Based on the new information just released by Space.com the Mopdog offices will be adjusting it business hours accordingly. With the Earth’s axis being affected by the recent earthquakes in Chile our days have been shorten. As owner I feel it only fair to our clients and employees that we make these necessary adjustment to our schedule to keep current with our surroundings, after all these things add up over time.

So for now, or until the next earthquake makes additional changes we will be staying a little later each day.

1. Presentation

2. Quick Tips

3. Getting Started

Please let us know if we can help you with your Social Media and Branding need for your organization. We put together a straightforward menu of personalized services designed to get your business in the Social Media game. TAKE LOOK AT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES

The event was held at The Cobb County Safety Village. The Safety Village, built on an eight-acre site, is the most comprehensive safety training environment in the region where our residents and business community gain knowledge through hands-on experiences. It is a place where the walls come alive with knowledge while instructors share the most advanced techniques and ideas for making our community safer. These life-like streets include sidewalks, traffic signals and a variety of structures that represent our community. These structures will become an integral part of the learning experience.

The “Stop, Drop, Rock & Roll” gala event was a huge success with over 300 attendees who enjoyed live music, toured interactive venues and bid on one-of-a-kind experiences. The proceeds will help the continued growth and awareness of the Safety Village.

Mopdog worked closely with the Safety Village Foundation to plan this event. With Cheryl serving as Co-chair for the Gala, Mopdog was an integral part of the planning and promotion. We provided support – designing and producing save-the-date postcards, invites and other signage, as well as assisting with the event logistics. We are proud to be able to lend our time and talents to such an important cause.

See some of our work below. To learn more about the Cobb County Safety Village, click here.

It’s a sign of the times that so many businesses have taken an interest in online networking sites, which were once primarily viewed as communication vehicles for children and teens. The social media industry has now blossomed into a powerful marketing tool for small businesses and corporations. Continue Reading at MDJonline.com

Raising Help was a project of the 2007 Cobb County Leadership Class and was championed by Bill and Cheryl Musial of Mopdog. Since it’s launch, each subsequent class has expanded and built upon the idea. Justin O’Dell, a Marietta attorney and member of the 2007 Leadership Cobb Class, said the site is a mix of eBay and Craigslist, without the bidding.

“We’re trying to just make the connection and let the businesses and nonprofits finalize the deal,” Bill Musial said.

About RaisingHelp.org
Raising Help addresses the growing needs of our community by building support from dedicated individuals, businesses and volunteers. Non-profits can quickly search through items that have been donated by businesses, including furniture, supplies, equipment and more. Raising Help makes it simple to make a difference.

Maybe I should back up a little. The HOW Design Conference is THE conference for our industry, in my opinion. It’s a place were creatives don’t have to explain what it is they do for a living. Where a guy can talk about PMS and women can discuss face trimming and no one thinks it’s out of place. Believe it or not, I had an intense conversation about the use of the color red with about a dozen designers all the way into the wee hours of the morning. I know, I know, geeks! But, there may have been some drinking involved.

This year the Conference had a special message that really spoke to me. It was something I have always tried to strive for, but only because I felt it was the right thing to do. As designers we have the ability to give social issues and organizations a face and a strong message for everyone to rally around. We have the gift to see things before anyone else and use this for positive results. With this unique ability we can change the world. OK, that’s kind of a stretch, but not by much. It only takes the action of one person to start the ball rolling. It just takes one designer to give a voice to a cause.

Social responsibility and making use of we do for a living to help others were some of the main messages from this year’s conference. There were a few presenters that I felt were talking directly to me. One in particular was Michael Osborne of Michael Osborne Design and his non-profit design studio Joey’s Corner. Please check out his work and Joey’s Corner. It’s truly inspirational. This is a perfect example of one person starting the ball rolling, getting the people around on the team and well, changing the world.

Mopdog has always done its fair share of pro-bono work. It’s kind of our thing. Maybe because I have a hard time saying no or more likely the way I was brought up. My parents, my wife and even my first art teacher are all people who inspire me to do what I can to help others, even if they don’t have the means.

So looking forward, I want to start the ball rolling, inspire people around me and do what we can to change the world, even if it just one small spot. Interested?

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Mopdog Creative + Strategy
William Musial, CEO/Creative Director
Industry: Marketing, Advertising, Creative Strategies
Number of Employees: 11

At Mopdog, merely doing “good work” is not enough. The 11-member team of marking and advertising pros and support staff is equally committed to the giving of time, talent and resources toward what they call “good works.” That’s why the community-minded advertising, marketing communications and creative strategy firm once again donated over $100,000 worth of “good works” to local organizations like the Center for Family Resources (for which they were awarded a Cobb Chamber Community Service award) and the YWCA, as well as their ever-growing list of pro-bono clients.

“Our goal is to seek out organizations that are in need of strategic and creative design services in order to make Cobb County a great place,” says Musial. After some strategic company reorganization in late 2008, Mopdog’s new and improved team of top marketing-minded professionals are more prepared than ever for the challenges of helping to make Cobb County an even greater place in 2009.

“In a small business,” says Musial, “office environment and performance are extremely important. Owning a business is not just about the bottom line-it is also very personal.” It’s Mopdog’s personal approach to business-both within the company and within its client and community partnerships, that continually distinguishes them from the rest of the pack.

• Digital Media – website, eBlasts, SEO
• Networking – phone calls, seminars, referrals
• Print Media – advertisements, newsletters, yellow pages, signage

Survey Results

Interestingly, while social media came in fourth in our survey, it was the number one topic of discussion. Social media, including blogs, Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter is on the rise among business leaders and people were eager to learn more. The challenges primarily surround how to best include social media into their current marketing efforts and the strategies for using it.

Tricks of the Trade
The survey also pointed to a diversity of current marketing mediums, which is a key component of a good marketing strategy. Diversification expands your reach, connecting with your customers and prospects more often. Some other tips include:

• Use free social media channels, including Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.
• Keep your website up-to-date and pertinent. A mouse click is all that separates your prospects from either learning more or moving on.
• Communicate your company’s brand image consistently across all channels.
• Use digital media such as email campaigns and blogs. They are cost-effective and trackable!
• Use analytics from web and eCommunications to measure ROI and help improve your messaging and strategy.

The pack during the 2009 Cobb Chamber B2B Expo. Pictured left to right: Jay, Susanna, Tricia, Cheryl, Bill, Amy and Barbara

A new study tracking online user trends released by Nielsen finally puts some hard numbers behind what everyone suspected: social media is the next big thing. Compiled from data gathered from December 2007 to December 2008, it reveals a few surprising details:

1. Social media is now more popular than personal email
According to Nielsen, social networks and blogs are now the fourth most popular online activity – rocketing ahead of personal email for the very first time – putting it just behind searches, general interest sites and PC software. Overall, it accounts for almost 10% of online time, globally.

2. Time spent on social networking sites grew at three times internet growth
That’s a staggering statistic. What’s more, the insight behind the statistic is even better. People aren’t only visiting social media sites in a greater number, they’re visiting those sites – and staying longer. The numbers show they’re poking around and exploring content, and overall seem more engaged online than ever before. For businesses looking to take advantage of the social media space, this is an encouraging statistic.

3. Social media isn’t just for the young’uns
As social media becomes more mainstream and the early adopters give way to the majority, we see an expansion in audience ages; a trend that will certainly continue. Facebook, which saw an increase in traffic of 566% in 2008, reports that the greatest overall growth came from the 35-49 crowd. Even more surprising is that Facebook added almost twice as many 50-64 year-old users as under 18 users. The Facebook phenomenon, while remarkable in itself, is an indicator of the overall social media expansion. And this tell-tale statistic means that businesses’ ability to effectively reach customers will continue to expand as well.

All signs point to a solid future for social media on the mantle of marketing. The statistics are very exciting, and will give businesses another tool in the marketing tool belt. As it matures and marketing methods become more polished and effective, look for breakout companies to define and standardize the role of social media. But until then, it’s anybody’s game.

We are so honored to be one of the Cobb Chamber’s Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year for 2009!  This is Mopdog’s fourth consecutive year to receive this award.

With over 20,000 small businesses in Cobb County, this annual competition recognizes the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year, one of which is named the finest Small Business of the Year.

Winners were judged according to the following criteria:

• Be a member of the Cobb Chamber
• Be for profit
• Demonstrate an increase in sales and/or unit volume
• Have been in business at least three years
• Show evidence of contributions to community-oriented projects
• Comply with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s size standards in defining a small business
• The Cobb Chamber Small Business of the Year winner will participate in the Georgia Small Business of the Year competition.

The Mopdog team is proud to have received this recognition!