Highlights from the 2011 FOLIO: Show

Times Square, NYC was a perfect backdrop for this year’s FOLIO: Show, as it is the epicenter of all things contemporary, high tech, and digitally engaging. Coincidentally, that was exactly the theme of the show.

Workshops and keynote sessions touched on print and digital strategies, mobile apps, social media strategies, digital development, creative idea execution, business growth and audience engagement.

As sponsors and speakers at the event, Bates Creative was able to hear first-hand what many of the media savvy, publishing pros in attendance were buzzing about.

Discussions ranged from lack of resources and wearing too many hats, to creating digital publications “just because” and considering if the mobile apps space is right for them.

We learned that publishers are busy becoming more relevant to their audiences and advertisers and meeting them where they want to be met: print, web, and mobile apps spaces.

And just in case you haven’t heard, print isn’t dead. What is dead is the brand that doesn’t provide unique content across the right media platforms.

The Power of Print:

• Average paid subscriptions reached nearly 300 million in 2009.
  (Source: MPA estimates based on ABC first and second half 2009 data)
• The average reader spends 43 minutes reading each issue.
• Magazines are the No. 1 medium of engagement and continue to score significantly higher than TV or the Internet in ad receptivity and all of the other engagement dimensions, including “trustworthy” and “inspirational.” (Source: Simmons Multi-Media Engagement Study)

The FOLIO: Show also emphasized new tools and techniques to succeed during the changing landscape of the publishing world, and dubbed our current technologically advanced state as a “Media Revolution.” To harp upon this timely motif of success in a demanding evolutionary phase, Bates Creative joined the show as exhibitors.

Because we want to be relevant to our audience too, our Creative Director, Jeff Caporizzo, had the great idea to use one of our own brand mantras as the backdrop of our booth. Perhaps you’ve already heard…but we do kickass work for our clients, so while exploring the idea of it’s unlimited unique definitions, or kickassology if you will, we asked booth visitors to draw or write what it means to them and post to our board.

Music, marathons, retirement, companies, kids, and tropical locations were all creatively displayed as definitions of kickass. (Check out our photomontage to see how our mantra turned into and interactive booth experience and a great representation of kickassology in motion.)

Thanks to all those who participated, visited or spent some time chatting with us while at FOLIO: Show. YOU definitely kickass.

Because we’re always looking for creative inspiration, we’re curious…how do you define kickass?

Read more posts by Emily Randisi