How effective can social media be in raising money to support a charitable cause? That’s what eight a&g employees and many other social media mavens in Boston and Austin are investigating this November – well, Movember, really.

The Society for New Communications Research & UMass Dartmouth reported in June 2009 that 89% of the top non-profit organizations use at least one form of social media. And Chris Brogan and Julien Smith wrote in their 2009 New York Times best-seller, Trust Agents, of an instance where building community in social media resulted in easily generating in just 2 hours the remaining $500 needed for a Cambodian woman to go to college – driven much by a tweet from Brogan asking followers to chip in a few dollars.

So, we figured, let’s see for ourselves. During this entire month, we’re growing what’s considered somewhat of a lost “art form”, moustaches, in an effort to raise donations to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong Foundation. We’re participating in the largest, worldwide charitable event in support of men’s health: “Movember”. Since 2003, men have raised over $50MM for the cause as they’ve sported furry upper lips for the month of Movember – a moustache is known as a “mo” in Australia, where this cause started.

a&g is championing Team Boston and is going head-to-head with fellow Magnum P.I. admirers from social media mecca, Austin, TX, to see who can raise the most money for the cause – and look pretty slick in the process. We’re using all sorts of means for fundraising – with particular focus on what social media can do.

Have you tried social media to support fundraising efforts? What’s worked? What hasn’t?

We’ll be sure to report on what we learn – we should have some free time by month’s end; our wives aren’t all that big on hanging out with us these days! :{D

To support a&g’s efforts to raise awareness for men’s health and fight prostate cancer and testicular cancer, please visit the Team Boston “Mo Space” page and make your donation online: https://www.movember.com/us/donate/your-details/team_id/10775

For more on Movember: http://us.movember.com/about/

On August 13th, rock radio giant, WBCN 104.1 FM Boston was shut down, ending its impressive 41 year run as the leading rock radio powerhouse in Boston, and in many ways, the FM radio industry.

And while it’s surprising and disappointing to see CBS Radio close the famous ‘Rock of Boston’, it’s even more amazing to see what will be taking its place - an FM sports talk radio station, - ‘The Sports Hub’.

Only a decade ago, am sports talk radio was an interesting niche, a popular, but hardly mainstream programming option. However, stations like Boston’s WEEI, am 850, have proven that sports talk can be a wildly popular and successful sports format. It certainly helps that a sports obsessed city like Boston has a radio outlet for endless discussion of all things Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins. WEEI has evolved into the highest rated sports talk station in the country, and regularly leads key ratings for all stations in the Boston market.

The Sporting News and even ESPN have made minor inroads in the Boston am sports talk market, but due to poor signal strength and limited financial backing, neither has made much of an impact or dent in WEEI’s armor (or audience).

But the Sports Hub has several key advantages already in place: the financial backing of CBS Radio, a powerful FM signal (98.5), and the broadcast rights to the Patriots and Bruins. WEEI’s brand of incessant inside-joke humor, ‘celebrity’ fan callers, and know-it-all host banter isn’t for everyone. However, until now, other options for Boston sports talk radio were limited by weak signals and unpolished content.

Can the Sports Hub truly make a run at WEEI’s audience and dominance? It seems like a long shot, but as shown by the history of Boston sports teams, stranger things have happened. They’ve certainly got our attention. Stay tuned.

Photo credit : Bostontweet.com

I was offered the opportunity to teach a class at Emerson College in Boston this Spring semester. I interviewed with the chair of the department, we had lunch and discussed what class I was interested in teaching. They had an idea for a new class, but it wasn’t one I wanted to teach.

I suggested Branding & Design to them.

How companies brand themselves through design. In this class we would study the successful result of design on branding by creating a voice and a distinctive look for a company and the brand.
We would study companies like Target, Apple, Nike, and Amex, that have effectively used design, color, graphics, photography, typography, and even music to communicate who they are to their audience and how they built a strong lasting connection with that audience and their brands.

They said, go.

So I went.

My class is fairly large, 25 students.

Mostly Marketing.

Mostly seniors.

Which means, most graduating this year.

The assignments have been creative and challenging. Ranging from re-branding Ketel One Vodka to creating branded Google internet cafes to compete with Starbucks.

The work has been nothing short of amazing. Ideas able hold their own with most of what’s being created outside the walls of this small urban college.

80% of the presentations are all power point.

They do extensive audience research both on and offline. Conduct focus groups. Video the results.

They design, create music, build and construct, whatever it takes to communicate their idea.

These kids know their stuff.

If they don’t something, they usually figure it out before class.

This past week I decided to give them the assignment of branding themselves. After all, they’ll be out looking for work in a few months.

Panic set in. I realized for the first time in several weeks I struck a very, very, sensitive chord.

I found out the one thing Millennials don’t know. The one thing that scares this unscare-able group to death. The one thing that keeps them up at night besides their multi-tasking, partying, clubbing, texting, emailing, working, studying, drinking coffee, and keeping their Facebook status’ up to date, how to brand themselves in order to find a job.

Funny, the generation that has spent their entire life online, exposing themselves to the world to see, is uncomfortable at best talking about who they really are.

Once I realized how tender this subject was, I decided to spend a good portion of the class talking with the generation that fears nothing, about this intense fear they have.

We talked about cover letters and what is the right tone they should have. When do you cross the line between being a annoyance or just being aggressive and persistant. How often do you call your contact? Once a week or once a day? What do you send, a letter, a portfolio, money???

It was amazing to me how much they didn’t know and were not being taught.

So,  for the remainder of the semester I plan on teaching the generation that thinks they know everything,something they don’t know.

How to sell themselves.

The attached TV spot sends a loud and clear message from the Bruins to its fans: “We Want it as Bad as You.”

The ad is part of a larger branding campaign, which debuted during the 2008-2009 hockey season and included print, out of home, radio, viral and interactive elements. The TV spot features music from the Dropkick Murphys, which further builds excitement for the team, especially as the Bruins get ready for the next round in the playoffs.

Ok, to be honest with you, I have no idea what an autocue roller is. But since you are here I might as well tell you what I really do. I’m Matt and I am a studio designer. I get to do all different kinds of things here at a&g. I work with just about every department on a daily basis. You’ll find me most of the time back in the creative department, mounting, comping, printing, binding, mechanicalizing, searching, assisting, creating, concepting, cloning, correcting and well a few more things that end in “ing”. It’s a great situation because it’s something new just about everyday.

Now you must be wondering, how did Matt come across a&g. Well I started my “career” at Mullen, an agency up on the North Shore (soon to be in Boston). Right after I graduated from Endicott College I took a freelance position at Mullen which turned into a full-time gig. After close to a year and a half I believe, I came to the realization that the direct mail studio just wasn’t for me and made a move to Watertown. The experience in a large agency (Mullen) was great, but it was a lot to handle right out of school. I’ve come to really appreciate the experience in a smaller company. You find yourself with more responsibility, but most important, more experience. At times you are forced to do things you didn’t think you could do and there are more opportunities to work on projects that might not have been available in a larger environment.

Outside of work I can usually be found with friends, watching a game, grabbing a burger and relaxing. Being born and raised right outside of Boston I naturally became a Boston sports fan, mostly the Sox and Pats. I look at urban/street art with great envy and listen to bands such as Jack Johnson and G. Love with great jealously. The list of things I WANT to do severely outweighs the list of things I actually do, but I’ll get working on that, someday. And if I could have any career (besides working in advertising of course), I would want to be a bullpen catcher for a MLB team. Travel with the team, hang out with the pros, eat sunflower seeds all day and watch every game from a great seat without having to do too much work. Sounds great to me.

Take care.