Mass Effect, BioWare’s latest role-playing game, is one example. It really pushes story and engages the player with well-defined characters with whom s/he can relate. Naturally, real world scenarios come into play, in this case, sex. Good old-fashioned digital gaming sex!

Now, let it be known that these in-game sex scenes are totally mild. Just like in film, games have a rating system to help prevent minors from playing them. So why would it be any different for a game to introduce sexuality and real emotion, especially considering the increasingly wider demographic that gaming represents? The production director for Mass Effect 2 describes,

“When I play a game, I always find it odd when I’m just running around shooting things and beating things up without understanding why I care. I need a personal reason to care. That’s something that the characters offer.”

This gaming trend got me thinking more about how sex may be spreading to other new media, namely the Internet. And no, we aren’t talking pornography here, which practically started the internet. Instead, the focus is on companies that were originally more conservative and have completely rebranded themselves around that famous phrase: Sex sells.

American Apparel is my primary example. They are HOT! From one look at their home page, it is clear that this brand isn’t afraid to show some skin, literally. Their suggestive promotions leave customers wanting more. In other words, they have brought sexy back.

Just as we play games like Mass Effect to immerse ourselves in a fantasy and connect to its characters, we visit the American Apparel website in hopes we’ll find sexier duds for the avatar that is our real identity. The engaging photography, beautiful models and seductive marketing keep us browsing and fantasizing, until (in their hopes) we arrive at an item we simply must have.

Of course, American Apparel isn’t the only retailer with an unorthodox way of marketing. There are plenty of others, including one of our well-known quality denim suppliers, Diesel, pictured below.

So what does this mean? That our heads are stuck in the gutter and more brands are giving in too? I don’t think so. Rather, these companies have capitalized on a part of life that is captivating and, frankly, always on our minds. Their marketing strategies have shifted to a more progressive way of thinking to keep pace with changing generational attitudes and globalization. The younger crowd is less squeamish about the human anatomy than its predecessor, as are several Westernized cultures across the Atlantic. Like it or not, get used to seeing even more sex than you’ve seen before. As graphics technologies have begun to create interactive experiences that more closely mimic our sensory world, never before have we been so captivated by websites and games. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a risqué ride!

Some people still like print. It’s intriguing. You can physically touch it, carry it with you, hold it and turn pages. You can even smell it, if you’re into that. For a lot of folks, interaction is an important factor when they sit down to read a book or a newspaper. That is a main reason websites are becoming more interactive and engaging. Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time can be stressful on your eyes and some people just cannot handle that. Print may always be their preference.

Now consider the alternative. Amazon’s Kindle was one of the most popular gifts this past holiday season. The Kindle might be good for people on the go, a lightweight, portable alternative to bulky books and newspapers, but at the end of the day it isn’t the same as turning the pages of your favorite book.

Another argument in favor of electronic media is the ease with which information is at your fingertips. A quote that really stuck out to me in an article by Fast Company is “Too many of the ideas trapped on pages end up, at best, in unused archives or, at worst, in recyclers’ pulp, when they should be online: searchable, discoverable, linkable, part of the conversation.” – Jeff Jarvis. I can easily search Google for an excerpt from a book, but it would take much longer to search through thousands of books to find the same excerpt.

Just make sure your web sources are reputable. When you read a physical publication, most of the time you can be sure the source is reliable (unless you’re reading a tabloid you picked up while standing in line at the grocery store), but with electronic media, you could end up reading news stories on The Onion and anyone who’s heard of that site knows you don’t want to end up there if you are looking for real news.

I was also lucky enough to stumble across some funny excuses why print is still alive from Web Pro News and had to share. In my opinion these don’t count, as true as they may be.

-Newspapers are convenient for entirely different reasons than online news sources. When they develop a computer screen that a puppy can pee on, then print is surely dead.
-What are you going to wrap your dishes in when you move?
-There are coupons in the newspaper—ones that require only scissors.

Where do you see the world of media in 5 years? Will we be using tablets that we download the latest news to each morning replacing newspapers? Will the Amazon Kindle replace printed books? Will your nanny be replaced with a robot? Who knows!

While there were definitely bright moments in the ads , like the Doritos commercial, where the little boy slaps his mother’s new boyfriend across the face and says “Don’t touch my mama, don’t touch my Doritos,” the overall trend I noticed was far more disturbing – that of bashing and degrading women.

Grandmotherly Betty White was tackled to the ground in a Snicker’s commercial and a short while later Tim Tebrow tackled his mother during the controversial Focus on the Family ad. Men were told that buying a Dodge Charger was the last stand against women dominating their lives and then there are the GoDaddy ads, which are just blatantly trying to sell mediocre Web hosting using sex.

I’m a woman AND a football fan. I know that the vast majority of the Super Bowl ads are not targeted to my demographic, but I couldn’t help but sit and wonder what the sentiment was in the creative agencies this year that determined these were the best ads. Maybe it says something that the best commercials in my mind were those created by Doritos fans, not by major ad agencies. Fresh ideas and fresh content, not more of the same.

When a client or prospective client contacts xiik to develop a Web site, brochure or marketing campaign, one of our first questions is always going to be, “What do you want to accomplish?” We ask this because every company has different goals. It also helps us to learn more about a client. Often, but not always, a client may not have an end goal in mind, but just think they need “marketing.” However, marketing without a purpose is like trying to shoot a target in the dark. If you’re not sure what your goal should be, here are a few things to consider:

• The Status Quo: Think about your company from an outsider’s perspective. If staying objective is too hard to do, literally ask people (not employees!) what they know about you or your company. Do they know who you are and what you do? What you stand for? Is their perception of you positive or negative?

• The Goal: What do you want people to know about your company?

This is just the beginning of the strategy process. Although strategies may take some time and planning to develop, a solid strategy acts as a roadmap for achieving your goal(s). Just like a good coach won’t send his team into a game without an end goal (winning) and a series of plays to achieve the win, a good marketing firm won’t run a client through a gauntlet of marketing options without knowing the intended result. Anyone can shoot an arrow in the dark, but turning on a light always helps with hitting your target.

Everyone has heard of Netflix in some way or another by now. The ads are everywhere and the service has rapidly become a household staple for many.  I finally took the plunge myself and purchased a membership. Like me, most people used to drive to Blockbuster only to find that the movie they wanted to rent wasn’t in stock or was being rented by someone else. This obviously wasn’t cutting it for the “fast lane” society that, at the time, we were becoming. So a couple of dudes from California thought up and pitched a service that would allow customers to rent movies from a website on a pay-per-rental basis, and it eventually evolved into the flat monthly rate service it is today. So, how did this all come to be?

Since their launch, Netflix has encountered several other start-ups trying to sell the same service, but nobody has been able to do it as well as them. Wal-Mart and even Amazon (in Germany and the UK) have tried to release similar online services through their companies to their already loyal customers, but they eventually fizzled out. Wal-Mart now even has a cross-promotional agreement with Netflix! A partnership like that is huge — consider how pervasive Wal-Mart is and the comparatively tinier size that is and always will be Netflix. No offense to Netflix, we can’t all be Wal-Mart.

Now to my favorite part: the website. Netflix’s usability is amazing – from recommending movies it thinks you would like, to letting you stream many of the popular movies straight onto your computer or X-Box 360, PS3 and soon, the Wii. As a new customer, it only took me a couple minutes to get used to the site and how it all worked. That is incredibly important to keep in mind when designing the functionality of your websites. You could have a beautiful design, but if the layout is jumbled or confusing, it will not keep the user engaged and you’ve just lost a visitor or potential customer.

Another thing I love about the Netflix site is the way everything is interconnected. As I’m browsing through the legions of movies in the Netflix database, I have the option of adding them to my DVD Queue or Instant Queue. The way the site is connected through your personal profile is by the rating system and movie recommendations. As you rate more and more movies, Netflix gets smarter and better at guessing what movies you would like. Just an FYI, my queue is already big enough to last me months!

Netflix is also changing the business plans of other similar companies. More and more Blockbusters are closing their doors and driving to the movie rental store on a Friday night may soon be obsolete. We’ve also seen other businesses pick up on the practices of Netflix. Gamefly is one example of this. They have a similar site as Netflix for video game rental. Most hardcore gamers hate leaving the couch, so having their next game delivered right to their front door changes everything. Genius!  Red Box is a bit different, but nevertheless changing the way we rent movies. You can find these in places like McDonalds or neighborhood grocery stores. Red Box is, quite literally, a red box that has several new release movies in stock. Just slide your credit card, choose your movie and the box pops out your DVD. Consider it a vending machine for movies. Movies are only one dollar per night, so you won’t have to worry about late fees.

The changing movie rental industry is easy to use, personalized and fun, which for me equals addictive. Entertainment is a booming business integral to our lives and culture, so there will always be new and classic films to watch and great services allowing you to do so. People will always be searching for the perfect movie for their next date or, for aspiring filmmakers like myself, research and inspiration for professional endeavors. Whatever the need, Netflix has really started a revolution in entertainment, putting practically any film and TV series at the tips of our fingers. Go check it out and consider the free 14 day trial. After all, it’s FREE! Do you already have a Netflix account? What are your thoughts on the service?

My guess is you’re probably asking “What the heck is SIGGRAPH?” Fair enough. You have to be on a whole new level of nerd/hardcore computer graphics fanaticism to recognize it. I won’t lie, I am! Just check out the picture below of my conference badge and how much stuff is on that thing.

SIGGRAPH is the largest international professional organization “to promote the generation and dissemination of information on computer graphics and interactive techniques.” In other words, it hosts a conference every year in North America (usually in a major city) where thousands and thousands of students, educators, researchers and  professionals get together for a computer animation festival, huge exhibition, art gallery, emerging technologies, classes, behind the scenes amazingness and so much more. Let’s not forget about the parties. Oh, you heard right. Nerds can throw down!

Anywho, they just recently started hosting a conference in Asia halfway through each year, starting in December of 2008 (the original conferences are held in early August). It was a huge transition and a big step forward for the field of computer graphics and Asia, but also came with a lot of struggles such as language barriers. To our surprise, it wasn’t bad at all! There were great reviews and as a student volunteer, I was able to help most  every case that came across my path. I’m not saying it wasn’t hard though. Either way, the blending of cultures into one huge mesh of the most talented artists in the world is one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had. You literally pass people who helped create the films you watch everyday, the technology you use, the games you play and the amazing visuals that accompany every single aspect of our lives.

That’s most undoubtedly a true statement. In Japan, I was able to talk to owners of animations studios, producers and artists from Pixar, big guns at Lucas Film Animation and even the winner of best in show in the computer animation festival. That alone is worth the trip! Since I could practically write a book on my experiences at SIGGRAPH, I’ll leave you with some pictures of my trip. Some are from the conference and others are around the town of Yokohama. Enjoy!

Evaluate Your Goals
How has your business changed in the last year? What’s 2010 going to look like for your industry? Do current sales meet your expectations? Are you making a compelling case for your product or service to a targeted enough audience? What have you learned? We all work hard every day to keep the little gears grinding, but it’s crucial to take a step back periodically to tweak your overall course. Sit down to restate what you want for 2010, assess what worked in 2009, and imagine how you can shake up those pieces that need more focused attention or an entirely new tactic.

Listen to Your Audience
The best source of advice is often those people you are looking to please the most: your clients. They can offer valuable clues to engage them if you’ll just listen. Now, listening doesn’t involve just our ears anymore; there are many tools marketers can use to better understand their audiences. If you haven’t already, install data metrics & tracking software like Google Analytics on your web site to audit geographic demographics and behavioral patterns of your site’s visitors. What pages keep your visitors’ attention the longest and where do most flee the site. Research tools like Quantcast can be leveraged to get an interesting picture of the internet trends for your target audience. And get on board with digital word-of-mouth by staying involved with social media sites.

Audit Your Methods of Communication
Remember when people used to just talk to each other? Like face-to-face? Yeah, well there’s an increasing number of ways to interact with your clients and the most successful efforts are those that integrate several modes of communication, proportionate to the habits of your target market. Your options these days are in-person, phone, HTML email, your website, ads on other Web sites, social media, and traditional forms of advertising like mailers, print ads, television, and radio. Do you have the right mix? Are the tools you’re using having effect? Are you cross-promoting (i.e. social media links in email blasts)? Is your website too content heavy? Consumers respond more to visually engaging experiences online rather than a page of text. Are there any opportunities to convert paragraphs into interactive media like video, slideshows, etc?

Rethink Your Budget
Some businesses think they should axe their marketing budgets when the economy goes south, but there are more responsible tactics to trimming expenses.  Strong, effective marketing campaigns don’t always mean dropping big bucks.  Consider the return on your investment, which is highly trackable these days. Strategically targeting and communicating with your audiences can help grow your business. Can you redirect resources from an underperforming activity to one that’s working? Is the underperforming activity failing because your approach is not quite right or because it’s simply not a smart way to reach your audience? Ask these questions before making cuts. And marketing cuts may be unavoidable, but the most critical imperative is for you to prioritize. It may take more planning, but as the economy rebounds, your business will have remained relevant and visible in the public eye. And you’ll outperform those less savvy competitors.

Be True to Yourself and Your Business
Be authentic. People are often smarter than we give them credit for and many can see through a false façade. We as consumers appreciate authentic, heart-felt communications. And in this digital age, anyone can try their hand at the latest new-fangled gadget or digital idea; but those who succeed in digital media approach it with careful planning, research and strategy. Does your brand adequately reflect your company’s values and culture? Avoid hyperbole. Sure, find the magic in your company’s story, but don’t over-promise and under-deliver. Good branding (and by extension, marketing) is about defining an identity and purpose of being that everyone can unabashedly embrace. Create an organization in 2010 that you, your employees, and your clients can all be proud of!

For those of you who are wondering, ghost blogging isn’t the practice of dead souls opining via WordPress or Blogger, but rather when someone writes, edits or posts blogs on behalf of another person, entity or corporation. As someone who has ghosted for politicians and CEOs in the past, I was interested in hearing what other social media leaders think about the practice.

On the pro-ghost blogging side of the debate was Ryan Puckett, who handles editing content and posting on his father’s real estate blog. Puckett argued that the focus is the message, not the medium. He pointed out that spokesmen have existed for thousands of years – Aaron was Moses’ spokesman, after all.

Taking the opposing side was Raquel Richardson, who argued that the issue of authorship raised ethical quandaries when readers don’t know who is really writing posts.

Ghost blogging is not a cut and dry, black and white issue.  Generally, I think that as long as the credited author of the post reviews and approves that post, ghost blogging is acceptable. It’s much like having a speechwriter — ultimately, the speaker is responsible for the content of those statements. Of course, if you’re a writer like me, then maybe you want credit for what you’ve written.

So let’s continue the conversation. What do you think? Should ghost blogging be revealed? Is it ethical?

If you’re interested in watching the whole debate and Q&A session, please check out the recorded UStream. And make sure to check out Indy Social Media Breakfast on Facebook for updates on the next meeting!

It’s because they aren’t doing anything to promote their website! It’s like having a phone, but not giving out the number.

There is a difference between a website and a web presence, and there are several things you can do to ensure that your site gains standing on the Internet. First off, you must have a plan for marketing once you have launched your site and be ready to bombard the users online with your brand and message. If there isn’t a well-formed plan, it will not be as effective. Here’s a basic checklist that can help you harness the capabilities of the web:

- Become active on Social Media websites, but be smart about this.
- Add the URL to business cards, postcards, holiday cards, etc.
- Write periodic newsletters to keep your site’s information current and provide additional value for your visitors.
- Send permission-based emails to your contact list and include a link back to your site.
- Fine tune your Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- Keep an eye on your traffic. Google analytics is a great, free resource for this.
- If your company has vehicles, decal them tastefully with your logo and URL.
- Throw a sweepstakes to promote your new launch.
- Place effectively targeted ads on other sites that your target audience is frequenting.
- Become involved in online discussion forums on sites that your target audience is frequenting.
- Audit all existing site content and update regularly to stay relevant.
- When you think you’re finished, don’t stop! This is an ongoing process.

It is easy to get lost in the tangled mess of websites that are out there these days. You have to become familiar with the successful websites with whom you are competing, but you also can’t completely disregard all of the amateur sites that flood the world wide web. Just be mindful that hundreds of thousands of other companies are attempting the exact same thing you are — trying to create an online presence — and it’s those things that you do uniquely that will set you apart. So, build it, promote it, get feedback, tweak it, fine tune it — and they will come.

Where’s all the love gone? I know: into their own companies is where! But, in these economic times — I know, everyone’s saying that now — people have to step up their game in order to differentiate. In this case, Droid wants to make a bold statement showing everything it can do while highlighting all the things the iPhone can’t. They do this simply and elegantly: in one 30-second commercial hammering in the key phrase “iDon’t.”

Go ahead and check out the commercial for yourself, if you haven’t seen it yet.

Clever, huh? I thought so, too. And as a dedicated iPhone user, I can safely say that all of their statements are true. But why do I have a bad taste in my mouth about it? Did they go too far? Will this turn into another case like Verizon’s “There’s a Map for That” advertising? Why can’t we all just be friends? Well, as consumers we can be; but as competitors it has to be about gaining advantage. I suppose it feels unsettling because Apple has indeed done such a remarkable job of branding the iPhone as that happy, little helper with the wide-eyed idealism. And here comes the Droid with a can of reality check whoopass with the intent of destroying that branding narrative. And it just might work.