ralphs mcintosh + partnersralphs mcintosh + partners http://ralphsmcintosh.com We are a digital strategy consultancy. We help our clients communicate using digital technology and social media. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Sneak preview: new work http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/02/03/sneak-preview-new-work/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/02/03/sneak-preview-new-work/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:43:27 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3631 We are rather pleased with these illustrations we’re creating to update a client’s brand and site.

 

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/02/03/sneak-preview-new-work/feed/ 0 New business wins: Castrol EDGE & Camden & Islington NHS http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/25/new-business-wins-castrol-grand-prix-predictor-camden-islington-nhs/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/25/new-business-wins-castrol-grand-prix-predictor-camden-islington-nhs/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:42:13 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3611 [...]]]> We are delighted to announce two new business wins.

Following our work on Castrol EDGE Rankings for Haymarket and Castrol, we have been asked to develop a digital and social media marketing plan, and provide team training and development, for the Grand Prix Predictor fantasy game during the 2012 Formula 1 season.

Working in partnership with design consultancy Blank Associates we have been appointed, following a three way pitch, to work on the brand, communications, digital and social media strategy for Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust.

What a great start to 2012.

 

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/25/new-business-wins-castrol-grand-prix-predictor-camden-islington-nhs/feed/ 1 Visa’s “V.me”: a new approach to online payments http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/13/visas-v-me-a-new-approach-to-online-payments/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/13/visas-v-me-a-new-approach-to-online-payments/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:20:52 +0000 Jasper McIntosh http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3564 [...]]]> Visa are about to launch V.me, a new payment service that allows people to purchase online and via mobile without sharing their card account information.

Based on a single user account and password, it sounds a lot like a PayPal alternative?

Supporting developer integration into apps and eCommerce platforms, V.me will accept payments from all the main providers including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

The developer section of the site promises simple integration:

“Just drop in some simple JavaScript tags and widgets in your app and with a few minor configurations your app will be ready to accept payments.”

They also promise a mobile optimised version to ease online checkout from mobile devices.

No news on pricing yet, but the new service is promised “early 2012″.

Official site at: https://www.v.me


About the Author

A picture of Jasper McIntosh

Jasper McIntosh is a founding partner at ralphs mcintosh. For the last 12 years he's worked with digital technology as a developer, project manager, strategist, consultant and agency director.

Jasper blogs regularly about technical innovation, digital communications and technical strategy. To find out more you can read his posts, visit his LinkedIn profile, or contact him directly.


]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/13/visas-v-me-a-new-approach-to-online-payments/feed/ 0 “Android users like Facebook” shocker http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/05/android-users-like-facebook-shocker/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/05/android-users-like-facebook-shocker/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:13:28 +0000 Jasper McIntosh http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3531 [...]]]> The latest research piece all over the news this morning is a look at most popular apps on Android devices, segmented across 3 young(ish) ages groups; 18-24, 25-34, and 35-44.

Apparently Facebook is popular, followed closely by the Google suite (Gmail, YouTube, Maps, etc).

Perhaps more interestingly, Angry Bird penetration increases with age, as does QuickOffice. And about 1 in 5 of us is interested in the weather, regardless of age:

For more considered analysis, see the official blog at http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/app-happy-with-android-the-most-popular-android-apps-by-age/


About the Author

A picture of Jasper McIntosh

Jasper McIntosh is a founding partner at ralphs mcintosh. For the last 12 years he's worked with digital technology as a developer, project manager, strategist, consultant and agency director.

Jasper blogs regularly about technical innovation, digital communications and technical strategy. To find out more you can read his posts, visit his LinkedIn profile, or contact him directly.


]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2012/01/05/android-users-like-facebook-shocker/feed/ 0 Merry Christmas from ralphs mcintosh + partners http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/22/merry-christmas-from-ralphs-mcintosh-partners/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/22/merry-christmas-from-ralphs-mcintosh-partners/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:47:15 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3485 [...]]]>

We may be digital and social media strategists, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy the simple pleasures, particularly at Christmas. So in the spirit of Blue Peter we’ve teamed up with 3Diddi, the paper folding toy, to offer you an interactive experience that is a bit more, well, traditional. So dig out some paper, scissors and glue, and get folding!

Download your own Father Christmas by clicking on the image below. Happy Christmas!

And if you need a little more help you can check out this video of the original 3Diddi being put together.

 

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/22/merry-christmas-from-ralphs-mcintosh-partners/feed/ 0 Our highlights of 2011 http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/22/our-highlights-of-2011/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/22/our-highlights-of-2011/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:42:39 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3481 [...]]]> We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped make 2011 a great year for ralphs mcintosh + partners. There have been lots of highlights, here are just a few of them.

Asthma UK: helping a leading charity engage with new and existing supporters

We are extremely proud to be working with leading UK charity Asthma UK. In the last year we have launched two major initiatives, Big Up Your Chest for World Asthma Day in May and Get It Off Your Chest, a partnership with Kodak, in October.

In addition we have delivered a major piece of insights and strategy work. Working with the Asthma UK’s Executive Team and business units to identify how they can make the most of digital and social media, and to set strategic priorities and develop an evaluation framework to support the charity moving forward.

We are currently working to redevelop the main Asthma UK site, a project involving CMS and CRM integration together with website design and build.

The Gym Group: increasing online revenues and supporting aggressive growth

We began working with The Gym Group in June 2011. The Gym is the UK’s  revolutionary new gym concept, providing state of the art gym equipment at affordable prices, with no long term contract. Established in 2008, it now has 18 sites across the country and a further 25 in the pipeline.

First we delivered a strategy project involving a root and brand evaluation of The Gym’s digital systems, establishing the suitability, scalability and capacity of their infrastructure and processes. This analysis also looked at how systems could be expanded to support the business as it pursued aggressive growth plans over the next three years.

The evaluation culminated in a detailed report and presentation to the board. A number of recommendations were approved and we have been retained on an ongoing basis to oversee implementation of the recommendations and provide further technical and digital strategy to the business.

Since delivering the initial strategy project we’ve worked with new and existing suppliers to significantly improve The Gym’s online marketing capability, develop a roadmap for better mobile services, strengthen project management and governance, and increase conversion rates. We’re  also working with the Board and investor groups to define budgets and develop a longer term technical strategy that strengthens the business’ reputation for leadership and innovation in the affordable gym sector.

Great clients

Since we started the business in 2010 we have been lucky to work with some great brands and organisations. Thank you all.

Asthma UK, BMI Healthcare, BP, Bridges Ventures, Castrol, Channel 4 Learning, Designate, Do Promotions, the Global Fund, The Gym Group, Haymarket Media Group, Kanoti, Killer Creative, red design, Telefonica, 15 Gifts

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/22/our-highlights-of-2011/feed/ 0 Most Contagious 2011 http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/15/most-contagious-2011/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/15/most-contagious-2011/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:05:29 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3418 Each year the excellent Contagious Magazine publishes a round-up of the most innovative and creative exercises in branding, technology and popular culture, which they call Most Contagious. See the results below.

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/15/most-contagious-2011/feed/ 0 Big Up Your Chest named Third Sector digital campaign of the week http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/13/big-up-your-chest-named-third-sector-digital-campaign-of-the-week/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/13/big-up-your-chest-named-third-sector-digital-campaign-of-the-week/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:25:49 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3407 [...]]]> We’re stoked that the Big Up Your Chest campaign we created with Asthma UK and Kodak has been named Third Sector’s digital campaign of the week.

Around one in 12 people in the UK has asthma and an estimated 40,000 students with asthma start university in September and October each year.

This time traditionally sees an increase in preventable hospital admissions among 16-24 year olds. This is influenced by new-found independence at university, pressure from new peer groups and a lack of understanding around the severity of asthma.

Big Up Your Chest’s main objective is to support and empower young people through this important life transition. The campaign features a Facebook page containing information about asthma, together with blogs and vlogs recorded on Kodak cameras. It deals with a broad range of issues, from getting financial support while studying, to dealing with asthma and alcohol.

We created the campaign concept, branding and key visuals, and provided advice on Facebook advertising, blogger outreach and Facebook moderation. Asthma UK is responsible for daily management and moderation.

Over 3,300 people have liked the page, representing a potential reach of over one million. Posts have been viewed over 160,000 times and received over 1,500 comments, shares or likes.

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/12/13/big-up-your-chest-named-third-sector-digital-campaign-of-the-week/feed/ 0 From destination social to dispersed social http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/11/28/from-destination-social-to-dispersed-social/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/11/28/from-destination-social-to-dispersed-social/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:10:34 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3383 More great thinking from the clever people at the Social Practice.

]]> http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/11/28/from-destination-social-to-dispersed-social/feed/ 0 Unilever’s Five Levers of [behaviour] Change http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/11/23/unilevers-five-levers-of-behaviour-change/ http://ralphsmcintosh.com/2011/11/23/unilevers-five-levers-of-behaviour-change/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:46:00 +0000 Mark Ralphs http://ralphsmcintosh.com/?p=3354 [...]]]> Unilever has been putting sustainability at the heart of their processes for sometime now. It has now published its own behaviour change model, ‘Five Levers of Change‘. It’s easy to be cynical when large multinationals talk about sustainability, but in this instance Unilever seem to have a genuine commitment to encouraging customers to use products in more sustainable ways.

The Five Levers of Change model, nicely summed up in the video below, is interesting and certainly applicable beyond the initial focus on products.

Download the full report.

 

 

 

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