The opportunity to speak at one of the world-famous, non-profit TEDx events doesn’t happen every day – in fact it is by invitation only.  So when Luke Williams, a Social Media Strategist at RT Media and fan of TEDx events for many years was asked to speak at a recent TEDx event in Hull, it was a personal achievement.

Luke explains: “TED was set up in 1984 in the USA to bring together people from the Technology, Entertainment and Design worlds under the banner of ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’.
TEDx events follow the same format but on a local level and take place all over the world covering a whole range of topics.

“To be invited to speak at a TEDx event, the content must be unique and in keeping with the spirit of sharing worthwhile ideas, as well as the theme for the event – in this case ‘Beyond Limits’. Speakers undergo a rigorous process, which ensures the quality and standard is very high. First I had to submit my idea and then complete a form about why I wanted to speak on my chosen topic.  Once accepted, I was asked to meet the panel in London, prior to the event in Hull. “

Luke’s powerful subject  ‘Why Don’t You?’ focused on his own personal journey from boy to manhood following the death of his father, the ‘epiphany’ he experienced from setting key personal, career and even ‘enjoyment’ goals, and the focus to achieve them.

Luke adds: “Being invited to talk at the TEDx event in Hull was a great honour, especially having followed TEDx events for many years – and one which I can tick off from my list of personal goals.”

Each TEDx event includes a suite of short, carefully prepared talks such as Luke’s, or demonstrations and performances (live, or TEDTalks videos from TED.com) on a wide range of subjects.  The aim is to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and to provoke conversations that matter.

Luke’s presentation will be added to the TEDx library and made available on the RT Media Blog in due course.

RT Media recently launched ‘Get Social in 2012’; a program of Social Media Training courses and Social Impact Audits with the aim of helping clients and other businesses to meet their online and social potential.  The aim is to strategically review campaigns, tighten content and ensure brand continuity across a business’ online presence.

Phase One, a training course covering an Introduction to Social Media, LinkedIn, Twitter, Better Blogging and Facebook for Business, was well received by businesses attending, scoring highly for value, content and detail.

All of the delegates would recommend the course to others, Robert Bennet of Groveley Detection said: “This course gave me a good insight into what is obviously becoming a very important area for any business to add to their marketing programme.” Dr. Monica Seeley of Mesmo Consultancy added: “Excellent – well-presented, clear, learnt plenty (even as an existing blogger).  [This course is] a must for anyone wanting to improve their blogging.”

Phase Two offers companies who are serious about assessing and addressing their online presence a ‘Social Impact Audit’. RT Media examines the online social activity of a business to identify areas for improvement, provide techniques for generating good quality content, including points which can save time as well as money, whilst generating better returns.

Luke explains: “The Audit is the keystone to building a strategy and successful campaign, serving as a reference point to measure and assess current aims in order to update, enhance and develop them into a full, working strategy. “

Ruth Chester of The Little Knitting Company, whose Audit took place recently, said: “Yet again RT Media came up trumps.  Luke understood my brief so on arrival the supporting notes for our workshop demonstrated the thorough research undertaken in preparation. I left with a much clearer understanding not only of how social media works but of how it can benefit my business.”

Luke adds: “Although the web is a part of everyday life, businesses can still have a blind spot when it comes to maximising the potential of planned and co-ordinated social media campaigns.  They have the power to deliver dividends, create awareness and not just support, but complement and underpin other marketing activity – and all for relatively little investment – if the aims and strategy are clear, the process is fully understood and the people involved have received the proper training.  That’s where we come in as specialists in strategic planning  and training.”

RT Media has counted Condé Nast, E ON, KPMG and Channel 4, as social media consultancy clients, amongst others, and regularly speaks at national business and industry events such as Live:Tech @ Saatchi Gallery, The Gathering @ Somerset House and the National Housing Federation Communications Conference.

For more information about training courses or Social Media Audit, visit Get Social in 2012

Stephen Dann, Group Marketing Manager at C4L, explained: “We had already worked with RT Media to refresh and update the business identity and brand of C4L, and developed an honest and frank relationship with them.  When it came to positioning our new brands for launch, this important rapport was already in place.  We are a fast growing business within a fast paced market place, with ambitious plans to expand further into Europe and ultimately the United States and beyond.  Working with a design agency with the ability to not only accurately interpret our ideas but deliver the full branding and related marketing collateral for a new range of products, against very tight deadlines, has been extremely important in our journey from concept to launch.”

C4L launched Infiniserv, one of its new brands, which is ‘removing the limitations you inherit with off the shelf virtualisation products’, at London’s Cloud Expo on January 25th, 2012.  Working in conjunction with C4L, RT Media provided a range of options, from which the final brand design was selected.

Ross Thornley, Strategy Director and Founder of RT Media, said: “’Intangible’  services, especially those which are ground breaking, such as Infiniserv, are often the most challenging when it comes to brand development.  Since time was of the essence, we had to work closely with the team at C4L to understand its core values in order to create a design which would convey the cutting edge nature of this technology.   The launch at a major trade show was critical in terms of ensuring the stand, website, marketing materials and literature would all be deliverable.”

Stephen continued:  “This year is forecast as the time when cloud computing finally comes of age.  RT Media has created an arresting identity for Infiniserv at a time when image and identity are essential for ensuring differentiation in a crowded market.  The team has fully grasped concepts which are sometimes difficult to convey; creating a brand which, in my view, is spot on.”

As well as the launch of Infiniserv, RT Media is working closely with C4L to launch many other products into the global market.

In reality, due to the nature and legalities of the deal, selecting the new name, brand and web site for the supplier of payment devices, all had to happen extremely quickly.

Dave Millener, Managing Director at Spire Payments in the UK explains: “Due to legal reasons, there were just a few short weeks between confirming that the deal would take place and having to launch the new brand, during which time we had first to select a branding agency to work with.  We issued a brief and, on the basis of their initial response, invited three local agencies to present their capabilities to us.

“Ross and the team at RT Media responded very quickly and demonstrated from their presentation that they clearly understood the brief, had the branding expertise we needed, and could offer us the flexibility required to complete the task across the two different countries within the very limited timescale.  Flexibility was particularly important, given that we were often thinking on our feet.  The aim was for the name change to be seamless so our customers both here in the UK and Spain would acknowledge and understand it, whilst everything else was ‘business as usual’ for them.”

In less than three weeks from the initial meeting, RT Media delivered the complete package – a new name, brand, brand messaging, a working web site in English and Spanish, signage, promotional and packaging materials, an extensive set of data cards, communication materials, stationery and other small details – right down to the signatures on staff emails.

Ross Thornley, founder of RT Media and Strategic Director, said: “In some ways it helped that the date for the changeover was set in stone, as it gave our whole team a very clear deadline to work to.  From an agency point of view, we were able to map a critical path for the deliverables, although as Dave says, there were some variables which we had to work around too. ”

Of course, the personalities had to be right.  Building a strong working relationship between a new market leading client and agency can often take time, but since there was so little time, it just had to work.

Dave continues: “From the outset we had a very good working relationship with the team at RT.  They just understood what needed to be done and got on with it, whilst contributing with a good flow of ideas, which gave our thoughts and ideas positive direction.  It helped that they were just down the road in Wimborne, as it meant we could provide the direct input dictated by the deadline, literally sitting alongside the designers.  The outcome was that we achieved our goal and, given the deadlines set, were actually in great shape the day we launched the new company to the market. Our customers both here and in Spain were very impressed that so much had been done, in so little time.”

Ross concludes: “The basis for this entire project was based on understanding the core values and aims of the new company.  This enabled us to help launch Spire Payments as a new, independent European player in the electronic payments vendor market, creating a strong brand to rival its competitors and provide a firm platform for its strategic growth plans. We are looking forward to a roll-out of activities next year, including videos, training materials and the next phases of web site development “

New Appointment - Jamie Homer, Design Director at RT Media

Branding, creative and digital agency, RT Media, has announced the promotion of Jamie Homer from Studio Manager to Design Director as part of the company’s overall growth plan.

The move comes hot on the heels of the recent merger and integration of social media training and consultancy business, SocialTech, and creative agency, Ozone Creative Solutions, which saw RT Media expand its services and core resources.

Ross Thornley, RT Media founder and Creative Director, said: “The appointment of a Design Director is a fundamental step in the growth plan of our business.  Following our on-going strategic development of the company, we decided to expand our offering to clients through mergers with two companies that had the core skills we desired.  Naturally, the additional staff and skill sets need a new level of management and Jamie was the obvious choice.”

Jamie has eleven years of experience in the industry, having spent almost eight of them with RT Media.  He joined the company as a Creative Artworker, progressing to Senior Designer and then Studio Manager.

Jamie has worked on a number of high-level branding campaigns whilst managing the team, and has a philosophical approach when it comes to delivering the best option for the client.  He said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Design Director and see the position as having the responsibility of nurturing the best talent and ideas within the team in order to deliver the best results for the client.

“These are very exciting times for RT Media and for our clients. I intend to use the unique position of having already worked within the business as a manager as well as creatively alongside our existing clients to inspire and motivate the team to develop world class, conceptual design that meets the strategic aims of any creative campaign.  It is not just about being good at design,” he said.  “It is about being good at design for the good of a business and that, along with our branding, social media and digital offerings, is where we excel for our clients.”

RT Media was the only agency in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire to be listed in a first-of-its-kind national table of design agencies by Recommended Agency Register (RAR), which showed that great design is no longer the preserve of specialist design agencies.

Ross Thornley (left) with this year’s winner Phillip Khan-Panni (centre) and Alderman, David Trenchard.

Wimborne-based branding, creative and digital agency, RT Media, sponsor of the first UK Business Speaker of the Year, has announced its support for the 2012 competition, now launched.

Last month (Sept) Phillip Khan-Panni’s, a copywriter from Bromley, wowed an audience at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre, winning the first ever UK Business Speaker of the Year competition with a motivational speech, “What it means to be second”.

The speech included stories about Mr Khan-Panni’s rivalry with an older sibling and how he overcame disappointments in life.

As well as sponsoring the event, RT Media founder and creative director, Ross Thornley sat on the judging panel.  He said: “The whole competition was extremely well run, with the eight finalists selected from auditions posted onto YouTube.  At the final, there was the added tension of the judges selecting just three contestants for the audience’s deciding vote.

“It was a great night – there are some really talented speakers out there and this competition is a real opportunity to be independently recognised.  We’re looking forward to building the reputation and scope of next year’s competition.”

The event was devised by the UK Speechwriters’ Guild, which hosts its annual conference at the Bournemouth University Executive Business Centre.  Professor Max Atkinson, one of the country’s leading public speaking experts, author of ‘Lend Me Your Ears’ and a much-acclaimed blogger, sat as Chairman of the Judges.

Khan-Panni, CEO of PKP Communicators, a training company that helps business leaders to speak in public without fear and in a way that makes others want to listen, said: “The UK Business Speaker of the Year is a splendid and worthwhile initiative that attracted some quality speakers. Much credit to Brian Jenner, whose idea it was, and to RT Media, the brand agency that recognised its potential. I was delighted to take part and honoured to have been voted the inaugural winner.”

Aspiring or professional speakers over the age of 18, with an unusual story to tell can register their interest to take part in next year’s competition at www.ukbusinessspeakers.co.uk.

Ross Thornley, Creative Director

Actively taking an interest in the environment makes business sense, according to a Dorset-based firm of brand consultants.

RT Media is supporting a new awards initiative launched by DECISION Business Magazine to recognise companies that believe setting and implementing environmental best practice is mission critical, not just for their businesses, stakeholders, and the community, but for the future of the planet.

RT Media managing director, Ross Thornley said: “The purpose of The Business & The Environment Best Practice Awards is to demonstrate that taking a lead environmentally will give companies a competitive edge and that it is not something which should be driven by compliance.  The process needs to be proactive and embracing, not reactive and box-ticking. These Awards will identify and recognise companies which demonstrate such credentials.”

“These Awards differ in two key ways.  First, unlike most award schemes, businesses and organisations do not pay an entry fee, or even submit an entry themselves – they are identified by an independent panel and selected from a range of categories relating to business process, and the market sectors that have most influence on the region’s economy.  These include retail, construction, built environment, logistics, manufacturing, leisure and tourism, print and packaging, food, and business services.

“Second, the independent panel comprises academics, experts from industry bodies, government representatives, industry bodies, and environmental and sustainability consultants to advise on both the categories and criterion for the awards, as well as judging, to ensure that the interrogation process is robust and the winners are indeed deserving. The idea is to get right under the skin of organisations that are working positively for the environment and recognise those who have not just embraced environmental policy, but who are actively involved in doing something about it at every level.”

Thornley adds: “How a company addresses the environment has an influence that flows beyond its business. If employees sense that its attitude is cosmetic, then that can condition their behavioural response to the environment.  On the other hand, a brand that embraces environmental responsibility will not just improve corporate credibility, but also performance. Taking care will be a mantra which influences not just environmental considerations, but customer service and an understanding on the part of employees of business process efficiency.”

The event consisted of various tree related activities with the Education Rangers from East Dorset Countryside Management Services, including crafts, bird box building and even a Wellington boot competition. The bird boxes made as part of the day will be dispersed in gardens around the area and will give birds somewhere safe to nest in the spring.

Mr Ross Thornley, RT Media Creative Director, “We are aware of our impact on the environment and aim to reduce our emissions with the goal of becoming carbon neutral within the next 10 years. It was nice that we could get involved as we didn’t get to see the tree eForests planted for us last year; a single tree can offset 1 tonne of carbon emissions in its lifetime.”

As a business RT Media has always endeavoured to work with suppliers and customers who share the same environmental values and together look for solutions to decrease our carbon footprint.

This month, RT Media celebrates a decade of creative campaigns, branding and web marketing for a client base spanning international, national and regional clients of all shapes and sizes.

Company founder and Creative Director, Ross Thornley, attributes the company’s success to a clear vision, a clear definition of success, a focussed drive to achieve it, and good timing – launching a creative agency at the start of the new media revolution.

Ross explains: “When I started the company I was 21, I worked from a bedroom armed with an Apple Mac, support from my family and a desire to prove myself.  Ten years on, RT Media has grown organically to a 10 strong team with all the skills required to fully service 21^st century campaigns.  All this has happened against perhaps the biggest ever change for marketeers; the advent of broadband into our homes.”

Ross continues:  “As a result we have grown up with the Internet, which has given us a very holistic approach to our clients’ work. To facilitate the increasing demands from clients for digital and social media campaigns, we recently launched GetShaking to maximise how social media can be monetised, and a return on investment can be tracked.  But while we know that the web can never be underestimated or ignored, we still believe every business plan and set of objectives requires a mix of communication channels.”

Today, RT Media can be aptly described as a ‘small, but well-heeled creative agency’, due to its deliberately contained growth, which centres on seeking the ‘right fit’ within the team, as well as its clients.  It also takes its impact as a business very seriously, applying for, and achieving Energy Efficiency in Business (EEIB) 2020 accreditation earlier this year.

Ross explains:  “It may sound like we are aiming to achieve some kind of Nirvana, but for me, creating the right balance between what our team needs in order to provide the highest level of service, is what business in the 21^st century is all about.  Every member of staff has input into the type of company we are on the inside, which means that we perform better for our clients on the outside.”

Ross adds: “I have worked very hard to reach a point where my vision of how a business can be balanced for the good of the whole, can be realised.  By working smartly, and with those people we actually enjoy working with, we can, and do, achieve so much more.  Over 40% of our current client base has been with us for over 5 years.”

Client retention is certainly a priority at RT Media and its high rate can be attributed to the company’s ‘client filter’, which gives the team clear criteria for doing business, and ensures that while they actively seek clients who fit, they also decline those who don’t.

So, what’s next in marketing?  Looking to the future, Ross predicts:  “Video and YouTube are effective and exciting communication channels, but their application for businesses is really very new, and will reach impact we have not seen to date.  I can also see that community delivery, through managed crowd sourcing, will also change marketing boundaries of scope and timescales.”

And the future for RT Media?  Ross adds: “We have now reached a point where we have the firm foundation, staff and resource to continue to build a strong and progressive business. Meanwhile, I plan to construct and build our own office environment, which will be ethically and ecologically sound.  It will give the business a breath-taking environment to cultivate creativity and become the hub of innovation I envisage.”