The image of success in America is pretty much stereotyped. For women, it’s a skinny image of a 20-something white girl, shopping with girlfriends, smiling, maybe even flirting with guys around her. For men, it’s a fit (or muscular) image of a young Caucasian, also smiling, and (yes) flirting with girls. Sounds like just about any TV commercial, right? Well, you wouldn’t be the first to say that this is a quite skewed image of who the target audience usually is. Hey, it’s no secret, I’ll admit it – marketing glamorizes products. It’s what we do – we pitch things and services in their best light, we set the mood, and we sell hard. Even when you think you’re being informed, chances are, you’re being pitched something. So how does the 1% relate to all of this?

Think of the 1%. What do they look like? If you’re like me, then you’re probably picturing something similar to what I’ve described above. It’s an image far removed from the reality of the marketers’ clientele, who aspire to look like the people they’re seeing in the commercials.

Kinetic typography removes this roadblock, because it eliminates the need to be prejudiced towards anyone.

I think that knit-picking the voice over and the genre of the background music would be too much. However, for those who oppose the greed of the 1%, and/or those who want to remove themselves from future threats of potential prejudice, kinetic typography is a good idea. Here’s why. While you can still reap the benefits of high quality marketing, you avoid skirting the class divide. This means a wider market appeal. In Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World by Laurent A. Parks Daloz, Cheryl H. Keen, James P. Keen and Sharon Daloz Parks, “It is becoming increasingly clear even to middle- and upper-class folk – people for whom our society is presumed to work – that their well-being depends not only upon their talent, initiative and ability to work hard, but also upon the quality of our common life. We have pushed the myth of individual freedom, strength, rights, expression, competition, salvation, and specialization to an edge that cannot hold. Yet the imprint of individualism is so pervasive, familiar, and therefore powerful that we understandably still rely on that ideology as the primary motif for our economic, political, psychological, and other cultural arrangements.” So, it is true: our society has, in fact, hand-crafted that image of perfection. For both men and women, it’s stereotyped. “We do so in many forms of thought and action, each of which diminishes and hardens our sense of what it means to be human.”

I started an awesome discussion on The Warrior Forum, on the topic of racism in the Internet Marketing industry. Click here to read it.

Join the discussion. What do you think about all of this?

If you’re like most Americans, that headline by itself would probably make you shrug. That’s because we’re predisposed to avoid the uncomfortable topic. This was precisely Tim Wise’s point. He spoke at the University of Maryland at an event organized by Voices of Social Change. The 90-minute event was entitled “Between Barack and a Hard Place: Challenging Racism, Privilege, and Denial in the Age of Obama.” Over 200 people were in attendance at the Hoff Theater. Wise is a white wise guy (no pun intended) on the topic of racism in America. What’s made this speech profound is his passion for solving racial inequalities, and his energy resonated throughout the audience as he cited examples and explained the breaks in our society. From personal biases, to institutional failures to refrain from racism, Wise gave the students at the University of Maryland an in-depth introduction to black culture in a white supremacy type society.

Prior to going to Wise’s event, I did not know that lecturers on racism are hard to come by, or somehow rare. I knew of the topic, I knew it’s not the most exciting one, but I had no idea how much people really wanted to avoid it. Personally, I feel comfortable discussing it, because I feel like hiding my thoughts becomes evident from speaking to me. In that regard, I may come off as racist, which, if race becomes an issue, is what’s probably being suspected of me in the first place. Therefore, I think being honest with yourself and opening up to others about it shows moral strength and courage to face uncomfortable topics.

I also learned that Latinos and blacks are three times more likely to be stopped and searched on the street, but of all white people stopped and searched, the police has found illicit drugs or weapons four times as often. I thought that Wise’s most profound point was about the housing bubble. We learned that the mainstream opinion that blacks caused the sub prime mortgage crisis is an outrageous proposition: minorities accounted for a small percentage of those bad loans, and financial analysts saw this collapse from a mile away. The chance to use black people as a scapegoat was too good to pass up.

Listen to Wise’s thoughts on redlining:

Wise’s books include Colorblind: Barack Obama, Post-Racial Liberalism and the Retreat from Racial Equity, and Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections from an Angry White Male. He is also the author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son and Dear White America: Letters to a New Minority.

At the end of his speech, Wise opened up the floor for a Q&A. Watch a little bit of his speech:

This event was organized by Vo!ces for Social Change. The audience was a great mix of black and white students, which showed a tremendous amount of interest in this topic, or perhaps this speaker. I have never heard of Tim Wise until two days ago, and after looking him up on YouTube I decided to go see him live. Lucky folks with enough time after the presentation got to meet him and buy a signed book, Dear White America (ten bucks on Amazon), published just last month.

The reason I went to this event is because I’m interested in minoring in Leadership studies at the University of Maryland. I also like inspirational talks and motivational speeches. Going to things like this feels like you’re at a TED conference, except less formal. If it’s free, I’m all over it (there’s usually free food, too!)

What do you think about / of racism? Constructive comments only, please.

Song Of The Day: Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West and Jay-Z

This is why it is important to combine these two sources of traffic as they will both work together to make your presence known. We have been able to help with the video aspect as kinetic typography is arguably the best way to get your message out. A sleek and creative video created by us will easily have you stepping up your marketing strategies as other businesses will wonder how you were able to create these videos. Viral video marketing is where the real money is made and you must invest in the quality of your videos.

When a person clicks on a link on Facebook, they will only give the video about 15 seconds of their time before they decide that they either like or dislike it. This is why it is very important that you learn the strategies behind video making. Luckily, this is exactly what we are good at, and if you work with us to create amazing videos for your company and you are able to continue your success on social networking sites, there is no reason why your company will not succeed. Contact us today.

The one benefit that Twitter has is that you will be able to share a video that we made you to thousands of people. Unlike Facebook, your link can instantly become viral with the simple “retweet” button. This means that your kinetic typography video will be passed along to thousands of people because people simply like to pass on good quality videos.

A great way to increase your marketing strategy on Twitter is to incorporate some sort of contest. The rules are quiet simple as all they will need to do is retweet your original tweet and then you will be able to get free exposure. This is a great way to steadily grow on Twitter and to make sure that people learn about your company. The prize can be whatever you choose but it will be well worth it once you get people to join. Remember that Twitter is perfect for business owners that want to give their customers an instant way to contact them and more businesses are using Twitter as a way for customer service as well.

Overall, marketing on Twitter is simply one of the best things that you can do and if you are able to share the videos that we make for you, then you company will surely prosper. Follow me @VasBlagodarskiy

Why do people crave videos? The simple answer is, we’re lazy: we’d rather watch than read or actively listen. For some odd reason, viewing a video just makes learning new information easier. Most of the videos will go viral suddenly or organically, and some videos will be more effective than other videos due to the fact it captures and focuses the artists’ creativity. However, now, effective viral marketing campaigns with video frequently depend upon a well-planned distribution strategy. That’s why an entire industry has been developed during the last couple of years, which distributes and produces viral videos (think YouTube and Vimeo).

So how much do you know about Viral Video Marketing? The most recent buzz within the online industry that indeed has turned into an in-demand service within the web marketing services is viral video campaigns. Everyone knows a great deal about viral marketing but, the marketing of Viral Video is the very thing that people still don’t have a really solid grasp on. Even though veterans and expert online marketing service companies are extensively calibrating the potential for video projects, the majority of us still need to comprehend its mechanism and try to see the best way to calibrate it’s purpose for our own companies. Viral marketing with video provides a terrific way to establish your company with a clever approach, in an interesting manner. If completed properly, such campaigns can largely create a serious quantity of links pointing towards your site. However, it relates to profound understanding, time and well-rehearsed pitching.

How can your Viral Video attract the viewers? To be able to produce a viral video, you might shoot everything from an interesting skit or clip that discusses your logo and boost its recognition. However, it doesn’t mean that any video will go viral. Video with apt marketing approach and employ of advanced technology to talk about your video globally can ensure likelihood of greater rate of viewing and discussing. Hence, anything you shoot, remember that with right utilization of technology and approach, your current it within a perfectly interesting manner to ensure that your customers not just spend some time to look at it but, additionally have the urge to talk about it using their buddies and spread it around. To summarize, the USP is actually the marketing approach of viral video campaign, degree of entertainment it renders as well as the best use of technology.

How do you get people talking? Remember, your video doesn’t have to be a formal business pitch! Your value proposition might be on the website, and the video is just to get people to the website. In this case, you might want to focus on the entertaining value, versus the information sharing value. While watching your video, the odds are that the viewers may immediately share it using their buddies, who consequently will share it using their buddies, too. When the video really captures individual’s imagination, the procedure becomes self-perpetuating and produces a genuine buzz online, rapidly becoming a part of multiple online discussions.

How can you integrate Viral Video Marketing into your business? Online marketing services or most viral video campaigns are claiming to be able to either boost sales or reorganize the appearance of a brand. However, you will certainly have to become focused regarding your purpose, because otherwise, your campaign might lose it’s approach and focus. You should figure out what you want to complete through campaigning, long before you begin focusing on your campaign you’re planning. Additionally, it will help in identifying the potency of your video as an advertising tool. So right from the start, get the team together and brainstorm the work in an organized, focused and competent approach.

How do you share your video with the right people? To be able to make sales or get conversions, you will need to actually share your video with the right people. Additionally, if your video caters to a particular niche, you will want to actually find influential or active people for that niche. This is an essential component associated with the success of a viral marketing campaign. Regardless of how amazing your video is, it might never deliver results should you forget to promote it for your specific audience. Together with your specific audience, it’s also wise to send it to friends, family, co-workers who might forward and critique it further.

Here’s my conclusion: By making use of the best online communication tools videos properly, videos can go viral within days, even hours. That means an immediacy and a speed incomparable with other channels and marketing tools. Viral videos are meant for viewing by family, friends and colleagues; they do not have to directly promote a product or service.

Song Of The Day: All I Do – Stevie Wonder via Spotify

Ugh.

Have you ever followed a spammer on Twitter who shares 1 thought in between blasts of affiliate links, despite Twitter’s efforts to stop it, and thought, “Wow, This Guy REALLY Sucks”?

Who knew spam could get worse?

This told me something interesting: the way we’re looking at people is changing. We’re able to judge character – how cool someone is, how valuable our time spent on them is – based on headlines. Erik Qualman of Socialnomics claims that social media is making us more efficient, because it lets us accomplish more things in less time. I would argue that the adverse side-effect is marginalization. Here’s what I mean: we now have less characters (and thus less time) to convey our messages. Why? Because Twitter’s forcing us. Why else? Because our Facebook friends have lost patience.

When we’re used to checking up on 10 friends in 60 seconds, we stop feeling the complacency that we love experiencing, when we only check up on 9 friends. We feel as if the one extra friend was “lost productivity.” So, we skim pages quicker, skim over important stuff, and the end result is brain farts.

Is this how getting your point across should be? Is this what social media’s become?

We get obsessive over our news feeds; some people even plan their days around being near a computer. We make checking Twitter a religious ritual. In the mean time, we’re missing out an important point of observation: when was the last time we really got to know our friends?

Corporate CEO? Hey, don’t judge.

In marketing, we want to avoid anything that would generate negativity. We’re avoiding the “This Guy Sucks” reaction by crafting messages slowly and carefully. Companies like us value social media, but they’re still asking their clients the most basic questions. Here at Kinetic Typography LLC, we’ve always believed in getting deeper. In understanding our clients a little bit better. Because each new layer of knowledge shows us something exciting. Knowing your clients well is like an extra 100 characters on Twitter, but better, because it’s more relevant to you right there and then. And we’ve translated this passion into our video work.

Can you blame people for using the social media to show their genuine side, even if it ain’t pretty?

That’s more like it. Ingenious, revolutionary, genuine…

“Judging the book by the cover” is now applicable to people, and I find that a bit scary. Maybe, that crazy guy is a visionary. Maybe, the smiling man is a lunatic. You really can’t trust appearances. But this is not a stranger-danger pep talk; this is how we’re changing the way we’re marketing. By anyone’s modern definition, marketing is a two-way street, and that mainly relates to communication.

In terms of dealing mainly with companies, Kinetic Typography LLC is still a bit old school: companies have often been judged by first impressions. This is what we do: we create awesome first impressions. We do it well. And it becomes really noticeable when others don’t.

Here’s your personal challenge: next time you’re on your iPad, skimming over tweets of statuses, stop and think, “does this guy REALLY suck, or am I taking these 140 characters out of context?”

Song Of The Day: Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

Ugh. Remember this? Aren't you glad you use an iPad?

Apple hasn’t only changed the way computers are made, but it’s also shifted a new market (which it created): handheld tablets. The iPad, if you think about it, has really simplified the way we interact with the web. On one hand (no pun intended), it’s just a touchscreen monitor with a touch-sensitive keyboard and built-in apps. On the other hand, it’s allowed the population at large to touch the world wide web. Quite literally, it’s revolutionized how we interact in social media, which will be the crux of this post.

Video marketing on iPads is a bit more… personal, than on regular computers. There’s a psychological piece at play. When you’re using your iPad, you feel more sophisticated than if you’re using a computer. More surprisingly, when you’re using a computer, it doesn’t matter if you’re using a PC or a Mac! According to CNET, a study by MyType has classified iPad owners as the “selfish elite.” Another study, this time more academic, was conducted by Joan Ganz Cooney Center, concluded that even children prefer eReaders and iPads over traditional reading materials:

“Three years ago there was not much of anything,” said Michel Kripalani, president of Oceanhouse. “The app market was just getting rolling.”

Today, there are dozens of small companies like Kripalani’s as well as hundreds of “mom and pop” shops, single developers that produce a one-off app product. And it’s all because of Apple.

“You can build a product and submit it to Apple and ten days later – after approval [Apple will not sell an app in its store if it does not meet certain technical requirements] – you’re available for sale,” said Kripalani. “All of a sudden, they’ve created this environment that anyone who is able to gather the technical and marketing skills is able to build a publishing house.”

Source: For Reading and Learning, Kids Prefer E-Books to Print Books

I love my iPad. It’s awesome. I want it in every American classroom. But let’s look ahead and try to predict how video marketing will change the way we buy and sell products and services.

In “Socialnomics,” the author Erik Qualman makes his case the fact that news will come to us; soon, we will no longer have to go to find it. When information comes at you at such rapid pace – with so many print publications now opening up online editions – how can you keep up with all the headlines?

Perhaps, video will be the answer. Like a professional TV stations, publications will be able to create “previews” for the day’s most exciting headlines. Another way video marketing will change how we consume information is that it will become cheaper to produce, therefore it will be adapted even by small businesses. Remember how advanced PPC seemed a decade ago? Social media marketing is that awkward elephant in today’s room; salespeople who offer web development services have a huge hurdle to overcome. They will have to show small businesses how they can afford a video strategy. Speaking of which: clearly, video will help disseminate information like news, but what about selling stuff?

My prediction, after this awesome infographic:

Source: http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/social-media-statistics-stats-2012-infographic/

Here’s my prediction: video marketing will become more affordable, social media will become less cluttered, and niches will emerge with their own social platforms. They will be interconnected by giants like Facebook. They will have to – it’ll make login authorization and new user acquisition easier. I also predict that video marketing will get more competitive, so it’s never been a better time to invest in a video piece that will last you years to come, before others jump on your bandwagon. Which brings me to my last point: if people see you establish yourself as an expert with the help of video marketing on iPads, they will follow suit, and the crowd will always know who did it first and best: you!

Listening to: some Kanye and Jay-Z

Socialgration is a social media platform that unites leaders – both active and aspiring – and allows them to become real agents of change. It’s currently under final stages of development, so when you hear about it elsewhere, remember: you heard it first from Kinetic Typography! Mims, founder, says, “Vas, I’m really excited about this, it’s going to be great!”

We’re currently working on a video intro for the website. It will succinctly explain why it matters, how it works, and what it’s composed of. Our goal in writing the script and storyboarding ideas for it was to be fresh, and demonstrate how revolutionary this tool is. Indeed, Socialgration aspires to drive change all around the world. From poverty in Asia, to environmental issues in South America, to local concerns here at home – Socialgration will help you get involved in all sorts of activism. Just when you thought no one shared your feelings about a serious problem, you’ll discover someone who cares, as well. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful tool for solving world issues – both domestic and international? We thought so. So when we started working with Socialgration last June, we discussed a number of ideas of getting the message across. For now, we’re starting with an explanatory video. Mims writes in an email: “I REALLY liked the script. You did a great job with the flow and it reads nicely.” Depending on the public’s reaction to this unique tool, we may want to work on productions addressing specific types of social injustices, green technology proponents, anti-war groups, and… who knows what else?

Let the public decide. Register today, and tell your friends what really matters: http://Socialgration.com

UPDATE 1/27/2011: the video has been finished. Watch it here:

The idea for the store came from Ana Rizzuto, our Creative Director, who felt that a merchandising division would allow Kinetic Typography to grow as a brand. It will also spark new creativity that will keep our minds fresh in between projects. From kinetic type word clouds to creative mugs, we’re going to offer an array of exciting goodies that you will love.

In the mean time, we encourage you to suggest things you would like to see in the store. Please leave comments below. We’ll keep you posted as we have new developments.

UPDATE 1/24/2012: We’ve launched! Small at first, but we’ll be adding cool stuff regularly. Get all your kinetic typography gear – click here!

(Please watch the video so that the rest of this post makes relevant sense to you)

If you can stand back & see that
the other individual is an
individual like ME, who might have
interests & values & feelings like
MINE, then you can make a BOND

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know where I’m going with this: marketing.

And I’m not talking about just commercials. I’m talking about the way our education, our finances, our families, our healthcare, our food, and everything in between has evolved in the past 200 years.

Let’s take a look at the Western education system. Tuition prices are skyrocketing, student loan availability is declining, and high school kids continue to drop out at astounding rates. What about our finances? Well, with the looming economic collapse, there isn’t much that needs to be said. Our families are affected by the way our brains work in that they help us outwit our friends; this can apply to friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and all other relationships. American healthcare prices are still rising, putting more and more people out of touch for affordable medical care (plus, Obama’s healthcare plan likely won’t solve this crisis). Our food is dominated by Monsanto, Tyson, and other companies that are killing us softly, and we’re not waking up to the long-term effects of mass-consumption oriented food in America. GMOs are only the beginning: Monsanto recently launched a public service announcement type of PR commercials on network stations, and I’m appalled at the blatant lies that they’re trying to spin. Is this trend ruining our country?

Marketing is changing the way we perceive brands, people, and ideas. It shifts paradigms, and can be very well-calculated. Branding is one thing; a government regime is another. Selling products is ethical; selling a political slogan is not. Whether extreme political pundits will be right or not about the looming doomsday won’t be known until a certain time comes, and no one knows when that time will come. However, I think that the video above further reinforces what I’ve thought all along: keeping your ears open to alternative media is very important. Perhaps, in our day and age, it’s more important than ever.

I recently tweeted about a post by @Maggie Callahan, who linked to an interesting video about Time Magazine. On December 5th 2011, they released a magazine issue with a different cover in the US than what they released elsewhere around the world. The world’s edition of Time covered revolutions. The American covered featured a cartoon, with the headline, “Anxiety is actually good for you.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being sold to as a complacent sheep, unaware of the massive revolutions around the world. Frankly, I think Time ought to treat America as the world’s intellectual equals. What do you guys think about this? Comments are encouraged as usual!