Creative Barriers

Yikes, this is rather embarrassing. According to my last post, nothing has been up here in eleven months. I actually got an email from a reader several months ago (I have semi-frequent readers? progress!) who noticed that I hadn’t posted anything in awhile and asked if I was still alive. I replied promptly saying that I was fine, ultimately missing the opportunity to practically joke that I was communicating from the grave, but alas, hindsight is always 20/20.

So yes– like Joaquin Phoenix, I’m still here.

So why no posts in eleven months? I’d compare it to running on a daily basis and then giving it up for, well, eleven months. Once you lose the groove, it’s hard to start up again. Frequently losing motivation, the occasional cramp, etc. Plus, there’s usually a reason why you stop (in my (non-blogging) case, it was the increasing amount of work that I got involved with) and the inevitable reason why you start again (my need and desire to share my own thoughts and ideas). This last point is precisely why I need to blog.

Awhile ago, my current “semi-boss” (she doesn’t like to be referred to as my superior, which is refreshingly cool) told me that I’ll never have complete creative control while doing client work. That’s understandable and ultimately fine by me– the client is paying us, after all. But sometimes I just want to take whatever creative project I’m working on, run away with it (literally, to some underground studio, in fact) and make it my own. (TheOatmeal has a fantastic info-graphic that highlights this: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell)

I guess this lack of control is the reason why I’ve decided to buckle down and start blogging again. There’s a creative-juice build-up in my head (sounds nasty, but I’ll leave it in for shock value) and I need to vent it somewhere. While my ideas eventually come to fruition in the work environment, they’re often a marriage of my own creativity and a plethora of other peoples’ visions. Not a bad thing, but I need to channel my own original content.

So stay with me, semi-frequent readers. I’m back and ready to blog.

-Al

Hiatus Is Over; Flood Begins with Bagels

I really haven’t been able to sit down and right a good, solid personal blog post in awhile. Whereas the end of the summer was a work “drought,” the last several weeks have been a work “deluge” or “monsoon.” And when it rains, it pours. So, a quick recap on where I’ve been and where I’m at:

1. The Blue Moon Bakery Campaign:

I created this after visiting Blue Moon Bakery about a month ago and realizing the untapped potential of a Blue Moon Twitter account. I’ve been a huge fan of the bakery ever since its conception in Medfield over a decade ago, and I felt like it would be a fun project to test out my social media marketing skills with. So, I sent a brief email over to Blue Moon regarding my ideas and how I’d like to help them out. They were all for it, and several weeks (and bags of free bagels) later, we had a music video ready to go.

Of course, I need to back up this campaign with some worthwhile Twittering or else it would be all for naught. So I’m still running the @bluemoon_cafe Twitter account and its going really well. Every day, I have a contest where I give away a free bagel. The first guy to win actually got a picture of himself with his bagel at the checkout, posted it to TwitPic and subsequently Tweeted about it. I think I’ll make it a requirement for people with camera-phones to follow suit. We got about 50 additional followers after he did that. Plus, every day we have several people attempting to win a free bagel. So follow for a chance to win free, delicious food. I gotta give it away to someone!

David Stephenson, our first contest winner with his bagel. He posted it to Twitpic.

I still want to create other promotions for it, such as a “Free Sandwich Friday” contest where it’s a buy-one-get-one free deal. Bring a friend and they eat free (as long as you buy a sandwich too). I just need to work out the logistics of this and pass it by Dan and Linda, the owners. I’d also like to mentor someone to take the Twitter account off my hands, since it sucks up a lot of time. But it is fun, I’ll tell you that. I’ve also been measuring the effectiveness of my campaign (how many followers, RTs, mentions, etc.). I need a measurable result from this campaign to prove its worth, so the coupons definitely help. But it’s just so difficult to measure its impact based solely on this fact. Any suggestions?

2. I’ve also been doing social media work for F. Rock Men’s Apparel. I do about two blog posts a week, along with the occasional Twitter update. F. Rock sells sustainable messenger bags which are pretty hip. I hope to get one soon since my MacBook doesn’t fit well in my backpack.

It's a cool F. Rock Bag

Check out the F. Rock Blog here: http://frockbags.wordpress.com/

and the Twitter account: http://twitter.com/FRock_men

Follow both! And even become a fan on Facebook— I really think these bags are going to take off.

Expert, Shmexpert

One thing I’ve really enjoyed about marketing is just the process of it all. Countless times I’ve had to market products that I either:
a.) have no interest in (i.e. office supplies) or
b.) have no real experience with.

But in the end, I find that I enjoy learning about the types of products and finding clever ways to market them. It poses a challenge and provides significant potential for untapped creativity.

Thus, I’ve come to believe that you don’t need an extensive knowledge of a product or brand in order to market it.

In fact, I think that too much knowledge can hinder one’s marketing efforts on a particular product or brand. So, I’ve created a makeshift graph for my theory:

Make sense?

Of course this is from my own (amateur) personal experience with marketing. But, if you were to Google some successful and/or horrendous marketing campaigns, I’m sure that there would be quite a few that pertain to this theory.

You see, I think a fresh perspective on a product or brand is the backbone for every successful innovational marketing strategy. So, having no investment in a certain brand or industry might keep you from thinking along the same lines as the experts on the matter. No?

But at the same time, you can’t really market something if you’re completely out of the loop. I’m not sure I could just start rattling off ideas for marketing women’s lingerie.

Do you need to be an expert on a product to market it? Or can you simply get by on just knowing the basics?

Humble, Innovation-Al

First, my new domain name http://www.innovation-al.com. It has a new homepage!

My newest project is fun and currently 25% complete. It’s more cohesive and polished (so far) than “Hire Me” which was constructed in about two days. This is a multi-week project filled with different talents, more ideas and as a result, more work.

I like it a lot though. Keeping busy and creating stuff is what I really love to do. Showcasing my ideas and getting everyone excited about delivering something really cool is what I’m all about. Note that: in my next interview, that’s what I’ll respond with when the question “What are you looking for in a job?” comes up.

My only concern is that because I’m making 99% of this entire project it may seem as though it’s all about me (which of course it isn’t). I’m just trying to avoid coming off as the one stealing the spotlight.

I mean, I did produce the whole thing thus far, so it basically is my project. But that doesn’t mean I’m overshadowing the client’s message at all. The entire piece of work is dedicated to their marketing cause– I’m just the one (along with some great female vocalists) conveying the information for them. Hmmm… I believe I’ve said too much.

Essentially, I need to be careful that I don’t overstep my bounds as the client. My problem lies in the fact that being a one-man-team makes it seem like I’m trying to be the one in front. When the project is done this won’t be the case. I’m Humble Al.

If all goes according to plan, this thing will drop on November 1st. Possibly earlier, depending on my schedule.

Creativity = Insomnia Fuel

I’m not sure why it happens, but most of my creative ideas hit me while I’m just about to fall asleep. Perhaps it’s because my mind is clear of stress and worry in the seconds before I nod off, or maybe it’s something to do with the subconscious. Either way, once a good idea hits me, I immediately slink out of my near comatose state and my mind starts racing.

There’s a bit of frustration involvled as I scorn my brain for not thinking of such innovation during normal, waking hours. I feel like it’s Christmas Eve and I know I’m getting The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in eight hours because I “accidentally” uncovered the shrink wrapped N64 box in the basement toolbox last week. I don’t care if I just discovered that Santa doesn’t exist— I’m gonna save the Princess. But, I digress…

Anyway, my exciting ideas have been a result of me making work for myself. I really believe that’s what you gotta do when times are tough. And by making work, I mean all of the following:

• Approaching small businesses and offering to help with marketing
• Assisting people with selling stuff on eBay for a cut
• Tutoring high school students in Calculus, Physics, Writing and Statistics
• Getting TEFL certified by taking an 100 hr online course
• Developing a website for an HR Consultant

Of course, my exciting ideas are stemming from the first bullet point, in which I’m helping out small businesses with marketing. I’m a novice no doubt, but it’s a great way to get my feet wet with how stuff works. I’ll figure out how stuff works myself–just like I did with the guitar.

My great idea that kept me up last night involves (among other things) the following:

1. A Guitar
2. An old friend from high school who majored in theater
3. A Bakery
4. Twitter
5. Free Bagels
6. YouTube
7. (hopefully) Engaged Customers
8. Increased Sales
9. Billy Costa

It’s going to be fun.

I think that’s what matters at this point.

Quit Scamming Me

In any other instance, three job offers in one day would be pretty sweet. Of course, in my predicament (or any recent college grad’s), I have to raise an eyebrow and question these proposals. Perhaps two eyebrows. Especially if they contacted me without seeing my musical cover letter. I mean, c’mon– nobody contacts me otherwise.

However, my suspicions were initially overshadowed by mere excitement and curiosity. An email with “Job Offer for Monster Listing #(insert random number)” in the subject line set my double-clicking instincts on edge. My heart began to race. My hands got sweaty. Mom’s spaghetti.

I guess they caught me off guard in my unemployed state. I picture these recruiters not as human beings, but as soulless entities, not unlike Agent Smith from the Matrix. Like a Venus Flytrap, these recruiters let out the sweet scent of a job offer which ultimately masked the terrible, terrible mandibles of (most likely) some cold calling or sales job. I’ve done cold calling and I’d rather gouge my eyes out. Thank God for the internet, Google and its most reliable anonymous employer reviews.

After several seconds of Googling these fine corporations, skepticism began to set in. I soon began to feel worse than before I even knew these offers existed. It was unflattering and almost offensive– these companies trying to take advantage of me in my post-college-seeking-employment-in-a-crap-economy state.

One place had an average review of 1 star (out of 5) from over 30 reviews. One person actually said they’d rather poke their eyes out than work there again. Hey! We can relate!

So yeah, this is just my advice to those college grads who might be reading this and are currently job seeking. You’re probably smart enough to know not to go for these types of offers, but you never know. Unless you’ve submitted an application to a place that contacts you with a proposal, don’t take a job offer from them. Unless they’re a well known company– in which case jump on that.

I mean, c’mon– what type of company would be looking to sign up inexperienced college graduates before even meeting them?

Close Call

Yesterday, I almost killed my MacBook. My dad warned me not to position drinks in close proximity to my shiny, aluminum, first major-credit-card investment, but I’ve always considered myself an agile person who never spills anything. Of course, my tall glass of Arnold Palmer Iced Tea Lemonade had to prove me wrong.

I can’t remember the series of events that led me to cursing loudly and frantically running for paper towels, but I was scared for my laptop. My MacBook has been a real pal over the past few months– and like a clumsy drunken friend at a bar, I spilled my drink over my buddy.

No more drinks by the laptop. Ever again.

Keeping Track

What’s new in my world? Top 10 most recent developments (in no particular order):

1. I’ve read nearly a dozen books in the last three months.
2. My High School friend is getting married this weekend.
3. My house is empty during the day– The cat is driving me nuts.
4. I’ve been hitting the gym five times a week. I no longer need to check-in at the front desk.
5. I experienced my first bachelor party in NYC this past weekend.
6. I’ve started doing freelance work for a past employer and my neighbor, both involving web and graphic design.
7. I’m writing a song for my-friend-to-soon-be-married and his bride as a wedding present. I have yet to figure out the chorus, but it seems good so far.
8. I have no idea what to be for Halloween. I need suggestions.
9. Some of my friends have been swallowed up by the real world and are currently AWOL.
10. I want to buy the new Mike Doughty and Lou Barlow albums that come out on October 6th.

Nostradamusings of Social Media

I’m trying harder to become a prognosticator of social media trends. I feel that having a firm grasp and/or opinion on where I think it’s going will convey a stronger sense of passion for the medium during interviews. Rather than just being along for the ride, I’ll be steerin’ this media ship to where I think it’s going. That was an homage to “Speak Like a Pirate Day”, which was this past Saturday.

However, with everything being so volatile, I have a tough time really pinpointing where social media will be in say, ten years. For me, all signs point to Life-Streaming. Micro-Blogging day-to-day activities may seem mundane and/or meaningless, but if done with the right sense of style and delivery, a valuable (and interesting!) story can be constructed. And I’m a big fan of creating and/or reading cool stories.

On a side note, I think FourSquare is one of the coolest ides yet for a social media network. It’s almost like a real-life video game achievement reward system, except it gets you off your couch and meeting people. And from a business perspective? Think of all the cool stuff you could do for your customers if you knew where they went the most, what they liked and perhaps who they went with? I would totally capitalize on this if I owned a business. If you haven’t signed up, do it now and friend me. We’ll conquer this city of Boston, we will. And maybe Providence too.

Hikes

In an attempt to clear my mind and save some money, I hiked Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire this weekend with my sis and dad. I kept a comfortable pace between my climb-the-mountain-as-fast-as-you-can sister and my I-thought-the-elliptical-would-train-me-for-this father. It was an enjoyable round-trip hike of roughly three hours and we had a huge Thai dinner afterward.

I hate myself for being hesitant to spend time with the family (it seems like a hindrance on me blazing my own trail in life) because I almost always end up enjoying the excursion in the end. Then I get mad at myself for putting up a fuss in the first place. Stubborn Al.