First Person archive
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How do you read the Web? Eye-tracking data reveals 5 key findings!
I learned about eye-tracking technology in my newspaper days, when places like the Poynter Institute would strap headgear onto hapless readers to record where their eyes moved on the printed page. The data was always useful, since it shows what layout approaches and print elements attract attention and for how long—and also how eyes move… Continue reading
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What makes a successful infographic?
Recently, my colleague Bill Golden wrote a blog post about infographics resources. It prompted some discussion at Tendo about best practices for online vs. print infographics. Many of the graphics featured in this link, for instance, are fairly complicated and would be difficult to access online. If an infographic’s purpose is to make information more… Continue reading
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Video games as a marketing hook? Try me.
I’m not the target demographic for video games, and I rarely play them. I wasn’t a fan of online games, either—until someone sent me a link this week to TripAdvisor’s Travel IQ game.
The game was sapping my productivity until I decided it was worth blogging about as a great example of a company… Continue reading
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6 good infographics sources–and how USA Today fooled everyone
I distinctly remember some of the criticism of USA Today when it first launched: the color photography, the short articles, and all of those big infographics. That’s journalism? Do the editors have no faith in America’s ability to read?
One thing USA Today realized, even before the rise of the Internet, is that we humans have become increasingly visual creatures. Nowadays, with screens and information pervading every nook and cranny we inhabit, figuring out how to organize and present that information is more important than ever. Continue reading
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Local Dirt creates community, brings food close to home
I love when technology solves a real problem and brings together people or businesses that otherwise wouldn’t find each other, or, at least, wouldn’t find each other easily. That’s what Local Dirt is doing for those interested in finding, buying, and selling local food.
I find this interesting not only because I’m a consumer… Continue reading
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Apple’s subtle brand marketing triumph
In this humble marketer’s opinion, overshadowing the “there’s an app for that” TV commercials, the white-corded iPod billboards, the “I’m a Mac” print ads, and even the seminal 1984 George Orwell-inspired Superbowl launch commercial is Apple’s biggest marketing triumph, which cost $0.00 to produce and consists of just four words… Continue reading
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Seeing a brand in new light
I had one of those rare moments recently when an ad actually influenced my brand sentiment.
Maybe it stood out because it’s a rare occurrence for me. Or because it involved a brand I”m not particularly fond of. Or then again, maybe it was compelling creative. I think it was mostly the latter… Continue reading
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When cheap video = good video
Video doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. In fact, sometimes cheaper is better.
Take the video glossary I recently ran across on Lawrence Berkeley National Labs’ site. Scientists for this Department of Energy lab look straight into what is obviously an inexpensive video camera and explain everything from green computing to dark… Continue reading
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A blog by any other name…
Blogging can be an intimidating word, especially when you’re not a writer or editor by profession. I’m the office manager at Tendo, so when my colleagues here ask me to contribute to the Tendo blog, my answer is either, “sorry, I don’t blog” or “I’m too old to join a new fad.” But am I… Continue reading
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Time.com: “Long-form web writing is dead!” Duh.
In an excerpt of a recent interview with Josh Tyrangiel, the managing editor of Time.com explains how “long-form” journalism just does not work on the Web. Well, doh! I’m glad the lead editor of Time.com has realized this, but it’s sad that he’s making this statement in 2009.
Tendo was founded 10 years ago… Continue reading
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Busy as a marketing bee
My latest hobby is beekeeping, and I’m fascinated by what I’m learning. Bees are amazing creatures. A hive holds about 60,000 bees: one queen, 50-something-thousand worker bees, and a couple hundred drones (male bees whose sole purpose in life is to mate with the queen; I’ll hold back on the sexist comments). There is such… Continue reading
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Keywords are no longer key; it’s the content
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the intersection of SEO and content strategies after attending a webinar on Google’s new search algorithm. To sum up, the keywords you use to drive traffic are only as good as the content that surrounds them. But until you measure the effectiveness of different content, you’re not really… Continue reading
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Say hello to the new Tendo View!
The Tendo View is now something new and different, and yet it remains the same. This issue, we introduced a new Tendo View, a magazine-style page that will host all of the content formerly found under various subheadings on our main page, including our blog, siteseeing, jargon watch, and more in a dynamic, real-time environment… Continue reading
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