The ThinkTank

Online Video Training and Promotion in the Scientific and Industrial Markets

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:14:04 -0800

Create online presence and support for technical products using video for web as a primary vehicle. This webinar will present ideas for creating, promoting and optimizing online videos for training, sales, and technical support of products. Video for the web fits especially well with products that require set up, calibration and regular maintenance such as laboratory instruments, equipment, and industrial products with technical applications.

Vinnie Martorano with Sheldon MFG. will be presenting a case study on Sheldon's latest product launch the 3552 CO2 Incubator. Challenged with supporting and educating a worldwide dealer network, Sheldon MFG began using video to train and promote their line of laboratory incubators, ovens, and chambers. Using video Sheldon was able to launch the 3552 into the global marketplace quickly and clearly. Mr. Martorano will elaborate on the chosen content, format and results seen thus far in this latest product release.

What you�ll learn:
- How to plan for a sales vs training video
- How to use video for technical support
- Strategies for promoting your video
- Ideas for video content creation
- Tips for working with a video production company or agency

Click here to see more information.

New Outlier Solutions Video for Ignite 7!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:44:43 -0800

Well yet another Ignite has come and gone, and it was a roaring success as usual. The Bagdad Theater was packed and the presenters were great. As proud sponsors of this great event, Outlier Solutions created a short video to be played during the intermissions and we thought we would share it with you, so enjoy!

5 of the Best Drupal Modules and 5 Wordpress Plugins You Can't Live Without Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the CMS

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:37:43 -0700

Wordpress:

One of the most widely used blogging CMS (Content Management Systems) software, Wordpress has always been focused on making a blogger's life easier with an intuitive administrative backend, a multitude of theme options, and most notably, a vast library of extensions (plugins). Lately, Wordpress has been taking it a step further and embracing the use of its CMS as a site-wide CMS, though it is still a blogging software at heart. Some of the most useful plugins for this popular CMS are:

1. All in One SEO Pack � One of the most popular Wordpress plugins, for good reason, this simple-to-install module instantly optimizes your site for search engines, even without touching the multitude of options. For the more adventurous, you can customize just about any part of this plugin to suit your needs. Some highlights are canonical URL's, automatically generated META tags, and avoiding duplicate content due to categories and archives. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/

2. Sociable � Automatically add your site's content, specifically blogs, to 99 different social bookmarking sites such as Digg, Reddit, or Delicious. A must have for anyone who runs a blog and wants to make it easy for users to share your amazing content (You do have amazing content right?). http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/sociable/

3. WP e-Commerce � A fully featured shopping cart plugin for Wordpress that is both powerful and secure. Designed with the Web 2.0 market in mind, it can be configured to have a drag-and-drop shopping cart and has a focus on usability, aesthetics, and presentation. Perfect for small bands and record labels, clothing companies, crafters and artists, and book, DVD and MP3 stores. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-e-commerce/

4. Yet Another Related Posts Plugin � As the title would suggest, there are several modules to do this task, but this is one of the best. Geared to give you a list of posts that are related to the post currently being viewed by a user, it uses a very advanced algorithm and can be controlled by using templating. Other features include caching, related posts in RSS, and related pages. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/yet-another-related-posts-plugin/

5. Featured Content Gallery � Allows you to create beautiful rotating image galleries geared towards showing off your 'top stories.' Easy to setup and use, this plugin is a great way to visually capture your audience with what is currently hot on your blog. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/featured-content-gallery/

Drupal:

Fully featured, massive, active community, and one hell of a learning curve. Drupal is one of the most complete and vast fully fledged CMS software out there. The fact that it is free and open source is just icing on the cake. However, access to that comprehensive system and its large array of modules comes at a price, as Drupal is notorious for being difficult to pick up and learn, with an administrative backend that can be daunting at first. But for those who hang in there, you are rewarded with a system who's core, in conjunction with the many modules, can get you 80% there for most projects you will ever set out to do, if not more. Here are some great modules to help you build the next Facebook.

1. Administration Menu � Honestly, this should be part of the core Drupal install, as this pull-down menu is virtually indispensable. This should be one of the first modules, if not the first module you install on your new Drupal site. Period. It gives you deep access to the large body of menus and settings for your Drupal site, including 3rd party modules. This one is a no brainer. http://drupal.org/project/admin_menu

2. Views � One of the most popular modules for Drupal and for good reason, Views gives you a slick GUI to create a �view� of any data (referred to as a node in Drupal) that exists on your site. Want to make a page that shows your blog posts? Use a view. Want to make a block that lists your top selling products? Use a view. Want to.... well, you get the idea. Unless you're just making a vanilla blog or �brochure� site, you're going to need Views. http://drupal.org/project/views

3. Content Construction Kit (CCK) � Another very popular module that gives users the ability to add custom fields to nodes. For example, if you want to have a field that holds an image for a blog post, you could use CCK. What's more, users have submitted hundreds of predefined CCK Fields for a wide variety of data such as dates, images, addresses, phone numbers, etc. Rather then defining an address, city, state, and zip code field, simply use the Address CCK and it's already done for you. Many of these CCK Fields have built in validation as well, which is incredibly useful. http://drupal.org/project/cck

4. ImageCache � A fantastic module that allows you to setup presets for image processing. For example, you could setup a product thumbnail preset, making any image you gave it 150 x 150 px. There are a multitude of options and filters that can be applied as well. Have a wide variety of image size ratios? Not a problem, ImageCache can scale and crop in a way to ensure that images end up the same size, but without distortion or stretching. http://drupal.org/project/imagecache

5. Organic Groups � Ever wanted to start the next Facebook or MySpace? With Organic Groups, you'll be well on your way. This module gives your users the ability to create groups that have their own unique page, message boards, and other content. The group creator has full control over who can join their group, and the customization options are incredible. If you want to have any sort of community features, Organic Groups is a must. Furthermore, this module is very well supported by other major modules, further extending its usefulness. http://drupal.org/project/og

There you have it, an introduction to some valuable extensions to two of the most popular CMS software packages on the planet. Think I left something out? Of course I did! There are thousands of these things, but lets hear your top extensions in the comments.

10 Awesome, Free Typography Tools & Resources

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:03:08 -0700

Typography is an art form and designers spend their lives studying it. For those that don�t have a lifetime to spare or just like typography, we�ve compiled a list of extremely helpful, fun, and interesting typography sites that also happen to be free.

1. Typedia
Finally. An encyclopedia completely dedicated to typography. We know you�ve been waiting impatiently for one. On Typedia you can learn about the anatomy of type, explore type faces and type face families, read blog postings from typedia, and join in BadaBoom BBon the forum discussion. The best part, you can look up all things type � this includes typefaces, font foundries, and designers.

2. What the Font
Have you ever spent valuable time flipping through all of your fonts trying to figure out what font is used in a client logo? I have, and if you have, then you will understand the value of this tool. What the Font allows you to upload a file and it generates a list of possible font faces that are used. There is also a "What the Font" iPhone app.

3. I Love Typography
I Love Typography is my favorite typography blog, but it is actually much more than a blog. The posts are usually inspiring, and if they�re not inspiring, then they are educational. I have spent many uninspired days looking through I Love Typography for inspiration. As well as being a great blog, there are also free wall paper downloads and a store that sells products that only typography lovers would appreciate, like a t-shirt that reads �Helvetica de neue haas grotesk� are sold.

4. Typetester
Typetester is a really handy tool that allows you to compare what fonts are going to look like in a web browser. You can compare different font faces, sizes, leading, tracking, alignment, word space, decoration, color, background, color, and number of columns. It�s a handy tool when you are trying to make font decisions in the design phase of websites.

5. Designer Plaything
Designer Plaything is another tool that allows you to experiment with different typography and color options on the web. Unlike typetester, on Designer Plaything you can also change the page and article background colors. This site gives you a better idea of what a site containing long paragraphs of type will look like. Esthetically and functionally, I prefer Typetester, but Designer Plaything has its benefits.

6. Vertical Rhythm
This is a tool that helps the designer compute CSS that has consistent vertical rhythm. To learn more about what vertical rhythm is, take a look at this article about vertical measure.

7. Color Contrast Check
This is another tool that is helpful for designing typography for the web. Color Contrast Check does exactly what its name implies - it allows you to check the color contrast between type and background colors.

8. PHP + CSS Dynamic Text Replacement
This is something that I am really excited about, a JavaScript-free version of the Dynamic Test Replacement method. It allows you to take a standard web page and dynamically create images to replace the page headings using PHP and CSS.

9. Fawnt
Fawnt is plain and simple, a resource to browse, find, and buy fonts. They have about 10,000 to look through. Better get started.

10. Fontstruct
This is a fun site where you can not only buy fonts, but you can also create and sell your own. Use Fontstruct�s free font creator, upload it to their gallery, and try to sell it.

Portland Creative Agency excels in Life Science Marketing

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:29:42 -0700

Portland, OR, August 18h, 2009 � Outlier Solutions, a technology driven marketing and advertising agency in Portland, Oregon, has recently launched a new E-commerce site in the life science arena. The web site, www.al-tar.com, exemplifies the industry knowledge acquired from servicing the laboratory equipment and life science industries since Outlier Solutions was founded in 2005.

Outlier Solution�s ability to apply this knowledge creatively to meet client�s needs has already established the company within the Life Sciences industry in the short time they have been around. For example, Al-tar Services Inc., a current partner and large resource in the laboratory technology field, has fully integrated their repair and calibration services and equipment sales into their new web site www.al-tar.com built by the Outlier Solutions web development team. �We are marketers and are passionate about technology and design,� says founder Ben Friedle, �and this is the reason we have been successful.�

Aside from the typical E-commerce store where all of Al-tar�s products can be purchased online, the web site was also created with a document center, complete with certificates of calibration, manuals, brochures, and service information. Outlier also fully integrated pre-existing business software and systems into the new web applications they developed. Outlier continues to provide ongoing marketing support including, print, PR, search engine optimization (SEO) and web marketing. Outlier services

About Outlier Solutions
Outlier Solutions Inc. is a full service Portland marketing firm with the tools and flexibility to customize marketing campaigns focused on your business goals. We are a unique advertising agency that focuses on leveraging technology to create stronger brand awareness, support lead generation, and aid in product training and promotion. Outlier portfolio

For more information visit www.outliersolutions.com

Advertising Campaigns, Cascade Tek, and Outliers

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:15:55 -0700

Measuring the success of an advertising campaign is always a complicated process. If every hour spent on a marketing project could be traced back to an exact dollar amount produced, agencies� and client�s lives would be a lot easier. However, a lot of different factors play a part. Products change, economies slump, competitors don�t rest, campaigns evolve, and plenty more. Results can come months later or the next day.

One thing we are in control of, however, is the relationship you build and continue to cultivate with your clients. As an Advertising agency, merging your client�s strengths with your own assets and tools is a sure way to produce results, even if you can�t always predict when. Our affiliation with Cascade Tek, a premier environmental test lab organization, has proven to be one win-win relationship we are proud to report.

We have been working with Cascade Tek since 2005. They recently made the Portland Business Journal�s list of Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Oregon. The list was based on total revenue growth over the past 3 years, from 2006-2008. Over that period, Cascade Tek has seen their total revenue increase 84.69%.

�Working with Outlier has helped us get the most out of our marketing budget and generate greater exposure through their SEO and web marketing services,� reports Mary Babitz, Vice President of Cascade Tek.

We partnered with Cascade Tek to develop their web efforts - including their website www.cascadetek.com , create product videos (video1, video2), and currently provide ongoing marketing support, including print, PR, search engine optimization (SEO) and web marketing. Check out all of our Advertising and Marketing services.

We don�t want to take more than our share of the credit, though. Their outstanding products, service, and overall commitment to the product testing industry are the main factors behind their success. However, there are some keys to the success of our overall relationship.

The first is maintaining an open-line of communication and experimenting with various mediums and methods. In our culture, we like to eliminate any potential gray area and merge their strengths right into what we do best, and we are lucky to have that rapport with Cascade Tek.

Check out other work we have done by visiting our Marketing Portfolio.

Bag of Tricks - A new Outlier Video

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:04:32 -0700

We wanted to share a fun video we made for our sponsorship in www.igniteportland.com By the way if you haven't ever been to an Ignite
they are really fun, and inspiring and are popping up all over the place.

This video also contributed to our "Be the Outlier" campaign that we just launched to show off a different dimension of our creative side.

6 Social Media Myths

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:58:56 -0700

There are a lot of misconceptions and preconceived notions about social media, so we thought we would put together a myth buster list and throw out a tip here and there for ways that you can make social media benefit your brand. We compiled these myths from various resources and our collective experiences.

Myth 1:
Social Media is free. Yes, most social media sites are free, but the time it will take you to create an effective social media presence is far from free. Very far. To have an effective social presence, you have to put the time and effort into your various social outlets. Creating interesting and relevant content is key and can be time consuming.

Myth 2:
Social Media is a fad or doesn�t work. Many people feel like the efforts they put into social media accounts have been timed wasted. If you are one of those people, chances are you put time into the wrong activities. Social media creates an opportunity for marketers to bring the message to the place where consumers are spending much of their day already, but often companies just use the same sales pitch and message as if marketing is news. Its not, and you should lead with your specific knowledge and cultivate an attitude of being a brain trust.

Myth 3:
It�s all about the tools. While it�s a little about the tools, it�s more about figuring out clear and concise goals. (�more leads� wouldn�t be considered concise) The tools are just that. Tools to help you measure the campaign size, strength, and how people are reacting to what you are saying. The question is how many fans, followers, feeds, or subscribers would it take to make a successful campaign.

Myth 4:
Social media will replace real networking or marketing. Social media and social networking compliment the traditional networking and marketing that you are engaged in. Having a diversified, well-rounded marketing plan is the best strategy. Stick with what has worked and try new things such as social media to get new data and exposure.

Myth 5:
You can�t build media meaningful relationships online. Building relationships online is a way to connect face to face with your target audience. Whether or not it results in sales, it stills give you the opportunity to have open, honest communication, which can lead to very valuable insight about your product or company. Also keep in mind that running to set up a twitter account and then only using it once in a while to announce a tradeshow or discount will not produce meaningful relationships.

Myth 6:
It�s for the kids. While myspace may be crawling with high school kids, sites like facebook and linkedIn are geared toward an older audience. In fact, according to facebook�s statistics, the fastest growing demographic is 35 and above.

The State of Twitter

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:42:47 -0700

It's no secret that Twitter has made a huge splash in our world, recently jumping from tech community darling to full blown mainstream awareness. Since it first began to gain popularity, supporters and critics alike have debated as to the use of this new tool.

While it is foolish to simply write off Twitter as a growing number of people both inside and out of the tech community have, the proliferation of useless 'what I'm doing" tweets that are at best borderline narcissistic do raise serious questions as to just what Twitter is good for. But is Twitter simply getting the wave of fallout that anything that reaches critical mass receives, is there a real value to the service it provides?

The glut of "OMG, I am still waiting for my latte" type tweets have certainly taken center stage as the biggest complaint levied against Twitter, but it seems that it shouldn't be so much of an argument against using Twitter, but rather a point at which Twitter loses its usefulness. At its core, Twitter is simply a communications tool; a way for people to transmit information to a filtered group of people. To argue that that kind of tool isn't useful seems shaky at best. What really needs to happen is to look not at whether or not Twitter should be used, but what Twitter should be used for.

This leads to a very informative article over at Harvard Business.org. During a study, they uncovered several interesting trends, such as that 80% of the userbase follows or is followed by at least one person, and that men typically have more followers the women, something that is counter to almost every other social networking community in which you find that women typically have more followers, both male and female, then men.

Perhaps most interesting, however, is that the 10% most prolific "Tweeters" account for over 90% of all tweets, which begs the question: Is Twitter a means for everyone to communicate, or is it instead a "many-to-one" publishing network, more akin to a blog? It is a very interesting article, and a highly recommended read.

Portland, Seattle, Industrial, Healing - Look at us go!

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 19:48:00 -0800

In some "coming soon" news we have broken ground on a new marketing strategy and branded look for Miles Fiberglass, a long established composite manufacturer with facilities in Portland, and Oregon City, Oregon. Look for their new website and print collateral soon.

At the same time we have started designing a new website for Seattle Refrigeration, a commercial freezer and refrigeration company based out of Seattle, Washington.