You may hear us use some words or reference something that you have not heard before, here is what we consider the word to mean.
KPS3 Lingo
Thots - Our own way of saying "thoughts." Often seen as "thots?" - an invitation to review and give feedback. We value thots at KPS3 - fresh thots, exciting thots, strategic thots and creative thots. Thus, it was also a fitting title for the KPS3 blog.
Cowboy coding - Sometimes we are asked to fix or update website components right now, we call that cowboy coding and we do not endorse or condone it. That said, we will do it from time to time. So, if you need an update right now while you are on the phone, just ask for a cowboy code update and we will get you fixed... then when the dust settles we will update the GIT (see below) repo.
Windows - Large open spaces used to put thots (see above) and check lists on. Occasionally when children come into the office they also contribute to window art. For clarification: Windows is not to be mistaken for the Microsoft application that we own one license to and use when testing websites.
Web Words
API - Application programming interface. A fancy way of saying your website allows me to pull information from it magically.
CMS - Content management system (also referred to as a CMS). A way for your site to be updated live through your browser. Some of our favorites are Drupal, Wordpress and a few proprietary ones, too.
Embedable - A way for average people to copy and paste some code to put something from your website on theirs.
GIT - A version control system. Basically it is our way to make sure every website change is documented and able to be rolled back. It is a great collaboration tool, allowing several designers and developers to work on the same project.
eblast - Used simply to refer to an outbound email message (which could include text and/or HTML), sent typically to a larger audience, thereby necessitating use of a mass outbound email provider, to simplify the process and improve the chances of an email avoiding SPAM filters and reaching its intended recipient. Programs that facilitate eblasts also make it easier to manage contacts and measure a campaign.
SEO - Search Engine Optimization. Refers to optimizing a website so that search engines (such as Google) can effectively read and evaluate it. 90% of searchers never venture past the first page of search results. Therefore, optimizing your website to improve the chances of appearing toward the top of the search results is extremely important.
Podcast/Videocast - A Podcast is essentially an audio recording available for downloading online or by subscription. They vary in length from one minute to about thirty minutes (although there’s really no limits), and typically involve informational interviews or dialogue (although, again, there are no limits to the content of a Podcast). A Videocast is exactly the same thing as a Podcast, except that it is a video version (both audio and visual).
Mobile/SMS - Mobile phone marketing can include multi-media (such as sound, video or Web-access), but the most popular means of mobile marketing in the U.S. is SMS (short messaging service) or text messaging. SMS is a communications protocol that allows for the exchange of short messages between mobile devices.
Social Network - The “new media” social network is not unlike an actual social network. It is simply a network of people bound together by common interest, common friendships/kinships, values, etc. The virtual social network ties people/brands/groups together in much the same way. Each is typically represented by a profile. Social networks are typically very rich in communications applications, allowing people to blog, chat, post comments, view video and photography, share info/data/ideas/code and communicate or share in many other ways. The majority of social networks are free to join. They may be highly segmented or welcome an audience with broad interests.
RSS - RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS allows users to subscribe to a frequently updated website or blog’s content. As new content is added, RSS standardizes the content and pushes it out via an RSS Feed. RSS Feeds can be read by a number of aggregator sites or feed readers, as well as processed by a number of applications.
Widget - Also known as gadgets, badges, mini-applications or desktop applications. A widget is a self-contained piece of code, or application, that acts like a set of directions for your computer. It’s also kind of like a mini-website. This (typically free) chunk of code can be placed on a computer desktop, a social network or even a mobile phone, and they tend to spread virally (people will copy the code from a friend and use it themselves). A widget is among the more complex ideas to fully understand, but among one of the more easy to use.
Account + Planning Speak
Research/Planning/Strategy - What we do before beginning any campaign - includes initial planning meetings with clients, research on the brand/product/industry, info-gathering, strategic brief development, development of the campaign strategy and plan. It doesn't include any special commissioned market research, such as an online survey, focus group or telephone survey; those would be quoted separately.
Account Coordination - Assistance in management of client projects and communications.
Account Management - Senior level management of client relationships, projects, jobs, information and communications. Providing advice and counsel to clients on projects and issues, and being the liaison between the client and the agency.
Integrated Marketing Communications - (also referred to as IMC) the integration of all marketing communication tools into a single program. This concept encourages all aspects of marketing communication (advertising, sales promotion, public relations, web and digital media, direct marketing, etc) to work together as a unified force, each building on one another to make the entire campaign more effective.
Creative Talk
Art direction - The oversight of the development of any project involving graphic design, as it is produced, to ensure it is produced to specifications and quality levels. Also refers to an art director's expert supervision of a photo shoot, a television shoot, etc.
Audio/Video Direction - Services of an agency director overseeing the production of a radio, TV, video or other project, including pre-production planning, direction of the recording or film/video shoot, and the creative direction of the editing of the final product.
Creative Direction/Concept Development - Our development of the creative approach or concept that is the foundation for the campaign or project.
Copywriting - The writing of advertising, brochure, website, video text and scripts; it includes time to research and find the information we need to write, including interviews.
Copyediting - The editing or tweaking of text by an agency editor/proofer, to ensure consistency, improve style and check syntax, lay-out of text on the printed page, etc.
Design - The graphic design concept and visual "look and feel" we develop for your brand, campaign, ad, website, TV spot, brochure, packaging, etc.
Production - The computer implementation stage of the concept or design using design software and our artists' expertise to create digital files. Usually involves such software as Quark, PhotoShop, Illustrator or InDesign. It can also refer to hand-assembly of complex collateral projects such as invitation or direct mail pieces, press kits, de-archiving files we have for clients and placing them onto CDs or other devices, sending digital files by PDF to clients or publications, manipulating photography in a digital manner, etc.
Production Management - The management of the production process, including finalizing specifications with the creative staff in order to obtain bids from vendors such as printers or TV commercial/film companies, researching vendors and suppliers, preparing estimates for clients, managing agency vendors for on-time, on-budget delivery of products, etc. This also includes print management and "press checking" the quality of the product as it's on press, coordinating delivery instructions, managing all the upfront management, planning and collection of props, talent and other aspects of a photo or video shoot, etc.
Traffic - Management of jobs to monitor progress by individuals within the agency, as well as our vendors and clients themselves, to complete their tasks within the deadlines set in order to obtain the final due date.
Public Relations Words
Clip - A story from a newspaper/magazine/online publication, or a video or audio segment from a broadcast medium.
Editorial Calendar - A calendar of topics/features a publication will focus on during a specific issue.
Exclusive - A story that is only given to one specific newspaper, magazine, television station, reporter, etc.
Lead Time - The amount of time in advance that a reporter needs to prepare a news item or story for publication or broadcast.
Op-Ed - An in-depth opinion piece written by an industry professional (typically not affiliated with the newspaper) that is positioned on the page opposite the editorial page.
Periodical - A publication distributed on a regular basis, e.g. weekly or monthly.
Public Relations - The practice of strategically building relationships that help establish rapport with a variety of audiences, as well as determining the best and most effective way to communicate strategically and persuasively with those audiences. Public relations is the strategic development and telling of your story.
Public Relations Account Coordination - Assistance to senior level PR staff in management of PR account and implementation of PR tasks.
Public Relations Account Management - Senior level professional services for PR planning, strategy and implementation. Also includes crisis communications, media relations and communications, donor relations, spokesperson training, event planning and execution, promotions, community relations/outreach and relationship development for clients.
Publicity - Practice of getting unpaid media coverage for clients, or "ink."
Sidebar - A story that is relevant to a larger story in the newspaper or magazine that appears near by in proximity.
Spin - The angle or point of view taken in a press release and or media story.
