear about who you are, and seek engagement with your customers honestly.

In social media, you are your business.

In order to succeed at social media, it’s essential that you put a human face on your company. People talk to people. Be prepared to get personally involved in your social media campaigns. It’s important to remember, though, that you’re representing your business. Don’t get too caught up in the personal aspect of social media. Many users have gotten into trouble for various degrees of oversharing. Think carefully before you post anything, and remember that the Internet is forever. Would you shout it or share it in front of a roomful of people at a professional networking event? If the answer is no, then don’t post it on your social media profile.

Adapt early for maximum benefit.

By the time an online marketing method has gone mainstream, it’s already old news. Early adapters reap the most benefit from new methods, because they have more time to learn about it and test new ideas. By the time it reaches the mainstream, the early adapters are already pros with a solid grasp of how best to utilize the latest technology. Stay up to date with new ideas, work with interactive marketing professionals who can guide you in new technology, and stay ahead of the curve.

Be innovative.

Mike Duncan closed the panel discussion with a word of advice: “Be innovative.” The world of online marketing is changing so rapidly that there’s no telling where it will go next. If you want to stay ahead, you have to be open to new ideas and willing to try new things. Emerging technologies and interactive marketing methods may seem foreign, but marketing hasn’t changed. The tools are just a little different now. It’s impossible to predict where online marketing will go next, so the best way to stay ahead of the game is to be ready for anything.

We recently launched the new and improved Wrightsville United Methodist Church website. The Wrightsville Beach NC church wanted a website that included a soft color palette, clean lines, and appeared simple and modern. Wrightsville UMC will have the ability to manage (add, edit and delete content) their website using a content management system. This new website will be used as Wrightsville UMC’s central source of information and will continually be managed by the client to include a current newsletter posting, ministry information and an updated events calendar. This website also features a video welcome message and iTunes Podcast subscription to listen to previous sermons.

We also developed an email newsletter template for Wrightsville UMC. Utilizing the white-listed program Vertical Response, Wrightsville UMC will now be able to send out email campaigns notifying members of new information. Furthermore, clicking on these email campaigns will drive viewers back to the website allowing Vertical Response to track and generate reports on email click through and bounce rates.

On March 6, ARS Heating and Air launched a new website for their New Hanover County franchise.  The site contains information about all the services offered by ARS as well as downloadable coupons for customers.  The website was designed with branding elements similar to the ARS corporate site, but is tailored to meet the needs of the local franchise.  The website will be used as a marketing and branding tool and as a place to drive local customers for more information about ARS services.  ARS will have the ability to make updates to their site and upload current coupons using a content management system. In addition to website design and hosting, Sage Island is also providing internet marketing services and a pay-per-click campaign to increase website traffic.

Amazing! Barely looking half her age, Barbie just turned 50! Originally marketed as a teenage fashion model in 1959, this popular fashion icon toy has undergone 5 decades of facelifts and wardrobe changes.

Despite a sales slump of 20 percent, Mattel is investing in an extravagant marketing campaign in honor of Barbie’s milestone birthday. They’re hoping the multimedia campaign will increase sales by reaching out to 3 generations of consumers.

Though Barbie’s actual birthday was March 9, Mattel will promote the 50th anniversary campaign throughout the remainder of the year. Not only does Barbie the doll get a makeover with the 2009 Golden Anniversary Barbie, but the official website also has a new look and feel.

By partnering with other companies and brands, Mattel extends marketing beyond the basic media relations and aims to touch everyone from brick and mortar stores to online events and much more! Here’s a small sampling of some of the promotional campaigns seen in honor of our plastic symbol of pop culture:

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Barbie marketers tag teamed with Mercedes Benz for a Broadway Runway Show produced during the coveted fashion week. With a live broadcast of the show on Barbie.com, viewers witnessed a beautiful runway in which 50 designers showed off Barbie-inspired collections.

Limited Edition Barbie VW Beetle

In celebration of the big 5-0, Volkswagen of America created 13 hot pink Beetle convertibles. The limited edition car is fully equipped with rhinestones, paint that sparkles and a motorized vanity.

Facebook Page

The Barbie Facebook page shares Barbie’s secrets, favorite things, messages and a regularly updated status.

Malibu Dream House

On the eve of Barbie’s birthday celebration, interior decorators spruced up a 3,500-square-foot villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean. After 6 months of planning, this Dream House became a Real House that hosted Monday’s 50th birthday bash. One word to describe the dream house: PINK! Decorators thought of everything when decorating for the 11.5” doll. This fantasy land was complete with wall-to-wall pink carpeting, 50 pairs of pink heeled shoes lining the closet, an original Andy Warhol portrait of Barbie and much more!

Bloomingdale’s

Bloomingdale’s in New York is uniting with Mattel to promote the Barbie celebration. This retail partner dolled up the store to feature amazing window décor honoring Barbie, an in-store display of 120 historic Barbie dolls, and a 242-square-foot in-store Barbie boutique that highlights accessories, apparel, and dolls.

Jeopardy

Contestants were put to the test on Monday, March 9th as Jeopardy included a whole category dedicated to Barbie. Trivia questions such as Barbie’s history, favorite designer, and favorite shoes were presented on the show.

Barbie Candy Bar

Partnering with Dylan’s Candy Bar, the creation of a sassy and all girl candy line is scheduled to make an appearance in early April. This candy line will include fun chocolate assortments, such as a shoebox of “The Perfect Pair of Chocolate Heels.”

It was the finale heard around the world.  ABC’s “The Bachelor,” Jason Mesnick, chose Melissa Rycroft. Then in the after-show special, he broke off the engagement (GASP!) and gave another shot to runner-up Molly Malaney (GASP!).

The finale marked the end of the 13th season for the series, which has also spawned another show, “The Bachelorette.”  Early seasons of the shows picked up millions of viewers, often being the most watched shows on their respective nights.  But in recent years, viewership has lagged.  Until now.

The much hyped finale aired on Monday, March 2 before 14 million viewers; over 16.5 million stayed tuned to watch the after-show special.  But the marketing didn’t stop after the show aired. All week news reports have swirled with rumors that the show is fake, leaked emails between Melissa and Jason, reactions from the show’s host and producers, and the list goes on.  Even here in our office, heated conversations filled with gasps and screams filled the production area.

Fake or not, there is no getting around the fact that some brilliant (and fairly new age) marketing has gone on here.  Reality TV and our country’s obsession with celebrity culture have opened up a new channel for entertainment marketing.  Rumors run rampant in Hollywood about every celebrity, some of which are completely made up (even by the celebrity’s publicist) as a way to get back (or remain) in the public eye.

The lightning speed of the Internet rumor mill on social media networks and blogs fans the flames. During the controversial finale, angry fans and gossip bloggers flooded Twitter and entertainment blogs to rant about the bachelor’s decision, perhaps leading to the jump in viewers for the after-show special.

My guess is that the upcoming seasons of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” will continue to ride the high that this finale has produced (producers announced the new bachelorette for next season — a reject from this season’s “Bachelor”). The show has a lot to live up to now -– viewers will now expect more sudden twists & turns, and of course more broken hearts.