Friday
Feb262010
Kristina Halvorson {43} Content Strategy
Founded in 2002 by Kristina Halvorson, Brain Traffic is widely regarded as one of the country's top content strategists and industry presenters. In this episode, we are joined by Kristina to discuss content, copywriting and the difference between them.
“Content strategy plans for the creation, the delivery and the governance of content.”
It has been awhile since we've recorded a show here at CreativeXpert — what a great way to resume — a wonderful conversation with Kristina... some laughs, some deep thoughts and some monkey business. You're gunna love this!
Her Twitter Bio reads: CEO/Founder, Brain Traffic. Author, Content Strategy for the Web. Mom. Minnesotan. Also, sassy.
- Follow @halvorson
- Follow @braintraffic
- Visit Brain Traffic
- Learn more about Content Strategy for the Web
Songs featured in this episode:
- The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade The Joy Formidable
- Learning Remote Control Beastie Boys
- Social Currency Children Collide
- Up From Below Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- The Last Drop The Joy Formidable
- Start a War The National
- Islands The XX
- Janglin Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
content
Reader Comments (174)
I'm startled by the degree to which the Radio Dept.'s 2010 album Clinging to a Scheme has etched itself into my memory of this year. Every few weeks it seems a new track becomes the central focus around which the rest of the songs orbit. First, it was "David," that slinky, wistful affair punctuated by disco strings. Then "Memory Loss," which hearkened back to previous Radio Dept. standouts "I Don't Like It Like This" and "Pulling Our Weight," which is to say that it seems destined for a prominent place on the next Sofia Coppola soundtrack. Next, there was "This Time Around" which melodically feels straight out of the best of the 90s-era shoegaze catalogue but is itself totally devoid of the distorting effects those bands used to cover up the fact that their music was inherently, giddily pretty. And now I'm obsessed with "Never Follow Suit" with its audio sample from the graffiti documentary Style Wars, its offbeat reggae groove, and its subtle, insistent meditation on how fun it can be to be different/resistant: "I want to, I always wanted to belong to the freak scene or anyone who had set their mind to never follow suit again because they have to, I want to."
It started with tax time ( can I get a collective "eewwww"?), and was quickly followed with D's sister, brother in law and our niece coming to visit ( my first time meeting her - and boy is she CUTE). Throw Easter in there, and a weekend spent helping my dad out and I would say that pretty much takes care of April!
I think it might be the smartest thing they've done in a while. My friend Nash and I have long seen Starbucks as a dying brand. It just got too big too fast, and you can go to a Starbucks location and watch the place kill itself. And the thing is, I know I read an article where they brought in their original guy and were trying to 'get back to their roots'. Remember when Starbucks used to be a warm inviting place, with comfy chairs, plenty of space, with intelligent, hardworking, kind employees, and the strong aroma of fresh ground coffee? Today it's a place that is over cluttered with it's POP items, overpriced mugs, stupid anecdotes and quotes strategically place all around the store, and incompetency. Everyone I've talked to about Starbucks tells me the biggest difference they see is in the service. No one wants to go to a coffee shop with 6 people working behind the counter trying to make coffee for 3 people and still managing to ruin the orders. I remember that was a big reason we used to go to Starbucks. They made your coffee lickety split, and without too much hassle.
My mother always gives good advice. It may not be the most politically correct way to phrase it, but she's usually correct. She tells good stories, too. Some of them so good that I can't post them here. But, when she's not pretending to listen to me with the occasional pointless, small, unnotable vents and rants (luckily, I know she's not listening because I hear the bling-blinging of Bejeweled on her Nintendo DSI), below is one of many garden-variety phone conversations. We don't get bored. I don't anyway. Maybe slightly offended because I'm a tree-hugger. But anyway, she's got valid points.
Here are a few snaps from this past weekend - I spent it with my Dad at the cabin hauling wood and staining siding. Nothing like getting dirty and putting in a few days of labour to remind you were you have come from and how you got there :-)
I don't have control over the affairs of the world, but I do have some control over our little corner in this great big world. Their (Ben's and Hugh's) world, is one in which I do have some control. I can choose the environment they grow up in, I can create a haven of peace, I can influence them for good. I can be patient, I can keep my calm, I can teach kindness with my actions. Here we can have peace. Here we can find comfort and safety from life's storms.
Let me tell you two personal stories about this whole thing:
When my dad and I were driving to Lbk more recently, we stopped at a Starbucks to get our morning coffee fix. There is a sign (on the door at 8 or 9 am mind you!) that says, 'We will only be open from 2pm to 6 pm due to lack of employees" WOW. FATAL mistake. There was a McDonalds RIGHT NEXT DOOR. We watched several people try the Starbucks, realize it was closed and head to McDonalds, including ourselves
The grass is starting to fill in again. I remember when we first grew grass, up from sand, yellow green and spiky, not soft like grass from soil. Years later the yard has been torn up and it is time yet again to re grow.
Starting from nothing, and creating something.
My baby is ten months old today. Where has the time gone? I was watching him today, the way he's cruising around the furniture at practically a running pace, squealing with excitement, and I just can't believe how fast he's growing.
Hugh is our little lion, growling more than babbling. Last month at his 9-month check up I had to fill out a questionnaire about his development and when I got to the questions about babbling, I really didn't know how to answer honestly. I love it, though, and feel a little sad that at some point it'll probably stop. I must get a decent video of his best growling.
This was a big week for Hugh. He figured out how to clap on his own. He started saying "oh" in a voice that reminds me of either Rocky Balboa or some mafioso. He's still doing his "humming" sound when he eats - especially when it's yogurt.