Sensory Branding

Contact a stockbroker, either by phone or online, and tell them you want to buy Facebook shares, which will be available under the FB ticker.

There is a straightforward search facility on the website of the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers, an industry body. Go to the “find a firm” section of its website and highlight the search for “international dealing”.

A few years ago it was near-impossible to buy overseas stocks from the UK, but the process is now pretty easy.

See Katherine Rushtons full article at The Telegraph

WPP is a billion dollar global advertising agency. So why does their website resemble something more akin to a village library website, or even a mobile library website – okay maybe it’s not that bad.

It is curious though, why such a valuable business, with an estimated valuation of $15 billion, and whose business is media, would fall so short. It really is hard to understand why the World’s largest advertising agency would present such a poor effort, small back street agencies routinely have better websites.

Maybe it’s because the site is aimed at share holders and investors. In that case though why not make it impressive, this site makes a conscious decision not to impress. Designed pre-broadband, it looks out of date the footer suggests it was created in 1999. So let’s get it straight WPP a billion dollar media company, that owns dozens if not hundreds of advertising, branding and design companies is represented by 13 years old website. In this fast moving age that’s about 93 in internet years. Considering what it should be, pound for pound the WPP website is a seriously below par performer.

Such neglect and poor design can also seen in many of the other advertising agencies under the WPP umbrella, such as Y&R – what the hell? zero UX zero information design. These are the cream of advertising agencies that produce incredible work. Great companies with talented people but why are their websites so poor?

a) Lack of time
b) Lack of interest
c) Lack of investment

Do you work for WPP, I would love to hear your thoughts on this. And if you’re reading this Sir Martin Sorrell why is WPP.com is the worst website online today?

Google + is Launched

Beta BBC

Facebook Timeline – see how will brands use timeline.

Re-branding video from Saffron. Check the ending, they have brilliantly encapsulated A1’s new brand world – happy customers inside the brand logo – inside the physical store – inside the website. Powerful stuff