High Road Communications

What was once a dream is now reality.

The ability to push tailored content and market relevant products and services to interested individuals, all happening on screens they take with them everywhere, has finally arrived. The true mobile generation.

Marketing to all of those handsets has advanced some big steps with the introduction of new smartphones and networks upgrading towards 3G. That was 2007.

2008 should see enormous momentum (R word or not) and competition for share of mobile marketing dollars. With a bevy of new devices, software and services to make it all sing, the future looks quite bright for MM.

A future replete with new tools, (and terms) for would be mobile marketers to add to their ever expanding toolboxes.

Disclaimer: LG and Microsoft are clients.

Having been a part of the High Road team for almost nine years (the company is eleven years old), it’s gratifying to see High Road be named to top 25 SMB places to work. From day one, we wanted to be a workplace based on great people – the most passionate, innovative and results-oriented professionals in the business. And despite our growth (we had a dozen employees when I joined in 1999 – today we are 85 strong), our entrepreneurial spirit has never wavered. Everyone in the company, regardless of seniority or title, can make a difference. The Globe and Mail article highlights five key attributes that all 25 companies listed share: employee input; career opportunities; proactive employee communications; talent development; and a responsive leadership team. Such an environment creates a strong culture of empowerment, allowing employees to take chances, accomplish great things and achieve real personal satisfaction in their work. This is no easy feat and employers that make this level of commitment to their employees should certainly be recognized for their efforts. Now, bring out the cake.

A team of 8 intrepid High Roaders supporting different clients departed for Vegas last Saturday to join other tech pilgrims in attendance at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Like others who have an insatiable desire for new gadgetry, our team is definitely getting their tech on. Big announcements, big changes, and even big Bill (who is enjoying his last CES as Chairman at Microsoft) are all part of the “greatest (consumer tech) show on earth.” There is even a 24-carat gold Omen from Voodoo PC on display for a little extra bling.

It was auctioned off for charity in Dubai and went for a cool $45,000 (U.S.) to an anonymous bidder.

Zinc Research recently unveiled the results of their “Canadians and Facebook Survey” and it comes with a few surprises. According to the survey results, just over half of all Canadians that are online are now also members of FB. What’s more surprising is the rapid ramp-up of Canadian membership over the three months prior to Christmas. With an average of 5.7 hours a week spent on the uber-popular website, it is clear that Facebook still has legs. One thing found lacking in the report was any critical mention of the intensely popular social networking site. With the relatively recent opening up of the platform to developers, introduction of “targeted ads” (Hey Facebook, I don’t need to lose weight, really), advertiser fan pages and the kerfuffle regarding Beacon or FB’s policy of knowing what you are doing on non-Facebook sites, and in some cases actually publishing this activity has many long-time users fuming mad. Add the recent spam attacks to that and although the legs seem fine perhaps a new pair of shoes are needed to help the website really find its stride.

A few weeks ago I drove through Niagara’s wine country. After stopping for a taste at a popular winery, I asked the proprietor if I’d missed the holiday rush: there were a total of four customers in the shop. She told me that traffic by the winery had increased, but fewer were stopping in this season than ever before. As the Canadian dollar continues its high-flying stint, retailers, politicians and economists alike struggle against consumer demands for parity and shopping trips across the U.S. border. It’s a plight that Canadian retailers haven’t had to deal with for a few decades, but something that Canadian newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets are more than used to.

In our on-demand world where news is accessible anytime, from any place, Canadians are more likely than ever to look past our own borders for news and information. It’s a trend that many Canadians might not notice, but one that causes tremors in the PR world. Every time a Canadian magazine folds, a masthead shrinks or a column is replaced by a wire story, the effect is palpable. The stories in Canada are as compelling as those in the U.S. and beyond, the angles are as interesting, the writing is as rich and the journalists as talented. So why are we, as a country, continually drawn to news beyond our borders?

Perhaps, as the dollar experiences a correction—and surely it will—it will be time for the Canadian media to also experience a correction. As Canadians focus on value, fairness, and opportunities around the dollar, here’s hoping that they also consider the value, fairness and opportunities afforded by Canadian media and support our own. That would be reason enough to crack open a bottle of good Niagara wine and propose a toast.

kpryma@highroad.com