Simon Mainwaring

We First provides consulting and training to help companies tell the story of their good work in ways that build their business

Posts

 
September 30, 2009

How top brands build effective online communities: Part 2

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My first post in the series focused on conceptual and design fundamentals when planning to build an online community. These came from my experience with brands like ONE.org, Brine and the E.I.F. This post ranks design priorities and outlines the role of the landing page. Ultimately, the success of an online community turns on whether […]

My first post in the series focused on conceptual and design fundamentals when planning to build an online community. These came from my experience with brands like ONE.org, Brine and the E.I.F. This post ranks design priorities and outlines the role of the landing page. Ultimately, the success of an online community turns on whether …

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September 23, 2009

Using social media for change: What’s awareness without action?

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For the last few weeks I’ve been working on the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s ‘I Participate’ campaign. Having worked with several non-profits, I’ve found they face a similar challenge. While raising awareness for a cause, issue or initiative was vital, getting people to actually do something was the real challenge. It’s been my experience that raising …

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September 15, 2009

How Prius creates ‘Harmony’ between its brand and consumers

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I was driving down the 10 freeway in L.A. on Sunday with my kids when I saw the billboard above made out of flowers perched on the embankment. Its part of the Prius ‘Harmony’ campaign created by Saatchi, LA (led by Mike McKay and Andrew Christou), and I wanted to share why I think its …

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September 11, 2009

‘I Partipicate’: When serving ourselves is anything but selfish

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Over the last few weeks I’ve had the privilege of working as Creative Director on the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s ‘I Participate’ campaign. Mayor Bloomberg launched it yesterday in Times Square and the first ad featuring the First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden aired on Good Morning America this morning. It was truly a team …

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September 8, 2009

How top brands build effective online communities: Part 1

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Too often online efforts raise awareness but fail to motivate behavior. Yet that’s what brands need to do whether they want to sell more widgets or change the world for the better. And when those efforts fail, brands understandably become disillusioned, cynical or suspicious of online community building. Yet they have never experienced the power …

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