We assume since you are reading this on the internet , that you know what the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is. So you won’t be surprised that Hammock’s John Lavey (video #1) challenged Rex Hammock (video #2) and that they both got cold and wet for a good cause.
You may have noticed how Google’s search results page has evolved from a list of website links to a collection of information boxes, categorized or localized resources, maps, calculators and other features. Google is no longer in the search business. It’s in the answer business. The company knows we aren’t looking for websites when we type into the search box—We want answers.
Almost two years ago, we decided that something was broken with the company email newsletter we sent to our clients, friends and those who requested it. It was easy to decide that, as fewer and fewer recipients were opening it. So we decided that instead of sending out a traditional email newsletter reporting on all the great things we’re doing, we would put to practice what we preach and send out something we think can help people communicate better with customers and prospects.
So we launched Idea Email. Internally, we’ve called it an “un-newsletter” as it breaks lots of rules. And it’s working, say the email marketing experts who have analyzed the mailings’ approach and metrics. The novelty of sending out a short e-mail that is intended to help a reader and not overwhelm them with too much information is a curiosity, it seems.
At Hammock, we are fans of maps and the stories they help tell. We’ve created or used maps to accompany content, both print and digital, ranging from how America was formed to how food journeys through the digestive system. If you haven’t thought of maps as being a powerful storytelling medium, here are two examples we’ve seen recently that can help you view maps in new ways.