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Childhood is filled with memories. It’s the time in our lives when we learn how to ride a bike, spend the entire day coloring, imagine make-believe worlds and play with our favorite toys. And most people’s memories are dotted with at least a few characters that they shared their childhood with.

This week, #esdailydraw is reminiscing about a beloved cast of iconic characters that continues to be popular among each new generation: The Muppets. So whether it’s the sassy Miss Piggy or the very green Kermit the Frog, take a minute this week to relive your childhood by drawing one of your favorite characters. And don’t forget to share your drawings via Instagram #esdailydraw.

What Muppets character will you be drawing this week? There are just so many to choose from!

With nearly 2,000 press releases crossing the wires each day how do you ensure your news is found – not only by journalists, but by your customers, as well? Here are 10 tips for optimizing your
press release:

Read the full blog post here

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Have you ever felt out of place – like you didn’t fit in? These feelings of unfamiliarity tend to arise when we find ourselves in new settings. Whether it’s your first day at a new school or a planned vacation to a foreign land, it is easy to feel like a stranger in a strange place. However, as many of us know, these feelings of uncertainty quickly disappear as new and exciting opportunities begin to form. This week, Ervin & Smith artist Jim Mehsling is turning the familiar experience of unfamiliar surroundings into this week’s #esdailydraw theme: Strangers in a strange place. Learn more about this week’s theme with a special Q&A with Mehsling.

How did you stumble upon this week’s theme?

I am always brainstorming theme ideas and keep a running list. But, this week’s theme stood out to me and almost seemed timely. Mars One recently announced that it is accepting applications for individuals who would like to be considered for a one-way trip to Mars. Could you image traveling to Mars knowing that you were never going to come back? That’s crazy!

What do you plan on drawing this week?

I love the movie “Alice in Wonderland” – a perfect example of this week’s theme. I have found myself repeatedly drawing my rendition of the March Hare.

Have you ever felt like a stranger in a strange land?

Don’t we all feel like a stranger in a strange place? But really, I have lived in a couple of different cities besides Omaha so I guess I have felt like a fish out of water. I have lived in Arizona and Canada; I spent a lot of time in Canada for animation school.

Is one stranger than the other when comparing the stranger and the strange land?

The strange land is definitely stranger. When you think of movies like “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz,” the lands are filled with creatures that we have never imagined before.

What will you be drawing this week? And don’t forget to share your drawings via Instagram #esdailydraw.

In its quest to become the most powerful social media platform, Twitter recently announced a new advertising approach based on contextual keyword targeting. Similar to when a Google user enters a query and sees related ads, Twitter users will soon be seeing ads served to them based on their tweets. With nearly 200 million active users, Twitter has become one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, and it’s no surprise that it wants new ways to monetize the network.

So what does Twitter’s keyword ad targeting mean for advertisers?

1. It’s a “big kids” club (for now): With a minimum monthly spend of $5,000, advertising on Twitter isn’t cheap, and for a relatively unproven medium it’s a big risk for small businesses. Larger advertisers with big budgets are going to pioneer this new form, and it will be interesting to see how small businesses eventually fit in.

2. Not more ads, just more targeted ads: Twitter’s large user base can breathe a collective sigh of relief since the new keyword targeting capability does not translate into a higher volume of ads. It simply means that, in theory, users will see ads that are more relevant to them, not a barrage of random ones.

3. It will feel familiar to Google AdWords users: Advertisers who are well versed in terms like broad match, phrase match and negative keywords will be right at home. Brands will be able to avoid having ads show up in the wrong context by selecting negative keywords. For example, if a seafood restaurant wants an ad to be served when someone Tweets about being hungry, it can select negative keywords for food it doesn’t serve to increase relevant exposure.

Twitter’s latest move is hardly surprising given it’s exponential growth, and it will be interesting to watch how its ad revenue is affected by this move. As Facebook continues to tweak its advertising offerings, which social network will the ad dollars flow to? I’d be interested to know what you think.

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This week’s #esdailydraw theme is posing a serious question: Dogs or cats? #esdailydraw theme creator Jim Mehsling picked the topic with all animal lovers in mind. Dog lovers tend to argue that their furry friends are tail-wagging, playful companions that are always ready for fun. While cat lovers favor these animals for their independent spirit and the distinctive, yet subtle sound of a purr. No matter what your preference, grab a pencil and paper to voice your opinion. And don’t forget, the theme is all in good fun with the goal of uniting the love of drawing and pets. Make sure to share your drawings via Instagram #esdailydraw.

So pet lovers, what will you be drawing this week? Dogs or cats?

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#esdailydraw is going back in time this week – 65 million years, to be exact! Ervin & Smith artist and theme creator Jim Mehsling is taking #esdailydraw participants on a prehistoric adventure into the “age of dinosaurs.” This week’s dinosaur theme is unlike most because it challenges drawers to create something that they have never seen before. #esdailydraw participants will need to stretch their creative muscles and imagine a time of gigantic reptiles with long necks, beaks, claws, spikes and sharp teeth. As you can tell, the theme is bound to produce some unique creations – and we are looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Tell us about your dinosaur creation and don’t forget to share your drawings via Instagram #esdailydraw.

With more than four million business pages on Facebook, everyone is competing for fans, followers and likes. How do you use social media to stand out above the crowd and engage your fan-base into action?

Here are 11 helpful tips to help you increase audience engagement:

1. Be Listening. Listen to current conversations about your area of expertise and follow companies that inspire you. Suggestions and feedback will make you better at what you do. It also provides you with valuable ideas to enhance the customer experience and keep you in touch with what people are saying about your brand.

Monitor what is being said about your company and respond appropriately with relevant content. Doing so will ensure that people associate your brand with knowledgeable employees.

2. Be Present. Post content regularly. If readers can expect new content on a regular basis, they will have a reason to follow you.

3. Be Relevant. Doing so will demonstrate that you know your followers and your industry, and will position your company as a leader.

4. Be Knowledgeable. If you are informed, people will be interested in what you have to say. Read blogs. Read and respond to the content of other posts. This is how you’ll develop an understanding of the culture,
tone, best practices and protocol.

5. Be Yourself. You have a passion for what you do and that passion should show in your posts. But, remember it’s a conversation. Talk like you would in a professional situation. Avoid overly “composed” or language.
Write content that invites a response or is open-ended.

6. Be Honest. Online transparency and honesty are important. Be clear about who you are, but be careful not to disclose too much personal information such as addresses or phone numbers.

7. Be Valuable. Share insights, tips or other content that is relevant to your followers. Posts should be thought provoking and build a sense of community. If the content helps people improve their knowledge, solve problems or teaches or builds on new skills, then it adds value.

8. Be Engaged. Answer questions, ask questions and thank people (even if it’s just a quick “thanks”). Remember it’s a conversation; engage your fans and followers.

9. Be Responsive. If someone responds to something you’ve said, follow up quickly (i.e., within 24 hours).

10. Be Polished. Remember that, just like any marketing channel, quality matters. Use spell-check and avoid typos that could decrease credibility.

11. And Don’t Be All About Me. Link to other people’s blog or videos, share news articles, and repeat or ReTweet what others have to say. Follow your clients/customers, local businesses, professional organizations, industry publications and influencers in your industry.

Taking the time to create valuable content can help move your fans into action. Feel free to share any additional tips you have.

In celebration of Earth Day, we thought we would profile a few products that are not only functional, but also good for the planet. Many of these are everyday objects and applications that help you “think globally and act locally” to make Earth-friendly choices. Below is a short list of some of our favorite green products:

ECOlunchbox – These lunchboxes let you skip the plastic bags thanks to the independent food compartments. Plus it handles both wet and dry food, and it’s dishwasher safe.

Method Laundry Detergent- This plant-based laundry detergent is made with natural ingredients to let you clean without excess chemicals. The attractive packaging is also made with recycled plastic.

Replenish Multi-Surface Cleaner – This inventive cleaner has a detachable solution container that you can refill when it’s out, reducing unnecessary waste in the environment.

Replenish Multi-Surface Cleaner features refillable solution helping reduce waste.

GoodGuide iOS App – This app helps you purchase eco-friendly products while you shop. Simply scan the product’s bar code and the GoodGuide app reveals whether a product is socially responsible using its database of 170,000 products.

iRecycle – Not sure what to do with that stack of cardboard, newspaper and aluminum cans? Don’t fret because the iRecycle app from Earth911 helps you find local recycling options from a multitude of categories, including batteries, computers and hazardous material. The app is well organized and will help you live a sustainable lifestyle.

Earth Day is a nice reminder to keep the planet in mind when making everyday decisions, and these products and apps are just a few to help us do our part. Tell us below about your favorite products, apps and other Earth-friendly choices.

Image Source: www.slashgear.com

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This week, Ervin & Smith artist Jim Mehsling is generating waves of ideas with the theme of “under the sea.” Mehsling is asking #esdailydraw participants to explore the deep sea for drawing inspiration. He explains that “under the sea” allows drawers to venture off land and discover a world of the unknown. Dive even deeper into Mehsling’s “under the sea” theme with a special Q&A.

What intrigues you about the sea?

Like all the themes, it is open to interpretation – there are just so many options. #esdailydraw participants can draw anything – from pirates to scuba divers, octopuses to sea coral, drawers can really put their own spin on it.

What is your favorite sea movie?

My favorite sea-themed movie is “Finding Nemo” – I love the sea turtle, Crush. I am really looking forward to the next iteration, “Finding Dory.”

How do you describe the sea: mythical or scientific?

Both! I love the theme of the sea because it is both narrative and scientific. Movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Finding Nemo” tell a narrative of a sea adventure. But then again, I really enjoy watching sea documentaries – who doesn’t love “Shark Week”?

How will movement be incorporated into this week’s theme?

Movement is an automatic with this theme! Participants can either bring movement to their sea creatures themselves or surround their creatures with moving items like water bubbles or drifting sea coral.

As a #esdailydraw participant, what do you think of this week’s theme, and what will you be drawing?

We’ve all been there. Checking your email on a mobile device can be a nuisance – teeny-tiny text, broken layouts and that horrible side-to-side scrolling. Now think about your own email communications. Do they fall victim to this poor customer experience?

Let’s hope not, because the consequence isn’t good: 70% of consumers will delete your email if it doesn’t render correctly.* Buh-bye, sayonara. When the consumer does check in on a desktop, your email won’t be there.

So you decide to cater to mobile. And good thing you do, because as of March, 43% of email is opened on a mobile device.** And users could be checking their email four or more times a day. But you approach it with a one-column design. You adhere to best practices, minimal images and minimal text, but it just looks so boring when you open it on your desktop – you can’t win! Or can you? Enter responsive design. I’m sure you’ve heard about this approach for Web design, but did you know it’s equally effective for email?

Responsive email design is a little slice of “have your cake and eat it too.” Your emails can look great on mobile AND desktop! By adding just a little extra CSS (called media queries), your email will be able to recognize whether a customer is looking at your email on a mobile device or on a desktop and automatically adjust your design to look the best by:

• Displaying a different image
• Adjusting the size and color of text
• Increasing button size
• Hiding or showing different content

You’ll be happy to hear that it’s not as intimidating as it may seem. With a little up-front planning and some additional lines of code, you can send out one email that will look great regardless of where your customer opens it.

And don’t stop at optimizing your emails for mobile – there is so much opportunity to reach out to mobile users. Get your feet wet with an SMS (text) campaign, or if you are really ready to dive in, create an app that allows you to send push alerts to your subscribers.

Responsive email design isn’t a trend; it’s a reality. According to Experian, 76% of companies are already starting to optimize for mobile. So now’s the time to get on board. Are your emails communications optimized? Please share your challenges or successes below.

Sources:
*BlueHornet “Consumer Views of Email Marketing” (2012)
**Litmus –”Email Analytics” (March 2013)

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Ever wonder what creatures do with their free time? Well this week’s theme is giving them a day job. Our theme creator, Jim Mehsling, is asking #esdailydraw participants to hire all types of creatures for the job of their dreams.

So what will you be drawing this week? How about a zombie bellhop or a lion firefighter? A few Ervin & Smith employees answered the same question, and you won’t believe what they came up with:

“We all know I love my dog — so I’m thinking a Labrador greeter. The Walmart entrance has her name all over it!”

– Beth Huffaker, Account Executive

“Now that it’s spring, I’ve been seeing a lot of outside construction going on, which is why I drew a fox with a hardhat coming out of a manhole. Animals with construction jobs may make a few appearances this week.”

– Jim Mehsling, Artist

“I think I’ll draw a centaur bouncer. There will be no need for the red velvet rope at his club.”

– Bill Nolan, Account Executive

“After traveling this past weekend, I plan to draw a snail flight attendant. I might even include a drink cart!”

– Candice Wong, Graphic Designer

And don’t forget to post your drawings of “working” creatures via Instagram #esdailydraw.

Building an app can feel overwhelming with the staggering expanse of new apps available each day. This January, Apple reached 40 billion downloaded apps while the Microsoft store now has 50,000 apps available. With such an expansive and competitive market, how can you turn that great idea into a successful app?

Know your goals

Begin the planning phase with a focus on app purpose. A common instinct is to cram as much functionality as possible into an app, hoping users will appreciate a feature-rich experience. Condense the app to the essential elements by writing an app mission statement. This tight focus will aid competitive research when identifying product differentiators. What will your app do better or differently than other existing offerings? Lastly, consider users’ emotional connection to the app. Positive emotions impart positive memories which increases user engagement and longevity. What personality will your app convey? (For more on emotional design, I highly recommend “Designing for Emotion.”)

Draw before you code

As a developer, I know it’s tempting to jump in and start coding. While there are advantages occasionally to software prototyping, oftentimes it’s best to start with pencil and paper (check out UIStencils.com). Storyboarding user experience first facilitates problem-solving conversations before expensive development efforts begin. Test user experience early by paper prototyping to gather feedback with minimal expense. When the final designs are ready for review, ensure layouts and icons are viewed on target mobile devices before sending final design to development.

Measure success

Getting an app submitted to various app stores is an accomplishment in its own right. But once it’s available for sale, what’s next? In addition to new features or bug fixes, dive into analytics to inform data-driven decisions. The most popular app stores still have limited analytics capabilities, so third-party tools like Distimo or Flurry can provide additional insights to user engagement and trends. Incorporating feedback at every opportunity will also ensure the app improves and continues to add value, both for your users and your business.

Do you have any additional tips that have worked for you? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.

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If design blogs and commentary are a measure of how Pepsi’s new packaging will resonate with consumers, things aren’t looking good for the brand.

According to AdAge’s article on the topic, Pepsi’s new bottle shape, last updated in 1997, is a move toward a more cohesive design language that articulates the brand mantra, “Capturing the excitement of now.” The twisted-bottle shape is an asset Pepsi hopes to build upon.

In my opinion, Pepsi should ignore the early reaction from the design world. If blogs had existed when Coca-Cola released its now-iconic contour-bottle shape, I’m positive designers would have dissented. Instead, Pepsi should take a step back and focus on a strategy for long-term brand consistency. While Coke has tweaked its brand throughout its 126-year history, Pepsi has overhauled its brand, again and again. Why?

My theory is that the trick to maintaining brand consistency comes down to two important questions: Does your C-suite live the brand? AND How insistent is your leadership that its people live the brand? With CMO turnover soaring (the average tenure of a chief marketing officer [CMO] is alarmingly short—just 43 months as of 2011),* and each new leader wanting to leave a legacy, maintaining brand consistency can be a challenge for any organization.

*Source: Spencer Stuart

Image credit: Pepsi

Have you ever wondered how Ervin & Smith artist Jim Mehsling picks a weekly #esdailydraw theme? Our imaginations have really been spinning these past few weeks with a variety of themes – all with endless possibilities. It is no surprise that our #esdailydraw album consists of everything from flying monkeys, pirates and pigs to a space turtle, just to name a few.

This week’s theme is no different! The idea came to Mehsling last Sunday during an outing at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo: “Gateway to the wild.” Giraffes, zebras, sharks and lions were his initial ideas, but then he thought “why just stop there?” Mehsling wants #esdailydraw participants to understand that the theme is what you make it: “It doesn’t matter whether your ‘gateway to the wild’ is a space mission or speedway — it’s wherever your imagination takes you.”

What’s your definition of this week’s theme? What type of wild adventure will you create?

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It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s whatever you imagine. This week, Ervin & Smith is encouraging #esdailydraw participants to let their imagination take “flight” – and the sky’s the limit. Like all themes, “flight” allows drawers to flex their creative muscle by providing a theme with very few guidelines and endless possibilities. Ervin & Smith artist Jim Mehsling describes our theme criteria perfectly: “The theme has to be narrow enough, but broad enough – that makes sense, right?”

Mehsling, our theme creator, decided upon this week’s theme because of its versatility. He explained that the theme of “flight” really lets drawers create anything they desire: “helicopters, birds, jet packs, planes, spaceships, or even a jumping grasshopper.” Participants are also able to experiment with backgrounds, whether they choose to incorporate a night sky or something soaring over a cityscape. But, Mehsling did share his one rule that drawers must follow for this week’s theme: “Whatever you decided to draw, it must go up!”

What are you going to draw this week? A soaring superhero? Or possibly a kite? Brainstorm your thoughts with us and make sure to post your drawing via Instagram #esdailydraw. For more on the #esdailydraw, check us out on Ustream.

Ultra-popular online “scrapbooking” site Pinterest recently launched a Web analytics tool to help businesses better understand how users are interacting with a company’s pins, website and, ultimately, products or information. To access the analytics, businesses just need to have a verified account and switch to the site’s new format.

So what does Pinterest’s new analytics mean for marketers?

For one, it means being able to judge what resonates with a business’s followers. Users can easily track what exactly people are pinning from their website and how many people are doing it, what people are repining, how many people see a company’s pins and which pins are getting the most clicks back to the website.

These numbers can tell a company a lot about what the vast Pinterest community is interested in. And the ability to see what other types of things a person has pinned can help marketers paint a better picture of their audience. That’s important both to businesses that are using the site to promote their products (like Sephora) and those using it to establish themselves as thought leaders and curate a community of potential clients or customers.

The analytics addition could also be a sign of things to come from Pinterest.

Though there are already third-party analytics tools for marketers using the site, it’s significant that Pinterest has released its own. The analytics are the latest addition to Pinterest’s set of business-friendly tools. While Pinterest hasn’t stated that the analytics or other marketing tools are part of an effort to monetize, it certainly seems like a foundation for such a model. If a pay-to-use plan is in the future, these built-in tools will help the cause. How exactly such a plan will be executed remains to be seen, but it’s encouraging to see they are keeping marketers in mind.

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From classics like “Sleeping Beauty” to the most recent “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” the magical world of fairy tales has always been fueled by limitless creative thought. This week, Ervin & Smith is venturing into the land of dragons, wizards, kings and queens with the drawing theme of “castles.”

Like most of our themes, “castles” simply provides #esdailydraw participants a starting point. Ervin & Smith artist Jim Mehsling explained that each week he hopes to offer drawers a little bit of guidance while still giving them the opportunity to draw something they love. Mehsling assured us that the drawing possibilities are endless with this week’s theme, “You can draw anything: crowns, dragons, moats, tapestries, drawbridges, and suits of armor.” He even shared with us that he likes to draw “strange creatures” like winged monkeys rather than the heroic knight in shining armor. So as you can see, nothing is off limits with this magical theme.

Video streaming by Ustream

What are you going to draw this week? A fairy tale prince or princess? Or maybe an infamous villain?

In a flurry of activity and news recently, Facebook began rolling out changes to both user timelines and profile pages. Aimed at standardizing experiences across devices and giving users better access to visual or rich-media content, updated functionality will be rolled out in phases, similar to other previous Facebook changes.

But what does this mean for advertisers? Facebook hasn’t said yet. In a rumored email to marketers, Facebook assured that “ad units will not change for now” but at this point, it seems like new, more engaging ad formats may be just around the corner. Video and display seem like natural fits for the new visually driven News Feed and standardizing experiences may also help Facebook increase mobile revenue (an area where it has lagged significantly behind Google).

Hate to wait? The updated News Feed (now broken into four individual streams) does include a feed that will feature content solely from brands and pages that a user has liked. Think about changing your content plans to play better in this new space. Photo, video and other dynamic content will command more real estate than ever, and Instagram (a recent Facebook acquisition) becomes a more appealing channel to add to a content strategy. Plus, you’ll be competing directly with other brands on Facebook (rather than personal connections) for better or worse.

No matter what happens, rest assured that relevant content will win. Whether you’re looking to serve ads to prospects, content to brand advocates, or connect with new employees, keeping your content fresh, focused, and relevant will always be the cornerstone of a great social media strategy.

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Each week, Ervin & Smith artist Jim Mehsling chooses a drawing theme – allowing viewers to connect with recurring ideas and master specific skills. The drawing focus this week will be “characters” – a theme that Mehsling loves. Learn more about this week’s theme with a special #esdailydraw Q&A:

Why did you choose “characters” as this week’s drawing theme?

The easy answer is because I am a character design artist – and I love characters. But, the real answer is because characters are fun. When drawing characters, there is no limit. You can replicate existing characters or create your own unique characters.

Define a “character.”

A character is anything and everything. Artists create characters by bringing life to the things around them.

What or who is your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is R2D2. It is unbelievable how much expression and animation a tin canister can have! You can tell exactly what R2D2 is thinking even with limited facial expressions.

Do you create stories about the characters you draw?

Of course! Every character I create has its own unique story – I image every detail. For example, I drew mice for Monday’s daily draw. As I was drawing, I decided that these mice were going to be on an adventure with their final destination in sight.

What do you want viewers to take away from this week’s daily draw?

First and foremost, I want viewers to realize that all drawings are based upon structure and basic shapes. But most of all, I want viewers to have fun with drawing. #esdailydraw is an opportunity to let your imagination run wild.

Video streaming by Ustream

As a daily drawer, what characters do you like most?

Fiat is one of the latest brands to aim straight for the parental audience. In this instance, the Italian carmaker is targeting moms. Tired, time-starved, financially influential moms.

“The Motherhood,” a Web video first released at the tail end of 2012 to promote the Fiat 500L, features a harried mom rapping about the trials and tribulations of raising small kiddos. And while the gangster parent thing is nothing new (Toyota did it in 2010 with its Swagger Wagon TV spots and music video. Bluefish TV, a Christian video-production company, did it in early 2012 with this little gem), Fiat’s video stands out because it’s so gosh darn honest. Like, “I-can’t-believe-you-went-there-but-I’m-really-glad-you-did” honest.

From a marketing-to-women perspective, Fiat is talking to a young family’s main financial decision maker in her language – complete with references to breastfeeding, baby weight, that ever-elusive work/life balance, and (way) beyond. For those of us in the target audience, it’s likely to elicit a laugh, a knowing nod, and an email forward or two. It’s relatable and refreshingly off-color. But will it sell cars?

While we wait to see if “Fiat understands busy moms like me” translates to “I want to buy a 500L,” I’ll be over here, pulling Goldfish crackers and string cheese out of the heating vent.

What do you think of the production?