Archive for August, 2012

Work Hard. Play Hard.

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

America celebrates Labor Day to recognize the hard work ethic of all those who make up the workforce!

Work takes up most of our day and we will work for most of our lives! And although everyone’s career and personal passions might be driven by different reasons and motivations, we think you’ll be surprised by how much you have in common with other working people. So check out and enjoy these job facts:

  • 7.2 million people are teachers
  • 7.6 million people hold down more than one job
  • 78% of workers receive paid vacation
  • 25.5 minutes is the average commute time in America

Take a look at the infographic below to get some more knowledge about the working world.

We work hard for a reason, right? So remember to take a break this Monday to play hard and enjoy your friends and family! Happy Labor Day!

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Posted in Around the Office, Consider This, General Blogginess, Our Neck of the Woods, Social Media, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Home Is Where the Style Is

Friday, August 24th, 2012

High-concept homes may seem too aesthetically and artistically pleasing to be livable. But there are those that create the style you love with the comfort you crave!

Check out these five high-concept homes that you actually might want to live in!

The Balancing Barn

A few miles inland from the coast in Suffolk, England, this gorgeous house balances on a hill. Created by the Dutch and covered in silver tiles, this home has huge panoramic windows that take in all the light and nature around it. This home sleeps eight and is perfect for that countryside getaway!

The Cloud House

Located in Melbourne, Australia, this home looks typical if viewing it from the street. It isn’t until you step inside that you see the stylish design leading you to the backyard. With the kitchen at the center of the home, the space here is grand. The merging of the ceiling and the walls was conceptualized from the seamless nature of a cloud.

The Hill House

To some it might just look like a grassy knoll, but if you look more closely you will find a home! Here in the Danish countryside, there is a harmony between nature and this made-made home. This hidden concept makes for a quiet life!

The Alligator House

After Hurricane Katrina, this two-bedroom and one and one-half bath house, was funded by donations to become the home of a struggling family. This low-cost structure may seem small but it is helping make big changes in the area of New Orleans, especially with its front porch detail!

The ZeroHouse

This home only touches the ground in four areas, making this home buildable anywhere. Operating with solar panels and rainwater, it’s controlled by sensors and laptops. If you want to live off the grid, this home is ideal because it’s easy to ship and assemble, giving you that nomadic lifestyle you always dreamed of.

These houses may seem a bit different, but now you can tell that they are truly livable!

Which one is your dream destination?

To stay up to date on all the new and innovative happenings at Gunn|Jerkens, check back often, follow us on Twitter (@GunnJerkens) and “LIKE” us on Facebook.

Posted in Consider This, General Blogginess, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Like It or Love It?

Friday, August 17th, 2012

Yummy recipes, crafty projects, trendy designs, insane destinations and incredible architecture are all here. Where? On Pinterest, of course, and it’s time for you to join in too!

The Pinterest phenomenon may have slowed down a bit for now, but when it comes to this social media craze, people are either liking it or loving it. And they’re definitely all talking about it!

Here are some Pinterest fun facts. Did you know:

  • By February 26, 2012, the social network had 10 million users
  • Over 60% of the U.S. is talking about Pinterest online
  • 40% of Pinterest users are male and 60% are female

What do users love most about the image-driven site?

  • Pins of delicious recipes because they stand out with their enticing visuals and frequent comments
  • The site is simply designed and is really easy to use
  • Pinterest gained popularity quickly
  • Users post pins filled with tips to help you plan and organize everything in your life
  • Pinterest easily becomes a part of the daily lives of almost everyone and isn’t a Facebook knock-off

What keeps some people from falling in love with Pinterest? There are a few reasons:

  • It’s a huge time suck
  • Technical issues happen – sometimes on a fairly frequent basis
  • Pinterest tends to spam email through Facebook
  • Problems with copyright infringement have been reported
  • Monetizing Pinterest for business can be challenging

For more Pinterest facts, please go here, here or here!

Pinterest may have its ups and downs but it is definitely a site that has changed the way the creative process happens. And that’s something we’re very excited about!

Do you love Pinterest like we do? Share your opinion in the comments below!

To stay up to date on all the new and innovative happenings at Gunn|Jerkens, check back often, follow us on Twitter (@GunnJerkens) and “LIKE” us on Facebook.

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Posted in Social Media, Technology | No Comments »

The Olympic Games: Social Moments

Friday, August 10th, 2012

They say this summer’s Olympic Games are the first to take place in the social media universe–and if you saw the opening ceremony with its texting bit, you know social media is definitely making its mark.

With Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites always on our screens, it’s only natural that the world’s biggest competitive games would end up in the mix. So what impact do the Olympians themselves have on social media? Is it the biggest winners who are the most popular? Athletes in certain sports? What about those unlucky few who miss their opportunity to win? Here’s some insight into this year’s social Olympics.

  • Of all the athletic fields, swimmers get the most social media attention
  • The number of medals you win doesn’t guarantee you’re clicked on the most
  • Ryan Lochte averages 61,295 clicks per day vs. Michael Phelps at 48,902
  • Jamaican track star Usain Bolt takes third place with an average of 33,781 clicks
  • Liu Xiang’s social media click rate spiked 46,943 times the Olympic average after he crashed into a hurdle
  • Sarah Attar, who finished last in her qualifying heat, saw her clicks repeatedly spike thanks to her brave move to be the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in track at the Olympics, despite Saudi Arabia’s wishes
  • Canadian soccer player Melissa Tancredi saw her numbers soar after stomping on American Carli Lloyd’s head

So it seems that getting a medal isn’t the only thing that brings on the clicks. Making a mistake, blazing the trail and, perhaps, acting poorly will still get the clicks going.

Want to learn more? Then check out this article!

So who in the 2012 Summer Olympics has you clicking? Let us know!

To stay up to date on all the new and innovative happenings at Gunn|Jerkens, check back often, follow us on Twitter (@GunnJerkens) and “LIKE” us on Facebook.

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Posted in Consider This, New Media, Social Media, Technology | No Comments »

Battle of the Video Apps

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

We all love the battling comparisons: Mac vs. PC, Pepsi vs. Coke, Pizza Hut vs. Dominos, Spotify vs. Pandora – the list goes on and on, even in the digital world.

Today, video marketing is a huge deal. It inspires us and inspires our clients and their customers.

Viddy and Socialcam are two social-enabled video apps that are neck in neck in the battle of the best. Which one do you think comes out on top?

VIDDY

  • Known as the “Instagram for videos”
  • Sleek design
  • Cool recording icon
  • 15-second recording cap
  • Easy video filter application
  • Background music options

SOCIALCAM

  • Simplistic look and feel
  • Facebook and Twitter share buttons are integrated into your video feed
  • No cap on recording time
  • Ability to choose your filter before the video is recorded
  • No wait to upload, making it easy to record and share videos on the go

Both apps feature the same menu options, including video feed, what’s popular, shoot your own video and find your friends.

It really just comes down to what you’re looking for. But if you want an app that’s straight forward, easy to use and allows you to record videos longer than your average tweet, then Socialcam is the app for you!

Which would you rather watch: a perfectly edited 5-minute video or a 15-second engaging and organic video?

To stay up to date on all the new and innovative happenings at Gunn|Jerkens, check back often, follow us on Twitter (@GunnJerkens) and “LIKE” us on Facebook.

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Posted in Around the Office, Consider This, General Blogginess, New Media, Our Neck of the Woods, Social Media, Technology, Uncategorized | No Comments »

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade – That Is the Question

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

We are all wondering the same question – and it’s not, what am I having for dinner?

The question is, when should I upgrade my computer software?

With the release of Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion, we thought this was the perfect topic for today! We all have faced the battle of upgrading vs. not upgrading. Which is better? Survey says upgrading!

People from around the UK, USA and Germany were surveyed during International Technology Upgrade Week to learn about their behavior and to be encouraged to upgrade to new software features.

Here are the facts:

  • 40% of people don’t upgrade their software when they are prompted
  • Men upgrade their software more than women
  • A quarter of people surveyed don’t know what the upgrades do
  • A quarter of people need to be prompted at least twice in order to upgrade
  • A quarter of people don’t know how to check if their software needs to be updated
  • Top reason for upgrading: 76% of people want to keep their computer safe and secure
  • Top reason for not upgrading: 45% of people worry about the security of their computer

We clearly need to start paying attention to our computers’ needs. They are definitely trying to tell us something.

What are your thoughts? Do you upgrade your computer regularly?

To stay up to date on all the new and innovative happenings at Gunn|Jerkens, check back often, follow us on Twitter (@GunnJerkens) and “LIKE” us on Facebook.

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Posted in Around the Office, Consider This, General Blogginess, Our Neck of the Woods, Technology, Uncategorized | No Comments »