-
Opinion
Video: How to win new business
Mumbrella Question Time saw the panel asked the secrets of winning new business. Read more »
Let’s stop the anonymous vitriol
In this guest posting, Peter Bray, boss of The Brand Shop, takes issue with negative comments from anonymous posters on Mumbrella and elsewhere.
There are very few ads that I vehemently dislike. There are also very few ads that I really love. But most ads I see on Mumbrella and other blogs I can usually take something from, whether it is information about the brand, a bit of inspiration or a “watch out”. I’m open to learning as much as I can from others, and encourage those around me to do the same.
My basic assumption, however, is that because an ad has been produced by a professional agency, and had the approval from the client, then the end result must be doing something right. Therefore, without knowing the practical rationale behind the ad, for me to have a strong opinion about whether it is great advertising would be kind of arrogant. There is a reason that awards shows ask for information about why an ad was created: they are rarely judged on end product alone.
So as someone who enjoys watching the work that our industry creates, I am stunned at the level of vitriol stemming from some people’s comments in both this blog and others. Read more »
Read his lips
This is several weeks old, but worth a look. It’s certainly an original way to deal with media criticism.It features Air NZ boss Rob Fyfe responding to weekly current affairs magazine The Listener using the medium of sign language. Read more »
Let’s not be too positive just yet – the nail is still there
It’s more than a year since News Ltd’s marketing boss Joe Talcott used the memorable analogy of a dog whimpering on a nail to describe the structural change the industry needs to go through. Read more »
The AdNews numbers that mislead the market
It’s always a tad tawdry when competitors attack each other, but I hope you’ll bear with me…
Whether cynically or through incompetence, AdNews has been misleading its advertisers by providing them with data that seems to suggest they have six times their true online audience.
Allow me to present the evidence. Read more »
Technology will help us own the agenda – all day, every day
In this opening speech to the Future Forum of the Newspaper Publishers Association, News Ltd CEO John Hartigan argued that news organisations have the opportunity to become more rather than less relevant.
Today I want to talk about a tipping point that heralds the most exciting era for journalism. The most exciting era ever.
This tipping point is already upon us. It has arrived at lightning speed, with the explosion in demand for mobile devices.
I am not consigning newspapers to the scrapheap. Not by a long shot.
But this tipping point is going to change journalism forever. In my opinion, very much for the better. Read more »
The real time shit sandwich detector
In this guest post, Clive Burcham of The Conscience Organisation, relishes the instant feedback of social media.
I’ve been making brand driven content since 1996 and often I’ve been so close to the work that I couldn’t tell the difference between if we were chomping on a shit sandwich or savouring the crème de la creme. From an audience perspective, we wouldn’t know the difference for weeks or months. What excites me most now is that we know within 24 hours if we’ve developed shit or cream. Read more »
SMH shows how to make a home page takeover work
When you’re a commercial organisation, balancing the needs of consumers with the need to make money through ads is tricky.
Among the organisations that sometimes goes the wrong way in my view is Fairfax, with its autostart video ads, for instance.
But today, a bit of unreserved praise Read more »
Inside the Foxtel factory
Having been at the launch of Foxtel’s new season the other night, nine points occur… Read more »
ABC News 24 – a handy service for niche journalists
It may not have many viewers yet, but ABC News 24 saves specialist journos having to leave their desks, argues Delimiter’s Renai LeMay
When media commentators discuss the future of journalism, they usually agree on at least one thing: It will involve much fewer generalists and more reporters dedicated to exhaustively covering niche fields. Read more »
The seven ages of Carlton Draught’s Made From Beer
Today sees the launch of “Slow Mo”, the latest instalment of Carlton Draught’s irreverent Made From Beer series.
It’s been quite a run – from the highly awarded Big Ad, to the comedy of Flash Beer, to the debacle of the abortive banned Tingle campaign. These are the seven ages of Made From Beer… Read more »
Real consumers don’t have ‘brand conversations’. They use search
In this guest posting, Simon van Wyk argues that much as marketers might wish otherwise, most consumers don’t have emotional connections with brands
I have a background in marketing, but my understanding of branding seems at odds with the 2010 opinions I see from social media commentators, marketing and advertising agencies. Read more »
Hot, censoring atheists: Google’s insight into what punters think about pollies and journos
One of the charms of Google is autocomplete, where it takes a punt on what you’re going to ask, based on what the rest of the world has been wondering previously.
And it certainly gives a few insights into the high quality of political debate about the Labor leaders in the run up to the election.
Take NSW premiere Kristina Keneally… Read more »
The copyright-busting election
This is rapidly turning into the copyright-infringing election. Read more »
Digital Fail: The gaping void in digital training is failing our industry
In this guest post, Amnesia Razorfish’s Iain McDonald warns that the industry has fallen badly behind on digital training.
Before I get accused of trolling with that headline, I’ll state what I think is obvious: The current education system isn’t producing or nurturing enough ‘digitally skilled’ individuals to sustain a growing a digital economy. Read more »
Geekdom becomes latest Photon firm to restructure
Geekdom is set to be the second Photon company in recent days to undergo a major restructure, Mumbrella can reveal.
Boss Troy Rushton confirmed to Mumbrella that an announcement is imminent on Geekdom’s consumer-facing division Geekversity.
Geekversity claims to be able to teach its clients how to make money in online marketing. It charges several thousand dollars per course. Last week it was reported by News Ltd that the company was facing a customer revolt and cashflow issues. A Facebook group, The Geekversity Issues Group, has also been set up tackling similar topics.
And in October it was reported in B&T that Geekdom had let go of nearly 20 staff.
Rushton denied that the company is set to close its doors, telling Mumbrella that industry rumours of more staff being made redundant this week were untrue.
He said: “There’s been nothing going on like that. There might be an announcement next week. Geekdom got into a consumer business and it’s not what we want to be in. There will be a communication coming next week.”
He declined to say whether this would be the closure or sale of Geekversity.
The reshaping of Geekdom comes days after fellow Photon company The Population revealed that it was to shut, with staff moving to sister company C4.
December 11th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
-
Follow Us
-
Email Newsletter
Latest Jobs- Junior Producer - Sydney
- Senior E-commerce Marketing Specialist – Travel sector - Sydney
- Product Manager - Online Media Company - Sydney
- Marketing Executive - global technology company - Sydney
- 1192 Account Director, Melbourne - Melbourne
- Communications Strategist - Sydney
- Brand Strategist - Sydney or Melbourne
- Senior Account Manager, Sports Marketing - Sydney
- Graduate Analyst - Digital Media, $35,000 to $50,000 depending on experience - Sydney
- Head of Content & Ideation - Sydney, NSW, Australia
Comments
11 Dec 09
3:37 pm
I’m not sure how Rushton’s claim that “industry rumours of more staff being made redundant this week were untrue” fits with a Geekdom employee telling me today they’d just been made redundant. I’m so confused.
11 Dec 09
4:05 pm
Yeah, I’m with @stilgherrian. Thats what i was told today, too
11 Dec 09
4:48 pm
Has anyone had any experience with the Geekdom “Parklings” sites? I have been considering buying the program. Just not sure about products from Geekdom right now.
thx
11 Dec 09
4:57 pm
@ networkingprincess I would look at the sites on their own merits. They launched that Geekversity business right at the beginning of the GFC, so was always going to be tough to sustain, even with Photon behind them.
11 Dec 09
5:18 pm
I’m not confused. Geekversity staff and management like to say a lot of things and a small percentage of it is true.
11 Dec 09
5:25 pm
@Wheez: So what sort of person would, you know, lie about their work or business? I’m still confused…
11 Dec 09
5:30 pm
I’m confused too, Stil.
Obviously Geedom is part of an ASX-listed company, so for the boss to deliberately mislead the market by lying to me would clearly be a very serious matter.
I can only assume the rumours I keep hearing are incorrect.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
11 Dec 09
6:07 pm
Hi, I actually enrolled in one of their courses… paid my deposit but left the course after 1 month.
Interesting ideas.. but the price was waaaayy too high.
11 Dec 09
10:23 pm
Rushton is full of it. I know at least three people who’ve been made redundant from that company last week.
12 Dec 09
1:02 pm
I want to see Geekdom and Geekversity do the right thing by their students and give the full refund that is deserved.
13 Dec 09
10:46 am
i was a customer and having been burnt by Troy and his geeks decided to investigate their business. I hear they are facing millions of dollars in claims from people like me and all but 20 staff have / are going to be made redundant.
Not sure he is telling the whole story to you or anyone…
13 Dec 09
8:11 pm
Many students have submitted claims to Office of Fair Trading this week in an attempt to recover their money. Geekversity announced they have moved to a new location on Friday.
13 Dec 09
10:50 pm
20 or more student have now submitted a claim NSW office of fair trading and more coming in daily.
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.....laintclick
14 Dec 09
11:50 am
I’m also an ex-student of Geekversity who has been asking for a refund for more than 2 months now … I’ve also submitted a claim through the CTTT
14 Dec 09
1:36 pm
Geekversity have not been very honest with us students. After announcing the changes in the program, an offer of a refund was also announced. When too many people started asking for a refund, they reneged and said it was no longer an option.
I have been waiting 6 months for my refund and have not received my revenue from traffic trading.. even though I had paid my fees. After promises of profits, they have not only put me in debt, but wasted my valuable time. If anyone is considering a refund or just can’t get through to them about your own future with them, i suggest lodging a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading.
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.....laintclick
14 Dec 09
7:46 pm
Between myself, boyfriend, his brother inlaw and a business partner (edited for legal reasons), we too have tried everything to get at least some funds back and nothing. We are not giving up though…..
15 Dec 09
3:12 am
I worked within Geekversity throughout the entire start up and failure of this project. (Edited for legal reasons). Not only did he fail to deliver a product to the consumer market that was in any way proven but he also (edited for legal reasons). Geekversity will at best be sold but I would be surprised who would take on the mess to be honest. I can only hope that most of the individuals who made this “investment” can get something in return aside from the false promises! Tim, (edited for legal reasons) Dont be fooled! Stay away from any GV or Geekdom products
15 Dec 09
10:40 pm
The numbers regarding redundancies don’t stack up. At its height, Geekdom had 80 staff. About 20 (roughly) were made redundant in October and another 20 (roughly) were transferred with the sale of Geekversity. While this should leave 40 in the office, I have been told there are only 20 remaining.
Sadly, my attempts to clarify this and a few other questions have gone awry. Very few companies include contact numbers on press releases and then don’t return calls, but Photon chairman Tim Hughes and chief executive Matthew Bailey currently are in their own class. They have also instructed all staff to send media inquiries – particularly those from The Advertiser – through a subsidiary, City PR, where no comment is made by its director, Tim Allerton. Strangely enough, this lack of communication only started when I wrote an article about Geekdom and its problems.
From a professional perspective, I am more inclined to give credit to companies whose senior officers are able to front the media. Those that hide tend to have something to hide.
Russell Emmerson, The Advertiser
17 Dec 09
11:43 am
Just another unhappy GV student, I have also been waiting a number of months for my refund, after sending in my cancellation letter there has been NO communication from GV, not surprising really. The ethics of the ‘powers to be’ are non-existent!!! Stop hiding behind false lies, PR companies, come clean, have respect for your disgruntled customers and for yourselves for that matter. Do the right thing!!!
17 Dec 09
9:59 pm
As someone who has been closely associated with GV both inside and out I can say they tried to deal with a lot of false promises made by (edited for legal reasons)
Troy tried to recover and do the right thing by his customers and the right thing legally.
17 Dec 09
10:48 pm
(Edited for legal reasons)
17 Dec 09
11:17 pm
I have been involved with GV/Geekdom as a student and also friends of previous and current owners. Once owned by the corporate Photon they seem to have totally fallen apart and not understood the skill required to deliver.
(Edited for legal reasons).
18 Dec 09
12:25 am
@Don’t believe the bull you must have worked in a bloody different GV office to me.. (edited for legal reasons)
The only good thing they did was let me go so i didn’t have to go down with them.
18 Dec 09
12:37 pm
Troy is a very intelligent “can do” man with big dreams and loads of energy. Others may think he’s a (edited for legal reasons) but I’m sure he thought GV was a good product. Bet Tim Hughes is mighty cross – might even make Troy sell his car… house?
18 Dec 09
12:59 pm
For legal reasons, we’re going to have to close comments on this post.
For consumers trying to reach others in the same situation, I suggest following the above link to the Facebook group.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella