Geolocation is basically you telling the world where you are. This can be done through most mobile devices. You can check in on Foursquare, tweet with a geotag, or even let people know exactly where you are blogging from. Right now I’m blogging from my bed. I’m moving in a few days, so I’m ok with letting you know exactly where that bed is located.

CBC Hamilton has implemented geotagging into their brand new site that was launched today. They have hand selected Hamilton’s most online savvy folks, who are already creating the news in this city and they are funneling tweets, blogs and updates onto their site.

At first when I learned of what was planned for the new site I was a bit hesitant. I’m not a big fan of content scrapping. But after viewing the site, it’s clear that this is not what they are doing. CBC has done it in a way that the content highlights and enhances what is already there. I can now see where the hot spots are in Hamilton when it comes to food, shopping and…food. I personally only care about the food.

Our city already has an army of mini reporters, culture hunters and style makers. These folks are the first to know when that coffee shop is opening in your hood. They also know that the chocolate fudge brownie sold at that coffee shop is delicious and gluten free. They take a picture of that brownie, geotag it, and it becomes news.

I know what you’re thinking. “Chris, a dumb brownie isn’t news.” Of course, I’m using brownie as an example, but it could be be anything from a local event, traffic jam or a city council meeting. Whatever is of interest to that particular Twitter junkie. To me, it’s a brownie.

What does this mean to you as a local business?

HamOnlinians (People living online in Hamilton. I just made that up right now. Remember, I’m in bed writing this. It’s late. There is a good chance it’s not the best play on words I’ve ever come up with, but it’s not the worst!)…HamOnlinians are talking about you. And they are doing it in real time while they stand in your establishment. And starting today it will be broadcast to our nation on CBC. Whether you like it or not. So like it.

Make sure you encourage them to tweet/facebook/pinterest/yadda/yadda/yadda with appropriate signage in your store. “Find us on Foursquare.” “Tweet us!” “We’re Pinnable.” Give people a reason to share and they will.

Also, let them know that you’re listening. Get online, damnit! (I usually don’t use such vulgar language on this blog, but for heavens sake if you’re a business or brand that is not online, you probably have a gluten free brownie coming at your head sometime soon). These people you see in your shop with their face buried in their smartphone will be your biggest brand ambassadors if you let them.

CBC Hamilton site is the first of it’s kind in the country. Geotagging is not a new idea, but in the world of news, I’m surprised it didn’t catch on sooner. Everyone in Canada will be looking to this site as the digital map of where things in the media are headed. Be sure to geotag yourself so we can give them a good show!

So today, Meg, Margaret and I took a walk down to James St. We strolled into 118 James Street South, the new home to CBC. The space was beautiful. High ceilings covered in tin, hardwood floors, CBC colours, brand new Macs, and of course cupcakes from our good friends at Cake and Loaf. I was ready to move in. If I had brought a toothbrush and a change of underwear, I just might have.

It was great seeing the location, but also meeting all the CBC Hamilton staff. They seem very excited to be here in Hamilton and were amazed by the community support. A few showed us around and introduced us to a few CBC Toronto folk.

What does CBC Hamilton mean to this community?

“It’s in the genetic code of CBC Hamilton to innovate…What we are doing here in Hamilton is trying to forge a connection with all the talent in Hamilton…it will be a model that the best parts of it will migrate across the country…there’s a new frontier out there and it’s called ‘digital.” – Roger Gillespie, Executive Producer – CBC Hamilton

What CBC is doing in Hamilton is something new. Something that has never been done before. A marriage between what’s going on and where it’s happening; in real time.

They are also speaking to a crowd of people so often missed by the media. A young liberal crowd longing for change and to be heard. Giving these young people a voice will ensure that they stay in this city and continue to make it an awesome place to live, work and play.

What I really like about CBC is their real enthusiasm about Hamilton. They actually want to know what we care about as a community and want to cover that. What that exactly looks like in terms of a website, I don’t know. But come Thursday, when they launch, I will be just as excited to find out.

From everyone at kitestring, welocme to our city, CBC!

Fill out our quick survey about Hamilton and Burlington’s furry friends for a chance to win your choice of a $150 gift certificate to either Best Buy, Fortino’s or Cadillac Fairview!

The winner will be chosen at random after the survey closes on Wednesday, April 18th at 1:00pm. Completion of the survey as opposed to correct answers give you a chance to win.

Please answer honestly and candidly, without supplemental research.

Thank you for helping us help a local cause for animal welfare. Your email will not be used for any purpose outside of contacting the contest winner. All information obtained remains anonymous and confidential.

If you have any questions, please email meg@kitestring.ca.

HYPE is back! What’s the HYPE?

HYPE (Hamilton Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) is a casual networking group for all you young guns just getting your professional wings!
This HYPE’s theme surrounds swanky travel for your (taste)buds. That means tasty food, flights of beer, and… bring your friends!

Tell us you’re coming on FACEBOOK!

Wednesday, March 28th from 6pm till Whenever
Chester’s Beers of the World
Gore Park, Downtown #Hamont

HYPE Flight Beer Tasting 7$
Includes the following four worldly tipples:
1. Belgian Blonde
2. Turkish Pilsner
3. British IPA
4. Sri Lankan Stout

YUM! See you there!

When Hamilton’s Jeremy Freiburger and his team came to us to help them rebrand the Imperial Cotton Centre for the Arts, a long time arts organization, helping connect and build artists’ communities in the City of Hamilton, Burlington, Kitchener and beyond, here is what their initial thoughts of why they needed a rebranding process were:

“The name does not reflect the whole organization.”

“We’re well known, but confusing.”

“We’re lacking a brand path.”

“Need something for the consulting side of our business.”

After an intensive discovery session and a few weeks worth of research in the summer months of 2011, the kitestring creative team were inspired to turn the old ICCA brand and it’s three tiers of services (consulting, Cossart Exchange and space scouting and renovation) into one cohesive brand with an overall look and feel that would marry all components of the old brand. We knew the new brand would have to move away from confusion and become more recognizable in the Hamilton community. This brand needed to reflect the big things the ICCA was already doing. We got to work.

Inspiration:

In the early stages of research, we began by looking at other collaborative, creative communities and what it meant to be connected. In this stage, we also looked extensively at modern typefaces and geometric shapes.

Somewhere along the line, we had the big idea and turned to science to help us. Here is where we discovered the meaning of the element, on the periodic table, Cobalt.

After choosing the name, our team started preliminary logo development and exploring other brand elements and attributes.

With the periodic table element in mind, we even created infographics that are reminiscent of science formulas; they carefully encompass the overall structure of CoBALT CONNECTS. More of this can be found in the media section of the new CoBALT CONNECTS website.

“In a very basic sense, then, a social network is an organized set of people that consists of two kinds of elements: human beings and the connections between them.”

- Christakis and Fowler
 “Connected”

After refinement, a few tweeks, website building and brand application, today we congratulate the new CoBALT CONNECTS on the launch of their new brand and website. A great feature of the website is the directory section, creatives can sign up to be listed here. This will collectively hold all creatives working in the greater city of Hamilton and become the go-to place for this information. We truly believe that by redefining and rebranding, CoBALT CONNECTS will be an even larger catalyst for arts communities not only in the city of Hamilton but in the greater Southern Ontario region. We’ve created a versatile brand that will be as comfortable and appealing in an industrial and business setting as it would be amongst abstract artists. This new brand now has longevity and it’s communications and brand ark will be forcasted into future planning.

Visit the new CoBALT CONNECTS here: http://www.cobaltconnects.ca

And follow them on Twitter (formally the Cossart Exchange): @CoBALTCONNECTS

Like them on Facebook for the latest news and events: CoBALT CONNECTS

Get CONNECTED.

kitestring also redesigned Doug’s Real Estate ‘for sale’ and ‘open house’ signs. We created signs that aligned with Doug’s brand and also adhered to Remax guidelines. Doug decided to add a QR code to his rider signs, allowing a quick and innovative way for people in the neighbourhood to find out more about the homes Doug is representing. QR codes are a great way to gain instantaneous information; this will help put Doug ahead of his competitors.

Go ahead, give it a scan with your smartphone!

Who are the Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers? According to last week’s top story on Forbes’ website,  the fifth most influential person wielding social media power is none other than kitestring client, Scott Stratten, President of @UnMarketing!

The first time I met Scott, I remember thinking he was a nice guy with a smart message that encourages marketers to have higher ethical communication standards and reminds us all not to be passive consumers. At the time we were working with him on the design and development of his popular blog and website, I couldn’t have fully comprehended how poignantly influential and ultimately contagious  his manifesto would become.

The last time I saw Scott, he brought some Starbucks Christmas cheer into the studio. I was grateful and a little star-struck

Keep up the great work, Scott!

There’s this scene in Muppets Take Manhattan (my favourite of the Muppet movies) where Miss Piggy tricks Kermit into marrying him during an on-stage musical number. I love this scene. Ever since I was a kid this one scene has always made my heart swell. See, every Muppet has attended Kermit and Piggy’s wedding. And when I say every Muppet, I mean EVERY Muppet. Everyone from Gonzo to Bunson to Big Bird. Yes, even the Sesame Street Muppets have attended. I love this scene because it shows a community brought together over an amazing event.

This scene came to life for me on Friday night. Our community came out to support Culture for Kids in the Arts and it made my heart swell!

On Friday, December 16th, our night of pageantry, goodies, talent, music and fun filled Hamilton’s air with the holiday spirit!

Together, everyone who attended the third annual kitestring Christmas Spectacular at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts sponsored close to 355 deserving kids for one month of after school arts programming with Culture for Kids in the Arts (CKA)!

The event opened with an enormous Candiwerx candy buffet and the chance to enjoy a hot beverage from Red Hill Coffee Trade and delightful chocolate chip cookies courtesy of Cake & Loaf.

The holiday pageant seated 200 guests and featured talented children who study music and dance from the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts and a range of professional performers. kitestring would like to thank the conservatory’s artistic director Vitek Wincza and his team, who brought together some of the city’s finest entertainment for a great cause.

The pageant ended on a high note, with Gorilla Cheese sandwiches delivered to all seated guests on Hammer City Roller Girl wheels as a plethora of prizes were distributed to end the family friendly portion of the festivities.

kitestring is also happy to report that the Fezziwig after party was the perfect mix of friends, food, spiked Sweet Ice Snow Cones and festive rockabilly. The Greasemarks rocked the loft, as guests twisted with Millstreet beers or Chateau des Charmes wine in hand, surrounded by the sparkle of 400 feet of Innovation Factory twinkle lights. Cupcake Diner and Lunch Bags tastefully catered the party. Big Bee Convenience graciously provided enough ice that could have built an igloo on the patio.

We planned the type of party we wanted to attend, and thanks to the over 130 people who joined us at the Fezziwig, it was a huge success.

On behalf of our favourite local non-profit, Culture for Kids in the Arts, kitestring would like thank our event sponsors including the Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre, Today’s Family Early Learning and Child Care and Doug Folsetter RE/Max Sales Representative. We’d also like to thank Hamilton’s coolest food services businesses that volunteered their time and tasty treats and the local businesses that offered fun prizes to our guests.

Thank you also to the CKA board and the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts.

Happy holidays from kitestring!