http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:58:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/innocent-drinks-fosters-user-feedback.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:54:49 +0000 The folks at innocent drinks, makers of tasty smoothies, have revamped their site to include a rating and review section. Hoping to foster a more robust brand culture and connection with their audience, innocent is trying out a consumer-centric website. The new feedback area provides simple ratings along with more detailed reviews. A built-in feature promises to randomly select comments to be highlighted on the homepage and further entices visitors by awarding funky prizes each month. The site layout was designed by Soup with a goal of pushing the playful nature of the company into the digital arena. [via EllieRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/sea-change-new-attitudes-on-pirated-material.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:34:24 +0000 MySpace and Viacom’s MTV Networks announced a deal that will partner them with Auditude, a technology firm that has developed a means of identifying whether uploaded video clips belong to a particular TV Network by recognizing unique electronic signatures.  Auditude approached these two companies with this technology, marketing it as a means of incorporating advertising.  Essentially, any content appearing on MySpace belonging to MTV Networks will be tagged, allowing either business the option of inserting ads. This represents a significant change in attitude for both companies.  In the past, MySpace TV, the second largest video site behind YouTube, might haveRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/the-idea-conference-2008-reviewed.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:28:24 +0000 It has a broad reaching name and this year Advertising Age and Creativity brought together an equally wide range of speakers for a day of dialog about creativity and innovation. This year’s conference was held in New York City at Terminal 5, usually a concert and nightclub venue on October 30th. Once inside, attendees could congregate in the Inspiration Pavilion which was made up of booths and displays representing most of the days speakers. Notable was GM who had the Volt on display and Yahoo! who featured one of their Purple Pedals bikes. The following are some highlights of theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/are-brands-compromising-their-morals-to-increase-sales.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:28:03 +0000 As pop-culture and celebrity gossip blogs continue to see increased traffic, particularly with the youth demographic, advertisers’ views on what counts as acceptable have started to change.  Given the uneasy economic climate and tightening budgets, it’s become increasingly important for mainstream brands to be mindful of where their ad dollars are going.  As a result, following the crowds, even if that means entering non-traditional venues on the web with less respectable material, makes a good deal of sense.  Despite the inherent logic of this move, some in the media still question whether this issue has more to do with negligentRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/amazon-launches-new-browsing-interface.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:53:34 +0000 Amazon.com has quietly released a beta version of a new web-browsing interface for its massive online shop.  The site is aptly named “WindowShop” as it allows visitors to survey popular items that might have been showcased if Amazon ever launched a physical storefront.  Users can either browse individual items and preview them or step back and view multiple items in a column display.  Not only is this an efficient way to find new products you may be interested in, but it’s also an effective way to get lost in a vast amount of material. It is common knowledge on theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/more-ad-supported-iphone-apps-coming-soon.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:31:54 +0000 The allure of the iPhone has unsurprisingly garnered the rapt attention of the advertising industry.  With 100 million App Store downloads since it launched and 90% of those downloads being free applications, ad support is a clear way for developers to balance profitability and popularity.  Currently, one of the iPhone’s most popular applications is Loopt, a location-based social networking program, but on different platforms and in early development it was sold to consumers for a few bucks.  Now, thanks to venture capital backing and further ad-revenue support, Loopt is hoping to be completely free.  A similar story can be toldRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/better-pr-through-friendfeed.html Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:49:15 +0000 The PR industry as we once knew it is dead.  We’ve written about this topic before, but recently we came across some advice on creating the best PR through the social aggregator, FriendFeed.  SocialTNT explains the most efficient way to market yourself or your company in a well organized article. The important lessons detailed involve staying current on the feed to maximize media research opportunities and taking advantage of the contacts you have.  In a new world that values usefulness over experience, staying current is critical.  Becoming involved is one of the central aims of FriendFeed and you can easilyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/billions-made-from-free-products-and-services.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:59:20 +0000 On his Long Tail blog, Chris Anderson brings our attention to an interesting subset from the recently released Forbes 400 list: the members of the Billionaires Club that have earned their spot through offering services and products that are “primarily free to consumers”. The list, Anderson point out, doesn’t include media moguls whose businesses largely (but not solely) include free web and broadcast content, like Barry Diller (IAC) and Rupert Murdoch (News Corp.). Since posting the list, Anderson received some commentator feedback that called into question some of the examples (particularly Omidyar of eBay and Peter Thiel of Facebook/ Paypal),Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/09/nyc-innovators-series-michael-galpert-of-aviary-2.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:53:12 +0000 In our final installment of the NYC Innovators Series, PSFK spoke with with Michael Galpert of Aviary about how his company is enabling amateur artists to start flexing their creative muscles. Michael explains how the high barrier of entry for existing design suites, such as expensive software and complicated interfaces, deter potential artists and how Aviary capitalized on that by creating an easy to use, web-based platform. Aviary Also check out: Michael Sharon of Socialight Philip James of Snooth]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/09/nyc-innovators-series-philip-james-of-snooth-2.html Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:30:18 +0000 Some of you may remember our Bay Area Innovators series from a couple months ago, where PSFK met with a handful of Bay Area-based young entrepreneurs about the innovative companies and applications they’re creating. We thought we’d pick it back up and introduce a few more innovators from the Big Apple. Philip James is the founder of Snooth, a web-based marketplace for wine that is making it easier for people to research wines that suit their personal tastes. The services enables users to find the perfect wine for any occasion, price range, or location. Philip goes on to explain howRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/glassdoorcom-sharing-workplace-rants-raves-and-salaries-anonymously-2.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:19:15 +0000 Glassdoor.com is a site that aims to give users an “inside look at companies from those who know them best” – through anonymous salary sharing, ratings, and reviews of some of the top companies across several industries. A sort of Yelp! meets “Wall Street”. While the salaries featured, ranging from Creative Directors (a CD at Avenue A goes for about $132,500) to tax managers (at Deloitte, around $60,000) are a fun, though at times painful, read, perhaps most useful are the first-hand accounts of the companies from their anonymous employers. CEOs are featured alongside their percentage approval rating, and allRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/penguindatingcom-for-book-lovers-looking-for-love.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:14:56 +0000 PenguinDating is a new site by Penguin UK that aims to – you guessed it – help bookworms find love. In partnership with Match.com, Penguin launched the site to introduce a little literary twist to the online dating scene. While sites like GoodReads provide a virtual community for avid book readers, PenguinDating focuses more primarily on dating. Members of the site can search through Match.com’s member profiles to find people who share their literary tastes, as well as find members on PenguinDating through members’ mini-book reports on the latest books they read. Advertisements for the site will be placed inRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/going-where-no-advertising-has-gone-before.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:45:02 +0000 Guerrilla marketing is now old news, it seems any corporate entity can hire a team of creative youngsters and plaster their image all over town. If you have an innovative approach for venues, you can find a marketing opportunity anywhere. Take the recipe directory called Recipe8, they found a free spot to publicize their URL in an unlikely place full of traffic, BugMeNot. The hugely popular resource for bypassing free login credentials has now become a soap box for free advertising. By putting their URL as a bogus login utilized for the New York Times, Recipe8 has gotten a smidgenRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/youtube-turns-copyright-violations-into-advertising-opportunity.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:33:15 +0000 Google continues to challenge the old $1 billion suit with Viacom amongst privacy concerns and earlier attempts to allow advertising. Now, in another attempt to quell lawsuits and drive revenue, Google has introduced a system for copyright holders to claim and takeover popular videos featuring their content. In addition to taking the videos out of the hands of private users, the companies are allowed to embed advertising within the content. The New York Times writes: “We don’t want to condone people taking our intellectual property and using it without our permission,” said Curt Marvis, the president of digital media atRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/history-of-the-internet-meme.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:37:51 +0000 You may remember the first time you saw Hampster Dance or Peanut Butter Jelly Time, but this site visually charts over a hundred internet memes into a timeline, list, flipbook or map. Each meme is given a short description and a link to the original site if it’s still around. It is a collaborative effort run through Dipity.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/bay-area-innovators-ben-finkel-of-fluthercom-2.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:19:34 +0000 Carrying on with our Bay Area Innovators series, where we chat with Bay Area-based entrepreneurs about their businesses and how they turn a profit, we bring you Ben Finkel. Ben Finkel is the CEO of Fluther.com, a community question and answer site where you can ask questions about anything and the community will help answer those questions. Ben discusses how they connect users questions to experts and what inspires complete strangers to help each other out. Fluther]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/site-navigation-through-your-webcam.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:44:37 +0000 A few weeks ago we stumbled on an innovative approach to web browsing that utilizes site navigation through movements picked up on your webcam. As webcams become standard we’ll hopefully see more sites taking advantage of their use. Of course, while the site is beautifully rendered it is sometimes frustrating to headbutt your way through choices when keyboard and track pads lie tantalizingly close. Web design by Publicis & Hal Riney.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/basecamp-a-tale-of-building-buzz.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:19:22 +0000 37signals has an interesting article about how they successfully launched a product to their target market after building up a strong base of fans. It serves as an market compass on how to transition from design to market. The article continues: We built up an audience that turned out to be an invaluable headstart when we eventually launched Basecamp. It’s a lot easier to market a product when you already have thousands of fans — ones who are the perfect target market for what you’re trying to sell. It’s also worth reemphasizing one thing that’s been there from the beginning:Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/creativity-in-the-cracks-error-404.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:51:06 +0000 HongKiat has compiled a list of hidden website creativity in the form of the infamous Error 404 page.  In the hopes of brightening an otherwise frustrating dead end, these websites have come up with humorous twists to guide users back to the intended place. [via HongKiat]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/skype-tests-viral-market-spreads-laughter-self.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:22:17 +0000 Skype has launched a new advertising campaign based on one of the most basic human emotions. Dubbed the “Skype Laughter Chain” it is the latest in the growing pool of viral marketing. The concept is simple, you record yourself laughing and if it is deemed contagious enough you will be added to the chain. The first video is just a sample of what’s to come and it seems straightforward enough, if not a tad lengthy. The preview video features a lovable baby, a woman trying to hide her unique chuckle and arguably the internet’s only laughter celebrity. According to theirRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/skype-tests-viral-market-spreads-laughter-self-2.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:22:17 +0000 Skype has launched a new advertising campaign based on one of the most basic human emotions. Dubbed the “Skype Laughter Chain” it is the latest in the growing pool of viral marketing. The concept is simple, you record yourself laughing and if it is deemed contagious enough you will be added to the chain. The first video is just a sample of what’s to come and it seems straightforward enough, if not a tad lengthy. The preview video features a lovable baby, a woman trying to hide her unique chuckle and arguably the internet’s only laughter celebrity. According to theirRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/12/los-angeles-times-20-at-the-psfk-conference-los-angeles-2.html Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:00:27 +0000 Jason Oberfest, head of Product Strategy and Business Development at the Los Angeles Times reveals how they are working on building a content business in a digital era. Click To Play Key Points: - The LA Times, a paper with a weekly circulation of 3.6 million and 5-11 million unique monthly visitors to its website, still faces the issue of establishing itself as a dynamic online go-to source, as almost all papers do: “Newspapers are in an interesting time trying to reinvent themselves online – and there is a lot to be done. The fundamental issue is that engagement onRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/12/our-role-in-your-new-world-at-the-psfk-conference-los-angeles-2.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:22:23 +0000 Conn Fishburn, Director of the Advanced Strategies Group at Yahoo!, speaks on how the rise of social networks gives agencies and their creative teams a new and expanded role in shaping consumer experience. Click To Play]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/12/a-suicide-girls-stories-at-the-psfk-conference-los-angeles-2.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:38:20 +0000 George Parker interviews Missy, the founder of Suicide Girls, to understand how she took a different route to create a well loved modern brand. Click To Play KEY POINTS: About Suicide Girls - Suicide Girls started in 2001 as an experiment art project. After the dotcom burst there was nothing to do. I went back to school in Portland and started photographing my friends. What we found was that where most models had a vacant look, these girls had a point of view. We decided to take these girls with something to say and put them on the web andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/10/inspirational-images.html Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:42:44 +0000 We just stumbled upon FFFFound!, a great new web service that allows users to post images they like. Nothing new there. However, the service can also recommend images users might like based on their unique tastes and interests. Similar to how Netflix can suggests movies they think you’ll like based on previous rentals and a rating system, FFFFound! recommends images you might like. The more you reflect your tastes by bookmarking images you like, the better the recommendations. The sites is still in private beta, so you can’t register yet, but it’s still pretty fun just flipping through. FFFFound!]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/10/rocketboom-incorporates-google-type-ads-to-program.html Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:42:13 +0000 Not long ago, we reported on Google’s new user-controlled ad format for videos that “allow users to be able to accept and choose what type of advertising they engage in” – the kind that pop up for about ten seconds over the bottom portion of the video but give the viewer the option of either closing the ad after it pops up, or clicking through to the ad’s destination. Well, it seems everybody’s favorite news vlog, Rocketboom, has introduced the same type advertising on their daily program. But, Rocketboom took it one step further by actually thanking their sponsor (ComedyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/08/psfk-conference-speaker-jason-oberfest-la-times.html Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:50:03 +0000 At the PSFK Conference Los Angeles, Jason Oberfest will reveal how the LA Times is working on building a content business in a digital era – and will present for the first time, new web developments that the paper are about to launch. Jason oversees product strategy and business development for the LA Times Interactive properties (which attract 9.2m Unique Visitors monthly) and is leading the design of a suite of forthcoming social news products. At LA Times Interactive Jason has been improving customer loyalty and other key audience metrics while also boosting advertising effectiveness. Jason led a 2006 PhaseRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/05/branded-myspace-video-channel.html Wed, 16 May 2007 23:06:01 +0000 MySpace is launching a new section within MySpace video featuring news and lifestyle channels specifially created for the channel. The New York Times, Reuters, Fox’s IGN Entertainment, The National Geographic Channel, and Vice’s VBS.tv are just some of the heavy hitters getting in on the new portal. “The upcoming branded channel launch continues the growing momentum of MySpace Video,” said Jeff Berman, the general manager of video and senior VP of public affairs for MySpace. “We’re empowering our partners to customize their own video channels and use them as hubs to create a niche experience for users. Today’s announcement isRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/05/in-favor-of-corporate-blogs.html Tue, 15 May 2007 21:06:36 +0000 Russel Davies had an interesting article run in Media Perspective entitled “How blogs can bring progressive brands closer to customers” in which he highlights how Innocent Drinks has effectively utilized their blog. His basic argument in favor of corporate blogs is that they enable a direct line of communication between consumers and companies and that their transparency allows for more acurate feedback. The first great thing about it; the channel actually exists. There’s a direct, live channel right there on the Innocent website that can host the conversation, un-mediated by anyone else…. Secondly, while conventional market research can be incrediblyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/londons-free-wifi.html Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:55:25 +0000 London finally has ubiquitous wireless internet access, or at least The City of London – a square mile in the heart of London consisting primarily of financial executives. Provided by The Cloud, all of the necessary hardware has been installed into the cities lampposts and street signs. Users will pay for the Internet service through business subscriptions or pay-as-you-go accounts. But, Nokia has stepped in and is sponsored the first month – offering free access to everyone.]]>