Innovation Archives - Page 13 of 19

Quirky Fact 7.0

Posted on December 19, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

In Australia 20 billion text (SMS) messages will be sent this year. In a population of 20 million people that’s 1000 texts each a year, or 3 per day. Amongst this of course are some text addicts.

The question is how can we use a text (SMS) message to improve a service?

My dentist sends me one the day before my appointment confirming the time in the message. It costs them very little, but it helps me a great deal. I’m happy to receive it given the appointment is booked so long in advance. But it’s not the same to receive an annoying unsolicited promotional message, just because someone has your mobile number.

Start up blog says: Use a text service if;

It improves your service to your audience.

They know about it and are happy to receive it.

Could it spread – Conclusion

Posted on December 18, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

You may remember the ‘rentoid rapper’ had some fun auctioning his breakdance mat on ebay. Did it spread?

It spread enough to get a bone fide $187.50 for a piece of cardboard with a bit of texta on it. Just through providing a bit of theatre – fun & money was invented.

The best result was the Q & A’s on the listing which all translate into the personality of rentoid.com You can check it all out by clicking here.

Start ups out there….Do something crazy!

What are brands?

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

According to startup blog: They are any form of visual or language communicate which provide meaning to humans and provide elementary recognition or decision shortcuts. This may only exist as a word, an event or even a memory in the human mind.

Brands have existed as long as homo sapiens have and possibly longer. From an aboriginal waterhole to mountain peaks of significances to any clan anywhere in the world. Even animal names are brands…..although the product was manufactured by mother earth!

Startup lesson: Don’t get hung up on words and visuals. Focus on creating and communicating meaning.

Quirky fact 6.0

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

In Australia, people owe $155 for every $100 they earn! Chances are it’s similar in your country.

Rather than think of how they can leverage it, world changing entrepreneurs will be thinking of ways they can solve it.

Could it spread…?

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

We’re auctioning a prop from an ad we made for Rentoid.com on ebay:

Could it go viral? – maybe

Do we think it will? – we have doubts

Was it fun to write and do? – yes

Was it worth trying? – absolutely

Startup blog question: What could you auction to generate some awareness for your startup?

You can check it out by clicking here.

Hey, why not have some fun and ask us a silly question. Heck, tell a friend, place a tiny bid…

Market leaders & innovation

Posted on December 4, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

Guitar maker Gibson has just proven that market leaders ‘can be first to market’ with something so innovative it’s awesome – The self-tuning Les Paul Robot Guitar. Check it out below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UnvIgRAxN8]

So the next time you’re told it can’t be done in your start up or conglomerate, show them this. Oh, I nearly forgot to mention advertising isn’t required with an innovation like this, their community of passionate users will do that for them.

Kudos to Gibson.

The Pitch

Posted on December 3, 2007 by Steve Sammartino

A colleague has left the safe confines of his large conservative leading architecture firm to start up his own – K2LDC. So now his new job role isn’t CEO, rather ‘salesman’.

So how does an architecture differentiate themselves with their pitch? here’s a tip – it’s not through anything to do with power point slides or boring details. Especially as it concerns visual services such as architecture. It’s about creating theatre, sparking imagination and getting the client into your mind.

So K2DLC did this: After a brief discussion at the pitch they left the client with a deck of cards (samples below) with their pictures and thoughts on how to approach the design.

Result: The client considered what the firm was trying to achieve. They played with the cards. They put them on their fridge. They put them in their order of favorite. They had an in depth discussion. They took themselves on a visual journey. They loved it.

K2DLC won the pitch.