We’re on stand 5. Why not drop by and say hi. I’m on from 12:30 onwards today.

I was fortunate enough to host a panel discussion as the Cannes festival with Facebook, MySpace, Blyk (the mobile service) and Intel on the topic of Can Brands be Friends?

It’s relevant to the BIMA community since the space is shaping up into a very interesting landscape from an advertising, monetisation and application development perspective, and BIMA members (likely to have some knowledge here) are well placed to benefit.

We make online advertising (in fact a lot of online advertising as Interpublic Group’s largest digital agency here in the UK, as I was reminded recently) in order to deliver as many messages as we can to targeted audiences to get them to remember the brand name or to click on to be more engaged and buy something.

We also develop communities, often by association with passions, football, tennis, online gaming, web developers, no less, and this is where the world of social computing is so challenging. Which is better - to run a campaign of x impressions that gets 0.02 click through (say 300 people) or to write a widget that is downloaded by 300 people. The answer is probably both are relevant, but do a different job. If the end game is engagement, time spent with the brand, or memorability, what’s your vote?

Think about it. Write about it. It’s a good debate.

Web design, Client / Agency Relationship Meltdown and the Big Bad Recession.

Finding an agency from the client perspective is really difficult - harder than ever. But making a long term productive working relationship is even harder.
The aim in web design to get a straight line from start to finish. Clients try to find the right agency to work with.
Research from Jan 08, Asking about web design budgets. 29 clients with euros 465m in budgets. Of which 13 had projects >1m euros. None reported declining or flat growth and 21/27 had >20% growth. More than half bid on less than half of the RFPs they receive.

From the client’s point of view, it costs more, agencies are more selective and it’s more difficult to find the right one. When choosing a web design partner clients need to know how to ‘narrow the field’.
Ask about:
- Agency size, capacity and growth. (a growing agency is not necessarily going to be able to support you if growing at 40%pa).
- Capability and primary services offered. (trend is towards full service but everyone has strengths. Face these and publicise this).
- Industry expertise
- Region, language and cultural understanding. (global brands are concerned about global strategies on a web platform e.g. will a CMS with one structure work in Israel?)
Make your project look good in the brief! Spend the time to understand what is innovative, creative and exciting about your project.

continue reading "Breakfast Bites - Craig Menzies, Senior Analyst, Forrester Research"

Download to your iPod(:40 minutes/1MB)

Let’s face it, an exclusive invite-only event isn’t exactly, inclusive for BIMA members.

For those of you who keep an eye on this blog for Top Cats related posts, please keep an eye on my personal blog for future updates.

There is just one week to go before the first in the second series of BIMA Breakfast Bites: ‘Digital and the Economic Downturn’.

This is an exceptional opportunity to meet Craig Menzies, Forrester Research Senior Analyst and author of the Forrester Wave European Interactive Agencies Web Design Capabilities. I’m delighted to say that Craig recently joined BIMA as an Advisor to the Board

Please come along to hear and discuss with him his views on Web Design, Client / Agency Relationship Meltdown, and the Big Bad Recession.

Craig is investigating…

For Web site owners, finding the right interactive agency to take on their Web design project is hard enough, but creating a long-term healthy, happy and productive working relationship can be harder still. And on top of that, how do Web site owners and agencies get the best quality work while in the midst of an economic downturn?

• How can Web site owners and agencies get the best from their Web design projects?
• What are the common problems (and remedies) for client/agency relationship meltdowns?
• What do some of Europe’s top agencies think about how the economy will affect their businesses?

About Craig

Craig is based in London, and his research covers the design capabilities of interactive marketing agencies in Europe, and how prospective clients can work with design vendors to achieve their business goals. He also focuses on how user-centered, brand-conscious, research-driven Web design can have a positive impact on both the online customer experience and the bottom line.

Before joining Forrester, Craig was a senior technology consultant and the head of technology for Logan Tod & Co., head of technical and eCommerce for leading UK retailer I Want One of Those.com, head of database operations for one of Canada’s largest direct marketing firms, and a freelance Web designer and database marketing consultant

Event Date: 19th June 2008 | Time: 08:30 to 10:00 hrs
Venue: Bar 19/21, Soho House Club, 21 Old Compton Street London W1

Register now to avoid disappointment

This years BIMA categories have changed. As well as staying true to our core vision of ‘Working to support the creative excellence and craftsmanship within digital media’, we’ve also decided to inject a bit of life into the awards, making them even more relevant to industry.

This basically means focusing on all aspects of digital, ranging from the traditional executions of design teams, right through to innovative craftsmanship, which often results in those awesome little gems of wickedness.

Therefore we think you’ll find the categories a lot wider and more general, allowing for a greater variety of submissions from more areas of our industry.

So, as well as celebrating traditional creative, we’ll also be recognising a few unsung heroes.

It’s been an incredible year for all of us in the interactive field and BIMA want to celebrate what’s created a buzz in 2008 and who made it all happen.

The registration page on the BIMA Web site will be made available this week. You can enter as many categories and sub-categories as you like. Why not do the ground work now and paste your work of art when the site is ready.

The BIMA Awards 2008

We have reduced the overall number of categories from 21 to just 9 this year. It’s now easier to see where your work of art belongs, but it won’t be so easy to pick up one of the Industry’s most prized gongs.

1. B2B
2. B2C
3. Website
4. Games
5. Integrated Campaign
6. Social Media
7. Film & Animation
8. Student Award
9. Talent

Each Award Category will aim to have one BIMA Award Winner. If no segment warrants an award, then one will not be given.

Within an Award Category there are a number of sub categories of entry. If no sub category warrants an award, then again, one will not be given. As usual, there will be one BIMA 2008 Grand Prix Award. All of the category winners will be judged and a Grand Prix Award will be given out.

Why have we changed the categories this year?

The purpose of this new category structure is to capture the talents and merits that specific areas of design and development play in the creation of an interactive experience. Many unique skills and successes come together to make “magic” in modern digital media.

Our industry has evolved further this year than any other, and BIMA wants to identify the developments and achievements made by introducing new categories and disciplines.

We will also assume that all good interactive design will aim to be accessible and compliant.

continue reading "BIMA Awards Categories 2008"

I’m delighted to announce June 12th as the date for the next gathering of Top Cats. We’re testing out Adam Street private members club for the next gathering - One Alfred Place was good, but a 21:30 finish is a little early.

If you’re a Top Cat, pencil it in now. Please don’t register your interest just yet - I just wanted to give you a heads up. I received a response from 70 Top Cats within 24 hours of sending out the invite for May. So, make sure you’ve got your finger on the ’send’ button.

Sponsored by

Our thanks for June’s sponsorship goes to TH_NK

How to become a Top Cat

Top Cats is a regular event coordinated by BIMA and Internet People. The purpose of the event is to forge greater collaboration between London’s Internet startup, Web design, interactive marketing, mobile, TV and advertising communities at the highest level.

Top Cats are now permitted to recommend up to 2 new members each month. To become a member, you’ll need to be recommended by another Top Cat

Sponsorship opportunity for future gatherings

Get in touch if you’d like to sponsor a future Top Cat event. Email paul@segala.com

BIMA is now calling for judges for the BIMA Awards 2008 (The BIMAs™). If you would like to be considered for selection as a judge for this year’s event, please go to this page on the BIMA Web site, complete the form and submit your details online.

The deadline for the Call for Judges is close of business 11th July 2008

The judging panel will comprise exclusively of senior practitioners working within the interactive and associated industries. When the selection has been made, all applicants will receive an e-mail to advise them whether they have been successful.

Deadline for entries to the BIMAs 2008 is close of business on 31st July 2008 (the entry form will be available on the BIMA Web site shortly)

BIMA Awards Gala Dinner, Thursday 27th November 2008 at the Bloomsbury Club, London

Good luck!

I read a great post on TechCrunch and thought it was worth sharing here. In short, old media people say that to succeed on the Web, they should stop trying to control the message or the audience. People who get this, don’t talk about it - it’s already assumed. I agree 100%.

Read the full post.