Tag: Sparksheet

This isn’t a new idea. But it’s something that is floating around in so many different places that it’s starting to feel true. In the content business, I’ve always told my editors that spotting an idea twice is coincidence, but three times is a trend. I didn’t make that up either. But I believe it. A big idea from last year’s International Content Summit focused on Slow Content (I wrote this up in Sparksheet here). More than one speaker talked of consolidation. When Google+ went big last year, I wondered about social media overload. And now Chris Brogan, smart guy that he is, has labeled 2012 as the Year of Consolidation. And this is good news for everyone. The rush to “new” is going to slow, while we start to take deep breaths (yes, collectively) and hunt out quality. Good ideas will trump flash. This is good news for all content marketers who believe in substance to drive results. And maybe, just maybe, the internet will stop being an outlet for cute kitties.
(not that we have anything against kitties….)

Sparksheet, Spafax’s multiplatform media and marketing magazine, won a record-smashing seven awards at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards last night.

Sparksheet dominated the business-to-business division with wins in the following categories:

• Best Online-Only Site
• Best Web Design
• Best Use of Social Media
• Best Blog
• Best E-Newsletter
• Best Mobile-Optimized Site
• Best Article or Series (“Brand New Havana: On the Set of Cuba’s First Branded Film”)

“We’re truly blown away by this incredible showing alongside Canada’s best and brightest,” says Dan Levy, Editor of Sparksheet. “To be recognized for everything from our in-depth editorial, to our responsive web design, to our community engagement is a testament to the strength and versatility of our small, but cutting-edge team.”

Other multiple-award winners this year included the CBC, Globe and Mail, National Post and Torontoist. At last year’s COPAs Sparksheet won a then-record four awards.

For more information about Sparksheet, please contact Dan Levy at dan@sparksheet.com

About Sparksheet

Sparksheet is an award-winning multiplatform magazine that explores how brands are using different platforms to get relevant content to the right people wherever they may be. Powered by Spafax, a WPP content marketing agency, Sparksheet highlights the unexpected connections between various parts of the media and marketing universe, from journalism and entertainment, to advertising and technology. Check it out at http://sparksheet.com/

When the Sparksheet team lands in Seattle next week to cover the 2011 APEX Expo, it will be a “back to our roots” moment for us. Sparksheet launched in June 2009 with a heavy focus on airlines, inflight entertainment and travel marketing.

As we’ve evolved into an award-winning multiplatform magazine, our scope has expanded to include all corners of the media and marketing landscape. But we’re still fascinated by how brands are using content to reach the elusive consumer in transit – the Transumer – wherever they may be. That “wherever” can be in the air, at home, in the office or anywhere else in the world.

Our mission at APEX will be to explore the unexpected connections between the inflight world, and the content, media and marketing universe. On our Sparksheet@APEX micro-magazine, you’ll find exclusive Q&As with the airlines, content distributors, hardware manufacturers and inflight entertainment and communications experts who make the industry fly. You’ll also find a bunch of classic Sparksheet stories updated and reframed for the APEX crowd.

Once we land in Seattle, there will be plenty of blogging and live-tweeting from our @sparksheet_apex account. And make sure to stop by the Spafax booth on Tuesday and Wednesday for some drinks, snacks and great conversation.

In the meantime, check out apex.sparksheet.com and let us know if you have any APEX stories to share. See you in Seattle!

Way back in 2009 Niall McBain and the Spafax Board identified the need for a blog. From that request, Sparksheet was born as the online magazine about marketing to the consumer in transit.

Our basic mandate remains the same but we’ve made a host of design and editorial changes that reflect our evolution from upstart b2b blog into one of the most credible magazines about marketing and media to be found anywhere. Although our singular focus on editorial excellence, independence and quality design has won us a dozen awards and fans such as theeconomist.com and guardian.co.uk, the best prize of all is the relationship we have with our hyper-engaged readers.

In keeping with Spafax’s approach to content marketing, Sparksheet thrives on different platforms and connects with its readers wherever and whenever they want – from twitter to facebook to your inbox and your iPhone, so check it out on whatever platform you chose. In the meantime, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who help make Sparksheet the success it is:

• Dan Levy, Editor
• Charles Lim, Web Director / Art Director
• Joey Tanny, Community Manager
• Dimitry Zolotaryov, Developer
• Arjun Basu, Spafax Content Director
• Elaine Lim and Ian Gamache, Spafax Interactive support
• Niall McBain, CEO Spafax and Sparksheet’s biggest fan
• our proofreaders (as Dan likes to point out – we’re one of the few marketing blogs that benefits from a proofreader!)
• Spafax contributors and supporters
• and last but not least, our contributors from Brazil to China and all points in between

And we’ve gone full circle: you can read more about the making of the new Sparksheet on Sparkbeat, our new… Blog!

As usual, we look forward to your comments – let us know what you think.

Thanks -
Raymond Girard
Publisher

Sparksheet, enroute.aircanada.com and enRoute magazine head up a list of 14 nominations garnered by Spafax media for this year’s National Magazine Awards, Canada’s Academy Awards of the magazine industry.

Air Canada’s enRoute leads the way with 12 nominations: 10 for the magazine and 2 for enroute.aircanada.com. Sparksheet, the online magazine which explores the convergence of content, media and marketing published by Spafax, received 2.

A full list of the nominees:

Best Digital Design: Sparksheet (team)

Best Multimedia Feature: enRoute: Canada’s Best New Restaurants

Best Service: Lifestyle: enRoute: Sarah Musgrave, Canada’s Best New Restaurants

Best Art Direction for a Single Article: enRoute: Nathalie Cusson, Ladies and Gentlemen Montreal

Best Art Direction for an Entire Issue: enRoute: Nathalie Cusson, The Family Travel Special

Best Art Direction for an Entire Issue: enRoute: Nathalie Cusson, The Food Issue

Fashion and Beauty Photography: enRoute: Gabor Jurina, Nathalie Cusson, Zeina Esmail, Aqua Fresh

Best Illustration: enRoute: Pascal Blanchet, The Family Travel Special

Best Spot Illustration: enRoute: Lauchie Reid, Higher Learning

Best Single Issue: enRoute: The Family Travel Special

Best Magazine Cover: enRoute: Nathalie Cusson, Natasha V, Belgium

Words & Pictures: enRoute: JF Legaré, Isa Tousignant, André Doyon, Food Souvenirs

Magazine of the Year (Digital): enroute.com

Magazine of the Year (Digital): Sparksheet

These nominations show the breadth of the offer at Spafax in digital and print, and in both editorial and design. “The nominees highlight our commitment to quality content creation and our belief that quality leads to higher levels of consumer engagement,” noted Content Director Arjun Basu.

The awards will be presented this year in Toronto on June 10th. You can find more information about the National Magazine Awards here.