XT+M today announced the addition of Lisa Boccaccio as Vice President, Communications to our senior management team.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Jan. 20, 2010: Since 2005, XT+M has been building our reputation as forward-thinking communicators, well recognized for our ability to engineer simplicity related to complex online properties and effective, elegant and innovative technology-driven marketing experiences. With the addition of Lisa and her pedigree in branding and communications, XT+M is now strongly positioned to deliver a truly integrated customer experience, from traditional marketing mediums through innovative online environments.

ABOUT LISA BOCCACCIO:

Lisa is an experienced and committed communications professional. For the past 20 years, she has provided strategic planning, brand strategy development and execution of integrated and results-oriented programs to leading enterprises.

In addition to her strategic communications expertise, Lisa is an articulate and creative writer. For many of her clients, she has provided copy writing and creative direction services that address strategic objectives and powerfully convey key messages.

Lisa’s career past includes director of strategic planning at Interbrand. As part of the senior management team, she managed a diverse range of client assignments requiring brand strategy and communication services. In addition, Lisa expanded Interbrand’s capabilities by launching and managing the firm’s Interactive practice.

Lisa has a strong understanding of corporate brands and is passionate about advising clients on the value of strategic analysis as the precursor to the development and execution of integrated communications strategies.

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For more information please contact:

Marilyn Schaffer
President & CEO, XT+M
416-260-1641 x223
mschaffer@xt-m.com
http://www.xt-m.com/

Word! The nitty-gritty to being heard.

This past decade saw a convergence of traditional and online media. Increasingly more organizations are using the web as the load-bearing pillar of their brand. According to Nielsen Online, Twitter alone grew 1,382% year-over-year in February. Twitter is just one medium that people and businesses are using to increase their notice-factor along with blogs, forums and social networking websites. XT+M predicts the decade of spray and pray is over. 2010 and beyond will be about well written, engaging, and thoughtful content – content targeted to a strategic audience.

Experts predict that there will be several online media trends to follow this year, and here are our five picks, in no particular order, to ensure that your message is clearly heard:

1. Quality over quantity: less is more. Ensure your key messages are clear, concise, and coherent.
2. Use video: shoot-and-upload video is getting easier and as online video becomes intertwined with the TV experience, download and streaming will be prominent.
3. Go mobile: Smartphones are replacing laptops in terms of mobility and accessibility. Capitalize on this venture by making your content accessible.
4. Twitter: an important part of the marketing strategy, the "short-and-tweet" methodology keeps consumers aware of and connected to your brand. If you aren't already, get tweeting! 
5. Establish keywords: with the increasing cost per click area, think about the impact of keywords to strategically manage your SEM.  

XT+M Does Dreamforce 09: The Cloud Computing Event of the Year.

On a quest for knowledge we travelled to a place we've never been before... heaven. Well, it wasn’t really heaven, but we did study Cloud Computing at the Salesforce.com Dreamforce Global Gathering 2009 in sunny San Francisco.

With over 19,000 attendees and more than 200 sessions at the Moscone Center, this was historically the largest Salesforce.com conference to date.

Experts in sales, marketing, social media, and IT, among others, conducted interactive, engaging, and in many cases hands-on lessons through the Force.com platform, shedding light on all facets of Saleforce.com. From marketing mavens to gizmo-geeks, and some, like us, a little bit of both, a spectrum of service sectors were brought together in the clouds, illuminating colourful uses of the platform.

XT+M has demonstrated our mastery of Salesforce.com and CMS Drupal integration with the launch of the Heart&Stroke Restart website. And with another Drupal-Salesforce.com integration underway, we are excited to bring the value of smart sites to all XT+M clients.

Inspired, invigorated, and set to ignite Salesforce.com’s potential in our technology-driven campaigns, we are working hard, ready to turn our dreams into reality.

Here, come take a glimpse at a few of our favourite moments on cloud-9…

Can't view our album?
Click on the "XT+M on Facebook" link on the right to join our Fan Club for the all-access pass.

XT+M and top Canadian Fashion Designer Kendra Francis Launch iamfranke.com

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Dec. 9, 2009: XT+M Inc. and top Canadian fashion designer and Project Runway Canada contestant Kendra Francis launch iamfranke.com, a highly fashionable AND highly functional, transactional website built in Drupal.

“XT+M knew what I was looking for right away, they got it. Collaboratively they worked well with me and we seamlessly worked together and brought my vision to life,” said Kendra Francis.

“Typically, the default for many highly design-oriented websites is to build them in Flash. Our approach is to make technology work for our clients with online properties that are dynamic, easily managed by the client and search engine friendly,” said Marilyn Schaffer, President & CEO, XT+M.

“We choose Drupal for many website builds for its flexibility, integration of best practice SEO, and end-user friendly interface,” said Tonja Terterian, VP, Technology, XT+M.

An integrated shopping cart function and online catalogues “Lookbooks” managed by Kendra, consistently update followers with the latest FRANKE has to offer.

For more info, visit us at http://www.xt-m.com/.

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For more information please contact:
Parul Bharadia
Account Coordinator
XT+M
416-260-1641 x226
pbharadia@xt-m.com
http://www.xt-m.com/

XT+M Integrates Drupal With CRM Salesforce.com for a Smart Heart&Stroke Restart Portal

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Dec. 8, 2009: XT+M Inc. announces the launch of the Heart&Stroke Foundation of Ontario's (HSFO) Restart portal. The project objectives were met through the integration of Content Management System Drupal and the Customer Relationship Management system Salesforce.com.

Restart is a smart portal attracting and engaging HSFO's broad network of instructors and instructor trainers (ITs) with an intuitive, dynamic interface. Once engaged Salesforce.com securely stores user data, providing a platform for rich reporting and ongoing campaign management.

"From strategy to design and build, XT+M delivered on the Heart&Stroke Restart portal. They made a complex, overwhelming initiative straight forward and simple," says Kyla Lougheed, Sr. Manager, Business Solutions, HSFO.

XT+M Inc. is a technology-driven marketing agency, skilled at facilitating clients through a proprietary process that defines their differentiators and their business objectives. XT+M's clients include BioExx, ByUs News, Heart&Stroke Foundation, Health Check, SickKids, Humber College, Ivara, Literacy San Antonio, Medworxx, Trapeze Group, Vertigo Displays, and WoodGreen Community Services. Visit us at http://www.xt-m.com/.

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For more information, please contact:
Parul Bharadia
Account Coordinator
XT+M
416-260-1641 x226
pbharadia@xt-m.com
http://www.xt-m.com/

Famous Conflicts

No, not the diva screaming for a different brand of mountain spring water. The moral, ethical and business kind of conflicts.

con⋅flict: to come into collision or disagreement; be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition; clash.

How do you conflict with a client? How do you tell them they've just used and abused your time without the courtesy of a, "Thank you. You didn't get the business but thank you for all the time you spent thinking about our business, budgeting the work a million different ways, talking to us about it, and then helping us figure out how to do it ourselves." You don't. You suck it up. But, hey all those businesses out there that don't sell time and material -- please, don't steal from us.

And what about the moral conflicts. Where you just don't think you can get your head and heart around a product to market. Do you take the money and run? Or, are you true to yourself, your beliefs. That's a tough one.

Love to hear about your conflicts. How did they work themselves out? Did you take the high road or the human road? Feel better for it?

Amazing Video on the Social Revolution

One word

AWESOME




Thanks to the genius behind this - Eric Qualman or to some people @equalman

Jason Atkins