SEAN TINER

There is a reason why books are placed on a "best seller lists" and not "best written lists." Although unique ideas are valued, our society often conforms to follow the popular. We want to feel unique, but also reassured that our decisions are respected by our peers. New products and services are often marketed as a scarce commodity, before they are readily available to the entire public. Recently, Coldplay released a few songs from Viva La Vida, before the album was released in stores. The scarcity created demand for the entire album and the record sold in large quantity on its release date. This weekend, Apple released the new Iphone. Instead of allowing store preorders to create a more convenient shopping experience, Apple allowed its consumers to wait in large lines outside stores. The perceived scarcity created a large demand, confirming that the new Iphone was cool, worth the attention and purchase. Similarly, successful social networking sites use scarcity...

( Seth Godin , Portrait by Tiner).

Last Wednesday, I had my interview with the West Coast Bureau Chief of Brandweek Magazine. I shared my insights on Web 2.0 and tips for college graduates looking for jobs in the marketing/advertising workplace. I look forward to sharing the article when it is published in the near future.

( Katorade.blogspot.com's Jon with a print of Sean's work.) I randomly found a blog that had an entry about my artwork. It's exciting to see the appreciation for my artistic endeavors spread through the Internet.

Global Facts: 1.5 Billion TV Sets 1.0 Billion Internet Users & 3.0 BILLION Mobile Phone Users!* The Internet continually transforms the landscape of contemporary communication. From custom social networking pages (like Myspace & Facebook) to VOIP (voice over internet protocol) , Web 2.0 and open source coding allows people the customization and freedom of a world tailored to their individual needs. The fact that there are 2.0 BILLION more mobile phone users then Internet users, creates a dreamworld for any company or brand. Imagine sharing your ideas with 3 times the amount of viewers, specifically to a respective target audience. On a micro scale, this may sound trivial, but imagine if you a global brand. For example, imagine you are Nike . Traditionally, Nike placed an advertisement on TV or in a printed publication. They selected a television show or periodical that appealed to their target audience: sports enthusiasts . This allowed the brand to reach a portion of the...

(Excerpt from my thesis: Thinking Beyond Web 2.0: Leveraging the Dynamics of Generation-Y to Build Business ) "Have you been Googled? Odds are ....YES! Either it was by an employer, an old friend or that inquisitive neighbor. Here are 5 Simple Rules for Companies or People in our Web 2.0 Era: First: People Google One Another. Accept it. We live in an era, where if your company does not have a website or you do not have a social networking profile …you are either living in the stone ages or are too old school. Human beings are inquisitive and constantly desiring to know information about each other. The more interesting and stimulating content that is online via a traditional website, web 2.0 site or blog …the better. ...This leads me to my second point... Second : Control The Content If you have pictures of yourself doing a keg stand at a frat party or getting down with Cheech and Chong …this may not be the best content to have tagged or posted to your Facebook or Myspace profi...

"If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful." -Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO Amazon.com. Web 2.0 has poured the foundation to create a sustainable, loyal customer base. On a micro-level, I have spent part of this year connecting the dots of Web 2.0. Using existing social networks and posting diverse, aesthetically pleasing content, I have created a diverse web that accelerates traffic to my blog and portfolio website. (Diagram (C) Tiner.) On a macro-level, the same strategy can be applied for any member of the creative economy (artists, fashion designers & musicians) and other businesses that desire to create traffic for their website. It is important to remember that anyone can join these social networks, the key is to differentiate your company or brand in a positive aspect to "build a great experience, (that) customers tell each other about" (Bezos).

(Excerpt from my thesis: Thinking Beyond Web 2.0: Leveraging the Dynamics of Generation-Y to Build Business ) According to Seth Godin, a best-selling author of business books and a famous marketing consultant, ten years ago the third most popular website on the Internet was Jennicam , a site that allowed voyeurs to watch a young girl frolic in her bedroom ( Permission Marketing, 1999 ). Internet surfers were intrigued by the mystique and realness of watching a young girl share her secrets with the world. ...Sound familiar? ....Remember Lonelygirl15 ? Flash forward approximately 10 years from Jennicam and you are introduced to Youtube.com's Lonelygirl15 aka Jessica Lee Rose, a 19 year-old entrepreneur who used Jennicam 's strategy to garner attention and propel herself to Internet stardom. In fact, Forbes Magazine made her #1 on 2007's " The Web Celeb 25 " list, a ranking of the Internet's most influential people ( Forbes.com ). If we flash forward anoth...

…Imagine sharing your song, book or artwork with one hundred thousand people at the click of a button. The Internet has transformed the landscape of contemporary communication. Musicians, artists, authors and brands are creating awareness and knowledge for their companies through social networks and Web 2.0 mediums. A company’s ability to successfully harness the power of the Internet will determine the most successful and innovative brands of the twenty-first century. Generation-Y, the 80 million people born between 1979 and 1999, are self-involved in issues and products that relate directly to their lives (McLean 2008). The ability to connect with Generation-Y on a one-on-one level is a dramatic strength for businesses. According to Anna Ivey, an independent consultant and author of The Ivy Files , a popular blog about Generation –Y, 'businesses that crack Gen-Y are going to have a real advantage' (McLean). Generation-Y is constantly demanding to be electronically stimul...

I am excited to announce that I will have a 2009 calendar. It will be a complimentary gift at a Los Angeles based retailer. The merchant will be formally introduced in a few months. From Los Angeles' metropolis to Orange County's beaches, the calendar will feature iconic images of Southern California’s culture. It will be given away during a special promotion in the summer. After having my first calendar published in 2007, I decided to focus my efforts on creating artwork, my graduate studies and did not create a calendar for 2008.