Understanding Facebook changes

By Carolyn Kiser

The most recent Facebook update is a notable opportunity for companies and brands. The traditional company “pages” will now be similar to an everyday user’s profile page. This update will provide companies and brands more opportunity to interact with their fans, just as everyday users interact. Now, information brands post to their pages will now be put into the “stream” (i.e. news feed/status update). It is these channels that really ignite activity and conversations among users.



While this is a tremendous opportunity for brands, there also lies the danger. Only companies that practice social media etiquette can truly leverage this new opportunity. Let me explain. With more information being fed to a brand’s fans, it will be up to the fans to filter the information they want to see. So now more than ever, companies need to respect social media etiquette. If brands abuse this relationship and “pump and dump” information that is not relevant to their fan base, they will likely be filtered and ultimately “unfriended,” thus decreasing their fan base and tarnishing their brand image.

With that in mind, here are a few guiding principles for companies using Facebook fan pages:

• Be relevant: Don’t use Facebook exclusively as a promotional/advertising channel. Instead, apply some PR principles to determine what news feeds are worthy and relevant to your fan base.
  
• Talk and Listen: Make sure you are always having a two-way conversation with your fans. Know your community.
  
• Don’t ramble: People don’t want to read paragraphs of information. Be compelling and to the point. And don’t repeat, repeat, repeat.
  
• Be real: You have fans for a reason and they like your brand for a reason so it is important to stick to your brand guidelines and speak in your brand voice.
  
• Filter: As a general rule, if you would not want your message/post in the mass media, don’t put it on Facebook either.

Awards are nice, client satisfaction is better

By Ariel Clark



Most ADDY stories revolve around excess: drinking, testosterone,bravado. Ours is one of redemption.

After nary an award last year, I convinced myself that winning an ADDY didn’t mean much -- at least to the creatives like me, who get more joy from client approval than out of lucite.

Having never held a professional award in my hand, I theorized that nothing could feel better than hearing back from clients that they love your idea. The sweet relief of an ad (finally) going to print or airing on TV. The validation that comes when a campaign works to grow the client’s business.

These things are so much more important than awards because they get to what we do – harnessing our creative abilities to solve business problems and make a difference.

While I still think the greater rush is seeing one of our billboards or hearing positive feedback from a client, there's something to be said for having your company’s name trumpeted along with the names of your peers on ADDY night.

An ADDY isn't all-important, but it helps to have something heavy in your hand when you're battling the competition. Last Saturday, we finally got our propers. And you know what? It feels pretty darn good.

Check out our award-winning work.

Chris McAdams Reevaluates His Career Path

tba Parties in the Alley

By Michael Quonce

tba recently partied in the alley at the 24th Annual Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon at Hilltop Lanes in Roanoke, Va. Companies throughout the region participated in the beach-themed bowling event to benefit Junior Achievement and its mission to help children learn work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Chris McAdams was the high-game winner and stole the show with his Fred Flintstone approach and PBA-style accuracy. Afterwards he was overheard commenting to his wife, Tara, “I don’t know why I ever went into creative design.”



We sat in awe all day wondering the same thing, but are happy to still have him on board until his PBA Career takes off. Hopefully there weren’t any of these guys scouting him in the alley looking for endorsements.

tba had a blast at this year’s event and looks forward to doing it again next year. Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia educates and inspires young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to be workforce ready and improve the quality of their lives. To learn more visit the Junior Achievement website.