So what are Google+ Pages all about?

Google+ has recently launched 'company' and 'brand' pages, expanding its infant social networking platform designed to challenge Facebook.   This is all very new and it is difficult to gauge how it will develop however if anyone is going to challenge Facebook then Google certainly has the online presence and profile to do so.

To understand what it is all about and how it is going to work The Think Tank has been looking at Google+ Pages and testing out their viability for network and social marketing.   The system is certainly in its infancy and we assume that many features are to be added however below we summarise some of the pros and cons we have found so far:

Google+ Page

The 'Plus' Points

1. Simple to Set Up
Google+ Pages are quick and easy to set up but somewhat limited at present in certain areas which we cover below.

2. Circles of Influence
Google+ is based upon creating a network of contacts which you add to 'Circles'. These can be friends, colleagues, clients, acquaintances, media or any other category that you wish to create. The great thing is that you can select who to share your content with so that if you only want to share with one or many of your circles you can or you alternatively you can share publicly.

Google+ Circles

This is great for sharing with customers, staff or specific groups that you may be marketing to and engaging with.  It is simple and quick to add to your circles when searching within the network.

This organisation of contacts is a significant benefit over Facebook and offers many opportunities to businesses looking to engage with a range of stakeholders.

3. Tracking your Impact   

Google+ Ripples

Google+ had introduced 'Ripples'. This is a very graphical way of demonstrating the impact of one of your posts as the community share it across the network. In a simple to understand format you can instantly see who has shared your content, how many people they have shared it with and whether they in turn have passed it on.

If shared publicly you can see biogs of those that share and add them to your circles. You can also view other stats including influencers, chain lengths and languages.                

4. Spreading the Word   
Sharing content is simple, fast and not limited by the number of characters, as far as we can tell. You can add images, video, links, locations and graphics such as animated gifs that can certainly enhance your message.

These can be shared publically or just to the circles that you choose.

5. Get Face to Face
A very useful tool is the 'Hangout'. This is simple video conferencing between your circles.

Hangouts can be created quickly and you can invite those in your circles, individually or in groups to join in a video conference as long as they are online.

This is going to be a great tool for getting face to face with contacts and just think of the opportunities it offers in marketing terms.

6. Google+ Direct
This is an added function that will allow those using Google to add the + sign after a search term, taking users directly to the Google+ page for the brand they are looking for.

Apparently this is going to be based upon 'algorithms' so we will have to wait and see what is required for your page to start to work with Google+ Direct.  

Now for some of the not so great bits:  

The 'Negative' Bits

1. Limited Function
The integration of Google+ does not seem to be quite there when compared to Facebook and other platforms. We are sure that this functionality will come however at the moment there are certain areas that are lacking.

2.  Set Up   
You would expect Google+ to link and import directly from your YouTube and Picasa streams for video and images but at present you have to load all of your content individually, one image or video at a time. It would be much more useful if you could link to your YouTube channel and pull across your videos.

Profiles are also limited in content that you can add and link to and offer minimal functionality and flexibility.

3. Monitoring, Moderating and Notifications
There is little functionality for the above at present. Firstly you cannot restrict people posting comments on your public posts and secondly there is no email notification to warn you that they have done so. This means that you have to constantly check online to ensure that your stream is not being attacked or having a negative impact. Privacy settings are very limited.

4. Building your Circles   
There is limited integration with email clients at present. For example, if you want to add your Outlook contacts to your circles you have to firstly export them to a .csv file and then upload into Google+. Inviting these individuals to join your circles is equally laborious. Oh, and by the way, there is currently no way of inviting people to join your page, as far as we could see, only for an individual's profile.

5. Monitoring Activity
There currently appears to be a couple of glitches with viewing Circles and those that add your page. When in Circles you can select to see all your contact or those that have 'Added' you however when you select to filter it does not work, you are left with the same list of all contacts.

Also, as far as we can see you can be notified by email if someone interacts with your personal page however notifications are not sent for people interacting with your company page - you have to keep checking back to see if there is any activity.

6. Showing your Circles
Finally, and really only of interest to those starting out, you can decide to show or not show your circles publically. This is great when you are starting out and only have a few followers as you do not want the world to know that you are not that popular. However, the downside is that if you decide to hide your circles your profile tells the world that you have '0' people in your circles - GREAT!  


We are sure that this is just a first stage in the introduction of Pages in Google+ and that in due course many of the points above will be addressed. It is going to be interesting to see whether Google can challenge Facebook and whether those that are comfortable with Facebook will want to switch over and start building their networks again. What Google has in its favour is its reach and influence online. We wait with baited breath.

If you have found this interesting give us a thumbs up and +1 our Google+ Page. Click here to view or get started.

‘From Off to On’ Installation

holdUp have shared their latest installation, ‘FROM OFF TO ON’, exhibited at the international KOBE ART BIENNALE in Japan during the ART IN A CONTAINER exhibition. Selected among 289 proposals, ‘FROM OFF TO ON’ received the honorable mention by the jury. In this interactive artwork, visitors are transformed in to explorers observing their environment, chasing marvels of unknown lands: nothing is taken for granted, everything is extraordinary.

Like a blank canvas, the container embodies a receptacle for artists and art amateurs’ creativity as they print their emotions on a surprising table settled inside. Trapped in the dark and with a UV pen for only equipment, the visitor is expected to feel his way along. He eventually notices the presence of a massive volume settled in the center of the space. When he approaches that mass, he notices that UV-lights are progressively switching on, reaching their maximum intensity when he touches it. Getting eyesight back, he is eventually able to tell the volume is a large drawing table.

The visitor is assimilated to a speleologist discovering a primitive cave with prehistoric drawings painted on the rock, except that drawings are not relics from past ages. Simply put, the whole space is dark until he draws on the table. Drawing is the only way to be involved and visualize the self-made exhibition: to see you must do!

To read more please visit ArchDaily.

Visit Norway on your daily commute

Visitnorway.com has come up with a way to make the daily commute more interesting with a fantastic ad idea. Using in-tunnel advertising, visitnorway.com presents Norway’s landscape as an alternative to riding the underground subway. In-tunnel advertising is an innovative outdoor medium, where multiple LED screens mounted on tunnel walls create an animation that is perfectly aligned to each passenger window. A simple sticker on the train delivers a message that reaches out to millions of passengers daily.

Watch the video below or visit adgoodness to read more.

Paper v. Digital PR - An Article for RIBA Insight

The Think Tank was recently asked to comment upon the importance of the use of paper v. digital media in PR by RIBA Insight as part of the regular advice and guidance that RIBA CPD Providers Network provides to its customers.

Liam Bateman, Director at The Think Tank, commented, “Both paper and digital are still equally important however within certain markets there is a more emphasised move towards digital.
Traditional PR, which would have included securing articles in publications and raising brand awareness through events and activities, has rapidly been expanded into the digital arena, firstly, through publishers taking their magazines online, then through e-direct marketing and latterly social media."

Click the on the link to see the full article.

Paper v. Digital Article.pdf (467 kb)

Article originally published by RIBA Insight

Opinion: the 2012 Olympics artists posters

Art and design critics have questioned whether the posters unveiled last week to celebrate next year’s London Olympics truly represent the best of British creativity.

Mark Hudson of The Telegraph says that “overall, there are more hits than misses” among the posters by twelve leading British artists. He points to Fiona Banner’s work as the standout example, claiming its typographic combination of evocative phrases “feels appropriate to these challenging times.”

The Guardian‘s Jonathan Glancey also praises Banner’s design, describing it as “the most introspective, serious and moving of all these posters,” while questioning whether some of the designs are “aimed at art fans or athletics fans.” Patrick Burgoyne of UK visual communication magazine Creative Review reports that members of the graphic design community were disappointed not to be given the chance to participate in the design process but is unconvinced that the results would have been much better given such an open brief. The BBC‘s arts editor Will Gompertz says that the abstract nature of the posters means they lack context, adding “with this collection, you wouldn’t know where the games are being held. Maybe that in itself is a statement.”

Since their release the posters have received much more negative press and than positive. This doesn't bode well on top of widespread disappointment over the logo, typeface and mascots, followed by the dreary ticketing advertising campaign. Instead of providing a vehicle to celebrate Britain's creative industries, there is a very real danger that the 2012 Games will forever be remembered by the visual communications community as a missed opportunity of truly Olympian proportions.

To read more or to see opinions and comments about the posters visit Dezeen or Creative Review.

My Blackberry is not working!

This classic Two Ronnies sketch made us laugh all over again when we heard about Blackberry’s ongoing technical problems a few weeks ago. Users of the Smartphone brand were furious after a three day global service outage back in October. Since the problems a poll has revealed one in five Blackberry users are now considering switching to another Smartphone manufacturer with most stating Apple as their preferred choice.

It would seem that the Two Ronnie’s were right on the money with their sketch and perhaps Blackberry customers can take heart in the comedy of the situation. That is as long as you’re not trying to view this on your phone...

To see more like this click here.

Reputation Management: Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

The numbers are trending nicely for social media. A new piece of research out this week estimates the global social network advertising spend will top nearly £5 billion next year and approach £6.3 billion the year after. There’s another social media figure on the rise too: despite the increased investment in social, companies are getting blindsided by the social media-fueled PR crisis, as recent research into this shows. Here are a few important tips to consider for integrating social media into your crisis communications plan. They are the most repeated mistakes and misconceptions that lead big brands into trouble with the public.

Underestimating influence/impact of your social media critics at your peril.
Kryptonite is the business school case study here, but loads of brands since – from Target telling the blogosphere they don’t rate Nestle telling off eco Facebook protesters – have failed to understand that bloggers/Tweeters and Facebook protesters may not be The Guardian or The Times, but they do hold plenty of weight.

Giving the online community flashy marketing message when they just want simple, straightforward detail.
These days, companies can get into big trouble for issuing fictitious glowing reviews or trotting out seemingly genuine testimonials by paid actors. Even before these consumer protections were put into place, L’Oreal paid a higher price – it got burned by vigilant bloggers.

Facebook is not just a forum for fans and “Likes.”
Burger King, Nestle, and BP, to name just a few have seen their Facebook pages overwhelmed by critics who want to expose dodgy company practice. Greenpeace has had great success mobilising its followers in a series of corporate Facebook pressure campaigns. BK quickly caved to the demands to cheers. Nestle, on the other hand, shouted back, inviting more opposition.

Culture of unresponsive/uncaring customer service fuels recurring gripes, becomes a PR headache.
Dell learned the hard way that Jeff Jarvis’ customer service gripes were not an isolated issue; a massive backlash was brewing. It just took one well-connected critic to put his finger on it and the avalanche ensued.

For all the fresh money pouring into social media, we would expect the number of errors to rise before companies really get the message that social media investment means more than crafting a just a slick campaign. It means two-way dialogue, transparency and, ultimately, learning from your mistakes.

To read more visit SocialMediaInfluence.com

IFAC 2012 - The International Festival of Art & Construction

IFAC (International Festival of Art & Construction) is organizing the festival of art and construction IFAC 2012 for next summer in Spain. Here's some information as to what the IFAC is all about:

- It is an initiative of the nonprofit association “self-sufficent movement” which seeks to promote the philosophy of self-sufficiency in society, invest aggressive consumer trends, encourage and disseminate self-sufficient practices, investigate and explore ways to self-sufficiency.

- I.F.A.C. is a project focused on 200 young artists and architects from across Europe to live together 10 days in a space of creation and integration of different arts, the result will be creations , publishing, construction and various designs in any field of art.

- I.F.A.C. will be located in a rural setting, to provide a fun work environment where a festive atmosphere will be the framework for debates and discussions about contemporary concerns.

IFAC is developing a preliminary contest in order to select and reward the future Tutors of the IFAC Workshop, the competition seeks a diversity and richness of workshops, to express and work around current issues in art and construction. Registration is free, you may submit projects to the workshop on 5th December 2011.

The awards are 10 prizes of € 100 for each workshop or the chance to lead your project and be published or the free assistance of a tutor to I.F.A.C.

Visit www.IFAC2012.com for more information on how to enter or go to plusmood to read the full article.

National Museum of Scotland is beautifully redeveloped by Gareth Hoskins Architects

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh has just completed its most significant redevelopment in over a century, breathing new life into one of the finest Victorian buildings in Britain. 16 new galleries, home to over 8,000 objects, take visitors on an inspirational journey through the wonders of nature, the cultures of the world and the excitement of science and discovery.

Working with the Museum, award-winning practice Gareth Hoskins Architects has opened up and expanded the Museum’s public space, restoring and revitalizing the grandeur of the Victorian Grade A listed building. Ralph Appelbaum Associates, international interpretive planners and designers, were responsible for creating dramatic new exhibitions for visitors.

Spectacular stone-vaulted spaces on Chambers Street, which were originally used for storage and hidden from public view, have been carefully excavated and sensitively developed to form an impressive new Entrance Hall.

From here visitors enter the breathtaking and light-filled Grand Gallery. This beautiful ‘birdcage’ structure, with its delicate cast-iron balconies and soaring glass roof, was opened in 1866. Designed by the Royal Engineer Captain Francis Fowke, architect of the Albert Hall, it was inspired by London’s Crystal Palace. It offers one of the most memorable architectural experiences in the UK.

The Grand Gallery has been reinstated as a dramatic focal point of the Museum’s displays, with its impressive feature the ‘Window on the World’. Spanning the four stories of the majestic Grand Gallery space, this spectacular vertical installation rises over 20 metres and showcases extraordinary objects from across the collections of National Museums Scotland.

The redevelopment is the centerpiece of a visionary Masterplan to realize a 21st century museum which will stimulate and inspire people for generations.

Photography by Andrew Lee

To read more visit ArchDaily.

Jean Nouvel Jewelbox Houses Historic Carousel in NYC

Since it’s opening on September 16th, the Jean Nouvel acrylic encasement and historic Jane’s Carousel has become a landmark in the heart of Brooklyn Bridge Park for families. The welcoming public pavilion offers spectacular views of the East River, the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and the Manhattan skyline.

The transparent jewel box centers Jane’s Carousel within a 72’ x 72’ x 27’ volume, directly beneath a circular skylight of equal diameter. The North and South facades consist of eighteen steel and acrylic operable doors that fold open from the center, framing the view of the North and South portions of the river. The roof is made up of insulated glass units supported by a cable and steel structure, mimicking the structural characteristics of the carousel.

A simple interior of grey concrete flooring, 3″ polished aluminum ceiling strips and a curved tempered low iron glass guardrail focuses the attention onto the colorful details of the carousel. Delicately placed, wood furniture matches the carousel’s platform and reinforces its playful spirit. At sunset, four recessed screens blanket the facades, transforming the pavilion into a lantern that projects a lightshow of distorted shadows. Jean Nouvel’s desires have been met, as the pavilion has become a “fragile little monument in the city.”

To read more visit archdaily.

What can we learn from Shippams Paste Twitter prank?

The @ShippamsPaste Twitter feed which recently took the online world by storm may have been a fake, but it can teach us plenty about how social-media marketing should be.

Over the last few weeks, Twitter has been agog at the rise and fall of @ShippamsPaste, supposedly written by ‘Ben’, an ‘executive social media intern’ at Shippams.

Through the feed, ‘Ben’ shared events from his life at Shippams, his dealings with colleagues and his search for a girlfriend, all played for laughs. He also encouraged followers to ‘engage’ with the Shippams brand by inviting interaction, devising hashtags (‘#paste’), jumping on trending topics and so on. Once word got out, @ShippamsPaste went viral, rocketing to 8000 followers in three weeks. Then Twitter suspended the account for passing itself off as the real thing, restoring it briefly on the condition it admitted to being fake. Its creator, Ed Jefferson (@edjeff), then went public with a Guardian article explaining his motives.

The fake account parodied the lame way in which some brands use social media, working their way through an established playbook of tactics that utterly fail to engage people. As Jefferson explained, ‘faking a spectacularly inept attempt to "do Twitter" just seemed funny – as did picking a real, but nearly forgotten, brand to do it.’ And it was funny. Very funny. @ShippamsPaste showed exactly what brands should be doing by mocking what they are doing. Using Shippams’ products as a jumping-off point rather than the finish line, the feed took the brand into completely uncharted waters and unlocked a previously unsuspected area of potential appeal.

The @ShippamsPaste account was interruptive rather than engaging, and broadcast rather than interactive. It was more like a traditional TV ad than a modern social-media campaign. As a result, it achieved what respected creative Steve Harrison calls ‘relevant abruption’, grabbing audience attention and pulling it towards a product.

In a world where audience attention is increasingly fragmented, the wise brands may be those who learn to ride waves of publicity – even if they haven’t made those waves themselves.

To read more visit econsultancy.com.