Archives for 2011

Have you noticed that Twitter recently revamped its website, making it easier for new users to navigate their way through the site? The previous, rudimentary design layout now features a sleek design, and makes for easy use. Each profile now presents a “Facebook” style timeline, which includes recent tweets and accessible information such as followers, images, lists, and favorite pages.

The “Home” page provides all the old features, with a few new and improved updates. For example, each tweet in the news feed can now be opened, allowing you to view the intimate details of the tweet, including those who have re-tweeted the post. Also, at the top left corner, users will see two more new features, the @Connect and #Discover tabs. The @Connect tab allows users to view all interactions, mentions, follows for an account. Thus, making it easier to communicate with and follow new and existing users. The #Discover tab enables users to view trending Twitter topics in a whole new way, based on a user’s connections, location and language.

So why the redesign? ECPR has its own take on why Twitter revamped its social networking site. The new Twitter seems to look a lot like Facebook’s Timeline. And, with other social media channels, such as LinkedIn, becoming more popular, Twitter’s redesign comes at the right time. The new design seems to entice users to “tweet” from Twitter, rather than from third-party sites like HootSuite. In addition, the new design could be related to a user’s eye movements. Twitter designers may have strategically placed items in locations where users focus their attention the most, including the top left of a page, as well as photos within tweets (which are now viewable directly in the news feed). Also, along with the new features, Twitter has launched “brand pages” for companies who are advertisers. In creating these “brand pages,” Twitter is making an effort to increase revenue through advertisers.

What do you think of the new Twitter; is it more user-friendly, or simply a way for Twitter to increase profits from advertisers? Please post your comments below, we would be happy to learn your thoughts on the new Twitter.

Poinsettias are a national phenomenon during the holiday season, but the history of these plants is not commonly known by consumers. In this blog post, the ECPR team will uncover the history of Poinsettias. Given the fact we have written about and publicized thousands of plants over the years, we thought a look at the story behind Poinsettias would be quite appropriate for our blog. We hope our friends and fans find the history of these holiday plants as fascinating as we do!

Poinsettias originate from the most southern regions of Mexico and Central America. Ancient Aztecs first discovered the plant species blooming in tropical highlands one winter, and named it Cuetlaxochitl, which means “flower that grows in residues or soil,” in the Aztec language of Nahuatl. Originally, the red leaves of Poinsettias were used to dye clothing and produce a form of cosmetics, while the milky-white sap was used to help reduce fever temperatures.

Photo courtesy of Foxcrawl.com

Poinsettias were first thought to be associated with Christmas back in 16th century Mexico. It is believed that a young girl, too poor to afford a gift for the celebration of Christ’s birthday, gathered weeds from the side of the road and placed them in front of her church altar. The crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds into beautiful poinsettias. Later, during the 17th century, Franciscan priests, who resided near Taxco, located in the Mexican state of Guerrero, were said to have used full blooming Poinsettias as part of the nativity precession. The star-shaped leaf pattern is thought to have symbolized the Star of Bethlehem, and the red leaves were said to represent the blood sacrifice though the crucifixion of Jesus.

In 1828, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US Ambassador to Mexico, discovered the crimson-red plants while visiting the Taxco region. Enraptured by its beauty, Poinsett sent clippings of the plant back to his home in Charleston, SC. He then began propagating them in his greenhouses and sending samples to his friends. In 1833, German botanist, Wilenow gave the plant its botanical name of Euphorbia pulcherrima. It was in 1937 when the plant had been renamed to Poinsettia by William Hickling Prescott, wishing to honor Dr. Poinsett. Today, many professional growers cultivate Poinsettias, making them widely available to retailers and their consumers almost everywhere. Consider purchasing these beautiful plants this season for their gorgeous appeal as well as to support the growers who make them accessible.

The World of Concrete show is just around the corner. Set to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 24 – 27, 2012, the show is the industry’s only annual international event dedicated to commercial concrete and masonry construction suppliers. With more than 1,300 companies exhibiting at the show, approximately 50,000 attendees will be in search of the newest products and technologies on display. Industry professionals such as commercial contractors, concrete contractors, construction managers, designers and specifiers, general contractors, masonry contractors, residential contractors, precast/prestressed producers, architects, and more will be roaming the 50,000 square-foot showroom this year.

In addition to new product displays, a number of educational seminars, demonstrations, competitions and special events will take place throughout the duration of the show. Show goers will have the opportunity to learn how to lay concrete floors, repair concrete and measure performance and productivity as well as learn about how to use social media channels to customize marketing strategies. To view the full schedule of events and seminars taking place at this year’s show, click here.

The unlimited number of networking opportunities and educational experiences enables exhibitors and industry professionals to strengthen connections and capitalize on new trends for 2012. For those of you who are attending World of Concrete, visit the show’s website at www.worldofconcrete.com for detailed show information, travel and lodging suggestions and floor plans.

For those of you who don’t already know, The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has set to out to redefine the term “public relations.” The term, last updated in 1982, is significantly out-of-date. With new methods of communication and technology, public relations has evolved into more than just one-way communication. For starters, social media has become one of the most prominent tools in public relations and marketing. With channels such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and Flickr, companies have a way to interact and engage with consumers on a more “human” level. Thus, increasing brand personification, recognition and loyalty.

On November 21, 2011, PRSA began accepting definition suggestions from industry professionals, academics and students to help redefine public relations. For submission information, click here. Once the deadline closes (December 3, 2011), the top definitions will be chosen on December 5, and voting will begin.

In light of this opportunity to redefine the art of our profession, the ECPR team came up with our own definition as industry experts.

“Public relations is a series of strategic approaches, tactical campaigns, and disseminated messages purposed to build two-way communication that advances brand or corporate perception by key constituency groups.”

Friends and fans, tell us what public relations means to you. Do you agree with our definition? Please feel free to post your comments, ideas or questions below. We look forward to receiving constructive feedback. Also, stay tuned to our social media channels as we follow along on PRSA’s journey to redefine public relations.

Returning to Senoia, Georgia, for the second time, the 2012 Southern Living Idea House will be unlike any other. Why? Because instead of the house being built from the group up, the project is set to be a renovation of a historical farmhouse.

As some of you may already know, Senoia is home to classic movies and TV shows such as Driving Miss Daisy, Fried Green Tomatoes and, most recently, AMC’s hit series, The Walking Dead. But, more importantly, Senoia is gaining momentum by striving to be an eco-friendly community. With the town’s typical southern charm in combination with sustainability efforts, Senoia is proving to be a cozy place to settle down.

The 2012 Southern Living Idea House will be a revival of an early 19th century cottage-style farmhouse. Its makeover has been masterfully designed by the noted team of architects and place makers at Historical Concepts from the neighboring town of Peachtree City. Completing the team is John Bynum Custom Homes, Inc., one of the Atlanta area’s premier custom home builders, Senoia’s Historic Development Ventures, LLC, and nationally-recognized interior design firm, Tracery Interiors.

This farmhouse revival project is expected to draw as many as 40,000 visitors from across the country, and Southern Living is scheduled to feature it the August 2012 issue. The home will be open for tours from June to December 2012, Wednesday – Saturday, 11 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 1 – 5 PM. The Idea House will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Stay tuned as we uncover more details about the 2012 Southern Living Idea House via our social media channels.

No matter your level of expertise in interior design, industry professionals always need to be informed of the latest trends as well as research new and innovative ways to help clients reach interior design goals. Thus, the importance of interior design blogs has become increasingly more valuable to those in the industry. While there are many interior design blogs on the internet, the ECPR team has put together a list of five we believe you might find of interest. Each blog was selected because of its unique range of decorating tips, ideas, products, and more.

Launched in 2004 by Grace Bonney, Design*Sponge attracts a diverse demographic of readers. Currently, over 75,000 people read the blog on a daily basis; this number excludes RSS readers, Twitter and Facebook followers. As a freelance writer for top publications such as Better Homes & Gardens, InStyle and Everyday with Rachael Ray as well as having been a contributing editor for several home magazines, Grace’s experience in the industry makes Design*Sponge a credible interior design blog. In addition to sharing “Before and After” design makeovers, DIY projects and home furnishing products, Design*Sponge’s unique “Sneak Peek” series steals the show. The series of blogs are dedicated to sharing interior design styles from all over the world. No matter your client’s design preferences, design professionals can read up on regional and international trends for tips and ideas.

Freshome

Freshome is an online blog dedicated to sharing and uncovering the latest products and trends in architecture and design. With a primary focus on design inspiration, Freshome aims to give ideas on how to create beautiful, organized and healthy living spaces. Launched in 2007, Freshome has since been the “go-to” place for architects and interior designers. Blog topics range from furniture products, kitchen spaces and bathroom décor to blog posts about bedrooms, living rooms and even apartment layout ideas. Freshome is easy to navigate and provides informative information for those who want to keep up with the ever-changing world of creative design.

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy is another great interior design blog. With emphasis on providing readers with the necessary tools on how to create comfortable, calm living spaces, Apartment Therapy shares basic design tips for readers. In addition to a “homepage,” Apartment Therapy also caters to regional areas across the country, such as Boston, New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Each individual location provides decorating insights home tours, store sales and events, as well as a daily “scavenger hunt.” Essentially, the “scavenger hunt” is a way for homeowners and design professionals to learn where the best places to shop for specific home furnishings and accessories in their area. Apartment Therapy’s blog approach to interior design is certainly unique and exciting.

PadStyle

PadStyle is a décor inspiration blog for homeowners and interior designers. On average, this site reaches between 40,000 – 50,000 readers a month and appeals to a wide range of age demographics. PadStyle shares information about how to decorate indoor and outdoor spaces. We included this in our top interior design blogs for its attention to detail and informative, easy-to-understand tips and ideas. Catering towards modern and traditional design styles, PadStyle offers readers design tips for living room, dining room, bedroom, patio spaces, kitchens, and more. Additionally, PadStyle features a “shop online” store that is broken down by living space. The online store enables homeowners and interior designers to shop hassle-free with secure online ordering.

decor8

decor8 was founded and launched in 2006 by Holly Becker, an American novelist, freelance journalist and interior design consultant, who currently resides in Germany. Her passion for interior design, coupled with her love of writing, enabled her to create a reliable blog about interior decorating. decor8 is updated daily throughout the week and features inside information from professional designers, home furnishing and accessory product reviews, store and home tours, and much more. In her blog posts, Holly covers an eclectic range of topics, including decorating ideas, tips for small business owners, travel, blogging and independent design. One notable feature of decor8, is that Holly and her team offer educational courses on how to create a successful, meaningful blog site, no matter your topic.

Friends and fans, we hope you found this post about top-level interior design blogs both helpful and educational. Not only are blogs useful tools to market products and / or services, but they also allow for a more personal approach to sharing information with your audience. At ECPR, we offer services to help companies in the home, garden and design industries to create meaningful, informative blogs. Thus, allowing for our client’s current and potential customers to learn about industry-related tips, trends, news, and more. For more information about our social media services, visit our website www.eberlycollardpr.com.

In recent years, Facebook has become a revolutionary marketing tool. Companies are interacting more with customers, clients and industry professionals as a means to increase sales and brand awareness. But, some companies and organizations are missing the mark by simply creating Facebook pages because their competitors do. In many of these cases, marketing managers leave their newly developed Facebook pages unattended – i.e., an attempted online conversation with no dialog. We advocate and assist clients in creating valuable content as opposed to just being on Facebook because everyone else is. By offering content with valuation, fans will come to think of a Facebook page as a go-to source of helpful insights. The likelihood of consumers or clients “liking” company pages is dependent on whether the posts featured on Facebook are relevant and interesting enough to follow and engage in.

Our team of social media experts are constantly researching new and interesting ways to effectively communicate though social media channels. Thus, allowing us tailor posts to our clients’ needs. For more information about our social media services for companies in the home, garden and design industries, please visit our website at www.eberlycollardpr.com.

The new addition to the Ultimate collection is proving to be one of the most innovative window designs on the market for builders, remodelers, architects, and homeowners. Most uniquely, the Ultimate Casement window features a revolutionary wash mode which allows the window to be cleaned on both sides, while standing indoors. In just three simple steps, homeowners can rotate the exterior glass, saving time, money and effort. In addition to the wash mode, the Ultimate Casement window offers commercial-grade hardware, to ensure the window operates smoothly and opens easily for high-quality performance. This new casement window is available in a variety of designs and sizes. The largest size is 40” wide and 92” tall or 36” wide and 96” tall, allowing for unobstructed views and maximum fresh air.

Amerimix, a brand of Bonsal American (an Oldcastle company), has launched a line of colored mortars called Chromatics. The company’s brand new product line has certainly captured the attention of the ECPR team. The line includes 23 colors, available in either pre-blended Portland cement, lime and sand (AMX 405C) or pre-blended masonry cement and sand (AMX 505C). Both are factory blends engineered to provide long water retention, exceptional workability and superior bond strength over masonry substrates. The company’s pre-blended, colored mortars can be custom made to match any desired color. Amerimix colors are able to match, complement or contrast interiors and exteriors.

To ensure color accuracy, the company uses computerized color matching and verification. This unique computerized color system uses spectrophotometric technology during the batching phase, which allows company technicians to evaluate and account for color variations that always occur naturally in cement and aggregate. Having this knowledge before reaching the intended jobsite is critical, giving way to a new level of efficiency.

In addition to being color consistent, Amerimix Chromatics have other quality features. For example, high bond strength and extended mortar board life. Also, these colored mortars have increased yield, compared to typical field mixed mortars. Another advantage of Amerimix colored mortars is the fact that they are available in Types M, S and N. In combination with the features listed above, Amerimix Chromatics have the ability to reduce the amount of labor time and enhance productivity. Conveniently, the mortars have already been pre-tested to ASTM specifications.

All Amerimix mortars are engineered for load or non-load bearing construction. They are available in small or bulk bags, depending on the size of the job. Residential and commercial builders / contractors as well as distributors, if you are interested in learning more about Amerimix Colored Mortar or other Amerimix products, contact a local sales representative by clicking here. Also, visit Bonsal American’s website at www.bonsalamerican.com for information about the company’s other brands and products.

One of our clients, Terra Nova Nurseries, has launched new social media channels as well as a mobile site and QR Codes. With new technology on the rise, the company’s decision to launch new social media and interactive platforms was to allow information and insights to be more accessible to customers. In addition, creating multi-platforms, participatory communications with growers, retailers and consumers; and engaging with various online communities, enables Terra Nova Nurseries to better understand and reach out to more diverse demographics.

Thus, the ECPR team has been working with Terra Nova Nurseries to develop a series of channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and a blog, all to evoke online collaboration. The company’s social media channels are designed to develop interactive relationships as tools to better assist and encourage deeper, more meaningful conversations with horticultural experts, media members and consumers.

Our work with Terra Nova Nurseries has included a new Facebook page, which is being used as a social-networking site where fans can view plant and nursery photos, and converse with Terra Nova staff members through posted comments and questions. Friends and fans can also find valuable insights like plant and collection introductions, breeding highlights, liner availability specials for growers, support content for retailers, and even how-to articles and tips for home gardeners. For more lengthy, in depth information and articles, Terra Nova Nurseries’ fans can tune into the company’s new blog. A variety of topics include a range from current plant availability, personnel bios and company news to grower tips / benefits, media coverage and trade show events. Conversely, we worked with Terra Nova Nurseries to launch a Twitter channel that features short, informative “tidbits” of news and updates for more frequent, and timely interactions. This method of communication enables staff members and those who follow the feed, to receive information “on-the-go.” In addition, a Flickr channel was created to share photos of new plants and series as well as photos from trade shows, speaking engagements and garden tours. Since Flickr is indexed in search engines, this makes finding and sourcing posted images in an organized fashion a simple task.

With the addition of Terra Nova Nurseries’ social media channels, the company has most recently set up a YouTube channel. The brand new videos, co-produced and hosted by Dan Heims, showcase information such as breeding advancements in Cyclamen, Echinacea, Sedum, Coreopsis, Penstemon, Trailing Tiarella, Trailing Heucherella, and reblooming Kniphofia. Other videos showcase the company’s prized on-site gardens and all there is to know about the Heuchera Crisp Series.

With Terra Nova Nurseries’ focus on building online engagement, QR barcodes linked to smartphone applications have also been developed. Intended to tighten the circle between plant branding and point-of-sale for retailers, the QR codes supply consumers with interactive access to plant information through their phones. The codes have been added to Terra Nova’s plant tags. Each plant variety has been assigned a QR code which has been linked to a new mobile website that mimics the company’s main site. The codes are also linked to individual online plant profile pages, making plant characteristics and growing conditions readily available for all smartphone users no matter their locations.

As we have done for Terra Nova Nurseries, ECPR offers social media services for companies desiring to develop deeper relations with their own clients and customers. With technology advancing and methods of communication changing, the need to develop social media channels has become not just an added bonus, but more of a necessity. At ECPR, we specialize in P.R. 2.0., assisting companies in creating and maintaining social media channels and traditional public relations. Our team agrees it is time for more companies to realize the importance of social media and how it can help companies grow and enter the digital world of online communication. For more information about how we can assist industry-related companies with social media channels and to learn more about P.R. 2.0., visit our website by clicking here.