David Malmborg

Photo by melodramababs on Flickr

I give advice. I give suggestions. I give support. I give ideas.

However, it has recently come to my attention that not everyone appreciates how openly I give. Does this surprise me? Why, YES IT DOES!

The Dilemma

So my dilemma for today is this: Is there a way to determine who I should and shouldn’t give advice too?

• Does it matter their personality type?
• Does it matter whether they are management or subordinate in my relationship with them?
• Is gender an issue?
• Or does it just depend on the individual, and I shouldn’t care if they don’t want to hear it, I should give it to them anyways? (my current view point)

As always, I know “Depends” is going to want to be said. I also know that timing may be the key to everything. However, with out those factors involved what else should be determined?

I’m a Communications Major For Cryin’ Out Loud

Human relationships have always been a fascination of mine, particularly human communication methods. So I am genuinely interested in what you have to say on the topic. Later this week (I promise), I’ll give you my in depth take on the topic.

Thanks for participating,
DRM2

Photo by nathangibbs of Flickr

Well, it has been about 5 months since I have last written. I told myself that if I started a blog I would make sure to write on it constantly. For some odd reason I feel that is an important step in having a blog. As mentioned in my last post, I have been slavin’ away with two jobs, and it has kept me rather occupied. However, as summer sets in, I feel it is time to move on, settle down and become a one job man.

However, I’m not completely going to just settle down, I have a goal. I have never been a goal setting type. I mean I have life goals such as becoming a concert pianist, a renaissance style marble sculptor, and a millionaire by 30, okay 40 now. But short term goals are something that I just don’t really do. I like not having expectations for the day, and living life with whatever may come my way. However I do have a goal that I have set for the summer (shorter term).

I help hundreds-or-so people make money online every single day. It’s my job, it’s what I do, and if you ask me, I do a bang up job at it too. So the question is, why can’t I help myself make a little money online? Good question, huh? So my goal for the summer of 2010 is to create an online business, and strike it rich (because that is what the internet is for)!

So as I journey through this new adventure, I will be sure to keep my avid readers (Annie by name) up-to-date with my latest developments. Therefore requiring a blog post quite a bit more often then what you have become accustomed to.

Wish me luck, Enjoy!
DRM2

P.S. If you have suggestion on what I should do to “strike it rich,” feel free to let me know. Just an FYI, if it deals with pills, porn or casino’s the answer is NO!

Well, I suppose like any blogger looking to make it to the top of peoples reading lists that I must apologize for my absence from my blog. I like blogging, I really do.

The reason I have not been able to spend as much time on my site as I would like, is because I have been working like a maniac. I decided to take on a second job for the holiday/winter season so I can get this family up and on its way to a house of their own. Somewhere in time I heard a story or two about how my grandpa would work from morning to night to keep the family out of debt, and food in their bellies. I heard stories of the farmers, whose property I currently reside on, work the days away to be where they are today. Well, I figured if that is what they did to get ahead in life I should too.

So just like any other man looking after his family, trying to provide, and keeping kids clothed, I took on a second job teaching people how to use Macs, at the local Apple reseller store. It is something I really enjoy doing and I am getting paid for it, so in my book it is a win/win (sorry for the cliche). I know it isn’t the physical, manual labor the ancestors did, but hey, it’s 2009. Besides, teaching elderly couples how to create a gmail account takes just as much patience as fixin’ a tractor.

My hope is with the holidays coming, I will be able to get some time to write a little more of what is on my mind and finish the site so that it just screams- DAVID MALMBORG!

Thanks for your patience.
DRM2

My great SEO Company (mine, meaning I work for them) just gave away an incredible marketing package valued at $60,000 to a very deserving company. We chose to give the package away to a company that had been hit hard by the recession, and yet with the right help, could really benefit from the opportunity. SEO.com chose The Green Building Center as the winner, and I couldn’t be more excited. —SEO.com is Going Green!

The only issue I have (and it is purely selfish) is that my team is not going to be directly involved in the 6 month contract with the company. I hope though, that I may get a chance to do some work for them. I did get to go with the presentation party to film the owner receiving the reward (video below).

I definitely will be monitoring their success, because I really am interested in knowing how big of a difference a killer online presence can make to company in today’s world. Especially when a company doesn’t currently have one. When and if possible, I’ll try to keep you updated on the progress of the Green Building Center. If you want to learn more about the winner, you can read the official press release.

Here is what will be included in the next six months:

• New redesigned website (with the latest conversion optimization known to man)
• SEO (Naturally! (no pun intended))
• PPC
• Online PR
• Social Media Strategy, and Implementation
• and I think I may have convinced them to do some professional photography for the awesome products.

Here are our promotional videos explaining the giveaway:

The Presentation Party:

I am a big believer that giveaways designed to help the community, will far more benefit the giver than the receiver on a corporate level (in more ways than publicity). I am excited to be a part of company willing to make such a big commitment for a local company.

Enjoy,
—DRM2

[tweetmeme]After putting much thought into my response and getting carried completely away with Halloween costume building, I have finally come back to put my two cents into this dilemma. I appreciate the comments posted, even if most of them came from the spurring of my wife.

View the Dilemma

As I was thinking of the examples I presented on artistic branding, as well as other companies that later came to mind; I wanted to see if there were any similarities I could find between them. With all of the brands I was choosing, I noticed a trend forming. Ultimately, I think I figured out where to draw the line between a tight hold on a companies brand, and bringing on some artistic evolution.

All of the brands that I can think of that have very open artistic adaptations, are all in a sense social icons. It seems they have broken the “cool” barrier for consumers. And as I put more thought into this, I believe that it is because their brands have been opened to mass trendiness that their logos require artistic adaptation to remain “cool.” Volcom, Harley Davidson, and Coca-Cola are all great examples of companies that have reach beyond corporate identity and are pushing into the social sphere. So when all is said and done, not every company should be liberal with their logo layouts.

I really believe that if a company is not on its way to becoming the next trendy icon, and I know it is tough to admit this sometimes, but it is probably best to remain very strict on logo usage. However, not all hope is lost, I do think it is appropriate for the company to have a style guide adequate for a broad range of options. For example, you should have these versions of your logo:

• primary
• reverse
• grayscale
• without company name
• horizontal
• vertical/stacked

This way you are not limited in your branding, and can appropriately used your logo in all of your marketing materials.

A final word – When it comes to branding I always like to see how Apple does it. Because I idealize Apple Inc. and their marketing, I believe they make for a pretty good barometer. I think it is safe to say that Apple has successfully broken into the “cool” social sphere of consumers. However, I have noticed that they still remain very closed about the artistic use of their logo. Maybe true “logo zen” is when a company can make its brand a culture icon without artistic adaptation. Just a thought! -DRM2