Combining artistic flair with marketing communications insight to produce innovative design strategies, Mike serves as our Creative Director. He creates original graphics and effective layouts-delivering collateral that is both engaging and purposeful. He loves technology and wonders why it never returns his calls.
These are his musings...
Can you identify a Communications Monster!?
A little holiday fun from your friends at Calypso. Happy Halloween!
Hang this in your office for easy reference.
Websites and Bat Stilettos
One of these things is not like the other...
If you have children under the age of ten, you know that the minute the calendar says “October” the conversation shifts radically to the topic of Halloween and stays fixed there until the 31st. This explains how on October 1st I found myself with my family at the local pop-up Halloween store shopping for my seven- year-old’s costume. Naturally, it led me down the road of thinking about website design….but more on that in a bit. Read more
Charger Oil & Gas
Calypso Communications Announces Strategic Relationship with Usource, LLC
Calypso Communications (www.calypsocom.com), a full-service strategic marketing, corporate communications, and business development consultancy, today announced its partnership with Usource LLC, a nationwide energy services firm that helps commercial and industrial clients manage complex energy supply needs in the deregulated, retail energy supply markets. Calypso was retained to help assist Usource in repositioning its brand, strategically communicating core company messages, and identifying new client markets. Initial projects for the firm include providing integrated collateral, Web, social media, and other targeted business communications for Usource.
“Usource helps its customers secure industry leading prices, flexible terms, and new opportunities in today’s complex deregulated energy markets,” said Tom Withka, Managing Director of Usource. “Calypso has significant experience in energy industries and we saw the firm to be a perfect match in assisting USource.”
Usource’s strong energy knowledge allows clients to focus on core businesses, quickly secure reliable power supply, and realize long-term cost savings. With more than1,200 customers in 18 states, Usource has a customer retention rate of 98%, giving the company highly unusual positioning in the energy services marketplace.
“We’re thrilled to work with Usource, providing support and guidance as it continues its substantial growth in the energy services industry,” said Kevin Stickney, Calypso founder. “From our energy industry experience it’s clear that the Usource brand, value proposition, and remarkable customer loyalty rates promise considerable opportunity for new success.”
Calypso has established itself as a leading communications and business development agency, nationally recognized for its innovative expertise and experience in the rapidly evolving energy and environmental sectors. The agency’s broad client base represents a full range of traditional, alternative, renewable, and emerging solutions for future energy, power, and environmental demands worldwide and includes companies active in municipal waste-to-energy, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear, biodiesel, wind, tidal, solar, geothermal, ethanol, and cellulosic ethanol technologies and services.
Calypso takes Xtreme Descent to New Heights
“With the success of Xtreme Descent in 2009, Calypso was the obvious choice to take this year’s event to the next level,” said Greg Osborn, director of marketing and public relations for the Daniel Webster Council. “2010 was great and we look forward to continuing to grow our social media presence with Calypso in the future.”
Think
The Xtreme Descent Logo
On September 25, 2010 the Daniel Webster Council (DWC) of the Boy Scouts of America hosted the second annual Xtreme Descent, a branded local urban rappelling fundraiser, which coincided with a yearlong celebration of the organization’s 100th anniversary. The intense adventure experience, facilitated by professional urban rappelling company Over the Edge, provided participants the unique opportunity to rappel Manchester’s Brady Sullivan Building, one of the tallest buildings in New Hampshire, both during the day and, for extreme adventurers, at night as well. For the second consecutive year, the DWC enlisted Calypso’s expertise to develop and execute an integrated communications and fundraising campaign to generate buzz, drive participation, and expand local support.
Create
Building on the successful 2009 event launch, which included an “extreme” sport-style branding, compelling print collateral, custom coordinating website, and integrated communications campaign, Calypso worked with the DWC to take the event to new heights in 2010. The agency employed a multifaceted strategy including a new “super hero” theme to highlight the option to rappel at night and engage a younger audience. The 2010 tagline, “Reveal Your Inner Super Hero,” was brought to life with live action super hero “Captain Merit,” played by a DWC camp counselor complete with mask and cape. Captain Merit made several appearances in local communities, interviewing residents about their super hero aspirations. A cardboard “flat Stanley” version of Captain Merit also traveled the region for a variety of local community photo opportunities. The photos and videos of Captain Merit served as additional fodder for the campaign, creating attention grabbing, captivating content and for both traditional media relations outreach and online sharing. To further expand the theme, a new website was designed using Captain Merit images from a custom photo shoot and included an efficient fundraising platform. Incorporating the character into the campaign added an extra dimension and consistent voice, allowing DWC to be both safe, and bold.
To build local awareness, increase online engagement, and drive daring young professionals to the event, Calypso launched a social media campaign including engagement across multiple social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, and the Xtreme Descent blog. Event mascot Captain Merit was a focal point to the campaign, symbolizing the courageous act of participating in an urban rappelling fundraiser in support of the DWC. Calypso created a Twitter page for the super hero mascot, using it to express a fun, competitive tone. Captain Merit engaged with people in the online community, tweeting out super hero words of wisdom and challenging citizens to take the “Xtreme Descent,” all from his own Twitter account.
Calypso also launched and maintained the Xtreme Descent website, which provided visitors information about the event, including event history, a description of the DWC, and press releases, as well as details on Captain Merit and his activities, rappelling, fundraising, and more.
Deliver
Facebook Welcome Page
The three month social media campaign developed an online community that grew slowly and steadily, creating valuable online interactions and generating substantial online buzz in the weeks leading up to the event. In just one month, website traffic increased nearly 1000 percent with 50 percent of visits from referring sites; 30 percent of total traffic was generated by the Xtreme Descent Facebook Fan Page. Calypso attracted new fans to the DWC Fan Page, many of which commented on photos, videos, and the DWCs’ Facebook wall. The blog initiated conversations and great feedback from people who were interested in participating, had participated the year before, and those who still had questions. Calypso engaged many Twitter followers through consistent updates and interactions with a like-minded audience, including local climbing and hiking clubs, athletic groups, and New Hampshire Chambers of Commerce.
In the final days leading up to the event, both the Captain Merit and Xtreme Descent Twitter pages featured enthusiastic interactions, which heightened online excitement for the event. Team and individual sign ups continued right up until the day of the event. Two rappelling teams signed up for Xtreme Descent with just one week left to raise money and promoted the event by writing about it on their own blogs.
The DWC reached their goal, securing one hundred rappellers to take the “Xtreme Descent.” Following the event, the conversation continued, building more equity to gear up for next year’s fundraiser. Online chatter after the event discussed many positive experiences, as participants shared their adventure with the world on personal blogs and with the Xtreme Descent Facebook and Twitter communities. Stay tuned for 2011.
“I’m part of the NH Rockclimbing Meetup team and what a blast! I met some great folks with the Boys Scouts as well as Over The Edge and also, got to use descending equipment that rocks! Many thanks to all on this fundraiser!”
– Lovena Pao Harwood, NH Rockclimbing Meetup
The answer my Jim is blowing in the wind.
Let me paint a picture, sans the windmills. For nearly 32 years I have been making the journey from Hyannis to Nantucket, mostly by way of Steamship Authority, a.k.a. “The Boat” for us common folk. Some consider me a man of principals – a “traditionalist” in the fact that even with the influx of additional airlines and flights to the island, I still choose to travel by boat. I almost find it admirable (while trying to hold on to some childhood memories) to rush and find a parking spot, drag my over-packed bag down to the boat ramp, and stand in line with the J. Crew tourists decked out in a color palette some might classify as “Easter Bunny.” It’s almost a scene from Lampoon’s Vacation, but keep up with me, because it’s part of the entire experience. Read more
On the Way…
Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC)
A wave of success. Calypso helps tell this renewable energy story. Read more
Calypso Tips Banner
Social Media Tips
