EAT Communications

Vancouver Experience = V for Convergence & X for Intersection

VX is a non-profit, industry-led, government supported initiative giving BC wireless and digital media companies opportunities to show off to the world, to make connections, and to show business leaders that Vancouver is a creative, innovative, and business-driven destination to work, play and profit.  By providing unique, Olympics-related wireless services to locals, visitors and non-accredited media, VX Showcase leverages the games to present the world with wireless and digital media technologies created here in BC.

The VX Directory is to enable BC’s top wireless and digital companies to connect with businesses and delegates from around the world. The directory’s matchmaking functions create a point of contact where world business delegates can discover our industry. In particular, it enables immediate, simple lead generation between visitors and BC wireless and digital companies.  Think of it as an innovative combination between Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter.

Social Media: So You’ve Heard the Hype

Now how do you apply it to your organization?

Social Media has certainly taken off in the past two years. With a vast landscape consisting of online community based properties such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, jumping into the world of social media can often be overwhelming, if not downright confusing. Most organizations foraying into this world of multiple segments and verticals will most likely be plagued by questions such as: “Where do I start?”; “How does social media fit into my current marketing strategy?”; and “How do I measure the value of such an initiative?”

EAT Communications specializes in helping businesses take full advantage of the benefits that social media has to offer, all the while getting your brand increased exposure into new channels and markets.

Why Social Media?

Like any online marketing channel social media if relatively cheap to implement and most of the major social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are free to register and can be managed quite affordably. It is quick, easy and the most efficient way to reach an audience. Furthermore, social media addresses a vast, growing audience that exists in real-time and gives business a genuine way to connect with them.

What Can Social Media Do For Your Business?

Because social media is a hub of internet activity that acts as a network to millions of people around the world, your business presence on a social media network such as Facebook can dramatically increase your online presence. It also enables your organization to effectively engage and converse with your target audience in a more direct and authentic method. Finally, social media can enhance branding and add value to your company’s message.

What Does Successful Social Media Strategy Implementation Look Like?

EAT Communications provides you with social media best-practices that are specific to your business. EAT helps you analyze segments and find viable target audiences and implement the tools you need to reach corporate goals.

Industry-specific Strategy and Successful Social Media Channel Implementation Means:

•    An in-depth analysis and examination your business, your objectives and narrowing your target audience(s).
•    Development of a step-by-step strategy including implementation and management
•    Assisting your organization in implementing Web 2.0 tools for effective reporting and analysis
•    Optimization and effective tool utilization and management
•    Training and Support throughout implementation, development and management stages
•    And explaining it all to you in simple English!

Growth-based Development and Management Strategies:

•    After implementation, we design a personalized check list to assist you in beginning to gather and publish your valuable information so you are equipped to provide rich content to your target audience.
•     EAT provides you with an estimation of time and resources that are required to update and maintain your Social Media Strategy.

When it’s all said and done, you and your company will be comfortably and successfully left with the following:

•    a Social Media Marketing Plan package
•    fully implemented and optimized social media tools
•    complete understanding in community engagement and online outreach
•    a PR Plan that will marry a relationship with an off and online audience

Why Hire A Marketing Consultant?

During this time of economic instability most marketing departments are letting go of their full time employees and hiring short-term contractors to execute their marketing programs.

I have been doing some research on the benefits of a person like myself and I came across some articles in which you can read here, here and this one is a lot older but it does focus on hiring a marketing consultant.

Here are some highlights that can help you decide on if it is the right fit for your organization:

•    Quick turnaround time

•    Wide range of experience

•    Outside of the box thinking

•    Reduce Employer expenses - no health insurance or other perks

•    Skills are always being fine tuned with each new project

•    Up-to-date resume

The Future of Digital Art Presented at CODE in Partnership with New Forms Festival

Vancouver, Canada – In anticipation of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, there has been a resurgence of cultural awareness as the city prepares itself for the world stage. Spearheading this renaissance is the New Forms Festival (NFF) and the Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition (CODE). Through this joint partnership, this unique event combines a new generation of music, video manipulation, and interactive art. On February 6, 2010, NFF and CODE will be presenting LA Riots, The Golden Filter, Junior Boys DJ Set, Konrad Black, and an array of local musicians and artists at The Hangar in Great Northern Way Campus’ Centre for Digital Media.

The event, which is being hailed as one of the largest and most innovative affairs in the art and digital media world, will be a celebration of local and international talent. The event will feature a hybridization of musical genres meshed with multi-platform image manipulation, projected on large screens throughout The Hangar which is being entirely remodeled and recreated specifically for CODE. Robert Willis, director of the News Forms Media Society and producer behind the event, anticipates a great reception.

This night is going to be quite the eye-opener for those from around the world and for Vancouverites as well,” states Willis. “The realization of vision in these pieces of art, including the collaboration between sound, sight, and this incredible physical environment will give people a better definition of what we are really about: making new media art, music, film, technology-based installation and performance accessible to a wider audience.

The dynamic selection of music melds with the human expression of dance as audience members groove to music tinged with disco, dance-rock, techno and genres in between. Just as the music gives voice to the installations and pieces on display, the pieces speak to the caliber of talent and skill of the digital artists in Vancouver who see this Olympiad as a great opportunity to showcase their talent to the world.

The NFF at CODE night will be an exclamation mark for Canadian music, art, and multi-media,” exclaims Willis. “Nights like ours help local artists express and present their work on a platform that has international credentials as being at the forefront of emerging movements and modes. NFF is a glimpse at where music and digital art are going in the not-too-distant future.”

With this roster of talent and art being showcased on February 6, it seems the future has already arrived.

Fusion Forum 09’s Best in Show Judges include Google and Plug and Play

Vancouver, Canada – Innovation, fortune and fame will be at stake for 20 up and coming Canadian digital media entrepreneurs during the 3rd annual Fusion Venture Forum on November 12th and 13th at the UBC Robson Square Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Canada.

Organizers New Media BC announced today that Fusion’s “Best in Show” judges will be Tom Duterme, Corporate Development Manager at Google Inc., Saeed Amidi, CEO/President and Founder of Plug and Play Tech Center and Steve Hnatiuk, Founder and Partner at Yaletown Venture Partners. The “Best in Show” presenter will receive paid airfare to San Francisco and three month placement at the prestigious Plug and Play Tech Centre accelerator in Sunnyvale, California.

The National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) and Bootup Entrepreneurial Society in support of New Media BC are also pleased to announce that all entrepreneurs can now participate at Fusion Forum for no additional cost above the regular attendee price of $100.  "Our community has a history of producing some of the most notable digital media companies in the world," says Maura Rodgers, Executive Director of Bootup Entrepreneurial Society. "We challenge our best entrepreneurs to step forward and show the international investors what our community is made of.”

The package includes full access to the event, including networking lunch and reception.  Presenting companies will also have free access to “Entrepreneur Bootcamp” training sessions, presentation coaching, and a chance to pitch at the Forum on November 12th and potentially have one-on-one meetings with visiting investors from Silicon Valley.

“New Media BC is thrilled to have the support of NRC-IRAP and Bootup Entrepreneurial Society to provide such great value to BC and Canadian entrepreneurs.” said Rochelle Grayson, Interim President at New Media BC. “We have lined up first-class investors and industry experts, and we are looking forward to showcasing the best digital media talent and opportunities BC and Canada has to offer.”

The deadline for registrations has been extended to Friday, October 30th to allow companies to take advantage of this special rate. Reimbursements will be made for companies who have already signed up at the full rate.

Entrepreneurs attending Fusion Forum will present some of the latest innovations brewing in Canada’s hottest industry to top tier investors from Silicon Valley and beyond. Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Flickr, who himself is working on a new venture, will Keynote the event to share his success story with members of the thriving Digital Media community in Vancouver.

The Fusion Venture Forum 2009 is made possible with support from Telefilm Canada, the National Research Council Canada and the Bootup Entrepreneurial Society.

The Georgia Straight Mentions Fusion Forum Twice in One Week!

The Georgia Straight ran two really great pieces this week regarding Fusion Forum. One was focused on the fact that co-founder of Flickr, Stewart Butterfield will be the keynote for Fusion Forum, and the other was a Geek Speak article on Rochelle Grayson, taking about her current role at NMBC, what is currently happening as well as Fusion Forum.

Fusion Forum in Financial Post

Great article in Financial Post on how tech firms that serve B2B market get funding. Read article here.

'For example, The Fusion Forum, the only western Canadian venture forum dedicated to digital media, has drawn five Silicon Valley investment heavyweights: Bill Maris, managing partner of Google Ventures, and Thomas Duterme, corporate development manager responsible for acquisitions at Google Inc.; Tim Chang, of Norwest Venture Partners; Saeed Amidi, of Plug and Play Tech Centre; and Jeff Clavier, founder and managing partner of SoftTech VC, an active seed stage investor in Web 2.0 startups.'

The Peak Interviews New Forms Festival

Here is an article in The Peak which has been Simon Fraser University's Student Newspaper since 1965. Read article here.

Twenty Digital Media Entrepreneurs Present at Fusion Forum

Vancouver, Canada Wednesday, September 16, 2009 – Canada’s brightest digital media entrepreneurs will pitch their latest ventures before top tier Silicon Valley investors including Google Inc, at the 3rd annual Fusion Forum for Digital Media on November 12th and 13th at the newly renovated UBC Robson Square Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Canada.

The event, hosted by New Media BC, will feature heavy weights Bill Maris of Google Ventures, Tom Duterme of Google Inc, Tim Chang of Norwest Ventures and Jeff Clavier of SoftTech VC. Jeff was voted by Business Week in 2008 as one of "The 25 Most Influential People on the Web" and is regarded as one of the most active seed stage investors in Web 2.0 startups. Google are sending their newly christened Google Ventures to identify the next generation of founders and their innovations from British Columbia, recognized today as one of the most dynamic hubs for digital media in North America.

“We've seen tremendous growth in Vancouver and the region with a proliferation of young entrepreneurs, many who have spun off from larger companies and spread their wings to develop their own ideas,” Fusion ‘09’s Director Christine Lim-Labossière comments. “Fusion is the only annual Venture Forum in the West devoted to digital media and it hopes to provide these founders, who are being pedigreed through the growing number of local digital media academic programs and technology incubators, with the opportunity to connect with world class investors who are keen in both content and technology.”
 
Twenty of Canada’s hottest digital media companies will pitch their concepts before venture capitalists and angel investors on November 12, followed by closed door one-on-one investor meetings and investor round table sessions on November 13. The pre-screened companies will present in 4 categories; games, mobile, Web 2.0 & social media and online platforms & applications, with the intention of establishing connections with the “by invitation only” investors and securing investment required to grow their businesses.

Designed to bring Canada’s best digital media ventures to the attention of local and international investors, The Fusion Venture Forum provides valuable insights into key issues in the industry and aims to become a premium networking opportunity for digital media investors from North America and beyond.

New Forms Festival Announces 2009 Program September 18-19, 2009

Vancouver BC – This year’s New Forms Festival brings together artists from a variety of creative sectors including electronic music, visual arts, and technology-based installations. 

"NFF09 revisits why we started this festival almost a decade ago.  The convergence of creative communities has always been our raison d' etre, and 2009 is no different” states Robert Willis, New Forms Media Society board director.  “But unlike previous festivals, this year we've become more combined and concentrated. In a world that's increasingly becoming connected, so is our art.”

Top DJs from around the globe will perform alongside innovative visuals and installations.  Additionally a partnership with the new W2 Community Media Arts Centre allows attendees to attend a full day workshop to learn some of the skills that will be displayed during the festival.

“We've refined what we used to do in a week's worth of programming into only a few days and venues” continues Willis,  “Our goal is to make connections in a world where time is precious. We're looking forward to the final connection for NFF 2009: the public with the art."

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, September 18th at Great Northern Way

KYLE HALL
LOWFISH
JAY TRIPWIRE
DANDY JACK
KRISTA LOMAX vj

Saturday, September 19th at W2

All day VJ workshop for emerging local artists followed by evening performance and reception.

Saturday, September 19th @ Great Northern Way

N-TYPE
ESKMO live
KUSH ARORA live/dj
SHAMIK
CALAMALKA live
DOLLADUB live
KRISTA LOMAX vj

ABOUT NEW FORMS MEDIA SOCIETY
New Forms Media Society is a non-profit society and media arts organization founded in 2000 that nurtures and connects local and international arts, science and grassroots communities through the annual New Forms Festival.  The society wishes to make new media art, music, film, technology base-based installation and performance accessible to a wider audience.

ABOUT W2 COMMUNITY MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
The W2 Community Media Arts Centre is a highly anticipated project opening in the fall of 2009 at the landmark Woodward’s redevelopment in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.  W2 is currently planned as a 14,395 square foot facility, and will be a community-based media and arts centre offering quality arts programming and presentation opportunities to Downtown Eastside and Vancouver residents through a range of programs, resources and activities.