My TTC

My TTC poster...
Originally uploaded by DUGGY_LIMES

As many of you know, the city has no money, which in turn means the TTC has no money.

There is no doubt at all that there will be service cuts - just what service cuts - they are not sure. So for a few days last week, they had avid TTC workers handing out fancy pamphlets are major subway stations asking riders to fill out their online survey - to see what they should do.

As a TTC rider myself, I was interested in filling out the survey (which I later did) - but here are a few pitfalls in the campaign which I thought they could/should have done better - but also a learning for any future survey.

1. The call to action on the marketing materials is hidden.
2. The call to action on the survey page is hidden and waaaay below the fold.
3. Usage of possible PR on sound systems within trains, buses, streetcars.
4. What does Transit City have to do with any of this?
5. Using social tools (like Facebook) to get others to do the survey.

ROM takes a social media step forward

Seriously smart. Yes smart.

The Royal Ontario Museum added the very cool photoblog application to their site - a step in the right marketing/pr direction...and a first of its kind in the industry.

What makes this so smart?

1. With new content (great pics) daily, site visitors can get easily engaged with what is happening is and has been happening at the newly renovated museum.
2. Pull. With subscriptions like RSS and email, museum devotees can stay-in-touch when and how they want to.
3. Conversations. Yes, chat chat chat...afterall, artifacts tell stories.

Kudos Mr. Eli Singer...ha! I knew it was you.

Cosmo says your fat, we'll I'm not down with that

I am shocked at the amount of times I check-out of the grocery store without picking up a trash magazine. Seriously. It is quite difficult...for me.

However, this past Sunday...I failed. I picked up the latest 1/2 inch red Cosmo with pretty girl Jessica Alba on the cover....a little treat for the weekend. ah, pure bliss.

After about 15 pages into the magazine...I realized that I had never checked out their website. Never! hm.

Was it?
1. My behaviour to buy the magazine (plus a latte and lie in the sun)?
2. Lack of publicizing the site, unless for contests I can't join because I am Canadian?
3. The ease of transporting a magazine opposed to my laptop?
4. Nothing driving me back to the site over and over again?
5. Content on the magazine or the site?
6. Lack of loyalty to the magazine (afterall, it is quite a push for me to buy it in the first place) - which goes back to content perhaps?

Is Cirque du Soleil setting?

I saw Corteo 2 years back and loved it...I was hoping for the same type of feeling with Kooza, playing here in Toronto until the end of September....but I had no such feeling.

What was missing? Why no love?

That 'speciality' of the whole thing is gone. Gone!

Here is my take:
1. If you visit the website, they have a plethora of shows around the world. This one simply felt like 'just another one'. Another one to add to the growing, manufactured list.
2. Detail. The is plenty of detail in the marketing of the show. But there is a lack of detail in the show. Albeit they are showing very terribly difficult acts...timing to music, the use of lighting and the extravagance of show pieces were not there.
3. The push. The push to buy is annoying. Buy a photo of you before the show, buy not only this show's good but other show merchandise.

In all, I know Cirque du Soleil does an amazing job marketing. Heck, they are one of the best case studies I know...but is the sun setting?

PayPal does it up with a blog

Interesting. PayPal started their own blog. I am sure this is long awaited since they have a huge audience...many which are small businesses selling their goods off of eBay or other online sites - and can benefit from some daily tidbits...

I have to admit, it makes the money-exchange company a little more friendly too. It is nice to see a faces to the service, and of the rest of the company - opposed to the media friendly Meg Whitman.

It will be interesting to see how their content develops.

$3 or $5

Messini Maestro
Originally uploaded by Still The Oldie

Yesterday I went to the Taste of the Danforth. It has become an annual 'thing' for my girlfriends and I.

I observed some interesting things.

-The $5 souvlaki line was just as long as the $3 souvlaki line.
-Restaurants NOT serving greek food barely had a line.
-People were willing to pay $3 for corn on the cob, and $4 for soft serve ice cream.
-Non-foodie stores were easily missed and many did not outdoor advertising.
-Lots of noise marketing at festivals...which ones do you remember?

I don't get it it?

I have been hearing that phrase a lot lately...and I am not sure if the other person heard the phrase come out of their mouth or not.

I don't get...

...how people can watch golf.
...how someone can do that job.
...why that band is so popular.
...how someone can spend that much on a bag.

pause. take a breathe.

You might get it.

Shake' it in the Park

My girls and I planning a fun-filled Saturday, attending both Taste of the Danforth and Shakespeare in the Park.

We did this last year and had a really good time.

Anyway, while I was trying to figure out a rough itinerary for the day...I came across some fun-ny links on the CanStage site - Printable Dream Puzzles & Quizzes.

They are PDF documents including word scrambles and cross word puzzles...and more.

Now why would they do this? I have been racking my brain.
1. To get you excited?
2. Because the audience (Shake-it lovers, love these type of activities)?

I then thought, if this, why not?
1. A like to amazon.com to buy the actual play?
2. A section for reviews?
3. Youtube video of actor 'shorts' in character?

Tourism and Social Media

Mark and I are planning a golf trip to the West side...meaning: Banff, Jasper, Kelowna and where ever else our travels take us.

I have been super busy the last few weeks so really haven't had much time to investigate where I want to go. I am really leaving it up to Mark who has a best pal out there and has been there a few times as well...plus, he is 'currently' a way better golfer than I...so would know what to look for when it comes to courses.

Here is a rundown of some interested things we have done to plan and some interesting things I have stumbles upon in the few minutes I researched:
1. We are using Google Documents to keep track of web sites and sights we are interested in.
2. Banff.com - has setup their own YouTube channel called BanffTube where you can share your personal take on the lovely town.
3. The Jasper Adventure Centre has their own blog with some serious nice pictures. Promoting their services, it is a great way to keep adventure seeking individuals hyped for what is happening in the provincial park.

Power to the web

Over the last few weeks, I have been busy setting up, organizing and rearranging a whole lotta stuff. Most, if not all have been for the many organizations that I volunteer for and am very active in.

I have been using current web tools for most of it. Trying to put tedious tasks online for simplification to engaging users to make use of the web to further and/or aid the communication of the cause at hand.

Here is a quick run-through. It make help your volunteer efforts.

Transforming Toronto
- setup a blog to help those interested stay in touch with up-to-date information (yup, included email and RSS alerts). Using the blogger platform also makes it easier for the author(s) to publish information without having to know HTML or both the web master.

HRW Toronto Network
- with so many events taking place in the fall of 2007, it became hard to keep organize lists, to do's, event locations and communications. Simple access and sharing of the google docs platform make it easier to know what is happening, share lists and keep contact information in a central easy-to-access location.

AMA Toronto Chapter
- The new year is upon us and the AMA Chapter has a plethora of events set to be released. With that said, it was time to get things ready with event registration using eventbrite, keeping the site up-to-date with Vdot Media and getting the email newsletter organized for a September launch date.