Getting Back to Start-up Basics – Refocus after a Rush of Work by Patrick Murphy

Playing baseball in my youth, I was told to get back to basics when my hitting was off. It meant stop all the unnecessary things I was doing when I got up to bat, and instead refocus on the stance, bat position and keeping my eye on the ball. I’m finding the same refocus necessary in this start up.

The core items we focus on at Brand Thunder are:
• Telling our story – building awareness to our prospects and clients
• Selling our product – the calls, emails and contracts to actually sign a partner
• Developing our technology – process and implementation improvements for a sustainable and scalable business

The past five weeks have seen a total rework of all prior custom browser themes for compatibility with Firefox 3, the launch of four new clients (with a fifth coming any day) and the inclusion of a key business model component. And, all are vital to our business. But now that the rush is over, rather than relax, enjoy and get distracted – we’re refocusing on the basics. Doing the fundamental things necessary to build this business and keep doing it until the next rush of work hits, and it starts with picking up the phone.

If you have business fundamentals that you find valuable, we’d love to hear them – especially if you feel their applicable to our efforts. Post the comments here, or you’re always welcome to give us a call.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: browser, firefox, start-up | 2 Comments »

Removing Ego for the Benefit of our Company by Patrick Murphy

How often does your ego get in the way because you say to yourself “I can do it all”? The ego has its role. It probably inspired a lot of entrepreneurial ventures because you believe you can do “it” better. But, does it also give you free reign to do what’s right for the business?

As a start up, we have some notion that we simply can’t do it all and one aspect of that is reaching all client prospects as rapidly as we’d like. So, to broaden Brand Thunder’s business development, we’ve talked with a number of agencies since they’re already representing brand marketers and are used to pitching emerging media opportunities. Coolfire Media offered all that, plus brought an added dimension. Their existing interactive division provided the technical expertise to allow them to extend the browser functionality beyond the portfolio of offerings Brand Thunder currently provides.

This distribution strategy really required setting the ego aside. Aren’t interactive agencies and Brand Thunder both in the business of providing creative, technical solutions to brand marketers? But, there is no one true path for creativity or execution. Each company will offer its own strengths and perspectives. And, that’s why we pursued this path.

We are also confident in platform we’ve created for custom browsers. This gives a company, like Coolfire Media, the foundation against which to develop while still giving them the functional creativity to add more than visual appeal to a browser. They don’t have to recreate the wheel, they just have to enhance the vehicle. And, together we hope to sell more cars (or custom browsers actually, wanted to clarify in case the metaphorical ramblings were getting too vague).

To see the range of Coolfire’s work, go to www.coolfiremedia.com. To see our current client executions, visit www.brandthunder.com/media. To see the press release of the agreement, click here.

Posted in News | Tags: advertising, agency, browser, extensions, firefox, themes | No Comments »

Treat Them Right – Giving More to Your Most-Valued Consumer by Patrick Murphy

Brand Thunder launches its browser customization for Universal Music Nashville’s Sugarland concurrently with the duo’s Deluxe Fan Edition CD (the standard CD will release a week later). This bonus version is similar in value proposition to a custom browser.

The Deluxe Fan Edition offers additional tracks, more detail in the CD booklet, exclusive downloads and a chance to win a VIP package to the CMA Awards and hang out with the band. This CD bundle goes farther, does more and gives bonuses to the more avid fan. Sugarland is creating a deeper connection with that fan by providing them more insight and access to themselves.

Brand Thunder’s custom browsers also create an opportunity to engage and create a deeper, longer-lasting relationship with your audience. With Sugarland’s browser, fans can watch video right in the browser’s sidebar, stream music for free, receive exclusive news feeds and are never more than a click away from the band. It provides more to that consumer willing to go the extra step of downloading the browser and really connecting with the band.

You can see how it all comes together in the browser customization here.

Posted in News | Tags: browser, firefox, nashville, sugarland universal music, themes | 1 Comment »

Expanding the Executive Team by Patrick Murphy

Thoughts on Building the Start-up Team

Brand Thunder announced today the formation of its executive team (you can read the full release here). We set out to create a team capable of building (1) a custom-browser infrastructure where we’ll (2) work with some of the best known brands to (3) create branded browsers for their consumers. That creates a long list of needs to be able to address each category effectively with a very small team.

Here are three considerations that went into the process:

Network for Referrals – We went to people where we had direct working relationship. In one case, that person came on board. In the other, we got the person recommended by our contact. This helped create a team with an immediate degree of trust and confidence between members – necessary elements as we work collectively and independently on the vast number of tasks before us.

Breadth of Experience as Much as Depth – The quantity of tasks is equaled only by the range of work we need to complete, and there’s only a few of us doing the work. We need a core team with multiple talents and who can operate under different roles concurrently. We looked for complementary skill sets that would reduce the knowledge gaps on the team. We now have a team that will have, if not direct experience, at least a reduced learning curve for almost any task before us.

Skill Sets that are Both Art and Science – Our product must be visually compelling to attract the customer, but with the highest quality since it’s representing top-tier brands. We sought equal parts hacker and artist, creative thinker and process disciplinarian, strong egos and aggressive listeners. We’ve built a team with the analytical skills necessary to manage to deadlines, metrics and quality while maintaining the aesthetic and emotional connection with the end user.

We think this approach has given us a strong foundation team from which we can build out the company and serve our customers and clients. Welcome Brij and Kevin. Now on to the proving ground.

Posted in News | Tags: browser, extension, firefox, theme, toolbars | No Comments »

Brand Thunder attending MozCamp in Vancouver by Patrick Murphy

Brand Thunder, among some other big names in the Mozilla Development Community, will be attending MozCamp Vancouver on April 13.

Brand Thunder focuses on helping spread the word of Mozilla as a platform for various partners to showcase their brand. Unlike other development platforms, Mozilla allows brands to fully visualize their image to the end user across all major platforms.

Please see the official Release from Shane Caraveo below for info on MozCamp:

Shane Caraveo: MozCamp at OpenWeb Vancouver

Posted in News | Tags: branding, browser, custom, firefox, marketing, moz, mozcamp, skins, themes | No Comments »

Geffen Records artist NLT and Brand Thunder Unveil Themed Browser by Patrick Murphy

Brand Thunder Inc (http://www.brandthunder.com) announces the first use of its innovative browser tool within the music industry via their client Geffen Records and artist NLT.

NLT is the first musical group with their own customized web browser (http://www.nltmusic.com). “Brand Thunder’s customized theme helps fans show their love for NLT while keeping them informed about the latest NLT news,” says Aaron Foreman, head of New Media for Geffen. “We are extremely pleased for NLT to be the first musical artist to have their own customized browser.”

Internet marketers are scrambling to find ways of keeping visitors riveted to their web sites. By customizing the web browser with an entertainment theme, marketers can keep the attention of fans, even as they navigate away from the brand’s main page. “In a web marketplace where users expect personalization, our unique themes facilitate that and something far more valuable: a persistent channel of communication from businesses to consumers,” explains Patrick Murphy, CEO of Brand Thunder. “We integrate the brand into the browser, so businesses extend their reach regardless of where their customers or fans wander on the internet.”

Nearly every aspect of the browser was customized to reflect NLTs’ music, brand and web presence. After fans install NLTs’ custom theme on the popular Firefox browser, the otherwise generic browser is transformed into a branded arena that puts the fans right in the show. The boys from NLT flood the screen and browser navigation features are transformed with fun new transparent elements. Directly beneath are permanent links to NLT photos and iTunes so fans can download the latest tracks. In addition to driving traffic to NLTs’ website, the browser theme also includes a real-time news ticker so fans can stay on top of the latest NLT news. Such a display seamlessly integrates the traditional use of a web browser with revenue generating links and tools.

The advantages of a themed browser are manifold. “It extends the brand using a fresh, innovative and effective channel,” says CEO Patrick Murphy. “Themes offer passionate users another avenue to display their affinity while facilitating more frequent and focused communication to consumers.”

Brand Thunder is the brainchild of interactive marketing expert Patrick Murphy. His marketing channel development experience spans several well-recognized brands including Netscape, Verizon, Swiss Re, Conseco and JP Morgan Chase / Bank One.

Posted in News | Tags: branding, browser, custom, firefox, geffen, marketing, music, nlt, pop, skins, themes, universal music | No Comments »