All Posts By

Marijean

Marijean Oldham (Jaggers), a social media specialist and public relations professional, is president and CEO of Jaggers Communications LLC, a strategic communications firm based in Charlottesville, Va.

Nov 10
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The Launching of a New Brand Identity: Six Concepts to Consider

By Communications, Jaggers Communications News, Public Relations

For a couple of years and a number of client projects, I’ve collaborated with Watermark Design to bring design excellence and solid web development to my clients. That was why, when it came time for me to focus on the creation of my own firm’s brand identity, there was no where else I’d rather turn.

I’ve worked with so many brands to help them with new design or redesign; working on this inward-facing project was a different experience! While, as an entrepreneur, I enjoy having the opportunity to make decisions on my own, it was great to have people to whom I could turn with great style, a good eye and opinions I deeply trust.

Wes and Darcey at Watermark have a great process and it was exciting to sit through it as the customer instead of a partner or collaborator. The logo that resulted from our conversations is exactly what I’d hoped to have. Some of the considerations Watermark asked me to ponder included:

  1. The gender of the identity. I was pretty adamant that I didn’t want the logo to be too feminine. It needed to be neutral in color and in style.
  2. The personality. I didn’t want a logo that was too serious or corporate and yet, since the clients I wish to attract are both of these, it needed to convey a larger-firm feel. I also want the brand identity to continue to fit my growing business. I think this meets both of those needs.
  3. The message. When I told Wes that the name of my blog is “Change the Conversation” I could see the wheels in his head begin spinning out of control. The interlocking J and C portrayed as speech bubbles conveys both communications and a conversation and I LOVE the look of them.
  4. The style. With the platforms I use frequently a mark as well as a stylized version of the company name is what I was looking for. I want to be able to use the mark (the JC speech bubbles) independently and to have the brand identified by the mark, even when it appears without the name.
  5. The font. Upon seeing the logo, someone said, “I like the hugging Gs.” Something about the font in the name appealed to me right away — I like to think it is a nod to relationships and how we’re all, somehow, entertwined.
  6. The colors! Oh, this was the hard part, for sure, and the time when I had to pull in my cadre of friends in marketing and design to solicit their opinions. I wavered, I waffled, but I’m very pleased with where I landed. Green was almost a sure thing as one of the elements, as my interest in science, green business and energy and the work I continue to do in these areas is a focus. The blue is a beautiful accompaniment; the two work so well together and I think, offer just the overall look I desired for my business.

I’d love to know what you think of the new look!

Nov 09
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Top 3 Questions asked at Social Media Speaking Gigs

By Communications, Social Media

I’ve been doing a lot of speaking about social media for the last several years but have done a number of larger presentations focused on specific industries in recent months. It’s interesting for me to consider the challenges of attracting specific and different audiences and building communities of and for different kinds of people.

No matter the audience, the same three questions come up:

  1. How do you do it all?
  2. What should we do first?
  3. How do we get more fans?
The answers:
  1. I don’t do everything; I focus my efforts on a few things, namely, blogging, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and on producing quality content for speaking engagements and business building outreach in my community. I delegate when I can and I say no when I’m overburdened. I’ve limited my volunteer efforts significantly and rely on technology to help me manage my time for the rest. 
  2. First, you should make sure your infrastructure is sound, and by that I mean you have a quality website that works and provides you the ability to publish content (i.e. a blog). Once this is accomplished, then sharing across social platforms is the next, natural step. 
  3. How many fans do you really need? Concentrate on developing real relationships and providing valuable content and real, engaged, loyal fans will find and support you. 
If you have a group that would be interested in a fun, informative social media learning session, let me know.
Nov 07
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Social Media Success: Forget about the Numbers!

By Social Media

I’ve been working a lot with clients to develop plans, to track the analytics and success of campaigns, to measure our progress against goals and count the eyeballs viewing content and equating that to footsteps in the door or orders placed online.

But today, I want everyone to stop and forget about the numbers.

It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking about the traffic — the pageviews, the visits, the unique visitors — and forget, for a bit, anyway that these numbers represent people and relationships.

So whether your website sees 10 visits today or 10,000, instead of the numbers, think about what you’re giving to the people who are interested enough in you, your business, your products and services that they’ve come to visit, to read your content and to ask a question, leave a comment, click “like” or share your blog post with a friend. Who are these kind and generous souls behind these numbers? If you don’t know, today’s the day to find out.

Nov 04
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WTF Happened to my Klout Score?

By Social Media

Lately, the Twitterverse has been FREAKING OUT over dropping Klout scores. It IS kind of a rude shock to check in on Klout and suddenly discover your score has dropped 50 points orWTF? so. What’s even more confusing to some is the sudden jump in scores (not that they’re complaining), but WTF does this all mean?

Klout has been up front about the changes, publishing a blog post about re-configuring scores for “a more accurate, transparent score,”. Klout CEO Joe Fernandez shared the thinking behind the changed algorithm in a post the previous week.

A majority of users will see their Scores stay the same or go up but some users will see a drop. Some of our Scores here at the Klout HQ will drop (including mine) — our goal is accuracy above all else. We believe our users will be pleased with the improvements we’ve made.

This is a project that’s been under development for over three months, and, in many ways, over the three years since Klout started. We appreciate your trust and support and we can’t wait to hear what you think. We will let you know when this new model goes live next week and will continue to work to provide the deepest and most accurate insights into your influence possible.

I think the changes and the reasoning behind the are sound and that ultimately the score changes will even out and settle, providing a more accurate measure of influence for its users. The algorithm (in case this is all Greek to you) measures:

  • how many people you influence,
  • how much you influence them and
  • how influential they are.
    What do you think of Klout?

 

Nov 03
Love0

Sharing Your Personal Story in Your Professional Life

By Communications

My college graduation, with my husband and son.

At an event for a nonprofit I support the other night, I found myself sharing the personal story of my modest beginnings to a couple of acquaintances. I stopped, surprised at the level of information I was sharing and apologized for “vomiting my life story” all over them. (Thanks, Elizabeth and Eric for humoring me.) They protested and said it was interesting (so polite, those two!) but it got me to thinking. . .

Later in the program, up on a big screen, the donors to the nonprofit were featured. At all the nonprofit events I attend, there’s always recognition for contributors and I am always curious about the story behind why those individuals give. I want to know a) where their money came from, especially if it’s the kind of wealth one sees in Charlottesville) and b) what their personal connection is to the charity in question. Although improbable, wouldn’t it be fun to see a list of donors with, in parentheses behind each name there were answers to a and b?

So, for example, some donors names would have (Inheritance) behind it, or (Married it) or (Divorce settlement), or (Lawsuit). Perhaps (Whiskey) or (Plastics) if it’s old, family money. Even better are the ones whose names would be followed by (Earned it) and those are the stories I like the best.

The reasons people connect with charities are equally interesting to me (perhaps less amusing and gossipy than the money origins). I’m personally interested in education, health care (especially diabetes), social justice, care for the homeless and those living in poverty — all connected to struggles in my own background and the leg up I know can be so valuable for people trying to make their lives better. I devote my time, dollars and talent to nonprofits that serve the populations I want to support, and I’ll bet you do, too.

Do you share your personal story? Do you think it has value in business?