Brand Thunder Announces “Theme Thursdays” – Win Prizes for Downloading Browser Themes by Brand Thunder

At BrandThunder.com, we love creating uniquebrowser themesfor Firefox, IE, and Chrome, and we hope you have been enjoying them as much as we have. We’re going to have a little fun each week and would love for you to join us.

Each Thursday, browser theme enthusiasts will be provided a new theme to try out on their browser. In exchange, we will provide a $25 Amazon gift card to one random browser theme fan who downloads the specified theme and shares it on Facebook or Twitter. It’s as easy as that. Download & Share!

Each Thursday, we will announce the theme of the week on our blog athttp://brandthunder.com/blog/with details on where to download it.

How to Enter “Theme Thursdays” from Brand Thunder:

• Visit ourBlogto Find the Featured Theme
• Download the Theme
• Share on Facebook and/or Twitter using our Share button after the download.
• One person will be randomly selected to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and Brand Thunder will notify within 3 days.
• Remember:Users MUST share in order to be eligible

Good luck and we hope to see you every Thursday for Theme Thursdays at BrandThunder.com!

You’ll find this contest discussed, along with a lot of other fun stuff, at these fine sites:

• http://www.winprizesonline.com/contests
• http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/ – Free Giveaways and Contests
• http://www.online-sweepstakes.com/
• http://www.contesthound.com/
• http://www.contestbee.com
• CashNet Sweepstakes
• ContestGirl.com

Posted in News | Tags: browser theme, contest, Facebook, free themes, Twitter, WeatherBug | 4 Comments »

Conference USA Getting Their Browser Themes by Brand Thunder

C-USA is joining the ranks of the elite schools that offer fans, students and alumni official athletics browser themes. Each theme carries the colors and style of the its C-USA school.  Plus, there is news, Facebook, Twitter, tickets and more.  Everything the fans of Conference USA sports needs.

Find your schools theme here:

• East Carolina Pirates browser theme
• UH Cougars browser theme
• Marshall Thundering Herd browser theme
• Memphis Tigers browser theme
• Southern Miss Golden Eagles
• Tulsa Golden Hurricane browser theme
• UCF Knights browser theme

Or capture the energy of the entire conference with the C-USA browser theme.  Either way, it’s a sure win.

Posted in News | Tags: browser theme, Conference USA, ECU Pirates, Facebook, Houston Cougars, Marshall Thundering Herd, Memphis Tigers, Southern Miss, Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, Twitter, UCF Knights | No Comments »

CMT Browser Themes – Get Country by Brand Thunder

The CMT browser themes are designed especially for Country Music Television fans.  You can choose from 5 different background colors for your theme.   You’ll also get easy access to the rest of the CMT community through links to Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.  The theme also includes the latest news and connections back to CMT content and videos.  So, get this browser theme and Get Country.

Posted in News | Tags: browser theme, cmt, Country Music Television, Facebook, Online Communities, Social Networking, Twitter | No Comments »

How to Get Browser Theme Support on Get Satisfaction by Kevin Dwinnell

Help us help you.

Brand Thunder supports all its products at http://getsatisfaction.com/brandthunder.  All questions are monitored and responded to by the Brand Thunder team.  You never know who is going to respond, but we do make sure you question gets to the right person and that you get a response.

Get Satisfaction is a community site, so you will need to register.  It’s a free site for users, so don’t hesitate to join. And while it’s an extra step, that minor bit of inconvenience helps to keep the site and discussion relatively clean and on topic.

The topic of discussion is really up to you.  We’re aggressively trying to build the capabilities of the browser theme, across multiple browsers and multiple operating systems – and we’re a small team.  What this means is we can always use good ideas, so feel free to share and comment.  It also means we’re doing a lot, so we’re bound to miss a few things.  We greatly appreciate hearing about any issues or problems you encounter.  As hard as we try, we simply can’t catch everything.

If you do run into a problem, here is some preliminary information that can start us on the path of troubleshooting.  Once you describe the problem in as much detail as you can (the standard who, what, when, where and how). Let us know your:

• Operating system
• Browser and version number
• Other extensions you may be running
• Screen shots of the problem can also be helpful

That gets us in the ballpark of the problem and then we can ask more focused questions after that.  Regardless of the message, we’re always glad to hear from you.

You can also keep up with Brand Thunder by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook.

Posted in News | Tags: browser theme, Facebook, GetSatisfaction, Online Communities, Twitter | No Comments »

Is Acquiring New Customers A Waste of Time? by Kevin Dwinnell

Last week I was directed to a blog post about the power of having fans of your brand. Teddy Anderson, the author, and I had just met and he mentioned the post and that he’d referenced Brand Thunder in it. How could I not read it?

Some valid points are made about the difference between fans and customers, and why the power is in getting more fans. He even lists resources to help with this. In the brief post, the emphasis is on illustrating why customers are not the goal, but fans are. The point that is alluded to, but not detailed, is that the two are not mutually exclusive.

You should approach your customer development like a baseball farm system. You’ve got your prospecting and recruiting to get new players into the minor leagues, then you move them from single A up to triple A until you can land them in the majors. Not everyone is going to make the jump to the next level, but doesn’t mean they don’t serve a purpose at the level they attain. Think of your customer acquisition in the same light. Once you’ve made a sale or acquired a new customer, are you done? Not likely. You’re just at the next stage of a growing relationship. It started when the first connection was made with a prospect, it’s grown into a customer relationship and they may yet evolve into fans. They won’t all become fans, but at least the growth potential is there at every stage.

The tools available to companies to encourage that ongoing relationship are plentiful, and that’s the strength of the Internet. As I’ve said in this space before, communication is a key element to building that relationship. And it’s not just open communication, it’s early. You need these customers to feel they’ve got the inside track if they’re ever to move from feeling like a client to feeling like they’re valued.

Yes, Brand Thunder’s browser themes do this, and part of why we’re including the “interactive” moniker with them. This communication potential is also the compelling nature behind Facebook and Twitter, and the fans and followers of brands. Information is powerful, and to give it freely, openly and early (as in making your fans the first to know when news is happening) stands to create a powerful connection.

So, I agree that if you’re only focused on getting customers, you’re missing the boat. You need to look at the entire customer relation process to make sure the methods are in place to make sure the relationship can grow.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: brand thunder, browser theme, Customer Management, Facebook, marketing, Social network, Twitter | No Comments »

Brand Thunder and the Daytona International Speedway Move Web Browser Themes into the Fast Lane by Brand Thunder

COLUMBUS, OH – February 9, 2010 — Brand Thunder LLC (http://www.brandthunder.com), the custom browser specialists, announced today the launch of the interactive browser theme for the Daytona International Speedway. Racing fans can get a browser theme that keeps them attuned to three of the hottest events at the preeminent race track, the Daytona International Speedway. The theme changes automatically in the browser after each event providing a unique look for the Daytona 500, the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola and the Daytona 200 motorcycle classic. The theme can be downloaded for free at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Fan-Info/Custom-Daytona-Web-Browser.aspx.

In addition to three unique looks, the interactive browser theme also features breaking news in the news ticker and sidebar newsreader, plus easy navigation to the Daytona International Speedway Web site including tickets for all events. The browser theme will also connect users to the Daytona International Speedway’s fan pages on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

“With each event, Daytona International Speedway transforms to a completely different experience,” said Robin Braig, President of the Daytona International Speedway. “With Brand Thunder’s help, we’re delivering that same concept to the web browsers of race fans.”

“The events at the Daytona International Speedway are such a big draw,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Brand Thunder. “This theme is a great way to keep the connection to the fans when they’re not at the track and keeping the racing spirit with them whenever they’re online.”

Brand Thunder’s browser Boom! technology provides an extreme makeover of the Internet browser. Booms! are free, lightweight active customizations that can include themes, toolbars, sidebars and other content or functionality. Users can switch real-time between any installed Boom!.

About Brand Thunder:
Formed in April 2007, Brand Thunder creates custom-browser experiences for major brands. Brands enjoy a more persistent connection to their Internet consumer through the custom browser Boom!, which increases website visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their Internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or Internet site. The custom browser Booms! feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other Internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the Huffington Post, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, Universal Music and Bing Search. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Contact:
Patrick Murphy, CEO
Brand Thunder, LLC
614-408-8202
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Posted in News, Press Releases | Tags: brand thunder, browser theme, Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, Facebook, firefox, Major League Soccer, Sport | No Comments »

B/T Enters Beta Phase with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer – How to Avoid Single Distribution Risk by Kevin Dwinnell

You always want to avoid single points of failure. A variation on this theme was raised on “This Week in Startups,” a live show and podcast where serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis brings on accomplished guests to discuss and help startups. (I’m referencing Episode 15 with Roelof Botha.) A caller was seeking advice since his Facebook application lost distribution due to a policy change by Facebook. He saw his business evaporate.

Today, Brand Thunder announced the beta launch of the Internet Explorer Boom!. This is not just a huge milestone in our ability to serve our clients and end users, it’s another step toward mitigating risk in our whole business. Here are a few thoughts on single dependency and how it shaped getting us to this point.

Eco-systems and Platforms

When we started building on Firefox, addons.mozilla.org (AMO) offered an ideal proving ground for concept and technology. It offered an aggregated audience predisposed to enhancing their browsing experience with add-ons. Other companies built their businesses here as well (StumbleUpon, Clipmarks, Delicious). Facebook is that environment for social applications.

Any time you’re beholden to a single entity, there’s the risk for a single point of failure should something in that relationship change. Mozilla being open source and community driven isn’t like other organizations, but it’s still serves a segment of the Internet population. To meet the needs of our clients, we need to serve as wide an audience as possible and that service is on other browser platforms.

Channels to Market

AMO is a tremendous help in getting our product to end users, but it’s not our only source of distribution. Since we built custom browsers for major brands, we had the advantage of distributing through their sites and their fan sites as well. For successful social applications, they look to Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and leverage their Viral Loop. Other browser extensions build out to IE, Safari, Opera, Chrome and so on.

We weren’t limited to a single channel, but now we extend that even further through access to IEAddons.com and sites devoted to Windows downloads. And since we’re unique the visual immersion we bring to the browser experience, there’s an opportunity to satisfy and under-served market.

The Internet Explorer Highlights

So, we’ve improved our position in a couple key areas for our business and we’re thrilled about that. But, here’s why we think our clients and end users will be excited as well.

The story about how a little download can add a lot of Boom! to a browser just became a whole lot bigger.

Posted in Commentary, News | Tags: brand thunder, Branded Browser, browser boom, custom browser, Facebook, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Roelof Botha, Safari, Windows | No Comments »

Have a great read and don’t forget to reTweet – Keeping up with B/T by Kevin Dwinnell

If you’re like us, you like to keep up with companies, news and opinions across the web. And, we’re probably like you in that we offer different ways of communicating what’s going on and what we deem as relevant. To help you sift through the delivery vehicles, I’m providing an overview of each one. Then you can choose one or two that fit your needs best, or simply follow the links and sign up for all of them.

Twitter:

Follow: brandthunder http://twitter.com/brandthunder It’s company insight and more. Patrick must be the speed-reader in the company. He gets through more blogs, articles and newsfeeds in a morning than I can all week. If you want a grasp of the best of Internet business news, his take on current company activity and the occasional compelling gadget – following us on Twitter is a great way to go.

Newsletter:

Another easy method to keep up with company news and activity is to sign up for our email newsletter at http://brandthunder.com/stormreport. What I appreciate and respect about the newsletter is that it’s news, when it happens, and not on a schedule. We’re not going to put something in your mailbox until there’s something worthwhile to put there. No clutter, just the goods.

Blog:

Our blog continues its evolution. We’re on a publishing pace of once or twice a week. What you get is a range of news and information about the company, insights into our industry (which I view as interactive marketing, but am open to feedback and requests for information) and some insights into the life of a company in the midst of its early growth stage. You can always read it on our site, and visit our Gallery while you’re here to see the latest browser Boom!, or get the blog in your favorite reader with this URL: http://brandthunder.com/feed/.

Facebook:

Another easy way to get the new news bits… become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/brandthunder. It makes us happy and it’s guaranteed to impress your friends – or something equally good (I need to check my legal disclaimers). :-)

I hope this helps, and we hope to see you in more places.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: Blog, brand thunder, Brand Thunder Boom, business, Facebook, Interactive marketing, On the Web, Social network, Twitter | No Comments »

Elaboration on Earning Customer Loyalty by Kevin Dwinnell

Customer Loyalty: How to Earn It is a commentary over at MediaPost. Guy Maser gives some simple and straightforward ideas to help you better serve your existing customer. The fundamentals often aren’t that complex. His suggestions are geared for a certain type of business, but his premise is applicable anywhere – do something for the benefit of your current customers.

I’d take it a step or two farther. What can you do for your customer today? How much of your time was spent working on tasks focused on revenue for you as opposed to experience for them? When was the last time you focused on figuring out what would “wow” your customer? Do you have a daily “to-do” task that focuses specifically on the customer?

Questions like these drive a set of behaviors that can benefit your customer and ultimately your business. Just picking up the phone and calling a customer can have a very positive impact as well as offering a chance to get first hand feedback. Reviewing message boards and comments, on your sites and sites related to your product can be very insightful, but also give you an opportunity to respond and learn. I found a comment in Mozilla’s Add-ons that warranted a reply, but Add-ons doesn’t offer a reply option. Fortunately, this member had an email address in his profile and I was able to reach him. I can’t vouch for this instance, but in the past, these extra steps have gone a long way.

Think of all the other touch points available through the Internet. What if some of the viral-video energy went into service videos? Pictures and text also works. I completely disassembled my laptop to fix a cracked solder joint and couldn’t believe the number of parts. I found a step-by-step guide, however, that allowed me to do it myself in about the amount of time it would have taken just to drive it to a repair shop. It was awesome.

We mention frequently the items we often include in our browser Booms! News feeds, RSS, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and more. These are all easy to implement touch points with your consumer. Some of these elements get the news to your customers as effectively and more timely than any email campaign can. You don’t even have to do the bulk of the communicating at sites that offer a dialogue. Listening goes a long way, but you will have to say something, just so your customers know you’re there.

The list can go on and on. There’s no one path to earning your customer’s loyalty, but it clearly requires pursuing some path.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: brand thunder, Branded Browser, browser boom, custom browser, Facebook, Internet forum, Mozilla, MySpace, RSS, Social media, Twitter, Viral video | 1 Comment »

Brand Thunder Unveils “Canvas” and the Ability to Add Any Photo or Image to Your Browser Theme with Just a Click by Patrick Murphy

COLUMBUS, OH (May 28, 2009) — Brand Thunder LLC (http://www.brandthunder.com), the custom browser specialists, today announced the beta release of Canvas, a major advance in Internet browser personalization. This lightweight browser enhancement puts the look and feel of the browser fully in the hands of the user by allowing any picture on their computer, or any image on a web page, to be set as the theme for their Internet browser. Canvas is available for download at http://brandthunder.com/Canvas and represents the easiest method to customize the browser on such a personal level.

“Brand Thunder was built on the premise of allowing users to personalize their browser experience,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Brand Thunder. “Today, with Canvas, we radically redefine what that means. There’s no other tool that’s as easy to use and gives this amount of visual control over the user’s existing browser.”

With Canvas installed, users may instantaneously wrap the browser with images or photos found on sites like Flickr and Facebook, even animated gifs by right-clicking the image and selecting “Add to Image Canvas.” Any image added to Canvas becomes part of the “MyPix” button, the equivalent of a browser photo album where the user can switch browser themes any time they wish. Clicking the Manage button allows the user to add and remove images, or to modify the look by changing image position, background color and tiling.

“The browser theme offers one of the most visible customizations for the computer,” Murphy said. “Wallpapers and screensavers have been available for a long time, but once software is opened the wallpaper is hidden. The screensaver is primarily on when you’re not at your computer, so you don’t get to enjoy it much. We’ve put the same kind of personalization and ease of use into an application that is open for hours at a time, the browser.”

Brand Thunder’s browser Booms are free, lightweight active customizations that can include themes, toolbars, sidebars and other content or functionality. With a Boom!, users can switch real-time between any of the browser looks they created without restarting their browser. Canvas works with Brand Thunder’s other Booms! offering a custom browser experience as often as users like.

About Brand Thunder:
Formed in April 2007, Brand Thunder creates custom-browser experiences. Brands enjoy a more persistent connection to their Internet consumer through the custom browser Boom!, which increases website visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their Internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or Internet site. The custom browser Booms! feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other Internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the Huffington Post, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Universal Music and Yahoo!. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Contact:
Patrick Murphy, CEO
Brand Thunder, LLC
614-408-8202

###

Posted in Press Releases | Tags: brand thunder, Brand Thunder Boom, Branded Browser, browser boom, custom browser, Facebook, Flickr, Huffington Post, Major League Soccer, Patrick Murphy, Yahoo | No Comments »