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Cellular companies want you to think that you can experience a movie by watching it on your cellphone screen.
Filmmaker & author David Lynch disagrees, and drops the f-bomb for emphasis, in this clip from an interview set to iPhone theme music.
lol.
This :30 video is all over the internet. If you haven't seen it, here's your chance.
Brick films are stop motion animation movies made with plastic building toys or bricks (LEGO, Mega Bloks, Best-Lock, etc.). They can also include 3D and Flash.
One of the best known movies in the brick film genre is a film called "Cognizance," about a hit man's day on the job.
Related:
brick films.com - a searchable directory of hundreds of films, contests, a busy forum, and great resources to help animators of any level in the creation of their movies.
“In this Film Industry it Really Helps to Be a Blockhead; Young Cineastes Find Lego A Congenial Medium for the Age of YouTube, 10/06/07, Wall Street Journal
The survey, conducted by Edelman, a global public relations firm, says that "85% of consumers around the world are willing to change the brands they buy, or their consumption habits, to make tomorrow's world a better place. Over half (55%) would help a brand 'promote' a product if there was a good cause behind it." But just 39% of consumers were aware of brands that actively supported good causes through their products or services.
Edelman believes the results of the study reveal that "social purpose as marketing imperative has global consumer appeal and can help brands build deeper relationships."
While consumers said they would be willing to pay more to support socially responsible brands, research from other sources indicates that the amount of premium they would be willing to pay may not underwrite the costs of social branding, and, may be seen simply as a marketing ploy, according to by Ipsos-Reid.
In addition, 61% consumers indicated that they would prefer to hear about a brand's social causes from other consumers "like themselves."
The results of the survey do confirm the importance of branding and paying particular attention to the equities and essence of those brands for whom a socially responsible cause reflects the priorities of their target audience.
Sources:
"Consumers Looking to Partner with Brands for Social Change, Global Study Says," 11/15/07, Edelman Press Release
"Consumers Will Pay Up to Support Socially Conscious Marketers" 11/16/07 - Advertising Age
When most marketers think about incorporating social networks in their marketing mix, MySpace and Facebook are the two that they are most likely to consider---understandable considering that MySpace has 72 million users, and Facebook has 52 million. And of course, both MS and FB just released some nifty new services. But it don't overlook the growing number of niche social networks that are popping up, especially when you consider the opportunities they offer for exact vertical targeting. Here's a sampling:
From TechCrunch:
From CNN Money:
From WebStrategist
While embedding real products in video games has become increasingly common, is there an opportunity to launch virtual brands in environments such as video games, MMOGs and virtual worlds and then translate the brand to a commercial product in the 'real' world?
Former MIT academic and current Xbox Live Arcade product planner David Edery thinks so. He wrote a 2006 article for the Harvard Business Review, suggesting that "reverse product placement,"the commercial translation of fictional brands or products from games into the real world could make sense. Edery argues, "Why spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars fighting mature competitors for mindshare and shelf space in the physical world when you can launch a new offering in an uncluttered fictional one?" Source: Gamasutra.com
He notes that it happens with other media, such as "Every Flavor Beans," from Harry Potter books and movies that was converted into a real-world product by Cap Candy, a division of Hasbro.
“The Simpsons Movie” was promoted by selling real products under imaginary brand names like Buzz Cola, Frosted Krusty-O’s and so on, and certain 7-Eleven locations were temporarily re-branded as outposts of the show’s Kwik-E-Mart chain.
And LastExittoNowhere.com specializes in creating t-shirts with movie-created logos such as The Tyrell Corporation, the high tech biocorp and producers of human-like androids known as replicants in the futuristic thriller, "The Blade Runner."
Reverse product placement is an interesting idea with distinct possibilities for marketers whose target audience is consistent with video game, MMOGs and virtual world fans.
Source: Rob Walker - "False Endorsement", 11/17/07 - New York Times
Sears has launched a slimmer, "off-mall" version of itself in an upscale area of metro Atlanta, designed to look like a big box but operate like a specialty store.
The new location features a pared down list of just their best-selling brands, such as Craftsman, Sony, Levis, Hanes and Land's End, organized by brand in "brand pods."
Land's End, which Sears acquired in 2002 has the largest footprint, with it's brand pod taking up half the store with its shoes, clothing and furniture.
Link to A different Sears: First off-mall store in state banks on key brands | ajc.com
We've all had our adventures preparing the Thanksgiving turkey. The first time I tried to cook a turkey I unwrapped it and was shocked to find it was deformed - no legs, no wings. It was nearly impossible to stuff but I did my best. It was only when I served it that I learned I hadn't actually purchased a whole turkey, just a turkey breast.
Anyway, have a look at this great :30 spot gone viral from Jennie O Turkey, showing one woman's valiant attempt to prepare her Thanksgiving turkey. You'll laugh out loud.
Holiday Spending Forecast
Deloitte & Touche's holiday forecast predicts consumers will be more "Scrooge-like" during the 2007 holidays. About four in 10 people (41%) said they expect to reduce their overall spending. Brandweek
Gift Cards
For the fourth straight year gift cards are expected to be the top purchase, with more than two-thirds (69%) of people planning to buy them, up from 66% in 2006. The amount they're putting on the cards has increased from $139 in 2006 to $199 in 2007. Brandweek
Consumer Reports ran a full-page ad in the New York Times this week warning consumers, "Last year, shoppers like you were out $8 billion because of unused, lost or expired gift cards. Easy money for retailers. Lost money for you."
On the Consumer Reports website they note that bank-issued gift cards, not retailer-issued gift cards are the primary problem. It would have been nice if they'd made that clear in the ad. They warn consumers about "fees, expiration dates and gotchas" with bank-issued gift cards.
Given the popularity of gift cards as noted above, it's unlikely this will make much of a dent in gift card sales. But retailers would be wise to clearly disclose fees and limitations on gift card displays to inform and reassure buyers.
Holiday Catalogs Support Online Sales
Once considered "old-fashioned and expensive," holiday catalogs are making a comeback as a support to online sales. "Amazon.com is great when consumers know what they're looking for, but when faced with a long list of people and a short list of ideas, having a catalog to act as a guide can be a boon." AdAge.
I can foresee the future.
Unfortunately my ability doesn't extend to anything that could make me rich, like knowing which stocks to pick or what lottery numbers will win. Nor does it help with anything useful, like knowing that I will break the heel off my shoe just before an important meeting, or that my little niece will throw up in my car.
However, I can predict that marketers will flock to the latest, new marketing opportunity, as if it were the latest fashion accessory. It's happening right now with Facebook, just like it did with MySpace.
Marketers are busily adding Facebook pages, because, well, social advertising is the latest marketing fad. After all, Facebook has 52 million active users; why not throw something at the wall and see if it sticks?
But the wrong tactics lead to an erosion of focus and a waste of resources. Here are some questions that will help determine if Facebook Social Ads make sense for your brand:
If you decide that social advertising makes sense as part of your marketing mix keep in mind that there are lots of social networks out there besides Facebook et al., and more are popping up every day. Smaller networks may be more eager to provide customized opportunities to build relationships rather than one-size-fits-all solutions and it may be easier for your brand to stand out.
"The Crazy Robertson" is the street name of a 56-57 year old homeless man (real name John Wesley Jermyn, aka John Jermien) who spends his days skating and dancing along Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles. According to his sister, Jermyn is schizophrenic which causes him to periodically shout and curse, but he refuses meds and shelter.
Three 23-year old entrepreneurs are selling his image and the phrase "No Money, No Problems," on t-shirts selling for $48, and hoodies selling for $98, and apparently can barely keep up with demand. Mr. Jermien gets 5% of the net profits of clothing sales.
Here's a video of Mr. Jermien in action:
The entrepreneurs have also set up a MySpace page to publicize the brand and are working on a "nightclub-promotion venture."
The Wall Street Journal says the popularity of The Crazy Robertson brand is symptomatic of an increased U.S. "fascination with homelessness." If true, that is creepier than I can express.
Mr. Jermien's sister says his condition is being exploited. What do you think?
Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119498984049791758.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Google says OpenSocial will unleash more powerful and pervasive social capabilities for the web, empowering developers to build far-reaching aplications that users can enjoy regardless of the websites, web applications, or social networks they use.
Why is that a big deal?
Take widgets, for example. They're those mini social applications that are used to extend the online experience of many websites and brands, and they're site-specific. What that means is that developers have to learn the API for a particular social network to make the application work. And with a growing list of social networks that can be time-consuming and costly.
OpenSocial enables developers to "write a widget to a single standard and gain immediate distribution to 200 million homes." OpenSocial also has the potential to boost growth of all social networks," says Forrester analyst Charlene Li, "by moving beyond the typical fun yet frivolous apps like food throwing developed by 20-something developers."
The list of websites implementing OpenSocial includes Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning, Oracle, Orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo and XING.
Okay, so OpenSocial is a good thing. But there's no need for marketers to jump in with both feet just yet, says Forrester analyst, Jeremiah Owyang. He recommends that companies wanting to extend their online presence should exercise caution because the risks of sharing company and user data among multiple platforms are unknown. Also, many applications may behave differently across networks since user social graphs may vary by network.
And even though OpenSocial is a promising development, Li cautions that it won't solve the problem of "walled gardens," such as Facebook, which requires that all activities that leverage it's users' social graphs have to take place on Facebook itself.
Social networking encourages intimacy that is only possible with frequent, effortless communication. And, "on a social network, you don't send e-mail to an address, you send it to a person, just click on their name and create a message. That's a very different experience conceptually and emotionally from e-mail." (CNN Money)
Younger users are the predominant social networkers, but older users are catching up. The fastest growing demographic on Facebook, for example, is those 25 years and older. (Facebook) And those 40+, can join a social network dedicated to their age group if Facebook isn't their cup of tea. Some examples include:
But don't count out email just yet. GigaOm suggests that email could be the "ultimate social environment," less a social network and more a "relationship and interaction manager that aggregates various social web services - that doesn't require rewiring our brains and changing our behavior." He points to two examples of beta email services, "Xobni," which scans your Microsoft Outlook email database and "quickly establishes relationships among the people you email, and ranks them according to frequencies and relevance." (Xobni spells "inbox" backwards.)
"Xoobit" brings a wide range of web services to your email inbox, making it possible, for example, to "see photos on a grid, muchlike you wonld on, say, an iPhoto." (GigaOm)
The bottom line? Email isn't going anywhere in the foreseeable future, not with the emergence of social features, and particularly with it's stranglehold on business communications. Email also provides a boundary between users' personal and professional lives, a line that no one seems eager to cross just yet.
And the cause of social networks isn't helped by their image of being, well, social. A growing number of businesses are restricting access to social networks because of their perceived negative impact on productivity. Of course, the time we spend managing our email every day is lost produtivity, but unlike social networks, email isn't much fun so I guess that makes it a more acceptable way to waste time.
This made me laugh. It may make you laugh too.
Courtesy of Gavin Heaton.
There's been a tremendous amount of 'buzz' around announcements by Facebook Ads. So, what's the big deal?
Currently online advertising from Google, Yahoo, et. al., is based on keywords. Both Facebook and MySpace announced this week that advertisers will now be able to target their users based on their profiles, the information about themselves, such as age, gender, interests, hobbies, etc.
But Facebook is going one step further: advertisers will be able to access a user's social graph, the trusted, interconnected relationships that users create on social networks. Advertisers hope that this access to individuals' social graphs will enable them to leverage the trusted recommendations that occur within those relationships. After all, when it comes to trusting opinions, it's friends and acquaintances who have used the product that online consumers trust most, says a Forrester survey conducted in January, 2007.
Here's what you can do with Facebook Ads:
Set up a Facebook page for your business with interactive applications (called Facebook Beacon) such as booking/reservations systems, wishlists, ticket purchases, etc. When Facebook members use these applications they will be given the choice of having a 'story' of their use being displayed on their profile, or they can opt out. Users can become fans of the brand and interact via 'Wall' messages, upload photos andparticipate in fan discussion groups.
Use Facebook Ads to combine information a a user's website activities---purchases, reviews, wishlists, etc.---with an advertising message. The resulting "Social Ads" are displayed within a user's news feed as sponsored content or in the ad space along the left side of the site. Users cannot opt out of these social ads or turn them off unless they conceal their information---which defeats the purpose of joining a network.
Utilize Facebook "Insight" to gather information and analyze results.
The Guardian's Jack Schofield blogs that Facebook Social Ads are a "...clever way to capitalize on the rise of 'fansumers: the sort of people who buy products as a way of making statements about themselves and their aspirations: in other words, it's the off-the-shelf lifestyle business. (Usually, the 'statement' is that they have more money than sense."
Techcrunch points out that "...advertisers have to be real careful, because if these ads seem too much like ads, people may actually lose friends over it. And those once-happy customers could turn irate quickly."
True. After all, it's one thing to like a brand, even alot. It's quite another thing to bring it into your virtual social circle, er, social graph.
Will users perceive any difference between Social Ads and advertising? Will users be induced to sign up or to change their allegiance? Duh. Okay then, how will that impact acceptance and effectiveness of social ads? What quality controls ar ein place to protect user and company data, and to ensure that social ads to become yet another intrusion?
Despite the inevitable missteps to come, FaceBook Ads offer an exciting opportunity for brands, particularly those who have strong relationships with their customers, and who are willing to cede control of their brands in exchange for a stronger relationship with consumers, er, fansumers.
BTW, you can now access my blog entries on my Facebook page---hey, gotta keep up.:)
NBC turned off studio lights during Sunday night's NFL pre-game, post-game and half-game shows to kick off their "Green is Universal" initiative, a week of environmentally themed programming, and changed all their logos to green. The effort is in support of GE's ongoing "Ecomagination" campaign to raise awareness of environmental issues. The network reported on energy conservation efforts and invited the audience at home to turn off the lights in one room in support. However well-intentioned, to many viewers, the effort was, at best, intrusive and preachy, and at worst, evidence of a liberal media conspiracy.
Rush Limbaugh said he turned on all the lights in his home in response and HotAir.com called NBC's green show "a pointless, self-serving enviro gimmick," adding that "any energy savings were more than outweighed by the jet fuel that got burned up flying NBC's vapid anchors, Lauer, Al Roker and Ann Curry plus crews and gears to remote locations."
Outsidethebeltway wrote "I'm all in favor of turning off lights you're not using, building more energy efficient machines, and that sort of thing. But...people tune into football games to get away from this nonsense. We don't want an After School Special."
Even some liberal bloggers did not think NBC's effort was entirely believable. "People who view the NBC action as disingenuous and politically motivated are probably not without standing," wrote Colin McEnroe. "NBC tried to make the preposterously loud and garishly gaudy NFL a little bit green on Sunday night...even I have to admit there's something a little incongruous. It's like asking Fran Leibowitz and John Waters to participate in a Smoke Out. Or Wisconsin to adopt a statewide No Cheese Day. One of NBC's commentators called the unlit studio "spooky and a little strange."
NBC's experience underscores the difficulty of successfully executing a green strategy, especially for large companies. Political partisanship aside, 70% of Americans say green advertising is just a marketing tactic, according to Ipsos-Reid. Some feel companies should adopt environmental and energy friendly policies as a matter of business practice. Even companies who are sincerely instituting green initiatives risk scorn and indifference.
Brands should not shy away from a green strategy if it makes sense but one campaign and on-air event does not a green company make. Companies have to convince people that their greenness is an authentic brand equity and that they're in it for the long haul. NBC might have achieved a more positive response if they had announced actual results rather than staging what many viewed as a largely symbolic gesture that involved little company sacrifice.
The National Enquirer has released a tape of Duane 'Dog' Chapman using the 'n-word' numerous times during a phone conversation while telling his son to break up with his African-American girlfriend. He says if he or the team slips and says the n-word in front of the girlfriend, she'll tell the Enquirer and ruin "everything."
Unfortunately for Chapman, someone gave the Enquirer a tape of the conversation and it will ruin everything. Why? The essence of the Bounty Hunter brand is justice, and justice is about treating people equally, regardless of who they are, right? During his television shows Chapman espouses the belief that even the people he takes prisoner are his brothers and sisters, and that no matter how badly one errs one can be redeemed---once they serve their time. He's savvy enough to know that dropping the n-bomb is incongruous with that philosophy.
This incident will inevitably spur comparisons with the Don Imus controversy that ensued when he insulted the Rutgers womens basketball team and lost his show. But Imus will get another show because his brand is supposed to be shocking, outrageous and controversial. He might even have enhanced his brand by pushing the proverbial envelope over the edge.
The mistake that Chapman made was thinking he could maintain the dissonance between the brand manifestation and brand essence. But that balancing act was doomed to fail because the essence is the heart and soul of the brand, and it can't be faked forever.
When Andersen Accounting was indicted for shredding Enron audit documents in 2002 they lost all their clients virtually overnight because the essence of the Andersen brand---honesty and responsibility to investors over clients---was destroyed. The essence of the brand is what brand followers value above all else. With that destroyed no company wanted the Andersen Accounting brand on their audit. In the short-term no advertiser will want to risk being associated with Dog the Bounty Hunter because they know it will be seen as a tacit endorsement of the now damaged brand.
Stakeholders have to live the brand every day, even behind the scenes or in 'private phone calls.' It remains to be seen whether the damage to the 'Dog' brand is irreparable; it doesn't look good. Chapman's only chance is to convince fans and sponsors that the taped call was out of character and that his contrition is real and not simply an effort to protect his income. Expunging the n-word from his vocabulary might be a good place to start.
UPDATE (11/2/07): A&E has "indefinately suspended" airings of 'Dog, The Bounty Hunter' and at least two advertisers have withdrawn their ads from the show.
Photo source: Book jacket from "You Can't Run, You Can't Hide," by Duane Dog Chapman
More parents are offering healthy snacks to Trick or Treaters in lieu of Halloween candy, says the LATimes. Pretzels, Teddy Grahams and individually wrapped three-quarter chunks of “Halloween Cheese (reduced fat cheddar) from Cabot Creamery cooperative, are being offered as a way to fight “sugar shock” and obesity among children.
Sorry folks, but Halloween is where I draw the line---we’ve stockpiled Hershey bars, M&Ms and enough Gummy Bodyparts to supply the entire neighborhood. Mmmm, lime eyeballs!
Image: Oriental Trading Company
Restaurants are blaming a downturn in per person meals on a flat or declining percentage of women working outside the home says AdAge. Adding to the pain are current mortgage woes and high gas prices which are spurring a migration of customers from casual restaurants such as Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays and TGI Fridays to more affordbable quick service restaurants such as BK and McDonald's. The expanded menus and upgraded environments of some quick service restaurants also helps them to challenge casual restaurants for dining occasions. IHT
It's become common for brands to enlist value pricing as a tactic when competition is tight but it would be a mistake for casual brands to panic and fall back on value pricing as the sole tactic. To be competitive, casual restaurants need to focus on providing a true experience versus simply providing good service. Customers will expect more from a casual dining experience because for many it will become more of a special versus frequent dining occasion. Value pricing is important but casual restaurants must identify and innovate in areas of opportunity inaccessible to quick service brands.
If misery loves company then casual restaurants can take comfort in the sales declines of upscale brands such as Nordstrom and Coach, who are reporting weaker than expected sales in the most recent quarter. The "mass affluent," those consumers with household incomes of $75K-$150K, have curtailed luxury purchases by as much as 20% in the most recent quarter. That's a scary number when you consider that mass affluent shoppers are 23% of U.S. households. CNN Money
Updates:
"Affordable Luxury Stores Feel Economy's Pinch", Wall Street Journal, 11/9/07
"Casual Restaurants Resort to Coupons as Meal Tickets," USA Today, 11/12/07
Coca-Cola invites fans to go green in their $18.00 eco-apparel t-shirts, made of 50% cotton and 50% recycled plastic bottles. Two of seven t-shirt designs carried by the online store are shown here. AdAge, Photo from coca-colastore.com
Although AT&T is reportedly doing well financially, some experts believe AT&T made a huge boo-boo by ditching the Cingular brand, with one expert calling the switch a "failure of epic proportions." AT&T says the $1.7 billion they've spent on rebranding has increased unaided brand awareness and better positions the company as global. AdAge
These days, increased brand awareness doesn't necessarily translate to preference or purchase, especially for a mega-brand like AT&T. And it's hard to imagine that 'globalness' differentiates AT&T or strikes a chord with consumers. Not that we'd ever say we told you so, here's a post from 15 months ago that warned ditching the Cingular brand was a bad idea: http://www.brandsizzle.com/blog/2006/05/is_att_about_to.html
Canadian Club whiskey is positioning themselves as an "old-school, masculine choice, in part by redfining Dad as less Ward Cleaver and more Mad Men." The brand's first national campaign in 20 years features an ad with the headline, "Your Mom Wasn't Your Dad's First," and the tagline, "Damn Right Your Dad Drank It." AdAge
The tagline is clever, but the strategy of this first campaign is dicey. Brands in this category are very much badges: how many men will want a badge that memorializes dear old dad's sexual exploits?
The company that created the logo for the 2012 Olympics, Wolf Olins, advocates less control and consistency of corporate brand identity, visualizing the logo as a "container" that provides opportunities to "link up visually with other brands." Olympic sponsors will be permitted to put their own brand symbols or colors into the 2012 emblem, in effect, creating logos within the Games' logo." International Herald Tribune
Applebees introduces a talking apple as their spokes icon. AdWeek. 
And the Postal Service wants you to see the post office in a new light, so they are launching "Today's Mail," to reflect the brand's improvements in services and technology. New York Times
Hmmm, does 'mail' make consumers think that? screenshot from USPS
Unilever ups the ante for viral movies. The risqué ‘documercial’ examines the “The Axe Vice Naughty to Nice Program” created to rehabilitate good girls gone bad when they attacked innocent men wearing Axe Vice. As CNET notes, it is possible to produce commercials that are worth watching – and what a great way to reinforce the essence of the Axe Vice brand with their young male audience.
Maybe it's just that here in Atlanta we're fixated on the drought and our dwindling water supply but we're sure seeing a lot of underwater, and underwater-themed resorts:
Huvafen Fushi, a luxury resort in the Maldives is "Home to the world's first underwater spa," where underwater treatment rooms provide a view beneath the waves.
Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo is a former marine biology lab where guests scuba dive 21 feet beneath the surface of the sea and enter the lodge through a 'wet dock.'
The Burj al Arab hotel on the coast of Dubai resembles a billowing sail. Al Mahara, the hotel's underwater-themed restaurant, is designed around a giant glass aquarium and is accessible by an elevator that simulates a submarine ride.
Hydropolis Crescent Group will open their first underwater hotel in Qingdao, China in 2008.
The Poseidon Resort, Fiji, opening in 2008, will offer 24 underwater suites perched atop a tropical reef 40 feet below the surface: 70% of the room will be glass.
While creating an undersea experience isn't for most companies, thinking about how the environment factors into your customer experience can provide some great opportunities for differentiation, whether its freshening store interiors with new colors, lighting, different types and levels of music, etc. And don't forget the impact of smell - Is there anyone who doesn't associate Ikea with the intoxicating scent of freshly baked cinnamon buns?
Green is Good
Some hotels are going green; customers think that's nice but just 13% would be willing to pay higher rates says the latest Travel Horizons survey by the Travel Industry Association and Ypartnership.
Going green is a good thing...just make sure you have a clear strategy for why you're doing it and don't assume that customers will help pick up the tab. According to an Ipsos-Reid study cited by the Center for Media Research, 70% of Americans think 'green advertising' is a marketing ploy.
Super Clean
Pure Room, a company specializing in "allergy friendly rooms" says 59% of travelers would choose a hotel that offers uber clean rooms over a comparable hotel without them, and most of them would be willing to pay a premium. Pure Room cleans room surfaces of bacteria, pollen, dust, dust mites, viruses, airborne contaminants and odors. Pure rooms appeal to health-conscious patrons, dispel the "ick factor," and provide a way for hotels to differentiate their product. Over 2 dozen hotel brands offer a limited number of pure rooms, including Marriott, Hampton Inns, Crowne Plaza and Sheraton.
With bird flu, MRSA, and the increasing incidence of drug resistant Staph, customers are taking a closer look at environments where they are at higer risk of contracting germs. Many grocery stores, for example, now offer antibacterial towelettes so customers can wipe down the handles and seats of their carts. Brands and companies need to make sure appropriate processes are in place, reassure customers that they have taken the steps necessary to protect their well-being, and leverage those processes to differentiate their offerings.
Photos: Top photo from HuvafenFushi.com. Bottom photos from BurjalArab.com. Pure logo from pureroom.com
Sources:
The Hotel Aquatic
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/news/0710/gallery.underwaterwonders/jump.html
http://www.smh.com.au/news/dubai/sail-of-the-century/2007/10/18/1192300946012.html?page=2
Green Rooms
http://www.htrends.com/trends-detail-sid-29537.html
Pure Rooms
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/travel/25pracallergy.html
A study by UK search company Tamar says travel products and services are most susceptible to negative comments on social networks, with 58% of respondents reporting that negative comments would cause them to abandon a purchase. 51% said negative comments would cause them to abandon a consumer electronics purchase (e.g. TVs and computers), followed by financial services at 44% and communications brands such as broadband and telephone providers at 40%.
BTW, if your company is thinking about posting fake reviews on a product review site---don't. A survey by PR agency Burson-Marsteller shows that 30% of Influentials, those consumers that can provide positive buzz for your brand, are increasingly skeptical of opinions on product review sites and community forums because they suspect many are posted by companies. Beware---57% of Influentials say they are less likely to purchase a product if they suspect the reviews are fake.
So how can companies influence the Influencers? Be upfront about who you are---some social network members delight in outing companies masquerading as consumers. And don't offer to bribe, er, pay, anyone for positive posts.
Tamar Study
http://www.htrends.com/trends-detail-sid-28621.html
Burson-Marsteller Study
http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003661712
The 'average' business leader is male, 51, earns $408,000 annually and has a personal net worth of $1.7 million. There are 630,000 of these senior business executives, representing over 72,000 companies. Collectively they are responsible for over $1.7 trillion in annual expenditures.
They believe in sound business management and are willing to take calculated risks based on "good, trustworthy information." Some additional characteristics:
For more information on this survey, visit Marketing Charts
Source: Marketing Vox
Here's a bizarre YouTube video we spotted that shows a white cockatoo named Snowball rocking on to Everybody (Backstreet's Back), by the Backstreet Boys. The bird's owner told USA Today that the video is legit but even if it's not, it's still fun to watch...for about 15 seconds. Via OnDeadline
Are you, your family and your business prepared for the changes that are happening right now in our country and in the world? Watch this absorbing, must-see video and you won't even notice it's 8 minutes long. Trust me. Via Ann Handley at Marketing Profs Daily Fix.
Delta Air Lines has opened the SKY 360 'pop-up' lounge in Manhattan to convince New York premium customers---"those who fly often and often pay top price for tickets"---to choose Delta.
Pop-up marketing, also referred to as pop-up retail, pop-up stores, or simply pop-ups, are a blend of event marketing and retail. These temporary retail locations can be very simple or elaborate, and range in size from kiosks to multi-level stores.
SKY 360 is located in one of the priciest sections of Manhattan, at Sixth and 57th, around the corner from The Pierre hotel. The upscale lounge, decorated with white leather seating and cloud skylights, serves complimentary beverages and snacks to visitors, and offers samples of their new chef-inspired cuisine. Visitors can try the premium priced "lie-flat" seats to be offered on Delta transoceanic flights. The lounge also provides charging stations for iPods and phones, and computer stations for visitors to check email. In the evening, invited guests enjoy cocktails. Oh, and did we mention that you can also make registrations and purchase tickets?
SKY 360 appears to follow the successful formula of the Song Airlines pop-up that appeared in SoHo in 2003. Song, Delta's low fare entry in "Song in the City" was open Thursdays through Sundays for just 9 weeks and provided samples of Song's in-flight menu, sold travel gear and tickets, while Song partners, including Coca-Cola, gave away free goodies.
Open just until November 10th, the lounge has been featured on CNBC, Businessweek and local television shows according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Source: "Delta Goes for the Gut: Good in Manhattan; Airline betting that high-brow grub will create loyalty"
In other news, Delta Air Lines announced positive financial results for the third quarter, including earnings of $220 million, o4 56 cents a share in the third quarter, significantly above the 41 cents per share that Wall Street analysts were expecting, according to Businessweek. But the same article noted that the airline industry is still plagued by competition oversaturation.
Photos: http://news.delta.com
Related Links
"Will Fly for Food; To whet passengers' appetites, airlines are improving the onboard fare" Businessweek, 10/8/07
According to a survey of 769 CEOs in 40 countries conducted by The Conference Board, “Execution is taking precedence over profit and top-line growth as a focus for CEOs."
CEOS were asked to rate their greatest concerns from a list of 121 challenges. U.S. CEOS rated their top priority as “sustained and steady top-line growth” (41.3%), followed by excellence in execution (39.6%) and consistent execution of strategy by top management (38.5%). Although innovation and creativity has been a hot topic in recent years, “stimulating innovation/creativity/enabling entrepreneurship” came in at #9, ranked as the greatest challenge by 19.2% of the 409 U.S. CEOs surveyed. 36.1% of Asian CEO’s ranked excellence in execution as a key challenge, while 39.6% of European CEOS ranked excellence in execution as a key challenge.
For more information on this survey please click here.
Fall is in the air, Halloween is just around the corner and you're working on your 2008 marketing plan. Are you having fun yet? Here are some suggestions to help make the process a little easier:
Okay, so your marketing plan has your customers expecting a great brand experience. Congratulations! Don't forget to develop an internal plan to ensure everyone in your company delivers on their expectations.
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