• 25 Storylines We’re Anticipating Ahead of Super Bowl 50

    As PR/social media/content creation pros, we’re all natural born storytellers at Matter.

    During these two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, there is a huge vacuum to fill on the airwaves, on sports (and now more than ever) entertainment blogs, newspapers, magazines, websites, etc.  So we are here to help. Inspired perhaps by the song “88 Lines About 44 Women” here are “25 Storylines about Super Bowl 50” – some we fully expect to see and a few we would like to.

    1. Peyton Manning vs. Cam Newton – Yes, quarterbacks simply get too much of the glory and the blame in these games. Also, QBs are never on the field at the same time, but the “wily old vet” versus the young buck is always a compelling discussion thread and this one is already on full throttle.
    2. Tennessee vs. Auburn – No matter how long guys are in the NFL they still love their alma maters and they love to trash talk. This SEC rivalry isn’t the strongest right now, but it does add to the intrigue. It’s one more layer to storyline one, SEC East (Manning’s Vols) vs. SEC West (Newton’s Tigers).
    3. Rest for the Wicked? – How much will a week’s rest help Manning’s ailing right arm? He has trouble hitting the 20-yard out play with regularity and if last Sunday is any indication, he’ll fade in the second half and the dying quail throws will emerge.
    4. Under PRESSure – Why has the national media essentially ignored the Manning-HGH issue? We seem to remember another big-time QB getting hammered in the media at this time last year and wonder why Peyton gets a free pass.  Where’s Michael Lewis when we need a real investigative journalist? Will DeadSpin, Bleacher Report or even TMZ Sports uncover some new sources and use the eve of the game to break open a new element to this HGH story?
    5. Singing the Unsung’s Praises – In big games, big players make big plays, or so goes the cliché. But it is not always the household name that does so in the Super Bowl. What do Malcolm Butler, J.R. Redmond, Jack Squierek, and David Tyree have in common? What lesser-known player steps up with a huge interception, blocked kick, fumble recovery or touchdown to turn the tide? It’s one of the better sub-plots to follow.
    6. Coaching Matters – Nether Gary Kubiak nor Ron Rivera are mentioned as the top minds in the game today and neither has coached in a Super Bowl. Yet, both are respected and have been to Super Bowls as players or assistant coaches. Who has the edge and how much does coaching matter on this big stage? Just ask Pete Carroll or his offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
    7. Net Neutrality – Pats fans know all too well how much of an impact the raucous Denver crowd had on the AFC Championship game. What impact does the neutral site have on this game and whose team will “travel better”? This one would appear to be a toss-up.
    8. Arrested Developments – Unfortunately, boys will be boys and trouble can easily be found, during an off-week and all its distractions. Hello Chandler Jones? Which player will get arrested or do something dumb to earn a little time on the pine or worse, a suspension?
    9. Wild Horses – The Denver running game was largely bottled up by The Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Yet, it is a strength of the Kubiak offense. Can Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson run through or around the Panther D in the big game?  Expect more from these two even though Carolina had the third-best run defense (69 yards allowed this year.
    10. Gospel of Luke – Former BC linebacker Luke Kuechly is an underrated superstar who doesn’t get the national attention he deserves despite being among the elite at his position. That changes Sunday at about 9 PM EST.
    11. Dancing and Dabbing – Newton seems to have cornered the market on dabbing this year in the NFL but if Manning rumbles for a TD run, might he show off his moves? Let’s hope not. And it says here Newton will and should show his emotions after scoring. It’s entertainment, folks.
    12. Will Coldplay Bring the Heat? – Nothing will ever top U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” tribute to 9/11 victims in the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans (Pats win over Rams) but Chris Martin and the boys should definitely outdo some of the underwhelming recent Super gigs (Madonna? Please, Beyoncé, etc.)
    13. All-Points Bulletin – “Bulletin board material” is eschewed by our beloved Patriots, but someone on Denver or Carolina is bound to say something to a reporter or let loose on twitter or Instagram that they will regret. Who will it be and will it backfire?
    14. Turnovers Tell the Tale – Carson Palmer had more turnovers than a bakery vs. Carolina last Sunday and he had a helluva year for the Cards. How does that bode for Manning?  Good news for Denver fans is Hilllman and Anderson protect the ball.
    15. Strength vs. Strength – Irresistible forces (Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Greg Hardy) vs. immovable objects (Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, DeMarcus Ware). Something has to give. Those battles could be epic.
    16. Old Vs. New (Chapter 1) – Denver has had an NFL team (AFL actually back then) since 1959 and this is the Broncos’ fourth Super Bowl appearance; upstart Carolina did not debut until 1996. Their only other Super Bowl appearance came in 2004 against… you guessed it, New England and the Pats prevailed 32-29 in a nail biter.
    17. The Zebra Watch – All season long the NFL refs have been in a word, awful. Inconsistency has been their only consistency and in several cases, blown calls have directly affected out comes of big games.  To their credit, the officiating crews in the playoffs this year have been pretty good; very good in fact in the Championship rounds.  If they are not the story, that will be a story. Let ‘em play.
    18. What Happens in Vegas – Carolina is a currently a 3.5 favorite. That sounds really low considering the beat down they gave Arizona. Where will the smart money be going? One man’s vote is Carolina and the over. But the fan in me is looking for the proverbial “close enough to keep it interesting.”
    19. Close Encounters – The past two decades have produced a number of Super Blow Outs including two Denver appearances (2014 and 1990). Can Denver keep it close? Will Carolina start slow and then start to tense up?  Who wins this one if it comes down to the fourth quarter or OT?
    20. Doubting Thomas – Denver’s big tight end Demaryius Thomas is a physical specimen whose inconsistent play, especially in big games, is puzzling, if not downright frustrating to Broncos fans. If he steps up and makes a few big catches, particularly in the Red Zone, Denver has a chance.
    21. Mad Men and Ad Men – From an advertising standpoint, which brand will steal the show and have everyone talking during and after the game? Will the best ads trend old school and actually launch on the CBS broadcast or might we see something first on Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere. Who’s likely to kick off killer creative – GEICO? Bud Light? Go Daddy? Nationwide? Under Armour?
    22. Peyton’s Place – Often derided – especially here in New England – for a sub-par post-season record and “only” one ring, Manning can pen the ultimate script to the ending of a stellar career with a win – just like his boss, John Elway.
    23. New Nationwide Jingles – Speaking of Nationwide, we all know the “chicken parm you taste so good” jingle but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. Here are a few that might be suitable replacement. Peyton wants to win one more. Cam Newton’s a football God. Hope we get a decent game. Wonder who will this one?
    24. Old vs. New (Chapter 2) – Does anyone care about DraftKings and FanDuel for the rest of the year? Or are the fantasy sites taking a back seat to the good old fashioned office and bar-room pools where you buy a square and hope for the winning score at the end of the quarter and game? One thing is for certain, that is a purely game of luck and not skill!
    25. Best Super Bowl Performance Ever? – There are so many qualified candidates and so many ways to judge this. Is it a team or individual award? Clutchest field goal kick? Adam Vinatieri vs. Rams in 2002. Boldest prediction that was backed up? New York Jet QB Joe Willie Namath in Super Bowl III vs. the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Toughest running performance – Marcus Allen rambled for 191 yards on 20 carries against Washington in Super Bowl XVIII. Most dominating defense? Chicago Bears in 1985 over the then hapless Patriots. And of course the four rings won by Tom Brady and his fellow Bay Area idol Joe Montana usually top most lists.

    What have we missed? What stories are you hoping to hear or read between now and kick off on Feb. 7?

    Matter

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  • 5 Tips for the Traveling Videographer

    5 Tips for the Traveling Videographer

    If you are a professional in the Video industry, chances are you find yourself spending a lot of time in airports, hotels, and rental cars. Traveling is my favorite part of my job, mostly because of the sense of freedom and opportunity to see new places. With that said, I do not think there will ever be a time when I can travel as light as my PR colleagues, who show up to the airport fully prepared with only their laptop, a notebook, and a couple changes of clothing. I have spent a lot of time over the past few years flying around the country conducting shoots for our clients, and wanted to share a few tips that might help ease some of the stress you will inevitably encounter during your next voyage.

    Pack Heavy and Keep your Baggage Minimal: In the video production world, “traveling light” is not in our vocabulary. Practically every shoot will require multiple cameras, tripods, lights, and a steadicam rig. Right away, a two-person crew’s hands are filled with cases of necessary gear. Since most of this is going to be checked at the gate anyways, we always try to cram jackets, toiletry bags, or extra pairs of shoes into whatever spare room lies within these cases. It helps alleviate the weight that would be otherwise carried around the terminal in a backpack and stuffed into an overhead compartment, or underneath the seat in front of you. Once you arrive at your destination, send someone to get the rental car while the other waits back at the terminal with the monstrous bags of equipment. Your arms and back will thank you later.

    Keep your Commute Short: When booking travel arrangements, be sure to look up the address where the shoot is taking place. Once this information is confirmed, see where the closest (halfway decent) hotel is. If it’s available, book it! You will thank yourself the next morning when you’re spending a few extra minutes sleeping off the jet lag, instead of fighting off the morning rush hour traffic.

    Find a Window of Personal Time: Many times the destination cities are places you may have never been to before, and who knows when you’ll have a chance to make it back there. Try to spend a few minutes before traveling to figure out when there might be a little bit of down time. If you don’t need to be on location until 10 or 11 AM, go get coffee near that landmark you’ve always wanted to take a photo of. If you flew in around the dinner hour, then it may behoove you to find a restaurant that specializes in local cuisine. As I grow older, it also seems like more and more friends are moving away. Business trips give you a great reason to make an after hours pit stop to catch up with those you haven’t seen in a long time.

    Bring Something Else to Work On: As refreshing as it is to break the day-to-day routine and spend a little time out of the office, that first day back at home base is just around the corner. When this day comes, there will be a mountain of unread emails to go through and reply to. While it’s not possible to bring all projects with you, see if there are a few things laying in your queue that are close to the finish line. You’ll feel better knowing that something can be checked off your to-do list upon your return. For a three-day trip, I always try to bring at least two projects along with me, as well as some tutorials or brain exercise for the flights.

    Don’t Overstay Your Welcome: Get in, do what you need to do, and get out. There’s nothing worse than wrapping your shoot and then having to wait an extended amount of time before your flight home. If your company works with a travel service, its always smart to see what other flights are available around the time you’re scheduled to depart. Find one that’s on the early side, and one on the later side. Depending on how the shoot is going, you should be able to sense if your day is going to run a little early or late. I always keep the 1-800 number for our company’s travel partner in my phone in case an issue comes up. Typically, they can book you for another flight in the time it takes to hail a cab to the airport.

    It is my hope that some of the tips listed above will help keep your blood pressure in check while on the road. In less than 24 hours, I’ll be keeping these ideas in mind while traveling to North Carolina. I’m scheduled to land around 4; I think I’ll have barbecue for dinner. 

    Fill out the form below to schedule a free strategy call with our team.



     

    Matter

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  • 5 PowerPoint Design Tips for the PR Professional


    Here we are at the beginning of Q1, which for many PR pros can mean lots of planning meetings – and with that the creation of the ubiquitous PowerPoint deck. As a PR professional, you probably don’t fancy yourself a designer, and you may not have one available to you, so here are a few basics from our designers to help you create a visual presentation that works with your content, not against it.

    1 – Simplicity. You want the design of your deck to compliment your content, not compete with is. Keep your design as simple as possible by following the tips below and going for a modern “flat” design aesthetic – stay away from embellishments like drop shadows, bevel/embossing, 3-D effects or the image frame options provided. Nix the use of distracting animations for a simple fade transition between slides. Use solid colors, sharp corners and a minimum amount of imagery on the page so that the audience can keep it’s focus on your material.

    2 – Typography. Try to stick with the adage “show don’t tell” as much as possible. Using minimal copy, often as bullet points versus full paragraphs is always the ideal, but on the inevitable slide where you can’t cut down on word count, cut down on font size instead. Remember, this will be projected and/or printed out, so there’s no need to use 18 point font. A smaller font with more space between and around it is far more readable than a larger font that is crammed onto a slide. And use 2 fonts maximum – one for bolder header treatments and one for body copy.

    3 – Color. Keep your use of colors to 3 maximum. If you have colors that are your brand standard, take the guess work out of the equation and stick with those. If not, choose 2-3 visually contrasting shades that can be easily distinguished from each other. When used in shapes, charts or graphics, solid colors, or very subtle gradients are best.

    4 – Imagery. Stay away from the cheesy, overly-produced “stocky” photography or clip-art style graphics. Skip the cliched images of handshakes, puzzle pieces and lightbulbs turning on! Using real world, authentic-looking photography will maintain an air of legitimacy and professionalism to your deck. Also be aware of whether the image you’re using is properly licensed – IE, not just pulled from a Google Images search. There are plenty of legitimate sources for free or inexpensive stock photography that doesn’t take the bread out of a photographer’s mouth or land you legal trouble. Try the Flickr Creative Commons image library for free licensed photography, or Shutterstock for inexpensive photos and vector graphics..

    5 – Consistency. When you’re done creating your deck, don’t just go back and proof the copy – check your design elements as well. Make sure that you’re using the same fonts and colors consistently. Try the “replace fonts” action as a foolproof way to check your fonts. Look at your headers and footers for any sizing, alignment or page numbering issues. Show the audience the importance you place on attention to detail in all aspects of your work.

    While there are a myriad of other tips and options, following just these 5 will help you produce a deck that’s clean, well-designed and leaves a lasting impression.

    Matter

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  • 4 Reasons Why Digital Video Will Win The Decade

    4 Reasons Why Digital Video Will Win The Decade

    Last week at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer at YouTube, presented the keynote on why digital video will win the decade – and video and content marketers should take note.

    But before diving in, let’s refer back to 2012 when Kyncl made some bold predictions. He said that by 2020, “90% of all internet traffic was going to be video traffic,” and “75% of all video people watched in the US was going to be transmitted through the internet.” Fast forward to the CES 2016 Keynote, Kyncl justified his predictions by educating the crowd:

    • “Cisco predicts that video will actually reach around 90% of global internet traffic by 2019 – so a full year ahead of schedule.”
    • “By 2020…digital video will only reach about 60% of the total pie, not 75, as predicted.”

    However, Kyncl is standing by his latter prediction because he doesn’t think digital video will grow linearly – currently at 25% a year – but exponentially. “So, this being Vegas, I’m doubling down. I believe digital video will overtake TV to become the single largest way people spend free time before the end of the decade,” states Kyncl.

    Per Kyncl, here are four reasons why digital video will win the decade:

    1. It’s inherently mobile

    Bigger, brighter and sharper screens, longer battery life, stronger and faster data speeds, and better sound quality are all trends producing devices constantly improving on the mobile video viewing experience. “And app makers and publishers, from Snapchat to The New York Times, are all investing in making video a core part of their experiences, accelerating mobile video consumption,” adds Kyncl. “And on YouTube, the average time people spend watching video on their mobile device is forty minutes, a gain of 50% year-on-year.”

    2. It’s endlessly diverse

    With digital video, not only can audiences share and search, but choose to consume at their leisure. The mobility is “successfully changing the way we consume video into the way we consume books – you can find one on whatever interests you and consume it whenever and wherever you want,” explains Kyncl. “That openness has led to incredible content diversity. Not only do we have videos on every topic imaginable, entirely new genres of video have been born on YouTube.”

    3. It’s never been more important to music

    Aside from sleeping and working, watching video is the #1 way people spend their time. What’s #2? Listening to music – at just over four hours a day. “And YouTube is a major source of that music,” Kyncl reports, “More than half of all teenagers use [YouTube] as their main way to find and listen to new artists, in large part because we have the biggest and best music library available. If an artist has a live performance, a remix, an acoustic version or an out of print track, chances are you can find it on YouTube. But the best thing about music on YouTube is that music videos can become massive phenomena, whether they’re from established or emerging artists.”

    4. It’s immersive in a way TV can never be

    CES 2016 product and technology trends in Virtual Reality and 360 video are at the forefront of this statement, and leading content creators around the world are using this technology to tell richer, immersive, and interactive stories.

    “Already on Android and soon in iOS, you’ll be able to watch any video on YouTube in VR…making VR truly democratic and primed to grow exponentially,” concludes Kyncl.

    These four reasons and trends all point to digital video’s success during the decade.

    To watch Robert Kyncl’s Keynote in its entirety with compelling cameos from Scooter Braun, founder of SB Projects, Nick Woodman, CEO of GoPro, and Chris Milk, CEO of Vrse, carve out an hour for the video below:

    Fill out the form below to schedule a free strategy call with our team.



    Tim Bradley

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  • 3 Video Trends for 2016

    2015 was a great year for online video – just check out the excellently crafted and entertaining #YouTubeRewind video. And there’s no signs of the momentum slowing as we enter 2016. From a communication professional’s perspective, I’d like to offer-up three trends that will likely have the greatest impact on how video will influence the industry in 2016.

    1. Mobile Video

    50% of video views will be via mobile in 2016. And more specifically, the biggest video platform of them all and the one that reaches more 18-49 year-olds than any cable network in the U.S., YouTube, supports that more than half of their video views come from mobile devices. Adults in the U.S. spend an average of 5.5 hours watching video each day, with 1 hour and 16 minutes of that on digital devices. Mobile video should be the biggest consideration for online communicators, especially in public relations and content marketing.

    2. Attention Spans and Viewing Habits

    Mobile devices and their connected counterparts (aka TVs) will continue to contribute to video viewing behaviors and ultimately increased attention spans. 81% of consumers watch videos longer than 10 minutes, and 65% watch videos longer than 30 minutes. Holistically, the number of hours people spend watching videos on YouTube has increased by 60% year-over-year. For mobile YouTube audiences, the average viewing session is now greater than 40 minutes. One interesting tidbit to note is that the weather can actually impact viewing habits; viewers watch 29% longer in cold weather while consumers watch 6x more video content on mobile devices during warm weather.

    3. Demand and Advertising

    According to Cisco’s staggering numbers, video traffic will be 69% of all consumer internet traffic in 2017 and could reach 80% by 2019. Fortunately, video converts better than any other medium according to approximately 70% of marketing professionals, likely due to the fact that the average click-through-rate for video advertisement is higher than any other digital advertisement.

    1+1=$

    YouTube’s mobile revenue has doubled year over year, and according to an eMarketer study, mobile ad spend will top $100 billion which accounts for more than 50% of the digital market. Despite all this, there’s still a huge opportunity for digital content marketers and advertisers in 2016, as only 24% of brands are using online video to market to consumers.

    Ultimately, video will have a remarkable role in how audiences engage online, as well as greatly influence content marketing and advertising budgets in 2016. Research shows 60% of companies who have a documented content marketing strategy rate themselves highly in terms of effectiveness, so it’s very important to have a documented video strategy for – and proceeding into – 2016.

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    Sources:
    https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/en-GB/statistics.html
    http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Mobile-Ad-Spend-Top-100-Billion-Worldwide-2016-51-of-Digital-Market/1012299
    http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/ip-ngn-ip-next-generation-network/white_paper_c11-481360.html
    http://www.codefuel.com/blog/video-marketing-statistics-for-2015-the-next-big-thing-is-here
    http://kantarmedia.us/insight-center/reports
    http://www.emarketer.com/Article/US-Adults-Spend-55-Hours-with-Video-Content-Each-Day/1012362
    http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2014/26719/2015-will-be-the-year-of-video-marketing
    http://www.reelseo.com/50-per-cent-video-views-mobile-2016/
    http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2016_B2C_Research_Final.pdf

    Tim Bradley

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