The CIK Marketing and Inklyo Ltd. offices at 67 King Street West will be closed until May 25 as Chantielle will be out of town. If you need to speak with Chantielle, please send an email to info@cikmarketing.ca and Chantielle will do her best to respond to you as quickly as possible.

She will return any phone calls when she returns on May 25.

Happy May 24th long weekend to you all!

Change is in the air at CIK Marketing, and we couldn’t be more excited to tell you about it! As you know, CIK Marketing is an online marketing company that specializes in content development. While we enjoy working on graphic projects and social media, content has always been our main passion.

Which got us to thinking… why aren’t we doing what we love? Over the past two years, we strayed from our original content concept, choosing instead to focus on some exciting website design projects and social media strategies. We’ve designed some awesome logos and helped a handful of clients launch their online presence. But through it all, content has remained our main focus and most important service.

Content is King after all – whether it’s a great blog post or a hilarious video, content is what drives any online marketing campaign. It’s what you share on social networks, the engine that optimizes your website, and the meat behind your promotional campaigns.

And it’s what we do best.

Which is why we’re excited to announce the launch of Inklyo Ltd.

We’ve Been Inked

Based on an exciting growth opportunity in the content development industry, Chantielle Kennedy, the owner of CIK Marketing, has recently undertaken a corporate restructuring, resulting in the launch of a brand new content development concept: Inklyo Ltd. Effective March 1, 2012, CIK Marketing is now a division of this new and exciting online marketing venture.

Now don’t start freaking out just because things are changing. We promise this will be a painless transition. CIK Marketing will still continue to function as it always has, providing local Chatham-Kent companies with affordable online marketing solutions. Chantielle is still at the helm, and still fully committed to offering quality services. However, both she and the CIK Marketing team will be cutting some of our project load back over the next six months in order to focus our efforts on the development of Inklyo.

So Just What is Inklyo?

Inklyo Ltd. will build off of CIK Marketing’s existing clientele of corporate content outsourcing partners. Based on a sophisticated proprietary software platform, Inklyo will have the ability to scale up rapidly to meet increasing demands for unique, relevant, and ongoing content requests.

Through the development of a service-oriented infrastructure that eliminates uncertainly and delay, Inklyo Ltd. will provide corporate clients with consistent online business writing services tailored to suit their unique marketing goals and deadlines.

It’s like this: you wouldn’t hire a mechanic to do your taxes – so why are you trusting your blogging or resource development to your admin assistant, or worse – your website developer? (Trust us, your developer hates writing content… they’re accustomed to seeing <p> not paragraphs.)

At Inklyo Ltd., we employ professional writers for one reason, and one reason only - to write. 

The content development industry is made up almost entirely of freelance writers – this means it’s highly fragmented, making it difficult for corporate clients to secure consistent, timely, and professional online writing services. Inklyo Ltd. provides corporate clients with access to a team of vetted telecommute business writers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

But wait, there’s more..

Once fully deployed in the summer of 2012, Inklyo Ltd. clients will have the ability to generate real-time quotes for content requests, effectively streamlining what is traditionally an arduous process. Service pricing will be standardized and based on three determining factors: how quickly the client wants the project completed, requested article length, and the industry for which the content is being produced. Clients will retain the copyright of all written content and have the ability to execute non-disclosure agreements if required.

Easy-peasy.

So what are you waiting for? If you’re struggling with producing eye-catching, share-worthy content for your website or social media campaigns, you need to get inked. Contact Inklyo Ltd. to sign up as a beta tester for our new system.

It’s going to change the way you look at content – at least, that’s what we thINK.

Bloggers have been getting quite the bad rap in Chatham-Kent lately, and I have to admit, I’m a little perplexed as to why. Just last night, a number of city councillors made a point of lambasting local bloggers during the usual Monday night session. While most of the conversation focused around bridges, sidewalks, turbines, and colourful furniture metaphors, more than one councillor commented on the fact that bloggers are presenting and spreading misinformation about certain municipally-funded projects.

Except, I really don’t think that’s fair. Just because information (or misinformation) is being posted online, doesn’t automatically mean that the source is a blog. In fact, I’m willing to argue there’s no way these “facts” are coming from a blogger.

What a Blog is Not

Before I get too deeply into this, let’s first look at what a “blog” is not. Just because news or information is reported online doesn’t mean it’s reported on a blog or by a blogger. The Chatham-Kent Daily Post (CKDP) is not a blog. The websites for the local Blackburn radio stations? Nope, still not blogs. Chatham Daily News? Definitely not a blog. And yet, I’d hazard to guess that these online publications rank highly on council’s Blogging Blacklist. The people that write for these publications are not bloggers. They are journalists and reporters. They write juicy headlines, jump on controversial topics and stir the pot. That’s their job. These groups have an entire staff dedicated to fact checking, reporting, interviewing and editing. If misinformation is being spread via these sources, it’s not the fault of the blogging community – it’s bad journalism.

And just because a website has a comments section, does not automatically mean it’s a blog. It simply means the site’s owners are interested in hearing reader opinions and stimulating conversation. Furthermore, leaving a comment on a website does not make you a blogger. It makes you a commenter. If false information is being spread via comments, it’s not the bloggers that council should be blaming. It’s because people in the community are frustrated and looking for a place to voice their opinion – whatever that opinion may be.

The Difference Between Bloggers and Journalists

Now, I’m not trying to say that all bloggers are angels. There’s nothing stopping a hot-under-the-collar blogger from publishing outrageous stories online. But this is where there’s a clear delineation between journalists and bloggers. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, a blog is “a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer, also : the contents of such a site”. Therefore, a blogger is someone that writes his or her ideas and thoughts online. There’s no mention of facts, bias or even truth in this definition. That’s because blogging is all about personal opinion, interpretation and reflection. Which means it shouldn’t be taken as fact – not by me, or you, and certainly not by our city council.

Now, let’s compare that to the Merriam Webster’s definition of journalism. Definition 2b describes journalism as “writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation”. Journalists, unlike bloggers, are all about the facts. The public depends on the media to get the story right.

So, to get back to my original topic – blaming local bloggers for spreading false information doesn’t really make sense. Even if a blogger were to publish a fabricated rant, by definition he or she is simply publishing an opinion or interpretation. If council is really worried about the proliferation of bad facts, they need to stop looking at the bloggers are start looking at the local media. Afterall, facts are what separate bloggers from journalists.

But Don’t Rule Out The Bloggers Just Yet

When it comes to the blogosphere, I think our city council has to make a choice. They can either continue to deem bloggers destructive and their opinions irrelevant, or they can reach out to these individuals and work with them to change the way our community is being presented online. Think of it as a municipal blogger outreach program. What better way to promote Chatham-Kent than by working with local bloggers to share their opinions on the positive aspects of our community?

Let’s face it, the city will never be able to change the way local media operates. Journalists and reporters are paid to get the scoop, spin the story and sell papers. Which is fine. But bloggers aren’t. Bloggers are here to present their opinion and share their perspective. Wouldn’t it make more sense to encourage them to be a part of the solution, rather than blame them for being the root of the problem?

But then again, what do I know… I’m just a blogger.

Authenticity is the cornerstone of online trust. This is true for both individuals and brands. Master the ability to be authentic and the rest will just fall into place. Transparency, trustworthiness, credibility – they are all side-effects of authentic behaviour. You see, people respond to, engage with, and generally trust those people, businesses, and brands that align their claims with their actions. To put it simply, they walk the talk.

In order to earn trust, a business or individual must be honest, personable and engage in transparent actions with their audience. Which in theory, sounds easy. But like most things in life, authenticity takes effort, and if you’re not careful, can cause you a world of hurt.

Mistaken Authenticity

Just over a year ago, I attended a Brand Camp conference in Detroit. Following the conference, I did what most bloggers do – I blogged, highlighting topics touched upon by the speakers. Since the conference was about branding, credibility and authenticity were common themes in my post. After summarizing information shared by one of the speakers, I continued evangelizing about the importance of building a truthful, original and transparent personal brand. I felt authentic, creative and confident in my post. And then someone called me out and accused me of being inauthentic.

Oh, crap.

Turns out, in my post I’d falsely credited a phrase used in the presentation to the speaker, when it was actually coined by a core hip hop artist named Kukoo Da Baga Bonez.

Did the speaker take credit for the phrase in his presentation? To be honest, I have no idea. He might have, or I might have just missed the reference. Either way it didn’t really matter, I’d made an inauthentic claim on a post all about the importance of building an ironclad personal brand. Not good.

But at the end of the day, I have to give props to Dwayne Bryant (Mr. Da Baga Bonez himself) for uncovering my epic fail. In today’s world of online publishing, social media and infinite information, it’s tough to maintain an authentic identity. Credit is no longer paid to the proper source – it’s simply pawned off on whomever is most convenient. Individuals (and brands) need to make a conscious effort to monitor and manage their brand in order to protect its authenticity and ensure its credibility. Which is exactly what Dwayne was doing.

So, in honour of Dwayne, professionally known as Kukoo Da Baga Bonez, let’s look at the three Rs of authenticity:

1) Be Real

Don’t hide behind a pseudonym or a generic address. People want to connect with other people, not some nameless entity behind an “info@” email address. Post a photo, a video, something that says, “hey, I’m not afraid to be me.” Amplify your voice or your brand’s voice by personalizing your online presence.

2) Be Responsive

Why post your contact information if you never intend to respond to the messages you receive? If your customers are taking the time to contact you, the least you can do is contact them back. Dwayne took the time to find, read, and comment on my post – it was only fair that I take the time to respond back.

3) Be Respectful

No matter how hard you try, you’re going to screw up. That’s the name of the game. The trick is learning how to own it. When Dwayne commented on my blog, sure, I felt like a moron. I could have ignored him; deleted his comment and never thought about it again. Yes, it would have saved me the embarrassment, but it would have been the ultimate form of disrespect to Dwayne. He took the time to right a wrong and manage the Kukoo Da Baga Bonez brand. He deserved my respect and was entitled to a fair response.

So, now when I’m grustlin’ I have Dwayne a.k.a. KukBonez Da GRUSTLER to thank. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Kukoo Da Baga Bonez a.k.a. “Da GRUSTLER” is an independent hip hop artist and entrepreneur from New York that has been putting in work consistently in the music industry since the mid 90′s and has crossed over into several markets since he debuted with his certified underground classic “Da Real Kukoo”. Co-founder at Vitalize Labs/Eboost, Josh Taekman recognizes Kukoo Da Baga Bonez as a leader and a pioneer.

The Chatham-Kent Fire Department is tapping into new communication tools thanks to a little help from CIK Marketing. Over the past two months, CKFD and CIK have been working together to create a social media management system that would help improve online communications.

The Chatham-Kent Fire Department will be leveraging various social media accounts and their official website to release department information, share fire safety messaging and alert the media to information regarding fire scenes. The public can follow the Chatham-Kent Fire Department on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ckfiredept (@ckfiredept) and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ckfiredept. Plans are also in place to launch a department YouTube channel later this spring.

Embracing a New Approach

The reason for the social media shift? Improved communications. “About two years ago, we started to realize that our old school methods of trying to reach out to the public and the media were starting to fail a little,” remarked Chief Bob Crawford an interview with Blackburn radio this morning. In order to provide faster, more accurate information distribution, the Fire Department worked with CIK Marketing to tether their accounts together. Now, when a message is posted to the official CKFD website (www.ckfire.com), the same information is immediately published to the Department’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. When information is posted to the Facebook page, it is automatically tweeted, and vice versa. “This will enable consistent messaging and the ability to use various forms of communicating to reach a wider demographic,” said Fire Chief Robert Crawford. The tethering also provides the department with an efficient distribution channel.

Better Media Relations

The new social media set-up will enable the on-call chief to “tweet” information for structure fires as the information becomes available. Detailed follow-up will be issued to the media via a release when needed. This will assist in providing access to initial information about an incident without interrupting or hampering fire fighting efforts and strategies.

A "tweet" from the new Chatham-Kent Fire Department Twitter account. Followers can trace this tweet back to Assistant Fire Chief Ray Stone thanks to the use of his unique call sign "^CK3"

The public educator will be able to post messages and tips regarding preventing fires, early detection as well as important steps and planning for what to do in case of a fire emergency.

The CKFD social media system is the first fire service social media project that CIK Marketing has worked on. In the past, CIK has provided social media assistance to numerous police services, including the Guelph, Woodstock and Chatham-Kent services. For more information on these projects, please visit our Social Media for Law Enforcement page.

This is just a reminder that CIK Marketing will be moving today.

Our new location will be at 67 King Street West – we’ll see you there on Monday!

Many thanks to everyone who helped make our time at DeKoKo’s a great succes – onwards and upwards to new adventures!

The web will look a little darker today as some of the world’s largest tech companies take a stand against SOPA. Last night at midnight, Wikipedia shut down its English-language sites in order to protest plans to police the internet and combat piracy in the U.S., and they aren’t the only ones.

Google has joined the protest ‘blacking out’ its logo on its U.S. home page and providing a link to a landing page explaining the proposed law. BoingBoing, Reddit, WordPress and Firefox are also fully or partially blacking out there sites and service to show solidarity.

The following video and links provide detailed information on what SOPA and PIPA are, why they’re bad, and how they could affect you and your business. Knowledge is power, so take some time to educate yourself today.

Just don’t try to use Wikipedia for your research

• What is SOPA? - http://gizmodo.com/5877000/what-is-sopa
• What is the PIPA Bill? - http://ansonalex.com/technology/what-is-pipa/
• How SOPA Would Affect You: FAQS - http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329001-281/how-sopa-would-affect-you-faq/
• Black Wednesday: In Protest of SOPA, Darken the Web (includes information on how SOPA would affect Canadians) - http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/michael-geist/sopa-protest_b_1210467.html

If you’re reading this from the U.S., make sure you answer Google’s call to action and sign the petition to stop SOPA – click the image below for more details.

But don’t stop there. Write your congressman or senator – SOPA sets a dangerous precedent and will change the foundations of the Internet.

Big things are happening at CIK Marketing this year… starting with a move!

For the past 8 months, CIK Marketing has been operating out of DeKoKo’s Espresso & Espresso Cafe at 44 Fourth Street in Chatham. Since opening our office in the space our business has grown substantially (as have our caffeine addictions)! DeKoKo’s reputation has also grown considerably, attracting tons of customers.

Turns out, we’re both getting too big to co-habitat in our cozy quarters.

So, on January 30th, CIK Marketing will be moving our office to 67 King Street, where we will share amenities with another local web-savvy company: Potensia Corp.

Could this be the start of a larger co-working project? You’ll have to wait and find out!

But What About The Perch?

As many of you know, CIK and DeKoKo’s also collaborated on a community workspace within the coffee shop, called The Perch. This space included a public boardroom that local entrepreneurs could utilize as part of a membership based program. CIK’s move will have little effect on current members – they will still be able to utilize the space and amenities as they have in the past until their membership expires at the end of May 2012. However, new memberships will no longer be sold. Instead, entrepreneurs are asked to contact the owner of DeKoKo’s, Christy Dekoning, directly for more information on renting the space.

But don’t worry, the concept of co-working is far from dead here in Chatham! Stay tuned to The Perch Facebook page for more details!

Thanks to all who helped make our time in DeKoKo’s memorable, especially Christy! It’s been great working alongside you for the past 8 months and I’ll certainly miss spending every day in Chatham-Kent’s coolest coffee shop!

It sure has been a crazy year at CIK Marketing! From the launch of the Shop Local CK program to our experiment with The Perch Workspace, 2011 certainly was a year of discovery and growth within our company.

And we can only expect more as we round the bend into 2012!

From expanded office space to an overhauled business model, we’ve got lots lined up already.

Which is why we’re taking a much needed vacation!

The CIK Marketing offices will be closed from Friday December 23 until Tuesday December 27 for the Christmas holiday. The office will be available via phone and email on December 28th and 29th. The office will be closed again from December 30 through to January 6th, with full operations back in swing come January 9th.

Technical Coverage During Off Hours

If you are a current website client of CIK Marketing and are experiencing hosting issues during these off hours, please send an email to info@cikmarketing.ca to reach our technical representative.

Wishing all of our clients, friends and family a safe and happy holiday season!

With only seventeen days left until Christmas it’s safe to say that the holidays are here. And while I have yet to really start my Christmas shopping (ugh), I have started my holiday giving. Every December, like clockwork, I donate to a handful of specific charities. Why? Because I’m lucky enough to be able to. Because I have had experiences with these organizations and I know they put the money to good use. Because I want to help. To put it simply, it’s because I give a crap.

I’m an old-school craptivist.

Sadly, there aren’t a lot of true craptivists left these days.

Craptivism used to be about making a difference. It used to be about caring, sharing, giving, and then giving more. And not just money. Craptivists give their time, their expertise, their knowledge, and their kindness. They don’t care about rewards, or recognition, they don’t take no for an answer, and they don’t make excuses. They simply get things done.

But craptivism is changing. It’s becoming, well, crappy.

From Craptivism to Slacktivism

One of the main pillars of craptivism is action – doing something, anything, to spark change. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people are “doers” these days. We’ve become slackers instead of act-ers.

Welcome to the generation of slacktivists.

A relatively recent development, “slacktivism” refers to feel-good online activism that has absolutely no political or social impact. The act of participating in obviously pointless activities as an expedient alternative to actually expending effort to fix a problem, (definition care of the Urban Dictionary), slacktivism is how people show that they give a crap while successfully doing crap-all.

Why volunteer my time at a homeless shelter when I can simply add a Twibbon to my twitter profile image that shows how much I care about the less fortunate? Why bother standing in line to vote when I can share my political views online? Donate to the Movember campaign? I’d rather create a Facebook photo album chronicling the furrification of my face.

On the surface, people still care. They still give a crap, they just refuse to do crap about it. And while signing an online petition or changing your profile picture to reflect your support is great, it’s an easy out.

“But I’m helping advance the cause by sharing with my friends,” you say, “it’s about exposure.” But is it really? Look me in the eye and tell me that itty-bitty icon that shows you support outreach for hunger programming is more effective than dropping canned goods off at your local food bank.

Better yet, tell that to a mother who depends on the food bank to help feed her son. 

You see, the thing about slacktivism is it’s selfish. It makes you feel good – but what about the people you’re suppose to be helping, the people you’re suppose to care so desperately about?

Now don’t get me wrong, some slacktivists are actually craptivists in disguise. According to The Dynamics of Cause Engagement study by Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication and Ogilvy Worldwide shows slacktivists are often more likely to take meaningful action after participating in promotional social activity (check out this recent post from Mashable for more details on the study).

When all’s said and done, it doesn’t matter whether or not you participate in slacktivism. Giving a crap is what matters. Care, share, give, and then give again.

After all, ’tis the season for craptivism.

Craptivism can be easy. Click here to donate to the United Way of Chatham-Kent from the comfort of your couch.