ANZ's new logo: $15 million well spent?

ANZ's new logo: $15 million well spent?

ANZ bank has splashed $15 million on a new logo that it claims reflects its 'human' side.

The new logo, at right, features a 'modernised' font and a central 'human' shape that "represents ANZ’s customers and people" flanked by three shapes that signify the bank's operations in Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific.

The new logo will be launched in an advertising campaign from Sunday and ANZ buildings, websites, stationary and marketing material will be re-branded in the coming year at a cost of $15 million.

What do you think of the new logo?
Is $15 million too much to spend on a logo?
What would make an appropriate logo for ANZ bank?

Have your say by commenting below:

Best beer commercial ever!

This is probably the best beer commercial I have ever seen. Hilarious! Award winning commercial really.



Enjoy!
Chris

http://www.hiddenvalleygolf.com.au/

How to create the best A/B testing strategy

I received a great question today about how to best set up A/B testing. I’ll try and shed some light on how I approach A/B testing for both products and services.

The question was: "Does A/B testing cost money and how do I create the best A/B testing strategy?"

My reply:
A/B testing does cost money but the point of A/B testing is to make money from it. When I worked at ACDSee.com we did over 1 million downloads per month and my job was to convert free users into becoming paid users. I grew my channel by 13% year over year. How? A/B testing. I’ll tell you how.

With a team of developers, designers, copy writers etc…same team as you listed on your blog, we were still profitable because we made A/B testing our mantra.

Here is how I managed 6 software products in 12 languages.

Metrics and templates. I had the developers build very sophisticated tracking software that I can’t disclose here. This software was so smart that I knew everything about a user. When they clicked, bought, location even what they had for dinner. (wink wink). I then developed templates that I knew was converting at xx%.

My mission was then to try to beat these templates by not using designers and programmers. I did this by having systems and processes in place where I could manage testing environments myself. That way I had high costs upfront in building, but when the actual test started I managed it myself via the system I built.

I knew that “landing page 1” performed at xx% but LP 3 performed at a higher % so looking at traffic sources, where in the buying cycle they were I could change the messaging on the spot to boost conversion rates.

This is hard to explain but think of my approach as Lego or building blocks. I could easily replace one “bad block” with a “block” that I knew was performing, thus boosting conversion rates.

A/B testing is all how you set it up and track progress. Word of caution though, if you start with good material it will make your AB Tests a lot easier because you don’t have to re-develop designs, programming etc. Do it right the first time and the rest will be easier to manage.

For all of you doing A/B Testing I hope this will help you!

Chris

SEO questions to ask

I got an overwhelming response to my last post so I thought I would clarify it even more about what questions to ask a client.

SEO questions to ask a client:

1. How much traffic are they getting today? Please share stats with us.
2. What have they done to date - SEO wise?
3. What is their budget for SEO?This is important because it relates to the expectations. For $100 the client can’t get a Rolls Royce. Maybe a used bicycle with a flat tire.
4. What domain and sub domain names do they own?
5. Where does the content come from? Who writes it?
6. What are the most converting pages on their sites?
7. Paid ads. Adwords. What are they doing and how much? The results from paid ads can impact the SEO program.
8. Technical: Are there CMS systems powering the site? Can we change the site now?
9. Final question.
   a. How much traffic are they looking to get.
   b. Over what time period?
   c. From what region? Sydney, Melbourne… etc…
   d. What metrics do they have to track traffic and conversions?
   e. How will they measure success?

Top seo questions to ask a client

Lately I have been doing quite a bit of SEO in Perth Australia and I keep hearing over and over the same questions about SEO and what SEO questions to ask a client before you begin an SEO job. So I figured I’d list my personal questions I ask. I have collected these from various sources online so hopefully this will help you as it has me.

1. Listen more. Talk less. Understand your clients needs first.
2. Set the right expectations. SEO is hard and no one can guarantee number 1 listings. Be honest with your client.
3. Ask what they are doing in terms of SEO today
4. What is their budget for SEO?This is important because it relates to the expectations. For $100 the client can’t get a Rolls Royce. Maybe a used bicycle. Set the expectations right from the start.
5. What domain and sub domain names do they own?
6. Where does the content come from? Who writes it?
7. Know when to admit you are wrong. SEO changes all the time so fess up when you are wrong and learn from it.
8. Differentiate success from top rankings vs. conversions. I’d rather have low ranking but high conversions. Top Rankings doesn’t necessarily guarantee high conversions. Measure the right stuff!
9. Paid ads. Adwords. What are they doing and how much? Learn from the results as that can impact the SEO program.
10. Technical: Are there CMS systems powering the site? Are you allowed to change the site personally or how is this managed?
11. Final question. How much traffic are they looking to get. Over what time period? What metrics do you have to track traffic?

My Top 10 Tips to Surviving Australia:

Thought I wanted to share with you all “My Top 10 Tips to Surviving Australia”.

Things I have learned in 10 months of being in Australia:

1. Don't ever put your hand down a hole for any reason WHATSOEVER.
2. The beer is stronger than you think, regardless of how strong you think it is.
3. Always carry a stick.
4. Air-conditioning is imperative.
5. Do not attempt to use Australian slang, unless you are a trained linguist and extremely good in a fist fight.
6. Wear thick socks.
7. Take good maps. Stopping to ask directions only works when there are people nearby.* If you leave the urban areas, carry several litres of water with you at all times, or you will die.
8. Even in the most embellished stories told by Australians, there is always a core of truth that it is unwise to ignore.
9. There is no such thing as “shrimps on the baaarbie”.
10. Do not, under any circumstances, suggest that the beer is imperfect, unless you are comparing it to another kind of Australian beer.
11. Do not wear a Hawaiian shirt.

Bonus Tips:

Religion and Politics are fairly safe topics of conversation, (Australians don't care too much about either) but Sport is a minefield. You better say you love Footy.

The only correct answer to "So, howdya' like our country, eh?" is "Best (insert your own regional swear word here) country in the world!". It is very likely that, on arriving, some cheerful Australians will 'adopt' you on your first night, and take you to a pub where Australian Beer is served.

Despite the obvious danger, do not refuse. It is a form of initiation rite. You will wake up late the next day with an astonishing hangover, a foul taste in your mouth, and wearing strange clothes.

Your hosts will usually make sure you get home, and waive off any legal difficulties with "It's his first time in Australia, so we took him to the pub", or “He is Canadian not American” to which the policeman will sagely nod and close his notebook. Be sure to tell the story of these events to every other Australian you encounter, adding new embellishments at every stage and noting how strong and tasty the beer was. Thus you will be accepted into this unique culture. Mention footy and you will be idolized.

Most Australians are now urban dwellers, having discovered the primary use of electricity, which is air-conditioning and refrigerators.

Typical Australian sayings:-
* "G'Day!"* "She'll be right mate."

So, hats off to this beautiful part of the world and "She'll be right mate." :)

Chris Bjorklund

Hilarious! How to live a long healthy life according to this guy...

Dr. Fuk Kew Too MD, Vancouver, BC.

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster.

Want live longer? Take nap.



Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.


Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way.. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up!


Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.


Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain...Good!


Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! .. Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you?


Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.


Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around!


Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me.


Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!


Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. AND......


For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies:


1. The Japanese eat very little fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3.. The Chinese drink very little red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.


CONCLUSION
Eat and drink what you like. Being American is apparently what kills you. .........