Q.Me CFM Wins Its First Award!

Start Up Calgary Award

Most Potential For Commercialization Of An ICT Tech.

Hollow Earth Wins A Startup Calgary award for “Most Potential for Commercialization of an Information & Technology Company”

Hollow Earth was happy to attend the second annual startup Calgary launch party located at Mount Royal University. The night was full of great people and the chance to rub shoulders with some of the thought leaders in the Albertan tech community. Additionally, a number of awards were given throughout the evening to a few of the outstanding startups based here in Calgary and Hollow Earth was proud to be included in this group.

The recent beta launch of their innovative customer flow management platform Q.Me won the award for “Most Potential for Commercialization of an Information & Technology Company”.

Over the past few weeks Q.Me has been allowing restaurant consumers to wait wherever they want until their table is ready. Utilizing SMS text messages to notify patrons waiting outside the establishment when their table is nearly ready to be seated, restaurants see an extension of their rush hours and seat more tables.

Next time you’re stuck in a restaurants waiting room think about how Q.Me could allow you to wait where you wanted with no restrictions.

ABOUT START UP CALGARY

Startup Calgary is all about community building. One of our main goals is to bring the IT based startup community in the city closer together. There’s a whole lot of amazing startup energy in the city that most Calgarians aren’t even aware of. Launch Party is the annual event for these enterprising companies to strut their stuff and get the support and recognition from the tech community. Launch Party is a fun evening of drinks, conversation, pitches and amazing demo’s!

Scan To Make A Difference This Holiday Season

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more info contact: Lina Chammoury, Edges Salon (403) 375-0000

Scan To Make A Difference This Holiday Season Unique and Innovated Way to Raise Hope from Local Calgary Salon December 10 & 11 / December 17 & 18 @ local malls and other local Calgary venues

(Calgary – Nov 24, 2011) Calgary’s Edges Salon & Spa is using an innovative technology to spread the message of hope and raise funds for children in need this holiday season. Edges Salon, Redken Canada, and Calgary’s leading Mobile & Social Media Agencies, Hollow Earth Media and ENGAGEIA, have put together a unique QR Code campaign (Quick Response) with the QR code shaved onto the back of heads and on t-shirts worn by a brigade of “hope” agents – local high school and college students – all in support of ONEXONE’s, “Help Feed A Child” fund.

QR Codes are specific two-dimensional codes that are readable by dedicated QR barcode readers. They bridge online information accessed from the offline world through the use of smartphones.

“Edges is the first salon to use the QR technology shaved onto heads and working with Hollow Earth Media and ENGAGEIA we have raised the bar for creative fund raising campaigns this holiday season,” says Lina Chammoury, Director of Marketing at Edges Salon & Spa. “The QR technology is immediate, so people can give and go, and their donations are instantly recognized allowing the money to be collected and distributed nearly instantly. We want to raise as much money as we can to support ONEXONE’s fight against child poverty and hunger.”

For three years Edges Salon has been a major fundraiser for ONEXONE with their annual cut-a-thon raising more than $25,000.

“Over the years we have been so grateful to work with Mike & Lina and the Edges Team. Their commitment and passion for ONEXONE and the children of our country is truly remarkable. We are honored to have them as members of our family,” says Joelle Adler, Founder of ONEXONE.

How it works:

When the QR haircut has been scanned, audiences will be prompted to make a $5 donation by text message or credit card. In return for their support, participants will receive free REDKEN products, exclusive mobile coupons at Edges Salon & Spa locations and be entered into a mobile contest with further Edges Salon Gifts.

To show support & donate: ensure mobile device is equipped with a QR code scanner. To download a QR scanner, text the word ‘SCAN’ to the 5-digit number 70734. You can also follow #ScanYYC on Twitter or Like the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ScanYYC

“This past year ushered in a host of changes in the world of marketing, effective brand promotion, and nurturing customer relationships. When envisioning this campaign, we knew we had to bring on a team that both understood the recent shift in consumer behavior and how to optimize the campaign based on that”, says Jaime Iredale, CEO & Co-Founder of Hollow Earth Media. Hollow Earth will be managing the mobile components of the campaign & ENGAGEIA the strategic online positioning.

“The Scan To Make A Difference‟ initiative may very well be the head-tuner needed to grasp people‟s attention to inform them of what a great cause this is, and provide an innovative way to show their support” Says Kent Speakman, President of Engageia & one of iMedia‟s Top 10 Digital Marketers of 2011.

About ONEXONE - ONEXONE’s mission is to improve the lives of children in Canada, the USA and around the world with programs dedicated to five fundamental pillars: water, health, education, play and food.

LEARN MORE: Web: www.onexone.org | Twitter: @onexone

About Edges Salon & Spa - Edges Salon & Spa is a concept salon with a difference. They understand the needs of today’s busy women and men. That’s why they have created two urban retreats for you with a social conscience. They work to make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized. They support many local and global initiatives and Edges Salon & Spa is proud to sponsor organizations such as, The Calgary Women‟s Shelter with the Butterfly Program that was especially designed by Edges for them, and ONEXONE that helps fight child poverty locally and globally. Edges Salon & Spa proudly carries Redken products.

LEARN MORE – Web: www.edgessalonandspa.com | Twitter: @EdgesSalon

About Hollow Earth Media - Hollow Earth Media is a thought-provoking, creative powerhouse, providing forward-thinking businesses with the best of both worlds: Agency & Technology. Hollow Earth specializes in advertising, mobile apps & web, mobile platforms, social-mobile integration, custom QR codes, and branding.

LEARN MORE: Web: www.hollowearthmedia.com | Twitter: @holowearthmedia

About ENGAGEIA - ENGAGEIA provides clients and partners with digital strategy, advisory, consulting, social media, community engagement, application development, event activation and start-up incubation. They are in the Top 5 Finalists in North America for Social Media Agency of the Year in the iMedia Agency Awards.

LEARN MORE: Web: www.ENGAGEIA.COM | Twitter: @ENGAGEIA

About Redken: Redken is a leading manufacturer of professional haircolor, haircare, and styling products, where superior technology is balanced with the industry’s best educators and a street sense of fashion that keeps Redken on the cutting edge. Redken is available and guaranteed only at fine salons in Canada.

LEARN MORE: Web: www.redken.ca | Call: 1.866.9.REDKEN

Do You Scan QR Codes Yet?

Designer QR Code By Hollow Earth Media

With the holiday season approaching and shopping lists being assembled, will you be making informed purchase decisions? The speed at which information can be shared or looked up in this day and age can help insure that you are. Your mobile phone probably never leaves your side so there is no better tool to access pertinent information on any product you have your eyes on. Brands around the world are starting to see this trend and are implementing technologies to help consumers make their informed decisions on the fly. The most prevalent way that data is being shared so quickly is through the use of QR codes and the respective scanning applications found for all smartphone operating systems.

QR codes have slowly started to emerge in the North American markets after huge success in Asia and Europe in the past number of years. Many companies are starting to see the value in having the ability to instantly transform traditionally static advertisements into deep levels of engagement through the mobile channel. Not only are levels of interaction much higher when QR codes are integrated, but companies also have the opportunity to provide much more information about products or services. The possibilities of QR integration are endless with the potential to allow consumers to purchase products directly from their phones upon scanning the code. Weather you are a business owner or an everyday consumer make sure you don’t forget about how useful these small 2D codes can be.

Be sure to have your phone ready this holiday season to scan the first QR code you see because there is sure to be a few kicking around. If QR codes were new to you before this post we would love to help you jump into mobile world. Feel free to e-mail us here at Hollow Earth with any questions you may have about the mobile world or leave us a comment.

If your looking to find the right scanning application for your smartphone text the word ‘SCAN’ to 70734 in Canada, or ‘QRCODE’ to 55678 in the U.S. to be directed to links that will allow you do download the most effective QR code scanner available for your phone.

Happy shopping!

Hollow Earth Partners With Engageia Agency

Hollow Earth partners up with Engageia Agency to provide a seamless social and mobile integration. We believe that any business looking to engage and develop lasting relationships with their consumers must begin looking to these channels to ensure any campaigns success. Engageia has built award-wining campaigns for numerous businesses around the world and continues to push industry standards in online interactivity and engagement. Working closely with new and existing clients, we bring fully integrated campaigns that have not yet been seen in the industry.

-The Engageia team prides itself on creating custom fit solutions and strategies that are simple to roll out into an organization, and for the end user to engage with. Our worldwide relationships with thought leaders, technology and finance partners supercharge every project we take on. We challenge ourselves every day to learn though research, best practice and intelligence gathering and disseminate that knowledge to our clients and the industry via conferences, whitepapers and articles.-

Engageia’s Specialties

strategy, social media, consulting services, media buying, public relations, capital partners

We are looking forward to future integrated projects, which promise to make waves in the digital marketing community.

Have A QR Code? Don’t Forget Mobile Web!

As QR codes begin to penetrate the Canadian market it is obvious that many businesses are starting to integrate mobile technology into their strategies. For those of you who may not know what a QR code is yet, they are similar to barcodes that retailers have used for years to track inventory and price in their POS systems. The main difference is the data each can hold. QR codes are set on a 2D matrix that can hold thousands of units of information in a relatively small space. Their ability to transmit data of all kinds makes the QR a great way for businesses to make the first steps towards engaging their consumers through the mobile channel.

Interactive QR AdONE EXAMPLE OF A QR CODE ADVERTISEMENT ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT

So why use QR codes? QR Codes turn your static ads into interactive messages by enabling your consumers to acquire and retain information from transitory media such as print ads, web ads, promotional apparel, and other printed marketing materials. They can link consumers to rich digital content such as pictures, videos, and audio; activate a number of phone features such as email, SMS, MMS, and IM; connect the mobile device to a web browser, and much more.

This being said, it is still essential to have proper strategies in place for this medium to be effective. Many businesses feel that by simply integrating a code into a current advertisement or piece of literature, they are utilizing the mobile channel; this is far from the truth. There must be a valuable call-to-action enticing people to scan your code and it is essential to fully integrate mobile across your entire mix for any type of mobile initiative to truly be effective.

This is where mobile websites and/or WAP landing pages become essential. There is nothing that turns mobile web users away from engaging with your site more than having your QR link them to a non mobile version of your website. Optimizing your existing site for the mobile phone can often be a very simple process where large content is minimized and slow loading content like pictures or videos is removed to ensure the best experience for users. A WAP landing page is a much simpler version of a mobile website that people get directed too. These often have a simple white background and businesses only include the pertinent information they are trying to convey. QR Codes are designed to be scanned by a phone so it should be a logical addition to have it connected to a website that is designed for a phone.

Jägermeister QR CampaignThis Jägermeister flyer for example has fantastic call to action, offering a grand prize that provides a large amount of value to consumers. Who wouldn’t want to win a trip for 2 to vegas?  Upon scanning the code it brings you to a contest page that is not optimized for mobile devices. Not only is it frustrating for non-touch screen devices like traditional Blackberries but it will also take people twice as long to enter the contest, killing the engagement factor. I cannot stress enough the importance of directing your QR traffic to mobile pages to ensure your consumers fully connect and interact with your brand.

Over the last few years the number of mobile web users has tremendously increased with a Neilson Company report stating the growth rate is 30% per annum. Another report released by Merrill Lynch claims that by 2013 mobile phones will overtake personal computers as the most commonly used web access devices. These are just a few reasons why in todays competitive markets, mobile web is a necessity for any forward-business and a first step towards going mobile.

As mobile begins to flourish now is the time to steer your marketing and advertising budgets toward this versatile medium as it begins to outperform traditional means of delivering your message. People want to receive information instantly and easily during their busy days, and the best place to give it to them is right in their hands. By ensuring your mobile initiatives are fully integrated you will see much better results, ROI, and higher levels of engagement. The popularity of social media and its relationship building ability with businesses of all sizes should be a key indicator of the path marketing is headed.

When you fully strategize your mobile initiatives, your chances of success greatly increase. By ensuring you have a mobile website (or WAP landing page) and a call to action that provides value, your business can connect and engage consumers virtually anywhere. Mobile is an excellent tool to use when extending any traditional forms of proven media and it is the medium in which consumers react to in a measurable way.

Much like social media, it is only a matter of time before every business realizes that mobile initiatives are a must have. Three years ago, hardly any businesses took social media seriously. Now, every ad whether it be tv, radio, print, or web has Facebook & Twitter references through icons, links, etc.

Mobile is next… Are you ready?

Hollow Earth Media Proud To Announce TPE At Tiff.

The Teenage Paparazzo Experience presented by Madflower Creative Group has announced the second Canadian stop on its international tour. The festivities will take place at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be hosted by Adrian Grenier and Evan Ferrante. Hollow Earth Media is proud to announce its sponsorship of the event providing mobile strategies to engage audiences across the country. Partnering with the social media experts atEngageia, we are encouraging audiences to connect and be a part of the experience through multiple media outlets.

For anyone looking to start their engagement the event is offering two prize packages for lucky fans. The first being a chance to win two passes to the film screening, two gift bags and one signed DVD of the film. The second package up for grabs has two VIP passes to the reception, two tickets for the film screening, and the opportunity to attend the meet and greet with Adrian and Evan.

To enter there are four easy steps

  1. Create a blank new SMS message.
  2. Enter 70734 into the “TO” area of the message.
  3. Input ‘TPE’ to be entered into the first giveaway.
  4. Once you have entered the keyword into the message body (TPE or Adrian) all you need to do is press SEND! To enter both contests continue to step 5.
  5. Input ‘Adrian’ into a new message body and repeat step 4.

Here at Hollow Earth Media we are extremely excited about this event and are thrilled to be involved with such a project. Dates for the full list of Canadian tour stops will soon be announced on the official site of the Canadian Teenage Paparazzo Experience. Hope to see you there!

Please Check out the experience on Facebook

-TEENAGE PAPARAZZO documents the true story of a relationship between a 13 year-old paparazzo (Austin Visschedyk) and Adrian Grenier, the star of the HBO series Entourage. Inspired by a chance encounter with Visschedyk during a night out, Grenier (who previously directed the documentary Shot in the Dark) decides, for a change, to turn the cameras on the paparazzi in an effort to document this unique teenager’s world. But the actor/director soon finds the project turning into a personal challenge as Grenier is forced to take responsibility for his influence on his subject’s life. As Visschedyk succumbs to the lure of fame, Grenier sets out to understand what makes that lure so powerful—hoping that he and Austin can find something more authentic than the relationship of mutual exploitation that now exists between them!-

New SMS Technology Based On Permission-Based Marketing

Hollow Earth Media, a Calgary-based mobile solutions firm who launched their services during the Calgary Stampede, have announced a full-scope campaign to provide companies with the latest in SMS and mobile marketing services and strategy work. The company boasts next-generational technology platforms built for companies looking to reach potential customers without resorting to volume-driven spam software.

Currently, 90% of text messages are opened within 3 minutes of being received. This statistic represents a shift in user habits as more people rely solely on their cell phones and smart phones to send and receive information. By 2013 mobile users are expected to overtake PCs as the most common web access device, establishing a need for trendsetting technologies and creative marketing solutions in the mobile industry. 85% of newly manufactured wireless handsets contain web browsers, and 69% of mobile customers are frequent SMS users. These trends represent opportunities for companies to stay ahead of the curve in their customer reach while maintaining a sophisticated public image by throwing away old-fashioned marketing methods like spam and junk mail.

Hollow Earth Media has been ahead of these trends, developing mobile solutions, which are non-intrusive and revolutionary in delivery. The company’s services also include graphic design, commercial photography, video design and developmental work in web, mobile applications and mobile optimized web services. Additionally, the company is one of few global firms with the ability to create designer QR codes, by pairing technology & mathematics with impressive design work. By integrating all these services under one roof, the company is in a unique position to handle full-service campaigns on both technological and creative capacities.

“Today, statistics show that only 33% of all businesses have a mobile marketing strategy, less than 50% of businesses have a mobile websites, and even fewer have developed their own applications. This presents forward-thinking businesses with an opportunity to be ahead of the mobile curve and to gain competitive advantage in their respective industries,” said Jaime Iredale, co-founder of Hollow Earth.

Hollow Earth Media is a Creative Agency specializing in mobile solutions for the entertainment, retail/CPG, automotive, political, educational and real estate markets. The company’s credo centers around acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm – a philosophy which fosters these core values and translates them into successful ventures with satisfied, repeat clients.

For additional information, please text ‘HEM’ to 70734

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.