“I like to think of augmented reality apps as QR codes on steroids,” says Scott Harris of ReelVR. “This code actually communicates with you; there is an interaction between the user and the developer that has never been seen before.”

The ReelVR augmented reality app uses technology developed by Autonomy, an England-based software company that developed the Aurasma app. This pixel recognition technology was originally created for law documents but with the help of creative companies like ReelVR, extended augmented reality possibilities were born. Madison+Main is already partnering with ReelVR for some of our client work.

“Imagine being in a museum and you’re looking at a piece of work – a painting, sculpture, etc. – and you know nothing about the artist,” says Harris. “Imagine taking out your phone, holding it up to the art and instantly getting a video tutorial or a website link about what you’re looking at in real time. This is the next evolution of media.”

ReelVR is available for both Apple and Android smart phones and tablets. To download the app, visit the Apple store or check out ReelVR’s website.

What is it?
“At Madison+Main, we know the difference between what’s new and what’s next.”

We’ve been living by this phrase at Madison+Main since the very beginning, which might be why we’re all completely jazzed about augmented reality: a new technology that uses computer generated images to blur the lines between what’s real and what isn’t. Considered to be an extension of virtual reality, augmented reality differs by actually enhancing one’s current perception of reality. While virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one, augmented reality superimposes artificial information onto a real world setting, making the technology that much more alluring and interactive for users. Yelp has been using a version of augmented reality for two years now, and at Madison+Main we’re partnering locally with the augmented reality development group ReelVR – we’ll have more on that relationship in next week’s blog.

How it Works
Any kind of smart phone or tablet with a camera is all that is needed for augmented reality apps such as Aurasma and ReelVR to function. When opening the app and holding the camera over a trigger image (identifiable to the user by an icon in the corner), the app recognizes the trigger image and loads the virtual information associated with that image. To get a better understanding, check out these videos of the Aurasma app at work.

For the Future
As the technology and creativity grows, the possibilities for augmented reality apps are endless. Smart phones dominate the 40-and-under market today, meaning that more and more people are gaining access to the technology that alters reality right before your eyes. And with the trigger for these apps varying from images on paper to actual installations, the future of augmented reality continues to expand.

Beginning March 30th, Facebook is making its new Timeline mandatory for all users and pages. Yikes.

Judging from the reaction around the social media world, “change” is not something everyone likes. However, businesses should not fear the changes but embrace them. These new FB formats will help you more easily market and manage your brand message. Here are some tips from the team at Madison+Main, so your company is well prepared.

SLEEKER DESIGN
The most notable change in Facebook’s Timeline is the aesthetically focused layout. This includes large graphics and a cleaner, simpler design which better highlight what’s most important about your business. The one-page layout allows your fans to see all of your activities without having to click tabs.

Some of the new design features we love and ways to optimize them include the cover photo. It should be striking, related to your brand and optimized for web viewing (Facebook recommends 851 x 315 pixels). Remember, this is the first thing your fans will see so it should make a lasting impression and leave them wanting to know more about your company.

Highlight important posts by clicking on the star. This expands the post to the entire width of your timeline making it easier for fans to recognize its importance.

Pinning posts allows you to keep that post on the top of your Timeline for seven days. Just click on the pencil on the top right of the post.

The new design gives companies a chance to tell their history to their fans and even share company landmarks and milestones. Organizations like Coca-Cola and the U.S. Navy have capitalized on this feature and have included milestones of their rich history that date back to the 1800s.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Other features that help to enhance your brand is the small “About” box located under your profile picture. Companies can include things such as industry and a brief bio, while retailers can help their customers by providing their address, store hours, phone number and website. Fans who need additional information can also click on the “About” box to view a map and detailed information about the company.

Navigational boxes that feature a company’s other social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube are easily  customized according to what you want to highlight most, with a maximum of 12 boxes and the top four showing first. Businesses with high ratings can even include a ratings box that let fans know what others think of them.

Another addition is the admin panel that is now located on the top, so you can easily find notifications, new likes, insights, page tips and messages all in one place. The new capability for direct messaging on pages allows your fans to send you a private message, a useful communication tool for companies who want to address customer feedback in a more personal and private manner.

Hope this helps! As always, call us if you need more info; 1-877-623-6246. or email us shout@madisonmain.com 

The problem is that you simply don’t have the individual’s undivided attention.  So much information is thrown at us that we have become somewhat numb to it, immune in some cases.  The solution is an inbound marketing approach that focuses on investing back into the company through social participation, blogging, and search engine optimization (SEO).  These tools provide a substantive way to show the engaged consumer how the brand is unique. The idea is that the consumer comes to you and not the other way around, so online lead generation is more organic which will increase the probability of sale tremendously. Organic leads are also the best way of increasing the probability of a repeat sale and eventually of building the brand loyalty we all wish for.

During his poignant keynote speech, Governor Bob McDonnell acknowledged six surviving Virginians who were stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; George Bland, Max Green, Charles Haessig, John Lopinsky, Joe Nuckols and Bill Thornton.

A highlight of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day for us was hearing the story of Colonel Van T. Barfoot’s heroism in Italy in 1944. The story of Colonel Barfoot, an Henrico County resident and Medal of Honor winner, was as real as the thousands of veterans’ names etched in stone at the Memorial.  Learn more about Colonel Barfoot’s war-time exploits here.

Indeed it was a moving day for all the Madison+Maniacs.  Learn more about the Memorial and its tributes to all veterans at the Virginia War Memorial’ssite.

Lunchtime Thursday brought a tough team of judges, who graded each concoction on a scale of 1-10 on the flavor, heat, originality and presentation. Before testing, it looked like Josh and Dave had an early advantage with originality and presentation, but anything can happen at a Chili Cook Off. That is until Josh dimmed the lights and introduced his dish with background music which all but guaranteed him 1st place; Dave used skulls and chili peppers to visually demonstrate the strength of his chili.

Once the judging was complete, the results were tallied and announced.
Receiving high marks across the board, Josh’s “An Italian Name No One Can Decipher” won the grand prize trophy and $100 cash. Katie got the silver, and a $50 gift certificate and for the 2nd year in a row, Dave took home 3rd place, and a box of tissues to wipe away his tears of defeat.

Check out highlights from the 2nd annual chili cook-off

Google+, which moved out of its beta testing phase in late September, intitially removed all pages that were representative of businesses, saying that the platform was not yet ready for that kind of publication. Perks to the newer, better business-format include “hangout” chats, collaboration opportunities via Google Docs and doodling via SketchPad.

Check out Madison+Main’s Google+ site

The Madison+Main-iacs are proud supporters of the Central Virginia Chapter of the National MS Society, who are celebrating  their 55^th birthday. What better way to help them celebrate than with a $55 (or more) donation?

To donate to their cause, click here.

This past spring, several of the Madison+Mainiacs took part in the MS Walk, and our very own Art Director, Jeff Smack, participated in the MS Ride, a two-day, 150-mile bike ride from Richmond to Williamsburg and back. Jeff not only surpassed his fundraising goal of $1,000, but he also graciously volunteered to film his ride with a camera strapped to his helmet. Jeff explains that his annual ride is truly a thrilling experience and the footage he captured certainly reiterates that.

Take a look at the video we created for the MS Society, which has been entered in the Mercedes-Benz Community Stars contest on Facebook. Vote for their entry to help them win $25,000.

We all know that social media is vital in today’s marketing world, but how do you achieve similar results for your business or non-profit?

During the last few years large corporations jumped on the social media bandwagon, but more small businesses and non-profits are recognizing the benefits of a fully-engaged social media presence. With so many organizations struggling to fully utilize platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for fundraising, you might be wondering, “How did they do it?.

Reason 1: They sought professional help. The society spent $50,000 on a social media consultant that mapped out a strategy and trained internal staff on the dos and don’ts of social media. They also sought the advice of internal stakeholders. The MS Society successfully raised a staggering $4.3 million using social media. On Wall Street, that’s what they call tenfold, or 1,000%, ROI. (Madison + Main Chief Idea Officer Dave Saunders sits on the NMSS Goal Steering Team and is a board member for the Central Virginia Chapter.)

Reason 2: They spent $. The Society spent money on Facebook ads to help with their “organic” efforts. Local chapters spent money on Facebook to promote events and the organization landed a $120,000 grant through Google. Yes, 501(c)(3) non-profits can apply directly to Google for “free” advertising.

Reason 3: They hired full-time staff. The Chronicle says the Society has 1.5 full-time employees dedicated to social media. They were able to raise more than $4 million in 2010 through social media with only 1.5 full-time employees devoted to that task.

Not all non-profits are going to see the outstanding results that the National M.S. Society obtained, but it is necessary to be well-versed in social media platforms and to follow some of the same strategies.

How is your organization using social media? Please share with us your success or challenges in the comments.