Welcome to Imagination’s company blog. Here’s where our people will share their great ideas about custom publishing and content marketing, and display their talents, professional and otherwise.
Custom Publishing Case Studies Now on Vimeo!
8 Mar 2010
by Herminia Irizarry
Our broadcast team just set up a Vimeo page with our latest video projects and custom publishing case studies. We’ll be adding more videos often, so be sure to visit again!
NFIB Selects Imagination Custom Publishing to Create Cutting-Edge Small Business Content
8 Jan 2010
by Michelle O'Hagan
CHICAGO—The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business association, selected Imagination Publishing as its new custom publishing partner to help relaunch its flagship magazine, MyBusiness, and create dynamic new content for the NFIB website (http://www.NFIB.com).
MyBusiness, NFIB’s “voice of small business” publication for nearly 20 years, is published bi-monthly with a circulation of 475,000. The March/April 2010 custom magazine relaunch will include a revised feature well, prominent guest columnists, a fresh, modern layout, and expanded, exclusive and actionable content on NFIB.com, including rich media tips and tools to help small business owners own, operate and grow their businesses.
“For years, MyBusiness and NFIB.com have helped the nation’s small business owners run and grow their businesses,” said Dan Danner, NFIB’s president and CEO. “We chose Imagination for its outstanding creative execution, cutting-edge strategic thinking and the passion they brought to the table for helping small business owners. We’re excited to work with Imagination Publishing to reinvigorate the magazine and our site, to make it even more relevant to our audience and advertisers with critical and timely business advice, political and regulatory information and utilize digital opportunities to build community.”
Imagination’s NFIB team will operate under the leadership of company President and CEO Jim Meyers, along with EVP of Design Doug Kelly, and EVP of Client Strategy Laura Chavoen. Editorial Director Simona Covel, formerly of the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, and Account Director Rene Ryan, whose writing has appeared in The Boston Globe and Inc. magazine, will head up print and digital strategies for MyBusiness and NFIB.com. Holly Townsend, president of The Townsend Group, will handle advertising sales for the magazine and the NFIB.com.
“Imagination is the custom content leader in producing editorial for organizations who want to reach small businesses, and this is the strongest strategic and editorial team we’ve ever had,” Meyers said. “Small business is the backbone of the nation’s economy and our mission is to take an already strong publication to the next print and digital levels, to make it indispensable for small business owners and the advertisers who want to reach them.”
Highlights of the March/April issue include:
Unemployment Overload
Unemployment is high, and that means opportunity for small business. How to take advantage of the sudden glut of workers—and how to avoid costly missteps.
The State of the Stimulus
It’s no secret: there wasn’t much in the stimulus for you. Follow five small businesses just like yours that tried to eke out stimulus funds.
The Exit Plan Crisis
Every business owner’s worst nightmare is losing his or her business. But without better succession planning, the majority of small business owners may face that prospect. How to avoid that fate.
Guest Columnist
Famed marketing guru Seth Godin offers his take on small business marketing.
About NFIB
NFIB (http://www.NFIB.com) is the leading small business association representing small and independent businesses. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its members in Washington and all 50 states. The organization’s powerful network of grassroots activists voices its opinion directly to state and federal lawmakers through a members-only ballot, playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system.
About Imagination Publishing
Imagination (http://www.imaginepub.com) is the leading custom publishing and content marketing agency. We help our clients build relationships and increase engagement with their customers. Our clients include B2B and B2C marketers, industry and trade associations. Imagination combines the strengths of traditional agencies, digital agencies and custom publishers to harness the power of relevant content and targeted distribution to help our clients achieve their business goals.
For media inquiries about MyBusiness magazine, contact Jim Meyers, president and CEO of Imagination Publishing at: 312-887-1000.
For advertising inquiries about MyBusiness magazine, contact Holly Townsend, president of The Townsend Group at: 301-215-6710.
My Imagination Internship
6 Jan 2010
by admin
As an editorial intern at Imagination, my skills are put to the test each and every day with a wide variety of writing assignments. Whether it’s writing stories for nationally published material for some of our clients or simple blog posts or tweets, each time I walk through the doors of this place, there’s something new and different on my plate.
My Internship Experience
You all know the theory that interns at some companies don’t truly get a ‘hands-on’ or a resume building experience, right? That couldn’t be farther from the truth at Imagination. My experiences have already led me to include Imagination on my resume as well as have the ability to show future employers the work I was doing here through my clips.
I have a friend who interned over the summer for a newspaper publication. He had one piece of work to show for it at the end of the program. I had one piece of work to show within the first two weeks of my internship at Imagination. Although I’m a journalism person at heart, my writing here has not only helped Imagination, but it furthered the knowledge I need to succeed in any writing industry.
The Imagination Difference
It truly is a great place to work and if you are even remotely thinking of entering in the field of custom media publishing, give Imagination a chance. I’m extremely thankful for the experience I’ve gotten here thus far and only look forward to the new projects that are in store for me.
To get a better idea of how the internship is from someone besides me, watch our video on the program. We, as interns, put it together to give all those interested a better idea of what work we actually do here and what kind of place Imagination is. After watching, feel free to apply, you may find it as rewarding as I did…
by Michael Van Der Harst, Editoral Intern
Custom Publishing @ Imagination: Not Your Average Internship
16 Dec 2009
by Imagination Team Member
Maybe internships at Imagination Publishing shouldn’t be called internships at all. When I applied for my position as a print design intern, I was encouraged by a sentence in the company’s job posting on Craigslist: “You won’t be getting anyone’s coffee but your own.” And now being here, it’s definitely true (even though I prefer hot chocolate).
Custom Publishing: The Internship Difference
Some internships mean getting coffee for the big dogs, sending faxes, and taking notes, but they aren’t solid first steps into the real world. However, here at Imagination, interns actually get valuable work and experience in custom publishing and content marketing.
Imagination offers internships in many areas including editorial, digital media, web design and development, video/broadcast, business development and marketing.
To give an example of work here at Imagination, my first project was a newsletter that went out as a supplement to one of our client’s magazines. I learned a new design program, worked with an editor, and completed a project that was valuable to our company and to our client.
At Imagination
Even though I’ve only spent a month here, Imagination’s strong, cohesive culture is obvious to me. This collaborative, positive, and creative atmosphere is amazing.
Learning more about the company’s work and culture helped me realize this isn’t an ordinary opportunity. To see for yourself, check out the video my fellow interns created to learn more. Oh, and don’t forget to apply.
written by Anne McElherne, Print Design Intern
New Custom Magazine for Senior Marketers to Debut Friday
21 Oct 2009
by Michelle O'Hagan
ORANGE magazine to share insight and opinions about custom publishing, branding and integrated marketing programs.
CHICAGO—Imagination Publishing, a custom publishing agency, on Friday will debut a new custom magazine, ORANGE, to be distributed to senior marketing executives internationally.
The custom magazine, and its companion microsite, will share the magic of why custom content is the most powerful marketing tool for creating audience engagement.
“ORANGE magazine fills a void for CMOs; it goes way beyond the content in most marketing and advertising industry publications, says Jim Meyers, president and CEO of Imagination Publishing. “It covers cutting-edge issues developing around custom content, and positions custom publishing as a critical part of an integrated marketing strategy.”
- ORANGE, a custom published magazine for senior marketers, from Imagination
The inaugural issue of ORANGE includes interviews with leaders at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership; Chris Brogan, co-author of New York Times best-seller “Trust Agents;” Anna Malmhake, VP of global marketing for The Absolut Company; Jeremy Gutsche, founder of Trendhunter; and Martin Lindstrom, author of “Buyology: The Truth & Lies About Why We Buy.”
Online-exclusive content includes interviews with international pollster John Zogby and Ruy Teixeira, senior fellow with The Center for American Progress.
ORANGE’s original content and striking design demonstrate a custom publishing program at its very best. The publication’s masthead describes it as “both inspirational and aspirational, and sometimes confrontational.”
One department, titled “Buy This Idea,” features complete concepts for new custom content packages, along with a suggested ideal sponsor for each.
“Imagination has been a leader in custom publishing for fifteen years,” Meyers says. “With ORANGE, we’ll share our knowledge, insight and opinions with senior marketers around the country through our own ideal custom publishing program.”
To learn more about ORANGE magazine, or to request a subscription, visit www.imaginepub.com/orange
Custom Publishing Special Report
12 Oct 2009
by Michelle O'Hagan
Imagination Publishing’s own Jim Meyers is interviewed in a Custom Publishing Special Report in the October 12, 2009 issue of BtoB Magazine.
Here’s an outtake from the article:
The ecosystem where b-to-b marketers, trade publishers and ad agencies interact is changing. Increasingly, b-to-b marketers are acting like publishers. The Internet has forced marketers to populate their Web sites with white papers, webcasts and other content that will attract the attention of search engines.
Read the complete article:
Custom Publishing Agency Named one of Best Magazine Publishing Companies to Work For 2009
1 Oct 2009
by Michelle O'Hagan
Custom media expert excels in employee survey, workplace best practices.
CHICAGO–Imagination Publishing recently was named one of the Best Magazine Publishing Companies to Work for 2009. The annual list of “Best Magazine Companies” was created by Publishing Executive magazine and Best Companies Group. The complete list – along with profiles of each company’s benefits package and corporate policies – is published in the November issue of Publishing Executive magazine.
Jim Meyers, president of Imagination, says the recognition is a direct result of Imagination’s rigorous and strategic hiring practices. “Over the years, we’ve evolved from a small custom publisher to a custom media expert with B2B and B2C clients across the country. Hiring the highest caliber custom media and marketing professionals is one of our highest priorities.”
Imagination’s Vice President of Talent, Andrea Scott, coordinated the required anonymous employee survey. “Our employees are so enthusiastic about their careers and their clients, and that enthusiasm came through in the survey,” Scott says. “We’re very proud of the work we do for our clients, and that makes Imagination a great place to work.”
Companies from across the country entered the two-part survey process to determine the “Best Magazine Publishing Companies to Work For.” The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings.
About Imagination
Imagination is a custom publisher and custom media agency. We help B2B and B2C marketers and associations build relationships and increase engagement with their customers.
Things Google won’t teach you
11 Mar 2010
by Riley Bandy
With the growth of “instant” communication technology there has become a preference in fast information instead of intelligent information.
When I was young, I learned that imagination is very important and received praise from my parents and friends for drawing detailed pictures of comic book characters and mythical creatures in action sequences. Then, through grade school and junior high school there was a shift toward following direction; for staying “within the lines.” Cursive letters had to be written again and again for perfection, and any sense of style should only be shown in art class. In high school, there was an opportunity for individual pursuits and interests, but still the requirement of staying on topic and keeping activities “within the lines.” Any encouragement of individual interest bowed to the ultimate SAT score and individuality was only worthy of praise if it got you into college.
Fortunately, a liberal arts education provides the opportunity to develop the skill to think critically, the ultimate quality of an intelligent person. There is little merit in the ability to quote facts or be a huge resource of knowledge. But it is forming an opinion that sets people apart. If you don’t have an opinion about a book or a Google SRP then what’s your role in the project? In the process?
I regularly receive forwarded articles and retweeted blog posts without any added comment or opinion. Twitter even updated the retweet function to automatically add someone else’s tweet to your stream without even giving you an opportunity to comment. What then, does your role become in this information sharing, in social media, except to be a researcher, feeling admiration for finding and sharing quickest.
Does a comment field even suggest intelligent response? Does 150 characters provide encouragement for content or for rapid reply? There are smart comments in 150 characters by those who recognize the limited space as a challenge. Those are the ones who understand how to react, how to question.
But in the massive amounts of communication occurring all over the world at any given second, and the incredible growth of short, rapid communication—the comment, the tweet, the text, the ping—what is the future of the book, the essay, the song? Will these devices fall to the popularity of speed as well? Will the intelligence that was once in an essay and now a blog post fall upon deaf ears, or go without comment?
How will we educate future generations about the importance of quality content over fast information? How can we speak in the language of speed to communicate the goal of depth? Try looking that up on Google.
Tags: comment, education, Google, social media, twitter
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