Tweeter Tips from Mike Wenland

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Harness The Power Of Twitter For Local Marketing

Mar 9, 2009 at 8:00am ET by Chris Smith

The Twitter social networking and micro-blogging service was launched only two years ago, but it’s rocketing up in usage numbers quickly, and it seems likely to turn red-hot. Manycompanies are rapidly cluing into the promotional value, but smaller businesses appear slow to hop on the bandwagon. Here are a few tips on leveraging Twitter to help your locally-oriented business.

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Register to Be an NSAC Judge

AAF Spotlight

§ Register to Be an NSAC Judge
AAF's National Student Advertising Competition is a rewarding, educational and fun experience for both participants and judges. The AAF is looking for judges for the district competitions that will take place in April and May. If you are interested in judging, please click here to register for our database. Potential judges should be current advertising or marketing professionals with significant industry experience. The Century Council is the 2009 NSAC sponsor, and students are working on a campaign that will help combat dangerous overconsumption of alcohol by college students. You may view a list of the 2009 NSAC District Competitions here.

COLOR MARKETING GROUP PREDICTS HOT COLOR TRENDS FOR 2009

http://www.colormarketing.org/Media.aspx?id=1095&

Choices Driven by Concern for Economy and Optimism for the Future

Alexandria, VA /December 2008 -- What colors are in store for us in 2009? According to Color Marketing Group, the top choices have been influenced by both our concern for the economy and our optimism about the future.

Color Marketing Group, the leading international non-profit association of color design professionals, has been accurately predicting color trends for more than 45 years. CMG predicts more evolution than revolution in color trends for the coming new season.

"We're finding comfort in colors that are familiar, and yet, at the same time, we're embracing colors that make us happy -- especially as accents," said executive director, Jaime Stephens. "Everyone’s concerned about the economy, yet the spirit of the country coming together after the election is powerfully reflected in these choices. Also, the demand for colors and products that reflect an environmentally 'greener' world goes way beyond a trend. It's now 'a given.' "

According to CMG, look for these color trends in 2009:

Purple, Purple, Purple! - Emerging as a hot fashion color last fall, purple is not just a fad -- it's an entrenched trend, strongly influenced by the election. (After all, red plus blue equals purple.) Look for a greyed-out violet that works equally well as an accent or a neutral, as well as redder, plummier purples and bluer-influenced fuchsias in a huge range of products. Purple is 2009’s “must have” color.

Blue is the New Green - Various greens have symbolized "green living” over the last few years, but in 2009 the "green" environmental message is delivered by the color blue. There are watery blues, sky blues and a whole range of blues that now represent our commitment to living on a greener planet.

Cooled-down, Greyed-out Browns and Greys - Complex neutrals satisfy our urge toward classic colors in an economically challenged time. They also bridge the area between black, which seems harsh, and brown, which doesn't seem strong enough.

Yellow for Energy – The neutrals may have greyed, but look for lots and lots of bright vivid yellow to give us energy as we re-build the economy. It's the stand-out accent color for 2009.

Bright Accents from India, China, and Turkey – The exotic has become the familiar. Oranges, turquoises and teals, reds, and yellows will abound in hues from far-away countries that now seem very near. They are the optimistic touches we crave.

White is now a Business Color – Technology has produced amazing new (and very practical) finishes, which helps explain why white is showing up everywhere, even in corporate board rooms. The contrasts are all in the finishes: matte versus gloss; shine and shimmer on reflective surfaces; textured whites versus smooth -- all washable and cleanable. White also represents purity of thought, motive and result – exactly what we want from businesses now.

The Return of the "M" Word - It's mauve. Remember mauve? An old color that looks new again, in dusty violet shades, mauve works as an accent but also serves now as a neutral, punched up by those bright Asian accents (orange, turquoise, teal, red, and yellow.)

About Color Marketing Group

Color Marketing Group forecasts color trends up to three years into the future for its members, many of whom must plan ahead for product, space and materials introductions. For more information: www.colormarketing.org.

Are they ready for my close up?

Detroit In The News

February 17, 2009

CNN takes a look at film industry in Michigan, reminds us stop crying in our beer

Source: CNN "Enough crying in your beer," says CNN. Some of this is mildly insulting to anyone with a Midwest zip code, but all in all it's a decent piece from the TV news factory on what's going on with film in Detroit. Bonus points for Jeff Daniels espousing our good old fashioned work ethic here in these parts. Aw shucks, Hollywood.