The Summer Olympics just wrapped up and winning gold seems to be on everyone's mind! So how can you achieve the "gold standard" with your strategic communications plan? In this issue of Engage, we get the inside secrets from the winners of the American Society of Association Executives' 2008 Gold Circle Awards! Don't forget to check out the latest launches, and our video interview. If you get even one idea, we'd like to think Engage is worth reading (and now, watching)!

industry buzz

Cut. Paste. Enjoy?
The magazine industry is in an uproar about a new Web site that allows users to upload magazine content and "share" it for free via the internet. Users can choose to view an uploaded magazine in its entirety or only specific portions. The magazine content can then be saved for later viewing, emailed, or mixed and matched to create a personalized magazine. Some people are calling it blatant copyright infringement. Others say Mygazines represents the future of the industry. You be the judge...

Up, Up and Away!
Magazine Web sites have experienced increases in both traffic and length of time spent on their sites. In the second quarter alone Web traffic increased by over 8.5% when compared to Web traffic during the same period last year. Get the hard facts here.

The Mobile Call-To-Action
Mobile marketing will soon allow for individualized marketing. Imagine being able to pinpoint the weather conditions in a specific consumer's location or take a peek into that same consumer's mobile calendar. Now imagine being able to use that information to instantly send an advertisement that is tailored to the information you just uncovered. Check out this article for ideas on how to utilize GPS and mobile technology and attract more ad dollars in the process.

Disclaimer: Access to some sites may require registration.

diamond in the rough

Turning Custom Media into Gold

What's the "gold standard" for great articles, magazines, Web sites and other custom media? The American Society of Association Executives' 2008 Gold Circle Awards recognize innovators in 14 categories, ranging from print to digital platforms.

In an exclusive interview, four of these 2008 winners offer strategic insights and best practices for creating your own award-winning custom communications.

Watch the best practice video

Courtney Shafer of The Entrepreneur's Organization encourages publishers to focus on "unique content and practical tips your audience can use immediately." Make sure your end product has definite takeaway that readers can apply to their professions.

The American Institute of Architects advocates offering multiple media so members can "receive relevant information in the way they want to receive it." Its own eNewsletter surrounds audiences by incorporating videos, podcasting and blogs.

According to Tom Noonan of the Baltimore Convention and Visitor's Center, creativity can give you big impact, even on a small budget. Case in point: Tom's group turned "homegrown" video into an award-winning Web site that gives tourists and convention planners access to hundreds of user-generated videos showcasing Baltimore's sights and sounds.

And, don't be afraid of controversy! Drawing editorial expertise from the American Council of Engineering Companies' award-winning feature article on Boston's "Big Dig," Allan Crockett explains, "There's a way to tell a controversial story and still get your point of view across in a fair manner everyone will appreciate and applaud."

What best practices can turn your custom media into pure gold? Check out our new best practice guide!

Connect    Winning Gold For Your Custom Media.

Engage    Win your own Gold Circle Award! For more information, click here.

Grow!   

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