Cullmann Design Blog

The last few months have had the web (to be precise, the geeky community that design, develops and writes for the web) buzzing about Content Strategy. This new function of web development and marketing is the flavor du jour for savvy agencies and web shops. Like the Social Media Specialist before it, this new position is a requirement for success for digital projects! Or is it?I’m typically very skeptical about trends that come so quickly and offer a silver bullet for every problem. The position of, or at least the practice of Content Strategist is one of these cases.

From a practical stand-point, the Content Strategist role is not a new skillset, it’s a focused role of an editor, writer, or information architect. The short version of this job role would be to look at a website’s content and structure to be sure that it is addressing the needs of it’s audience, niche audiences, the needs of the client and has a place in the market that is relevant and competitive.

Unlike other iterations of buzzword bingo positions, recognizing the need for a key team member to manage the content for large website projects is a huge benefit.

The itch that this team member will scratch is channeling the entire editorial effort of the project to several focused goals. While writers are dealing with specific pieces of the puzzle, and editors how the puzzle is held together, The Content Strategist will be looking at the picture the puzzle makes and where each piece will lay.

I really like QR Codes. I think they’re quick, easy and reliable ways to enable mobile call-to-actions. I also like that it’s an open and license-free standard. This is all great stuff-provided that you have a smartphone (or QR Code software for a non smartphone).

What do you do if you want to have someone respond “on-the-go” who doesn’t have a smartphone? Enter Zoove. Zoove is service that makes short-code call-to-action easy. Their service allows your customers (or users) to send an SMS text that is between 2 and 12 characters prefaced by “**” and get an automated response containing a URL, coupon, mobile application, video, etc,.

What does Zoove really give you? I’m exposed to a very wide variety of customer types and use cases in my professional career. There are a lot of instances where QR Codes just are not a good fit for a particular audience. In those cases, Zoove offers a very low barrier to entry and a very nice way to introduce new markets to immediate response options like real-time coupons, instant discounts and providing video or other easy-to-understand product information. With 72% of the U.S. cell phone market texting, there is a huge opportunity for utilizing the solution that Zoove is offering with short-code messaging.

What could go wrong? Zoove, and other short-code solutions, do have a barrier to entry for end-users: Giving up their cell phone numbers. Unlike QR Codes which do not require that users share any information, texting a brand, gives the perception for the user that they are giving up their private cell phone number. The perception is a big factor. Despite the fact that responsible marketers like Zoove, provide controls for users, users are not very keen on making their personal information available to marketers.

Take aways: QR Codes are still a great way to reach mobile users–especially with smart phone sales taking a market majority in the US. If you are marketing to an audience who is not likely to own a device that can make use of a quick response code, Zoove, as well as services like JagTag and SnapTag are a very good alternative with excellent offerings for advertisers and marketers.

Content network 5by5 is producing a new podcast featuring Mule Design’s, Mike Monteiro and Katie Gillum. The podcast is targeted at designers and people in the creative field, but unlike most content of it’s genre, it’s perspective is focused on the business of design. 

The show, Let’s Make Mistakes, is focused on converting people in the design business into people in the business of design. Although only 2 episodes into the franchise, it has already articulated that the craft of design-the profession of design-is one of industry and value and not to be sold short of it’s value.

You can listen to episodes in your browser or subscribe via iTunes. If you like the show, also check out Mike Monteiro’s Creative Mornings Speech, F**k You. Pay Me.