engage + effect

As 2009 barely rises over the horizon (like the iconic logo of a certain presidential candidate – now President) there is hope mixed with some trepidation of the tough road ahead. While the Inauguration gave us a blissful respite from our collective fears and worries of the crumbling economy, a few days later, after the party stopped, we were faced with more layoffs (as I write this Microsoft will be laying off 5000 employees), collapsing businesses and a battle on the Hill over billions of dollars in TARP/Stimulus.

As companies and organizations try to find ways to “tighten up their belts”, those of us who work in advertising/pr & marketing fields are finding our 2009 budgets slashed. So we ask ourselves how long will the economy decline? While there is no answer to that, the real question isn’t will things get better – of course they will – but how do we as an industry deal with this particular dilemma.

Read the rest of this entry »

While the nation gets swept up in Inauguration fever, those of us living here in Washington, D.C. are in the “Locus of Hope”. The party started at the night of the election. As results poured in and Obama was declared the winner, people literally took to the streets in celebration and rejoicing. Culmination in an impromptu rally in front of the White House occupied by the current President Bush. A co-worker told me the next day how at the White House, she found herself hugging those around her. Strangers but - yet new found friends - all huddled together under the collective angst and release of seeing eight years of extremism and hubris, effectively voted away.

The following 77 Days dragged on as economic events here at home and political events abroad became worse. Despite that, DC continued to keep the party going. Like a 2+ month-long Mardi Gras, we keep the energy going until the final night of the big party – the Inauguration.

Across the web others are celebrating too: Both Twitter and WeeWorld.com are hosting virtual Inauguration parties. The man himself will broadcast the Inauguration online as well.

MySpace has teamed up with Hollywood for MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst to offer their support for the new President by plegding to help others. Katalyst is a new production company founded by Ashton Kutcher. You can see the video of various celebrities (directed by Demi Moore) offering there pledges below or go here: http://celebrity.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=celebrity.impact

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge

This is a perfect end (or should I say beginning) to a man whose candidacy began and ended on the internet.

Next Up: Why Obama is really the 1^st 21^st Century President.

And Ignore the Doomsayers: Why the poor economy calls for MORE use of Web 2.0

Hi my name is Sibyl Edwards. This is my new blog called engage + effect. In this blog I will inform you of the latest in social or cause marketing.

What is “cause marketing” you ask? Cause marketing refers to any type of design, pr, marketing, or social media tool that is used to advertise, advocate or inform the viewer on a particular political or social cause or issue.

Now if you are wondering who am I to talk on such a subject? I am a digital designer based in Washington, DC. I work for a PR/marketing firm that is based in political consulting and social advocacy/marketing.

Cause marketing is an all consuming passion for me as well as my bread and butter.

Whew! That was a lot to get out. Now I’m not usually a prolific writer so on some days you will get a paragraph and other days a novel. But I promise not to bore you.

–Sibyl Edwards