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Virginia Lu

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How to Create a Family Motto – 35 Ideas to Help Inspire Yours http://ift.tt/1PBrOFz @whatsupfagans #blogging #AutoTweet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 20:32:00 -0800

I know your family doesn’t need one, but a family motto is unifying, empowering, helpful, fun, and unique! Our family is still in the process of fine-tuning our family motto, with a mission statement to follow (hopefully) soon thereafter. I thought it would be beneficial to hear what other families use as their family motto,...

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How to Create a Family Motto – 35 Ideas to Help Inspire Yours http://ift.tt/1PBrOFz @whatsupfagans #blogging #AutoTweet

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February Desktop and Mobile Backgrounds http://ift.tt/1QdUoch @LeelouBlogs #blog

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Brooke

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Kenneth M. Walsh

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Kenneth M. Walsh

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Avalara

Uber relaunches with a new brand identity http://ift.tt/1R2xolB @designerdepot #blogger #blogging #autotweet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 09:50:00 -0800

Uber has relaunched its brand, with a new logo, identity, app icons, and site designs. One of the most well-known startups in the world, and not always for the right reasons—with allegations ranging from unfair business practices, to assaults on customers—it’s essential for the company that it establishes a positive brand message.

Uber’s growth over the last few years has been extraordinary, and to maintain that growth they need new customers. Moving from luxury service, to affordable luxury, to just affordable, they have been able to expand their target demographic substantially. However the original branding hadn’t evolved with the business model, so this update is intended to more accurately represent how Uber perceives itself.

All of this sounds like a positive approach to a growing company. However, the Uber rebrand misses the spot when it comes to implementation; as part of its redesign, Uber has two new app icons; one for ‘riders’, and one for ‘partners’. Both of which look like something from a sci-fi reboot of Pac-Man. The abstract street elements add a touch of interest, but both marks are very corporate, and more than a little aggressive.

Uber’s new app icons, for riders (left) and partners (right).

Attempting to build a brand narrative, Uber is now talking about ‘bits’ and ‘atoms’. Elements so fundamental, that only the most ego-centric could possibly interpret them as a metaphor for a company. The trouble for Uber is that it’s impossible to cast a stone in San Francisco without hitting a startup that thinks the atom is a perfect metaphor for its business model.

[The atom] belied what Uber actually is—a transportation network, woven into the fabric of cities and how they move. — Uber

By reducing the company to an atomic level, it suggests that Uber can become anything; the flip side is that it’s also the ultimate non-committal statement. Uber doesn’t really know the direction it’s heading in, and is keeping its options open.

Uber’s Mexico-specific branding.

Where Uber is getting it right is with its country brands. Different textures, architectural features, and colors have been incorporated into national-variations on the brand. Something that works well in Australia, may not work well in Iceland, and it’s testament to the cultural variations (color especially) that need to be addressed by global businesses. Eventually Uber plans to extend these national identities to city-specific identities

Uber’s China-specific branding.

Uber’s logotype has also been refined; removing finials, rounding corners, and adjusting spacing. It’s a nicely executed revision that feels more grown up, less startup. This aspect of the redesign is also successful.

Uber’s old (left) and new (right) logotypes.

Uber’s website has also been updated, with fresh images and the new brand assets. It is extremely corporate, and heavily inspired by Google’s Material Design. It feels cold, and a million miles away from Uber’s brand statements about personal journeys. The website feels like a huge missed opportunity to create something personal — finding a ride for example, doesn’t even auto-detect what country you’re in, let alone your city. There has been a lot of discussion lately on whether parallax is a wise design decision. Parallax was overdone and dated at the start of 2015, but by the end of the year an increasing number of sites were rediscovering it. Uber has gone for it in a big way, on their brand guide microsite, whilst it’s not a site most people will visit, it’s interesting that they chose to embrace parallax here.

Uber is one of those startups that’s no longer really a startup. And the rebrand released this week is a lot like a band’s notoriously difficult second album: you put everything into the first release, and then struggle to find your identity with the follow-up.

Uber had the opportunity to define itself, and its role for the next decade or two, but in an effort to distance themselves from their exclusive old branding, their identity has become far too open ended.

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noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 09:31:00 -0800

D. B. Scott

Top Research Sites that Will Pay You to Take Surveys Online http://ift.tt/1UHBP4e @BloggingTipsCom #Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 08:34:00 -0800

There are many different ways to make money online. As bloggers and online marketers, we know how much money is being made in the content and data delivery space. One area where the money seems to never stop flowing is in the ‘get paid to take surveys’ space. The reason why this industry is always […]

The post Top Research Sites that Will Pay You to Take Surveys Online appeared first on Blogging Tips.

How to Successfully Land Guest Posts on Top Blogs http://ift.tt/1Pd3qGD @BloggingTipsCom #Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 08:34:00 -0800

I have a shameful little secret to share. I suffered from GPP for years. This nasty blogging disease often manifests endless suffering for the afflicted blogger. GPP is worse than the common cold. I liken it to the blogging equivalent of Black Death. The Blog-Bonic Plague crippled me for a healthy chunk of my online […]

The post How to Successfully Land Guest Posts on Top Blogs appeared first on Blogging Tips.

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kyle J. Norton

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Virginia Lu

Why a Comprehensive Content Strategy Includes Podcasting http://ift.tt/1nGw1Nx @copyblogger #blogging #AutoTweet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 06:04:00 -0800

What if there was a way to cut through the noise, get noticed, and make a real connection with your audience?

For many businesses, on-demand audio content is the way to do just that.

Podcasting is gaining in popularity, as you may have noticed, but the medium is not oversaturated.

There’s still plenty of room in the market for you, so don’t worry that you’re too late to get started.

It could be argued that podcasting is not right for every business. It could also be argued that blogging is not right for all businesses.

Yet, if your business takes content marketing seriously, then podcasting can be a strong component of your content strategy.

Here are four reasons to embrace podcasting as an integral part of your strategy.

1. Expand your reach

2015 was the year podcasting made its way toward the mainstream.

Edison Research has reported that one-third of all Americans 12 years of age and older have listened to at least one podcast. If there are still two-thirds of the population remaining who haven’t explored podcasts yet, then there are lots of new ears to reach.

The best time to start a podcast was four years ago. The second best time is now.

The sheer number of people listening to podcasts — and the even greater number of people still to discover the medium — makes podcasting an essential part of any content strategy.

With new cars starting to roll off the assembly line with podcast players installed in them, and both Google Play and Spotify getting into the podcast distribution game, podcasting is just getting started.

As of today, the potential reach of a podcast makes it enticing, but the part that should really excite you is the wave of new listeners still to catch the podcasting bug. That’s when podcasting will officially live in the mainstream.

2. Ease of creation

Podcasting is a great way to test new ideas. Simply hit record and talk.

When you find a topic or angle that resonates with your listeners, you can easily turn it into an article, report, or ebook.

Podcasting can even make you a better writer.

The technology that we have at our disposal enables anyone with a laptop and a $100 microphone to start their own radio show.

Don’t overthink it, and don’t worry about hating the sound of your own voice when it’s recorded — we all have that problem.

3. Build your content library

Even if you understand the importance and value of creating a content library, you may be wondering how you will produce all the content to fill your library.

It’s quite simple when you have a podcast strategy that attracts attention and builds your content arsenal.

Here are a few ideas to get you rolling:

Call an expert in your field and interview him or her via Skype.
Get your audio transcribed and turn the transcriptions into an ebook or ebook series.
Record audio versions of your most popular blog posts.

Podcasts help you create unique and valuable content. Each of these three ideas above could easily be created and added to your content library. Your audience would love it.

4. Cast your net far and wide

Podcasting can be used to cast a wider net for your business and bring more people to the top of your marketing funnel. This is essential for all content marketing strategies.

Audio content, unlike written content, can be consumed during commutes, showers, walks, and while at the gym.

You have multiple opportunities to reach out to new customers where and when they want to be reached.

Even your biggest fans won’t be able to read or listen to everything you create. This is why it’s essential to create content that can be distributed across multiple mediums.

Those who listen to your podcast may not read your blog, and those who read your blog may not listen to your podcast. So, create within both mediums and go where your audience already is.

Podcasting is an excellent opportunity for you to repurpose your work and find your audience where they are.

Getting started with podcasting

You may fear it’s too difficult or too much work to add a podcast to your content strategy.

Although creating a podcast is not easy, it can be simple. A lot of work, yes. But the potential rewards far outweigh any drawbacks that might concern you.

There are many compelling reasons why companies like Rainmaker Digital have decided to go all-in on podcasting, and you should too.

Including a podcast in your content strategy could even make your life easier, not cause the burden of more content to create.

If you want to expand your reach, the ease of creation, ability to test ideas quickly, and added value of audio content in your content library make podcasting a no-brainer addition to a robust content strategy.

Get Your Free, No-Frills, 9-Step Showrunner’s Guide … Today!

If you want to take the next step to develop, launch, or run your remarkable podcast, start with The Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Remarkable Podcast.

The free ebook is a guide to getting your podcast off the ground.

It follows the framework mapped out inside The Showrunner Podcasting Course. Yet, at the same time, it is a standalone guide to getting started today.

Get your free copy:
The Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Remarkable Podcast

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