Gene De Libero - Digital Marketing Strategist

HTML5 Information Resources: Get Up to Speed on HTML5

Gene De Libero — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:00:24 +0000

Lately, I’ve been getting more and more questions about HTML5 and what it means to digital marketers and web developers. I guess the HTML5 vs. Flash debate has cooled in some circles and stayed pretty heated in others.

My POV [and many others, too] is that Flash ain’t going anywhere anytime soon. While Steve Jobs and company have shunned Flash on Apple devices in favor HTML5, there’s no need for panic. It’ll all work out at some point. Meanwhile, here’s a collection of HTML5 info, resources, tools, and just plain cool stuff for you to have a look at while you ponder your place in the HTML5 vs. Flash debate.

Flash vs. HTML5: What you need to know

7 Useful Resources to Help You Learn HTML5

How HTML5 Will Shake Up the Web

Flash and the HTML5 tag

HTML5 & CSS3 Readiness – Shows how HTML5 support has evolved since 2008. Click away to see the spurt of growth in 2010!

When Can I Use – Compatibility tables for features in HTML5, CSS3, SVG and other upcoming web technologies

HTML5 Test – How well does your browser support HTML5?

HTML5 Infographic – WTF is HTML5 and why should we all care?

HTML5 W3C Editor’s Draft for Web Authors – HTML5 spec, great for web developers [or anyone else who wants to dig in to the W3C HTML5 spec]

Dive Into HTML5 – Mark Pilgrim treats some topics from his O’Reilly book “HTML5: Up & Running”. Good stuff.

Comparison of layout engines (HTML5) – For geeks only, this Wikipedia entry compare support of HTML5 differences from HTML4 for a number of layout engines [also known as a web browser engine].

Safari HTML5 Guides

Mozilla HTML5 Documentation and References

HTML5 Doctor – Resource for people who want to learn more about the hows and whys of implementing HTML5.

CloudCanvas Launches HTML5 Image Creation And Editing Suite [TechCrunch Article here]

New HTML5 Tools Make Your Browser Sing and Dance

22 Handy HTML5 & CSS3 Tools, Resources And Guides

CSS3 Watch – Collecting examples of creative, innovative, and unexpected use of CSS3

Modernizr – adds classes to the element which allow you to target specific browser functionality in your stylesheet.

CSS Button Maker from CSS-Tricks.com

Demand for HTML5 Skills On the Rise, Report Says

The Only HTML5 Resources You Need for Getting Up to Speed – 15 web resources to help you on your quest in getting current about the impending technology that’s already being adopted by major web browsers and leveraged in large sites such as Google.

How HTML5 will change the Web – 9 ways the impact of HTML5 will be felt.

An HTML5 FAQ for publishers

In The Coming HTML5 Browser Wars, The Markup Should Remain The Same

55 Excellent Examples of Websites Using HTML5

Apple’s HTML5 showcase

How To: Get Started with HTML5 Boilerplate

HTML5Rocks – an open source HTML5 project by the Google folks [some of the resources listed here were gathered from this site]

Ultimate Collection of HTML5 and CSS3 Resources – articles and tutorials covered on different websites. Demos and examples are also included in this list.

The Ultimate HTML5 Toolbox: 60+ Articles, Tutorials, Resources and Inspiring Showcases

Does HTML5 Really Beat Flash? The Surprising Results of New Tests

Links of Interest – August 15, 2010

Gene De Libero — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:15:43 +0000

A sampling of interesting links from this past week.

The Digital Marketing and Advertising Job Market is Heating Up

Gene De Libero — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:00:43 +0000

I’m hearing from people who’ve been out of work for awhile [for whatever the reason] that they’re landing gigs in the digital marketing and advertising space.

This is good, since from what I’ve seen, the space is hot and getting hotter. While job boards like indeed.com and simplyhired.com are a great way to get a feel for what’s happening out there, don’t rely on them completely.

Find yourself a recruiter or two and establish a relationship. Remember, you don’t want to be just one more resume in a pile of hundreds on that recruiter’s desk.

Take an [really good] inventory of your experience and successful jobs/projects and develop a resume that’ll get someone’s attention. My Buddy Julien Sharp over at Stylo Creative Communications can help you put a resume together that’ll sell you right and help you get an appointment.

Once you find a recruiter that seems like a fit, before he/she submits you for any gig, take whatever time is necessary to help that recruiter get to know who you are, where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you want to be tomorrow. This is critical if the recruiter is going to be a champion for you. Take just as much time getting to know the recruiter, too.

Once the recruiter knows you, he/she can and will be able to talk you up to prospective employers even when there’s no specific job or project available. It could be the result of a side conversation where the recruiter hears something that connects the person he/she’s talking with to you and your skill set/experience. “Hey, you know…I have this person you really should talk with…”

Where do you find a good recruiter? Great question. Besides the obvious route of contacting people in your network for referrals, use job boards and search engines to find positions that look juicy, even if you’re not qualified or they’re out of your area of expertise [but in the same field]. Most often, those gigs will be connected to a recruiter. Research the recruiting firm and find a contact there and reach out – by phone, not e-mail. The same thing goes for companies that post jobs on the job boards. Even if the gig isn’t perfect for you, do some research and try and connect with a hiring manager for a conversation.

It’s hot out there. Are you ready to catch the wave?

Links of Interest – August 8, 2010

Gene De Libero — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 05:00:28 +0000

A sampling of interesting links from this past week.

Mobile Marketing Goes from Side Dish to Main Course

Gene De Libero — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:50:32 +0000

I read today that the folks at Mullen have developed a mobile marketing practice within the agency. With analysts predicting a near five fold increase in mobile display from $313 million in 2010 to $1.5 billion by 2015, the outlook for mobile marketing is bright.

The STRATA quarterly survey of major U.S. advertising firms indicates that advertisers are ready, willing, and starting to make major investments in mobile marketing. According to the survey, almost one-third of advertisers say that mobile advertising is the focus of their interactive spend. STRATA says that’s a 107% increase over the first quarter of this year. No matter where you sit in the digital marketing ecosystem, you can’t help but recognize that digital advertising continues to encroach on TV as an advertising medium of choice.

“We’re big believers that mobile is the tool that activates the entire marketing program.” -John Moore, Chief Media Officer, Mullen’s mediahub unit

According to Pew, 82% of the U.S. adult population own a mobile device and ABI Research says 28% of U.S. mobile subscribers access the mobile Internet on a daily basis. Mary Meeker’s research also indicated that by 2014, mobile Internet usage will surpass the desktop. ABI further shares that eleven percent of U.S. adults who own a mobile device have used it to make a purchase, 23% have used it to access an online social network, 20% have watched a video, and 11% have made a charitable donation.

That’s a lot of [potential] mobile display wood. And let’s not forget applications for smartphones, tablets, digital-out-of-home, location-based services, and whatever else can be mobile-ized.

Mobile marketing is certainly not looked upon as a passing fad anymore – which means marketers need to work on filling their toolbox to help stay current and competitive in the mobile space in order to better serve their clients [before someone else, like Mullen, does]. One more thing to add to the “things I need to be competent in to be a decent marketer” list.

Because of fragmented audiences and dynamic content consumption patterns, clients want and need new ways to connect with consumers and mobile certainly fits the bill, since most people don’t leave home without their phone. In fact, some people can’t seem to stop using their phone, even when driving. Of course, when it comes to mobile or any other technology, we need to be sure we’re applying the technology where it fits best and not forcing square pegs into round holes as is sometimes the case with technology implementation.

What are you doing to stay current and competitive in the mobile space? Are you developing new models that integrate mobile marketing into your business? I’d love to hear from you.

Links of Interest – August 1, 2010

Gene De Libero — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:00:07 +0000

A sampling of interesting links from this past week.

Digital Marketing Expertise Wanted

Gene De Libero — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:00:11 +0000

Tribune’s newly formed interactive marketing consultancy called 435 Digital Services is yet another indication of the gaping void that exists in the marketplace for qualified digital marketing expertise to serve small to mid-sized businesses (SMB). It’s more validation that digital marketing means business – real business.

The Tribune folks aren’t alone in their observations that there’s a market out there just waiting to be served. Gannett and Meredith have seen the light, too. This is really good news for anyone providing consultative digital marketing services (and products).

PricewaterhouseCoopers is predicting that online will surge ahead of newspapers as the second-largest advertising medium, behind television, in 2010. Digital marketing spending in the U.S. is expected to account for 26% of all entertainment and media spending in 2014, up from 19% in 2009. You don’t need a crystal ball to know where this is all headed. Like I said, digital marketing means business – real business.

Remember, though, that while budgets will continue to shift to digital, we can’t forget that marketing isn’t about being either traditional or digital. Consumer behavior today requires an integrated, convergent marketing approach.

People and organizations that value and understand the power of convergence aren’t steeped in the black and white of doing one or the other; traditional or digital. To really create value for clients, we need to consider the integration of different strategies, tactics, and channels to address unique business problems.

So, my Marketect friends, get your integrated marketing butts in gear and work those network(s), hit the bricks, and connect with the multitude of SMBs (and lots of large companies, too) out there looking for advice and consultation – before Tribune, Gannett, and Meredith beat you too it.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=38774

Links of Interest – July 18, 2010

Gene De Libero — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:00:53 +0000

A sampling of interesting links from this past week.

Marketecture and the Marketect

Gene De Libero — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:45:21 +0000

I owe Doug Weaver over at the Upstream Group a debt of gratitude. I came across a blog post of his from May of 2007 titled “The Oreo Doctrine“. I’ll leave it to you to go and read the entire post but Doug does a great job of describing what I’ve been doing for years (digital strategy) and gives it a name I think I can actually embrace.

Dammit Jim, I’m a “Marketect”!

Doug hit’s it right on the head when he defines “Marketecture”. Here’s my slightly edited version of his definition (read the original post for the whole shebang):

“A business discipline that applies complex media and communication elements in the focused solution of unique business problems. Marketecture focuses on profitably solving a time-sensitive marketing or business issue for the client. Marketects effectively collaborate with a “virtual talent network” to align unique capabilities and audiences with the client need. Marketecture thrives on the relative chaos – “permanent whitewater” – of technical innovation that will always drive the digital world. If you’re having a hard time visualizing the Marketect, think of the outstanding general contractor: He doesn’t own all his talent or have an exclusive contract with you to build all your houses, but he’s the guy who can bring all the best talent – concrete, plumbing, electrical, sheet rocking – to the job at just the right time.”

Fellow Marketects, I’d love to hear from you!

Links of Interest – July 10, 2010

Gene De Libero — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:04:17 +0000

A sampling of interesting links from this past week.