By Bridget Weizer Granger
Whether you’re managing the production of videos, events or interactive media, your mission should be the same: to meet communication objectives in inspiring ways, on time and on budget.
According to Mike Yearling, owner of the Yearling Media Group, great creative and outstanding talent are critical, but behind every success there’s typically something deeper at play: the production process itself. Yearling notes, “Show me a project that aligns the warring siblings of quality, cost and speed, and I’ll bet there is a production process behind it loaded with wisdom.”
Through the years, Yearling has come to define ”wisdom” as the ability to avoid the following seven deadly sins of producing:
- Not asking the right questions up front. “I’m always struck by how many downstream production issues can be avoided by just asking the right questions before the spending begins,” Yearling noted.
- Not squashing creative ambiguities early one. In discussing creative, words are never enough. He advises using images or reviewing past projects as frames of reference.
- Basing your budget or timeline on a Utopian dream. “If you know executives will make a lot of changes, plan for it,” said Yearling. “Nice surprise, if it doesn’t happen!”
- Not getting work in front of key decision makes early. Better to avoid a complete project reversal days before the project is due.
- Spending 80 percent of your budget on the first draft or cut. Rather than build the whole house at once, show rooms along the way.
- Not seeing the forest while gazing at the trees. “Approach your communication initiatives as a comprehensive annual program, and not a bunch of separate projects,” noted Yearling.
- Not learning from your mistakes. Before rushing off to the next project, take a moment to reflect frankly on this one first. “Your next project will love you for it,” he added.
By Bridget Weizer Granger
In a culture engulfed by the Web, it’s no surprise that companies have turned to computer and web-based applications for training and educating their employees. Through the implementation of a learning management system (LMS) and a process called eLearning, you can help your organization recognize the benefits of shared information.
According to Sal Abate, a learning performance expert at Mills James, an LMS can control all aspects of a company’s training initiatives. With an LMS, employers are better able to teach, develop and measure associates’ progress–the results of which drive organizational performance.
Businesses are also quickly finding that associated costs can be far less than anticipated. According to Abate, you can manage and maintain an LMS with an average cost per user of less than $50 annually. The figure is typically smaller than a company’s current training expenditures, and considering the capabilities of an LMS, it can be a more efficient use of often scarce budget dollars.
The cost benefit is not the only appealing attribute of an LMS. Abate claims the right system has the ability to integrate content from various sources and formats without technical obstacles, and can export results into a readable, reusable format that is compatible with the company’s current software. The LMS can immediately and accurately calculate return on investment, and can do so for the lifecycle of the employee.
A learning management system can effectively blend virtual (online) and physical (classroom or instructor-led) learning approaches. With customizable interfaces and branded content, your organization’s image and identity can be reinforced throughout the eLearning experience.
Submitted by Sandy Blanquera, Social Media SIG
“Our consumers are very loyal to us and they love to send us photos showing the great results they get from using Scotts Miracle-Gro lawn and garden products,” said Ed Billmaier, Sr. Director of Relationship and Interactive Marketing, as he shared how Scotts is examining opportunities to create meaningful engagement with their consumers.
“By creating a sense of community where consumers can connect and share their contentment and loyalty towards our products, everyone benefits,” Ed continued.
A landing page is a page that displays specific content based on how the user is referred. For example, if you ran a newspaper campaign about a new product, you would direct them to a “landing page” that promoted that product specifically. Here are 5 crucial steps to getting the most value possible out of landing pages.
