Posted at: 12:14 PM by Hammad

This month we've completed an update to the ever growing Diva Telecom brand.

Since we first worked with them (almost 3 years ago), Diva have always been keen to keep their brand and communications fresh - a strategy that has clearly worked, as they're enjoying phenomenal growth (including a new home in their super-environmentally friendly offices).

In parallel to the growth of the product and service ranges Diva Telecom carry, we've produced a new suite of illustrations to bring life and identity to each one. The bright, modern styles keeps within style we previous set in the brand, justifying the approach we took (which was to plan for scale).

The new designs are already in use on a refreshed web site at www.divatelecom.co.uk

Labels: branding, creative, diva telecom, illustration

Posted at: 5:17 PM by Hammad

This year we began work on a fantastic new project with The Psychic Highway. Our good friends at Diva Telecom put us in touch with them to create their new logo, and they loved the design so much they wanted us to do more work for them.

The Psychic Highway specialise in Healing, Astrology, Tarot and many other psychic aspects. Helen at The Psychic Highway asked us to design some Oracle cards that can be used to help guide people with the answers they are searching for.

She contacted her angels to let us know what colours to use based on their meanings. We then used our own angels (our fantastic design team) to create the Oracle Cards. Everyone is extremely excited about them and they will be available to buy online for those that are looking for some guidance. They have even been advertised on Psychic TV - and went down a storm!

Take a look for yourself at www.thepsychichighway.com.

Labels: branding, creative, identity, logo

Posted at: 6:13 PM by Hammad

How do you solve the age old problem of bringing together clever academics and innovative entrepreneurs in a way that produces effective results?

One word - Ingenuity

Following a fierce three-way pitch in early 2007, Persona have been appointed the agency of choice for this exciting project, which is being orchestrated by The University of Nottingham, UNIEI and other key partners.

It's still very early stages for Ingenuity, but we have already created the brand identity and some initial marketing literature for student workshops.

Labels: branding, creative, ingenuity, literature, logo, nottingham, uniei, university of nottingham

Posted at: 3:48 PM by Hammad

Our old pals at Toshiba have been keeping us very busy recently, with a whole host of projects being worked on throughout the Persona team, such as:

A new style of Flash and graphic banner adverts. The theme of summer is present in both campaigns and will be changed to Autumn as the new school year starts in September.

Community Pages within the Toshiba web site

These pages contain product, solution and support information for different community groups Toshiba specilises in. We've created new layout grids that can be used in their existing CMS template system and made good use of the lifestyle photography we have previously shot for them to represent the actual communities.

Premium Service web site for the education sector

Toshiba also asked us to carry the new, modern brand elements through to a secure web site for the education market. Under the 'Premium Service' banner, Toshiba will be rolling our more sites that focus on their channel audiences and our designs ensure the visitors have an easy to use navigation and a lasting user experience.

Next month, we'll be launching our most exciting project with Toshiba to date - a sponsorship site for Toshiba and Transformers the movie. You won't want to miss the next edition of our newsletter when we 'roll out' with the Autobots.

Labels: banners, branding, campaign, creative, digital, flash, photography, toshiba

Posted at: 4:04 PM by Hammad

The British Red Cross has worked with Persona to produce their first online marketing campaign:

View the campaign site at www.crosstheredline.org.uk

Taking part in a sponsored run for a charity really is a win-win situation. Not only do you get fit and have some fun but you help to support some of the most noble causes we all rely on when times are tough. The British Red Cross are one such cause and have produced this site to encourage runners to join them for the Nottingham Robin Hood Marathon.

In a world of corporate sponsorship deals, we've created a campaign that is all about having fun and raising positive awareness. The campaign site has been created in Flash, with a static HTML version also available for those without the correct player or in need of accessible content. By using Flash, we've been able to create a more engaging user experience, whilst the HTML version also allows for Google traffic to get through and be indexed.

Visitors to the site can view an interactive map of the marathon routes, get training advice and pass on a digital baton to a friend to spread the message.

Labels: branding, campaign, charity, creative, digital, flash, illustration, nottingham, web site

Posted at: 3:57 PM by Hammad

The new laws state businesses have to display no-smoking signs around their premises, but the standard White & Red sign looks pretty ugly right? Well a lot of people don't know this, but the laws actually allow you to have a sign that fits your own brand and decor; so you don't have to compromise on your signage.

To help push this message of creative freedom, we've produced some new web pages and a leaflet campaign for Badgemaster - who have many years experience in producing such signs and have the knowledge on what can and can't be done to meet the new requirements.

See the design examples below or check out www.badgemaster.co.uk for more information.

Labels: branding, creative, literature, nottingham

Posted at: 9:59 AM by Hammad

Pretty much most of the team at Persona are bonefide petrol heads, so when Rubery Owen subsidary Rozone called upon us for a a brand overhaul, we came over all giddy from the fumes of excitement and a chance to trawl through the British Racing Motors (BRM) brand and archives they still own.

Rozone and their new service arm Rozone Direct are suppliers of sustainable solutions to mechanical, industrial and engineering clients such as the Royal Mail and the Ministry of Defense. Serious stuff, which is why our newly developed tag line reflects the triple-play focus of the group- 'Protecting your pounds, your people & your planet'.

The extensive brand refresh is one of the most comprehensive we've done at Persona and both the team and the client are very proud of the work so far. We've faced the challenge of legacy identity symbols, group company structure and a new service division all needing to convey a revised message that acknowledges the past, enhances the present and creates the future.

Some of the things covered in the initial brand project have been:

• Modernisation of the corporate identity
• Creation of a new sub-brand for a new van sales operaton
• Extensive brand guidelines Vehicle signage (for a extra long wheel base Merc Sprinter!)
• Sales and corporate presentations; design and content Brochures and communication literature
• A concept for a new way of thinking about sustainabilty!

Next up we'll be addressing the Web and PR strategy of launching the sustainability brand concept- very exciting stuff, so watch for updates.

Labels: branding, colour, creative, livery, logo, vid

Posted at: 5:21 PM by Hammad

The clever people at Picsolve have a world-class reputation as being the best in amusement park and high-speed ride photography - and with clients such as Alton Towers and The London Eye it goes without saying that they needed a world-class service whilst undergoing a re-brand.

Persona Creative have just completed the first phase of the project, with a new logo and identity suite being rolled out to their teams in the UK, EMEA, USA and Far East. Not wanting (or needing) a dramatic change in identity, we've retained the existing colour palette and simplified the logo symbol to be easier to reproduce in print, embroidery and online. Along with key assets such as stationery and a house style guide, we're producing a high impact set of software and solution diagrams to showcase the systems available to customers and how they work.

The comprehensive re-brand will be used to keep Picsolve at the top of their game as well as open up new avenues of communication with existing clients and prospects.

Labels: branding, colour, creative, illustration, logo, vid

Posted at: 10:30 AM by Hammad

Just like we did 12 months ago, we're making three predictions for the year ahead - which should help you focus your 2007 marketing plans.

Poor quality digital marketing will no longer be acceptable

The Internet and the associated outlets for digital marketing are well and truly mature. Any organisation who thinks they can either use it as a place to experiment or cut corners is far behind the times. All of us who consume digital media (such as Internet, Email and mobile content) do so on a regular basis - and we switch off from anything of poor quality quicker than any other area of media.

Because digital content gives us so much control, we can choose to consume it or avoid it very easily. The old marketing concepts of forcing the marketing message in front of the public just don't work online. A poorly designed web site that never gets updated is as useful to a brand as a home made brochure that's 5 years old. Similarly, email newsletters or direct campaigns that are badly constructed, trigger junk mail filters and don't comply with data protection are a huge risk to those who think amateurism is acceptable. Not only can your recipients unsubscribe from your mailings, but they can report you for abuse and also get you blacklisted on a global scale. A scary thought, but only if you don't take the delivery seriously in the first place.

The advice we are giving for 2007 is this: If you're not going to do a professional job with online media, don't bother at all. Poor quality will no longer just be ignored from customers, but it will simply not be acceptable for any organisation wanting to be taken seriously.

Depending on whether you are a 'cup half full' or 'cup half empty' type of marketer; you'll see this as either an opportunity or a set back. Which one are you?

Companies will start to take their brand seriously again

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of talk about branding being a dead end - consumers are so fickle that they have no loyalty to anybody. This is not strictly true; yes we are less brand loyal than before, but the main concepts of branding are as important as ever and professional organistions are re-investing in their brands in droves.

There is no denying that people like consistency, familiarity and value - something that your brand activity can help you deliver either consciously or subconsciously to your audience. If you haven't made any specific steps to build your brand before (or it's been a while since you took a look at it), 2007 is a good time to give it some thought. As your organisation has no doubt grown and evolved, have the brand values changed? Maybe the emotional response your branding provokes doesn't match up with where you are heading, or you need your brand to drive you forward rather than hold you back.

Brand value is something we are always passionate about at Persona, so we'd be more than happy to discuss your brand with you to see where you can take it next.

Online PR will become even more sought after than printed PR

Most of the large media groups are falling over themselves to be seen as pioneers and leaders online. Rupert Murdochs purchase of MySpace has given News Corporation a massive lead in the social networking space, with everybody trying to copy and catch up. Googles purchase of YouTube and ITV snapping up Friends Reunited are another two examples of media might and their attempts to 'buy' public interest.

However the so called "Web 2.0 boom" shapes up, online PR outlets are plenty; with publications such as the Sun reporting over a billion readers last year! Column inches in print will always be important and add that extra level of credibility compared to online, but organisations hoping to actually get value from their publicity (rather than an ego boost by seeing their name in print) would be well advised to focus on Internet based publicity.

We recommend developing your PR strategy to include consistent submissions to RSS news feeds and web publications. Making sure you are syndicating your regular news via your own RSS feed is also very easy now, so make sure you are giving people access to this. Online PR also allows us to easily track the coverage you are getting; by using search engines to keep on top of where your content is being indexed and linked from.

But what of last years predictions? Read on...

Did mobile marketing actually come of age?

There is no denying it now - nearly everybody in the UK not only has a mobile phone and most of them are Internet capable. The only problem seems to be the network providers are still charging a small fortune for getting online whilst on the move. More and more of us are adopting PDA style phones (such as a Blackberry or Windows Mobile) and whilst mobile web hasn't quite taken off, the importance of email in your pocket is an area not to be ignored - and is the best place to start thinking about your mobile marketing strategy.

For many businesses, SMS/MMS marketing campaigns just aren't practical. The message costs and the lack of data can be prohibitive and most people just don't want to get messages sent to their personal phone. Email however is a little different. If you already have a well managed email contact database (You do have one don't you?) then these recipients are already warm to campaigns you send out; all you have to do now is tailor the content to be a little more mobile friendly.

Some quick tips on how to do this include:

• Keep your opening quick and to the point. Many mobile email clients default to the first 5kb of the message (or just the headers) - make is stand out!
• Pay attention to your text-only email - many mobiles won't display the pretty HTML version, so make sure you are getting the most out of your content by making it accessible to all.
• Use a simple, clear layout for your text-only email; this will prevent any ugly formatting appearing on different phones.
• Provide a link to your web site; even better if it browses well on a mobile!

There is enough momentum and user take up to start testing the waters with mobile marketing in 2007 and those who do will reap the benefits. It's a great way to show your customers and contacts that you are innovating and working to keep your services relevant and accessible to them.

A few other things you could talk to us about include:

• Mobile-friendly web services and content
• Text and Multimedia Message services
• Building your mobile database now, for campaign delivery later

We're already working on our own mobile marketing strategy as well as a few pilot projects, so if you want to stand out from the crowd, come and join in the discussions by dropping us an email/call.

Is ethical marketing and consumerism being taken seriously?

2006 was a big one for eco-friendly issues as well as ethical consumerism in general. Jamie Olivers well publicised lobbying for healthy meals wasn't the only major shift. The Conservative Party have adopted a Tree for their new logo, fast food advertising has been kerbed and supermarkets are falling over themselves to distance their brands from plastic bags and anything that doesn't suite our GDA for food consumption.

It's not just the retailers getting in on the act either. Bio-fuels and recycling are now accessible to all of us; in business and at home.

In 2006, we worked with a number of our clients to promote their ethical brand values. East Midlands Centre for constructing the Built Environment (EMCBE) gave huge support to sustainability in the construction trade and we helped them publicise the agenda. Urban Planters, the UK's largest interior landscaping company also flexed their ethical muscles by promoting the health benefits of planting in offices and are now making big strides to help publicise their impact on reducing carbon footprint. We're also working with another client to help publicise their long history in professional products that deliver the results - whilst being environmentally friendly as an added extra. Sustainability is a buzz word we keep coming across these days and the public are opening their ears to it.

Along with a major launch by the Carbon Trust, there has been some major happenings in this subject over the last year and we predict that not only will the trend continue in 2007, but consumers will genuinely start to adopt ethical brands, products and services as a viable alternative.

Given that we backed this idea from the beginning, we're in a good position to help advise you on both how you can adopt a more ethical approach to your communications as well as provide the same assurance as we do with all of our advice - that it's based on our experience, facts and ability rather than personal or biased opinions.

Has the boom in digital marketing led to more integrated campaigns?

Undoubtedly! the lines between digital campaigns and traditional media campaigns (above, through and under the line) are blurring more and more all the time. It's commonly accepted that the digital space will become the centre piece of almost all media activity and some would argue that this is already the case.

Most companies taking advantage of digital marketing are not limiting their campaigns to online only. The upsurge of YouTube has allowed small and large organisations alike to produce and distribute video content to the masses; often using this as an extension to TV adverts or printed campaigns that lead people online.

The message is clear - integrating your campaign across all the available media helps gets better results. Brands that are seen to have a consistent message and encourage their customers to engage with them are seeing their customer loyalty and retention stay strong.

Labels: branding, digital, marketing, media, mobile, persona, pr, prediction

Posted at: 8:54 AM by Hammad

Constructing the built environment Construction is a funny game. It covers everything from government policy to trade skills and employment; so when the East Midlands Centre for constructing the Built Environment (EMCBE) asked us to help them with publicity and awareness, it was a challenge we couldn't resist. Over the last few months, we've updated the branding, tone and communication channels for the regional body that champions all facets of the industry. Some of the projects we've delivered include: - Press and media management - Event coverage - Email newsletters - Web design - Brand refresh The communication strategy is now being rolled out across the enterprise and supply chain.

Labels: branding, event, media, photography, pr