WavyBrainy

Thanks to our new client, celebrity hairstylist DS Parada, Ideopia, Raleigh, is getting a buzz. Don is a favorite of the New York fashion scene and tames the shag for a who’s who in politics, Hollywood and business.

Huge kudos to our friends and clients at the Ronald McDonald House for their most successful Red Tie Gala fundraiser ever; and to Vivace and Urban Food Group on their new restaurant in Charlotte.

Oh yeah, and some people here want you to see a video about what happens at Ideopia when the executive branch leaves town.

A warm welcome to OD-OS, and big thank you for naming Ideopia agency of record. A big shout out to our friends and clients at Haag-Streit on receiving FDA approval for their new LENSTAR Biometer. Closer to home, Bill spoke to a class at Raymond Walter’s College about Social Media. BTW, it’s all Facebook on campus, not Twitter. Emily smoked her Mt. St. Joseph teammates in a recent 5K. Congrats to our latest Fresh Pot T-Shirt winner, Jamie Johnson of UBS in Chicago.

A mini eVitalize makeover for pro bono client Anderson Community TV yielded a 300%+ increase in traffic, and doubled the time visitors spent with the site… Design intern Emily Babel learned how to use a jackhammer and took a “vacation” to help build Habitat for Humanity homes in New Orleans… Incidentally, Emily more than proved her mettle and continues this fall as a real part-time employee. After a summer of crunching numbers until they scream, Sam Brode is back to school at Eastern Kentucky University as a senior psychology major. Presumably this will help him cope with his summer vacation. We’ll miss you, dude!

Cincinnati, OH, November 12, 2009 —At first glance, the gathering at Eyechat seems like an awkward cocktail party. Its followers include renowned ophthalmologists, medical students, an outreach program seeking volunteers to provide eye exams to the homeless and a persistent salesperson pushing glasses frames.

“Eyechat is like an online version of the bar Cheers,” says its founder Bill Abramovitz, ceo of Cincinnati advertising and interactive agency Ideopia. “It’s a familiar place with familiar people ‘sitting around.’ To Cheers, its 50 regulars were worth more than a thousand other beer drinkers.”

That, according to Abramovitz, is the paradigm shift of social media. It’s about finding the best possible match instead of volume.

He’s crossed the line from creating advertising to providing content through two social media forums—an Eyechat twitter following and a new spin-off blog with the same name located at www.eyechatblog.com. His agency represents several ophthalmology industry clients and has identified an information vacuum as well as the need for a personal community where people can gather.

Enthusiasm for Eyechat is evident by the immediate interest the blog attracted. It was live less than 24-hours when the first updates were posted to the calendar—the only one that includes any and all ophthalmology and eye care events. An article from a leading ophthalmology publisher quickly followed. Within 10 days, another 227 calendar updates had been posted.

A “causes” section highlights not-for-profits, and any philanthropic organization interested in tackling eye care issues is invited to post there. A link to products showcases everything from lasers to fashion eyewear, including content from competitors to Ideopia clients. Reviews are expected shortly, but Abramovitz is quick to point out that’s up to the users.

Ultimately he’d like to see all of the content entirely driven by the site’s followers.

“What is Eyechat?” asks one new Twitter follower. Amidst conversation ranging from slit lamps to Mark Twain, the dialog continues as ophthalmologists begin making the blog their own.

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Ideopia is the advertising and interactive agency that lives and breathes to create great ideas. Located in the clouds at www.ideopia.com and on terra firma in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ideopia’s mission is to be a catalyst for change—improving the outlook for clients and the world at large.

With the addition of Liz Vogel, public relations, and Debbie Immesoete, senior art director, Ideopia continues to deepen its talent pool. Liz, a graduate of Rice and Yale Universities, has major national account experience , including vice president of public relations agency PublicisDialog, (Manhattan Division).

Debbie Immesoete is a native of Rochester New York, and a graduate of Marywood University. She’s an award-winning art director with strong broadcast and print credentials, and a rock ‘n’ roll drummer. She’s worked on consumer and B2B accounts for a wide-range of clients in Cincinnati and Syracuse, New York. Join us in giving them a big fat Ideopia welcome.

Think we’re pandering? Think we’ll sell our souls for a few clicks? Think we made the intern do it? Think you want some? Learn about Ideopia’s eVitalize web marketing.

At a luncheon meeting on Friday, February 6, The Clermont Chamber of Commerce, Ohio, recognized Ideopia with its 2009 Innovative Business Practices Award for businesses under 50 employees.

The award noted Ideopia’s commitment to creative advertising, marketing solutions that deliver results for its clients, innovative new services, and a family friendly workplace. See complete release and awards video produced by the Chamber