Stuff we did in June. Shameless self-promotion.

We've been too busy to update our own site or blog lately, so here is a quick rundown of what we've done in the past 3 weeks:
Launched BetYouCanSave.com
Launched our new Spenderoo product to help credit unions serve Gen Y
Produced & added new web videos and coloring pages for MoneyAndStuff.info
Created a logo for the Summer of Money
Shot and edited a 'Making of' music video for the web
Designed a HouseTrends Magazine ad for The Cabinet Shop
Designed a newspaper ad, posters and quarterly newsletter for Kent Credit Union
Designed a quarterly newsletter for Western Credit Union
Designed a multi-channel credit card promotion for Kemba Credit Union
Launched www.ninesquarearchitects.com
Led a brandstorming session and completed an online survey for a credit union
Designed a brochure for the Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association
Created web banners for BMI Federal Credit Union
Designed two promotional posters for a client to use at a trade show
Managed ongoing social media campaigns for 2 clients
Began rebranding designs for two credit unions
Created and sent 2 email newsletters for a client
Designed an ad for a client to publish in Columbus CEO Magazine
Updated websites for seven clients
Designed an 88-page full-color bi-monthly magazine

So... what can we do for you? Call us at 614-847-1600 or send us a note at mail@ridingtigers.com

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Hats off to Kent Credit Union for its Community Service

If you are in or around Kent, Ohio, be sure to stop by the 'Hats off for Hattie' this Saturday and help Kent Credit Union raise money for Hattie Larlham, a non-profit organization that serves Portage County and surrounding communities by caring for those affected by mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD).

The family-oriented “Hats Off to Hattie” features attractions and entertainment for all ages and is organized by merchants of the LibertyCorners Plaza.

Kent CU does such a great job with the event, it won The 2009 Dora Maxwell Award from the Ohio Credit Union League, the state trade association for credit unions. This prestigious honor promotes social responsibility among credit unions by formally recognizing their community involvement efforts and achievements. Kathy Hammond, Vice President of Business Development and an organizer of the event, accepted the award at a grand assembly held during the recent annual state convention in Cleveland.

Congratulations, Kathy & Kent Credit Union! Best wishes for a great 2009 Hats Off For Hattie!

Find out more about the event.

The NEXT BIG THING: .ME Vanity Domain Names

This time, it truly is all about .ME.

Get ready for a marketing surge to promote the NEXT BIG THING: vanity domain names with the ".me" suffix.

Some background: When Montenegro declared independence from Serbia and Montenegro (which used the code .yu), they got their own domain (.ME), which is now the world's foremost recognition of official statehood.

To its credit, the Montenegro government realized that .ME is vanity gold and allowed for worldwide marketing to the self-promotionally aware. As of May 2009, a quarter-million .ME domain names were registered, but the name grab has not shown up on mainstream America's radar yet. That will change quickly over the next few weeks.

So, if you want to reserve your vanity domain in your own name, you'd better act fast! Other possibilities are sell.me, join.me, bite.me, buy.me, read.me, etc... (sorry, all the easy ones are already taken).

But the naming possibilities within the adult website industry are fun to think about...

Get your .ME domain at http://www.domain.me/

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Five Guys Burgers and Fries: great example of PR

Inside Edition found arat in a Five Guys Burger and Fries restaurant in DC. Missed the story (see a wrap-up here), but I am impressed with how they tackled the report immediately head-on right on their home page, closed the store, and assured the public that they are taking steps to make sure it never happens again. Excellent crisis management.

Don't run and hide. Apologize, fix the problem, and make great burgers. For all of our faults, Americans are really a forgiving people.

Five Guys just opened a new Columbus restaurant, as reported by the excellent site Columbus Underground. I'm looking forward to trying a burger there.

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Thinking of Running An Attack Ad?

Five tips to keep you out of the courtroom.

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Hummer, Starbucks Rated Lowest for Value

The History Channel? When you think about it, it does make sense. They have a great website, too. Hummer and Starbucks are easy to understand. Especially today when more upscale shoppers are turning to dollar stores. Brandweek notes that Walmart is missing from the top 25, with Target making the top 25. Their explanation is that especially when budgets are tight, buyers want actual value that lasts, not just a cheap product. Thoughts?

Read the full article at Brandweek

Scott's Top Value Brands this week:
1. Eight O'Clock Whole Bean Coffee (French Roast)
2. Blockbuster Online
3. Columbus Metropolitan Library System
4. Molson Canadian
5. Ange's Pizza (Extra Large Pepperoni)

Make your day better with Canteloupe Island

The worst brand name ever

Analtech is currently running a survey: "Should we change our brand name?"

Yes. You should.

From the company's website:

How Analtech Got Its Name:
The company was founded in 1961 as Custom Service Chemicals. In 1964, the company paid a marketing firm (that shall remain nameless) to come up with a different name. They said, "Well, you guys do Analytical Technology - why don't you put the two words together and call it 'Analtech'!" And, here we are, nearly 50 years later - with the same name.

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Q and A: An interview about financial branding

An interview about financial branding

Posted using ShareThis

Bet You Can Save 2009 Challenge

Bet You Can Save 2009 Challenge

Just launched this site for central Ohio credit unions. Work with a financial coach and you could win $10,000!

Posted using ShareThis

More proof that PR overpowers financial ads

More proof that PR overpowers financial ads

Posted using ShareThis

BetYouCanSave.com launched... Win $10,000!

We just launched a new site for the Bet You Can Save 2009 Challenge. Ten progressive Central Ohio credit unions are going to select an individual or family to represent them in the Challenge. The challengers work with a financial coach to improve their finances over the summer and the winner gets $10,000.

The initial site up now explains the program and encourages visitors to apply for the Challenge. The second phase (beginning on June 1) will be a blog-style site complete with user-conrolled updates, photos, video, and other neat ways to track the Challengers' status and progress.

Visit the Bet You Can Save on Facebook and follow the Twitter feed for updates on the Challenge.

And turn your application in at one of the following credit unions. You might win!

BMI Federal Credit Union, Credit Union of Ohio, CME Federal Credit Union, Fiberglas Federal Credit Union, Harvest Federal Credit Union, Hopewell federal Credit Union, Midstate Educators Credit Union, MembersFirst Credit Union, OhioHealthcare Federal Credit Union, and Telhio Credit Union.

Support Marching Miles & Children's Hospitals!

Just made some updates to the http://www.marchingmiles.com/ site. Riding Tigers is proud to donate our logo and poster design and site updating services to this project. Ohio's credit unions will march from Newark to Cleveland to raise $125,000 for Children's Hospitals in the state.

Please support Marching Miles by volunteering to walk a shift, organizing a walk in your area, or donating online in the name of your credit union or one of the marchers!

Good newspaper ad from Chicago

Stolen from www.failblog.com

New Brand & Website for Kent Credit Union

Today we launched a new brand, logo and Web site for the terrific people at Kent Credit Union. A long a deliberate process produced a brand that we are proud of. We got to know Joe and Kathy and the credit union well, and visited the communities several times.

We administered an online survey of members (very high ratings!.. Their members LOVE their credit union!), met with the board of directors, toured the branches and met the staff, led a 'brandstorming' session with staff at the credit union, and developed a brand that really captures what Kent Credit Union is, and helps it move toward where it wants to be.

The logo represents the community's heritage as 'Tree City' (home of Davey Co.) and symbolizes stability and growth.

The new site at http://www.kentcu.com is designed to put the most popular content right up front for the convenience of the members. It also allows the credit union to update the site via our new Control freak cms.

Just finished sending out press releases announcing the news.

Our thanks to Kathy and Joe and the Kent Credit Union Board and staff!

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Kraft's new logo is as exciting as Velveeta

Kraft Chief Marketing Officer Mary Beth West: "For us, it’s really the opportunity to define, unite and inspire the employees of Kraft Foods around a single purpose and a set of values and behaviors that really will be global in nature and provide the opportunity for us to have both clarity of purpose and a reason why we all show up every morning."

Well said. Clearly they understand the power a new identity can have. The tagline is appropriate and has legs.

Not crazy about the font and logo though. Looks like something the CEO's kid created in Microsoft Word. They could do better, right?

Let me know what you think. Then make a grilled cheese sammich.

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Young Adults: We need your opinion!

We are seeking young adults ages 17 to 30 to give us your opinions in a short online survey. Your responses will help us design a free no-nonsense website that provides young adults with financial information. We don't need your name or any personal financial info... just where you get your information and your opinions.

Take the survey

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