For those just joining us, Mad Genius was featured in a blog post by Google over a year ago in a campaign called “Going Google.”  The internet giant was profiling one company from each of the 50 states that utilized Google Services, like Google Apps for Business.

Our fearless Interactive Director, Rob Rubinoff, was recently asked again to provide a comment on the Google Apps services to be featured on a new campaign site that Google has created.  The quote:

“With Google Calendar, we can view everyone’s schedules, easily create meetings, and use shared calendars to track things like vacation days.”

While we’d rather not say just how much time we spend on Google, it’s safe to say that their products are an office fave (including Google Chrome and AdWords).

We need highly-skilled youth athletes to appear in a sports beverage commercial. These are non-speaking roles. Just show up and be awesome at your sport! Below find contact information and a breakdown of ages, sports, and positions we’re looking for:

• Ages 8-12, Boys AND Girls
  • Baseball or Softball hitters & outfielders
  • Soccer goalies, forwards and mids
  • Football wide receivers or running backs
• Ages 16-19,  Boys AND Girls
  • Basketball players
  • Soccer goalies, forwards or mids
  • Baseball or Softball hitters & outfielders

To audition, call 601-906-4218 or e-mail sharon@swagency.net today!

The mascot fun continues thanks to the folks at Delta State University, who sent us another clip of their intimidating Okra — this time brandishing a Taser. Fear the Okra indeed.

Check out the full job posting for more information and instructions on how to apply.

On February 29th, Facebook held its Facebook Marketing Conference in New York City.  A number of announcements were made, and a variety changes, new features and products were rolled out that will impact any business or organization that has a Facebook presence.

Your Business Page and Timeline

All business Facebook pages will be converted over to what is called The Timeline layout.  To learn more about what exactly Timeline is, see: http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline.

This conversion will occur automatically on March 30, 2012, unless you convert your page over to Timeline beforehand.

What does convert mean?

If you or your page’s admin signs onto your business Facebook page,you will notice an announcement at the top of the page from Facebook.

There you will learn about the Timeline conversion. You will also see the option to upload a new cover photo ( the required measurements for the Timeline Cover Photo is: 850px wide and 315px height ).

Timeline Cover Photo Restrictions

There are, however, certain restrictions of what you can and cannot do with your brand’s cover photo.

The Cover Photo cannot contain:

• Price or purchase information (such as 40% off or Download it on our site).
• Contact info such as web address, email, mailing address or info for the About section.
• References to user interface elements, such as LIKE, SHARE, or SIGN-UP for a contest
• Calls to action such as “Get it Now” or “Tell Your Friends”

LIKES…Not as Important as Quality Content and Engagement

It used to be the case that brands on Facebook were hawkish about “driving up LIKES”.

This is changing.

While there is still a LIKE button, Facebook has eliminated the option of ‘forcing a LIKE’ through locking content behind a “Fan Gate” or being able to rely on a Default Landing Tab to facilitate a LIKE.

As was stressed throughout the conference:

Facebook is becoming more about storytelling…about interaction, engagement, and building community,

…and the new Timeline structure will emphasize this.

Creating quality, compelling content has always been important in social media, and it is even more important now.

No More Default Landing Pages

Similar to the falling away of locking specific content behind a pre-LIKE welcome page or “Fan Gate” to garner LIKES, it used to be the case that new visitors to a Facebook page could be directed to a default landing page first, such as a giveaway app to facilitate interaction.

Facebook is doing away with this feature too.

All contests and giveaways must still be compliant and exist on an app (what had been called a “tab” before) but there will no longer be a way to set a default landing page within Facebook.

So, how do I let people know I am running a giveaway or promotion on my page?

1. Making Facebook posts suggesting people look for the app
2. Posting a graphic on the page and “highlighting it” so it expands to full-size to draw attention to the app.
3. Using Facebook ads which, when clicked, take people to a specific app

CONCLUSION

To explore archived videos, product features, and white papers from the Facebook Marketing Conference,

visit: http://www.facebook.com/business/fmc …and, as always, if the team at Mad Genius can assist you, let us know.

In a blog post from last Friday, February 24, the Google Blog made predictions on the top three awards given- Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress.  What did the search tea leaves predict?

• Best Picture- a toss-up between The Artist or Midnight in Paris
• Best Actor-  a guess between Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) or George Clooney (The Descendants)
• Best Actress- a gamble between Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) or Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

While Google was on the right track with their picks for Best Picture and Best Actress, it was a surprise for all when the Best Actor Oscar was awarded to Jean Dujardin for his role in The Artist.

What surprised us during this award’s season was how instantaneous search results for the winners were provided to Google users.  Back in May of 2010, Google announced that they were rolling out a new feature across its search engine that provided users with short answers to search queries looking for information regarding simple facts like a celebrity’s birthdate or a country’s capital city.  While this was already an impressive accomplishment (a search engine that actually answers your questions instead of giving you sources that could contain the answer!), we noticed that Google kicked it up a notch last night by providing correct search results when a user input the award category along with the year (see images below).

These queries were made while the actors were walking up to take their awards at the 84th Annual Academy Awards- good job Google!

We’re always wondering how a story or video can go from zero to hero-status in a matter of days. We dug down the rabbit hole and found the trail started with a post on Reddit’s College Football section. From there, it was picked up by SBNation on Thursday February 18. Afterwards the video spot was posted on Yahoo! Sports. Sports Illustrated named the Fighting Okra the number one Mascot in the Fruits and Vegetable division in an online article that was published today, February 17, 2012. And with a write-up like this, we have a feeling this unofficial mascot is not letting go of this title any time soon.

“Fighting Okra, Delta State Statesmen: D-II Delta State made a strong late push for consideration with the recent release of the above “FEAR THE OKRA” video, a reassuring sign to committee members that the University has moved beyond the stodgy disavowals of association and embraced the surefire branding touchdown that’s been right under their noses for two decades. Offering free Okra bracelets didn’t hurt, either. The Committee is not above susceptibility to bribery. Spiny when dry, slippery when wet, and delicious in gumbo, the Fighting Okra is everything a fruit or vegetable mascot should aspire to be.”

Check out the spot Mad Genius produced for Delta State below.  And to see more videos- head over to Delta State’s YouTube Channel.

Ian Hanson, Associate Art Director, will judge students’ portfolios during the conference and make recommendations to hopeful graduates on finding a job in the industry.  Mad Genius’ Vice President of Creative, Eric Hughes, will speak to students regarding the biggest myths of “idea-making”, how to identify the enemies we all have inside that stifle our creative thinking, and proven practices to be your own idea ninja.  If you want to find out more, check out his presentation below!