Lasting Impressions

Maybe you saw the news that Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion. That’s one billion with a “B”. Or for those of us who learn visually — $1,000,000,000. There are a lot of zeros to divide among the 13 Instagram employees. Why is Instagram so valuable?

Debbie Millman is the foremost speaker, educator and writer on the whys and hows of branding, and she really knows her stuff. In a recent presentation to the Dallas Chapter of the AIGA, she tackled the question, “Why is social media popular?” Millman’s answer is that successful brands in the current Information Age guarantee a personal connection. People who use the connective channels (Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Instagram, and LinkedIn for instance) do so because they are able to form emotional and personal connections to others in the same interest group.

Have you heard Facebook is rolling out Timeline for business and fan Pages? These changes are pretty significant and the geek in me gets really excited about the marketing opportunities. The new features will give companies and brands a way to connect daily with their consumers, potential buyers and admirers. Even if you have never personally used Facebook, you may want to consider using this channel to connect with your “fans” on a regular basis. I have listed a few of the new features here to get you started. If want to read even more tips, check out the Giba Group Page.

Have you recovered from eating your share of the 1.25 billion chicken wings consumed at Super Bowl parties? To continue the over-indulgence, there is a wealth of data to crunch from this commercial exercise. The statistical reporting of the big game is kind of like drinking from a fire hose, but there is a lot to learn about how brands reach and interact with consumers.