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Contributing Blogs
February 29, 2008
In little more than six months after being Q+A With Chris Gokiert: COO of Critical Mass, Chief Guitar Hero + Karaoke Coach
by: David Armano
Chris Gokiert is the COO for Critical Mass (the company I work for). Though Chris started his career as a working archaeologist, he eventually found his way into the ever changing world of digital media and has never left it.
Continue reading "Q+A With Chris Gokiert: COO of Critical Mass, Chief Guitar Hero + Karaoke Coach" »
Simulating the Coffee Drinker's Nose
by: Roger Dooley
Is Scratch 'n Sniff Starbucks in our future?
No industry focuses as much on olfactory marketing as the coffee business. Starbucks recently dumped its breakfast eggs because their smell didn't pair well with the coffee aroma. Nestlé unit Nespresso has not only modified its home brewing equipment to release more enticing smells, they have even launched a chain of coffee shops after finding that more than half of the coffee drinking experience came from the shop environment (see Sensory Marketing to Jolt Espresso Sales). Now, those clever coffee fanatics at Nestlé have found way to analyze the components of coffee aromas that lets them predict how real human noses will respond to those smells.
Since When Has Everyone Become an Ethnographic Expert!
by: Idris Mootee
There is so much hype around innovation, (including customer inspired innovation) and ethnography these days almost every research firm is telling you that they do ethnography and every design firm is an innovation firm.
Continue reading "Since When Has Everyone Become an Ethnographic Expert!" »
February 28, 2008
The Globalization of Facebook
by: Scott Goodson
Fred Wilson points out in his blog that Facebook is not experiencing a decline but rather it has reached a plateau in the USA. Look a few feet outside the US border and we see a very different picture.
Despicable Use of In-Game Advertising
by: Ilya Vedrashko
Gamespot's Dubious Honors Awards for despicable use of in-game advertising:
2004 (Need for Speed Underground)
2005 (SWAT 4, where the dynamic in-game ads made one of the first appearances)
2006 (Fight Night Round 3, a boxing game with the Burger King's King in it)
2007 (Need for Speed ProStreet):
G4H 2008: XRtainment Zone - Beyond Serious Games For Workouts
by: Eliane Alhadeff
Dr. Ernie Medina and his partners launched their first XRtainment Zone in California last year. The mission of XRtainment Zone is to provide families and kids of all ages a fitness club of their own "where working out is all play."
Continue reading "G4H 2008: XRtainment Zone - Beyond Serious Games For Workouts " »
Companies Stall Because They Don't Listen to Customers
by: John Caddell
The Stall Points Initiative is an effort by the Corporate Executive Board, a business research group, to pinpoint why companies suddenly stop growing, then stagnate or decline for years thereafter.
Continue reading "Companies Stall Because They Don't Listen to Customers" »
February 27, 2008
Online Music Fan Community Powerpoint
by: Nancy Baym
At by:Larm a number of people asked me to share the powerpoints of my talk. In it I argue that the internet has transformed fandom because it expands fans’ reach, transcends distance, supports archiving, provides group infrastructure, enables new forms of communication and lessens social distance.
Promoting Events and Festivals in a 2.0 World
by: David Jennings
It's been a while since I posted one of the future scenarios that got cut out of Net, Blogs and Rock'n'Roll the book, so here's the fourth in the series.
Continue reading "Promoting Events and Festivals in a 2.0 World" »
Decoding CEO Faces
by: Roger Dooley
Enterprise 2.0 Fear Factor: Overcoming Risks, Uncertainties and Doubts
by: Christian Smagg
There are risks associated with adopting any new technology, and Enterprise 2.0 is no different. Enterprise 2.0 holds the promise of dramatically increasing business productivity, stimulating greater innovation, and creating tighter connections between employees, as well as with partners, suppliers and customers.
Continue reading "Enterprise 2.0 Fear Factor: Overcoming Risks, Uncertainties and Doubts" »
"Big Think Strategy" Is a Fun, Inspiring Read on Reinventing Business
by: John Caddell
Every CEO these days wants to reinvent her business. One problem is thinking big enough. Being part of an industry, a market, a sector tends to limit a company's peripheral vision. How do companies break out of their comfort zone and find strategies that take advantage of their unique strengths while opening up new markets?
Continue reading ""Big Think Strategy" Is a Fun, Inspiring Read on Reinventing Business" »
February 26, 2008
The Communist Manifesto of Chris Anderson
by: Ilya Vedrashko
Deep under the layers of acquired historical meanings lies an often overlooked core of the economic theory that describes production of goods under public ownership, their free exchange, and their free consumption by all members of the society according to their needs.
Deep under the layers of acquired historical meanings lies an often overlooked core of the economic theory that describes production of goods under public ownership, their free exchange, and their free consumption by all members of the society according to their needs.
Continue reading "The Communist Manifesto of Chris Anderson" »
The Strange Birth of the Banana Box Retailer
by: Dominic Basulto
During times of both economic boom and bust, business innovation tends to flourish. During a boom, flush pockets and rosy visions of the future lead to generous spending on innovation projects. During a bust, the need to hunker down and deal with everyday business reality leads companies to innovative solutions.
Continue reading "The Strange Birth of the Banana Box Retailer" »
Avenue A Razorfish 2008 Digital Outlook Report
by: Guy Kawasaki
Avenue A Razorfish released the 2008 Digital Outlook Report yesterday. The purpose of the report is to help Avenue A's clients understand consumer behavior in the digital space.
Continue reading "Avenue A Razorfish 2008 Digital Outlook Report" »
Enterprise 2.0 Fear Factor: Overcoming Risks, Uncertainties and Doubts
by: Christian Smagg
There are risks associated with adopting any new technology, and Enterprise 2.0 is no different. Enterprise 2.0 holds the promise of dramatically increasing business productivity, stimulating greater innovation, and creating tighter connections between employees, as well as with partners, suppliers and customers.
Continue reading "Enterprise 2.0 Fear Factor: Overcoming Risks, Uncertainties and Doubts" »
February 25, 2008
Everyone Has Ideas, How You Execute Them Is What Matters
Fellow designer blogger KK has uncovered a great representation on the value of ideas in relation to a success of a business. Derek Sivers, in his post for O’Reilly, conceptualises an idea vs. execution formula, which I have reproduced here. Sivers writes:
Continue reading "Everyone Has Ideas, How You Execute Them Is What Matters" »
Building an Innovative Culture - What Does It Mean?
by: Idris Mootee
Our move to the new office is almost complete. The latest batch of Herman Miller Nelson Sweg tables arrived. I always think the starting point of building an innovative culture is the workplace.
Our move to the new office is almost complete. The latest batch of Herman Miller Nelson Sweg tables arrived. I always think the starting point of building an innovative culture is the workplace.
Continue reading "Building an Innovative Culture - What Does It Mean?" »
Thinking Through The "3 U's"...
by: David Armano
I'm updating some thinking on the "3 U's". The word and idea of "Unity" doesn't quite work even though there is some overlap in my thinking. So here's another take swapping the idea of "ubiquity" for "unity". Seems more appropriate. Let me know what you think.
Is Consciousness Overrated?
by: Roger Dooley
Evidence continues to pile up demonstrating that our brains process information without our conscious awareness, and that our behavior can be affected by these stimuli.
February 24, 2008
The 3 U's: A Model for "Advertising" in the App Economy
by: David Armano
BusinessWeek's Bruce Nussbaum recently wrote a terrific post in which he dissects the effects of social media in the business world. In part of his write up, he analyzes the My Vegas effort. While of course I think that's great--what he says here really stuck with me:
Continue reading "The 3 U's: A Model for "Advertising" in the App Economy" »
The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy on the Internet
by: danah boyd
When
I was last in DC, I had lunch with Daniel Solove and we were talking
about book publishing. He had been thinking of making his book
downloadable under Creative Commons and I was like DO IT DO IT! This is
the kind of book that is sooo relevant so many different audiences who
would never hear about it through traditional advertising. My thought
is that if it were available online, it could whet folks appetite
before buying it
(cuz printing it out is painful and reading it online is not wonderful
either and your Kindle doesn't support PDFs). Introducing...
Continue reading "The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy on the Internet" »
Russian Gmail Ad: Killer Paper Prototyping
by: Ilya Vedrashko
This spot for Russian Gmail (Saatchi Moscow, via Armando) is a great demonstration of the paper prototyping method (see a wiki definition, and a good book).
This spot for Russian Gmail (Saatchi Moscow, via Armando) is a great demonstration of the paper prototyping method (see a wiki definition, and a good book).
Continue reading "Russian Gmail Ad: Killer Paper Prototyping" »
February 23, 2008
Does Your Business Strategy Have a Purpose?
by: Idris Mootee
The following is one of my first few posts on this blog back in July last year, I thought it is worth sharing with you again here. The conversation started when a friend of mine called me and wanted to talk about his new venture idea. I am happy for him. No question that it is a big decision to give up your job and go after your dream. The question came up was "why", is it about money or is it about something else?
The following is one of my first few posts on this blog back in July last year, I thought it is worth sharing with you again here. The conversation started when a friend of mine called me and wanted to talk about his new venture idea. I am happy for him. No question that it is a big decision to give up your job and go after your dream. The question came up was "why", is it about money or is it about something else?
Continue reading "Does Your Business Strategy Have a Purpose?" »
one company, ten brands: lessons from retail for tech companies
by: danah boyd
Lots of folks are unaware that multiple brands are owned by the same company (e.g., the same company owns Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy). Consumer activists often complain that this practice is deceptive because it tricks consumers into believing that there are big distinctions between brands when, often, the differences are minimal. Personally, while I'd love to see more consumer brand awareness, but I think that brand distinctions play an important role. I just wish that the tech industry would figure this out.
Continue reading "one company, ten brands: lessons from retail for tech companies" »
The greying of Mickey Mouse
by: Dick Stroud
A short supply of kids but a plentiful supply of oldies means if you are Walt Disney you need to take some drastic action.
A short supply of kids but a plentiful supply of oldies means if you are Walt Disney you need to take some drastic action.
February 22, 2008
Serious Games Creating Entertaining Branding Experiences
by: Eliane Alhadeff
In malls, theaters and other spaces, Reactrix creates highly entertaining branding displays that respond to the physical movements of the audience.
The resulting "brand play" makes Reactrix the highest engagement advertising available today and reaches top-market venues with monthly traffic exceeding 100 million.
Continue reading "Serious Games Creating Entertaining Branding Experiences" »
Why the Absolut Campaign Switch Worked
by: Roger Dooley
Last year, Absolut abandoned its classic "bottle" ad campaign. That long-running series of ads featured the shape of an Absolut bottle cleverly concealed in an illustration, and was largely responsible for establishing Absolut vodka as one of the most popular and well-recognized brands in the spirits field. I was surprised by the change, but even wildly successful ad programs eventually have to break with the past.
Interaction 08 Videos
by: David Armano
So here's a video of my talk at Interaction 08
...And here's why you should watch it:
So here's a video of my talk at Interaction 08
...And here's why you should watch it:
Facebook Fatigue or the Rise of Niche Online Communities?
by: Matt Rhodes
It seems that everybody is talking about Facebook today. And not about who they’ve poked or pictures from a party last weekend. They’re talking about Facbook fatigue, a concept first reported in the Times and then picked up across the media and blogs.
Continue reading "Facebook Fatigue or the Rise of Niche Online Communities?" »
Be The Band
Thanks to video games from Aerosmith and Miley Cyrus, you can leave behind your life as a mere music lover, and join the band instead.
Talk about brand engagement.
February 21, 2008
Lindsay Lohan Reveals Her Brand
News of recently-teenaged actress Lindsay Lohan's impersonation of still-deceased actress Marilyn Monroe via a nude photo spread in New York magazine says a lot about how brands can devolve.
Kerri Martin. Goodson Does The People - Lunchtime Chats
by: Scott Goodson
Here is my second interview in a series of interesting and wonderful personalities who are shaping the marketing landscape.
Continue reading "Kerri Martin. Goodson Does The People - Lunchtime Chats" »
Clusters + Connectors
by: David Armano
I've described tightly knit online communities as "clusters" and manifestations of social media such as blogs (or widgets) as "connectors". In recent weeks I've read a couple of perspectives that emphasize preferences for one over the other. Some of us like forums:
February 20, 2008
Nokia's Mobile Phone Strategy
Alec Saunders has written a great article on Nokia’s mobile phone product strategy. While the article just touches on Industrial Design, he gives good examples on how product strategies, combined with a good understanding of the consumer, is used to drive innovative designs for Nokia.
Does Irritating Your Customers Work?
by: Roger Dooley
One of the most annoying series of commercials is for HeadOn, an analgesic which one rubs on one's forehead to (supposedly) cure headaches. Does HeadOn work? I have no idea, but it seems doubtful.
10 Design Thinking Principles for Strategic Business Innovation
by: Idris Mootee
I was often asked the question of what "design thinking" has to do with business strategy. When talked about "design thinking" people refer to aesthetics (mainly high stlye design or usability) and generally they cannot relate to strategy (strategy means spreadsheet).
Continue reading "10 Design Thinking Principles for Strategic Business Innovation" »
Power 3.0: Kinder, Gentler, and Better
by: Guy Kawasaki
Choose your weapon:
Power 1.0 = muscle and weapons
Power 2.0 = money, market share, or brain power
Power 2.0 = money, market share, or brain power
February 19, 2008
Fans Vote for ... Nike?
by: Nancy Baym
In my favorite case of online fan empowerment, the purchase of soccer team Ebbsfleet United by 28,000+ members of a website organized to buy a team is a done done done deal. The fans will be voting on team selection in March, but they’ve already voted for Nike:
Tell Me about My Flight
Heathrow’s new terminal five will utilize 333 billboards and 207 flat screen TVs to barrage each visitor with 50 to 200 ads. One of the billboards already crows that the display company and airport operators are "...bringing the world's best brands and audiences together."
Stanley Hainsworth, Creative Director of Starbucks. Goodson Does The People - Lunchtime Chats
by: Scott Goodson
I want to do a confrere-to-confrere interview series on this blog. Nothing too serious, just chats with the those people out there who are the most interesting and wonderful minds in the advertising and culture business. Sounds like fun, no? Not necessarily the media darlings or the most famous names, but just people I like and admire and learn from.
Green Corporate Communications: The Unstoppable Urge to Talk the Talk
by: Joel Makower
I've spent the past few weeks on the road talking about the State of Green Business, listening to the questions and concerns of audiences at the companies and conferences I've addressed. There's one constant query: In a world gone green, how does a company make itself heard, credibly and authentically? And how does it do this in a way that minimizes the risks of being charged with greenwash, or worse?
Continue reading "Green Corporate Communications: The Unstoppable Urge to Talk the Talk" »
The Renewable Electron Economy XIII: Valuing Energy and Energy Services
by: Michael Hoexter
The events of December when the US Congress dropped an extension of the existing tax credits for renewable energy from the 2007 energy bill have highlighted the need for the renewable energy industry to take a different tack in the area of policy support and marketing strategy.
Continue reading "The Renewable Electron Economy XIII: Valuing Energy and Energy Services" »
February 18, 2008
The Power of a Recommendation Gets Things Your Way
We designers have got it tough.
We seem to get blamed for almost everything these days. From seemingly lack of sustainable efforts to poor packaging or just lousy product experiences, we seem to cop it all. However the reality is we cannot and should not feel as we are entirely to blame.
Continue reading "The Power of a Recommendation Gets Things Your Way" »
When Do You Want to Hear 30-second Recommendation Clips?
by: David Jennings
I know the question I'm about to ask must have been posed many times before, but I'm not sure I've ever seen an answer. I've been revisiting my thinking about the different 'modes' in which we listen to music.
Continue reading "When Do You Want to Hear 30-second Recommendation Clips?" »
Let Them Eat Cake
by: Alain Thys
With all the attention going to the Obama-Clinton competition, one would almost forget that Russia is having its own style of election fever. Marina Natanova (thx !) just sent me this image which I think wins the award for most unusual political advertising ever.
The Clue Train 10 years on
by: Karl Long
The cluetrain manifesto, a book conceived 10 years ago, predicted and described many of the forces that have been most disruptive to business enabled through "web 2.0″.
The cluetrain manifesto, a book conceived 10 years ago, predicted and described many of the forces that have been most disruptive to business enabled through "web 2.0″.
GDC08: Serious Games As Passively Multiplayer Online Games
by: Eliane Alhadeff
Passively Multiplayer Online Games! We're already playing them; especially as we increasingly hang out with other people on the internets. And as the internets move into our pockets, our cities, our cars and our social lives!
Continue reading "GDC08: Serious Games As Passively Multiplayer Online Games" »
February 17, 2008
Marc Laperrouza on Mobile Telephony in China (LIFT'08)
by: Alexander Osterwalder
This post might be a little outside of my usual scope. However, I think the video shot at the LIFT conference with my friend Marc Laperrouza, nicely puts the spotlight on Asia, the most important region of tomorrow's world. Marc gives some particularly interesting insights into Asia's telecom sector.
This post might be a little outside of my usual scope. However, I think the video shot at the LIFT conference with my friend Marc Laperrouza, nicely puts the spotlight on Asia, the most important region of tomorrow's world. Marc gives some particularly interesting insights into Asia's telecom sector.
Continue reading "Marc Laperrouza on Mobile Telephony in China (LIFT'08)" »
Who clicks on ads? (Revisited with data)
by: danah boyd
Two months ago, I ruffled some feathers with a post called Who clicks on ads? And what might this mean? Lacking any good public research, I pointed to a blog post by an AOL Global Advertising Strategy guy talking about research they did on AOL ad clickers. The report was by no means generalizable to all ad clickers, but it made a significant point: ad clickers are not representative of the population at large. Still, there were folks that were annoyed that I wasn't pointing to pubic data, especially when I continued on to make my own hypotheses about who these heavy clickers are.
Two months ago, I ruffled some feathers with a post called Who clicks on ads? And what might this mean? Lacking any good public research, I pointed to a blog post by an AOL Global Advertising Strategy guy talking about research they did on AOL ad clickers. The report was by no means generalizable to all ad clickers, but it made a significant point: ad clickers are not representative of the population at large. Still, there were folks that were annoyed that I wasn't pointing to pubic data, especially when I continued on to make my own hypotheses about who these heavy clickers are.
Continue reading "Who clicks on ads? (Revisited with data)" »
That's Financial Services for You
by: Dick Stroud
Whenever I attend a 50-plus focus group and the topic of banks, building societies and other variants of financial service companies are discussed I can guarantee there will be a huge intake of breath and then tidal wave of vitriolic abuse.
February 16, 2008
Serious Games Challenging Teenagers To Save The Planet
by: Eliane Alhadeff
IBM is launching a free multiplayer online game, PowerUp, challenging teenagers to help save the planet "Helios" from ecological disaster.
The game is part of IBM's TryScience initiative and will be launched at Engineer's Week 2008 opening on February 16 in Washington, D.C. The game, which can be played alone or together, features a planet in near ecological ruin where three exciting missions for solar, wind and water power must be solved before sandstorms, floods or SmogGobs thwart the rescue.
Continue reading "Serious Games Challenging Teenagers To Save The Planet" »
Discover Magazine video of moi
by: danah boyd
Last fall, I did an interview for Discover Magazine about my research. I still think that I look strange in video, but I figured others might appreciate it.
February 15, 2008
Why Reckitt Get It and What We Can Learn
by: Matt Rhodes
An article in this week’s Economist reports on how for the last eight years Reckitt Benckiser, a household products maker, has bucked the trend both in its own industry (with average year-on-year sales growth of 7% when others’ sales are declining or stagnant) and on the stock market (its share price rising by 356% when the FTSE has dipped by 13%).
Continue reading "Why Reckitt Get It and What We Can Learn" »
reportonbusiness.com: Build Your Brand - but Don't Forget to Deliver an Experience
by: David Polinchock
While readers of this blog will know that the ideas in this article are at the core of why the Brand Experience Lab exists, but it's always good to see other people thinking the same way. Especially when the author is with the Boston Consulting Group and yo know that this is coming from a business POV. I have excerpts here, but click on the link for the full article.
Importing and Exporting Ideas from Different Marketplaces
by: Dominic Basulto
In a wide-ranging interview on business strategy and the particular challenges posed by hyper-competition, Richard D'Aveni of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business explains the importance of being able to import and export ideas from different marketplaces:
In a wide-ranging interview on business strategy and the particular challenges posed by hyper-competition, Richard D'Aveni of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business explains the importance of being able to import and export ideas from different marketplaces:Continue reading "Importing and Exporting Ideas from Different Marketplaces" »
Factlet About Dating
by: Dick Stroud
According to the ceo of Match.com (in this article in Forbes) there are about 92 million single people in the U.S. - about 3 million of them pay a fee to an Internet-based dating service for access to a pool of possible mates. That's a lot.
February 14, 2008
Changing Your Marketing Mindset: 12 Steps to the Interactive Future
by: Christian Smagg
We recently touched on the subjects of the many forms of web marketing tactics that could potentially be utilised as part of your digital marketing arsenal as well as the effectiveness and increased use of these online tools. So while we are on the topic of integrating innovative techniques into your marketing plan, let's consider this from a broader, more strategic perspective, rather than a pure tactical point of view.
Continue reading "Changing Your Marketing Mindset: 12 Steps to the Interactive Future" »
Predicting a Green Future
by: David Wigder
This past week, the Industry Standard (IS), an icon of the late nineties Internet boom, relaunched its online property. It did so, however, not as a publisher of industry content but rather as a consumer-driven platform to predict the future.
If You Want Customers to Be Happy, Give Them Less Product Information
by: Guy Kawasaki
Here's a counter-intuitive thought: Shoppers with less information about a product are happier than those with more information. Researchers at the Tippie College of Business came to this conclusion after conducting a study in which people were asked their opinions of chocolate and hand lotion.
Continue reading "If You Want Customers to Be Happy, Give Them Less Product Information" »
The 3D Metaverse is Only about Sex!
by: Gary Hayes
…or so it seems by the constant line of broadcasters (ABC, SBS, CBC, C4 and endless news reports) who deliver so called ‘insights’ into the growing phenomenon of Social Virtual Worlds. The new BBC doco aired a couple of nights ago (YouTube segments embedded below) brought to mind reasons why traditional media companies may want to negatively ‘colour’ people’s views about the metaverse - but I see a more positive spin.
February 13, 2008
The Application Economy
by: David Armano
Over at Forrester's Groundswell blog, Josh Bernoff recently wrote this in the context of social applications doing well in a recession:
Executing Your Strategy Is a Good Idea
by: John Caddell
The new book "Executing Your Strategy: How To Break It Down And Get It Done," by Mark Morgan, William Malek and Raymond Levitt, is an invaluable resource for leaders seeking to plot a course for the future.
February 12, 2008
A New Era for Qualitative Market Research?
by: Matt Rhodes
Some people think that the the internet and qualitative research make unlikely bedfellows. But at FreshNetworks, we think that qualitative methods are set to exploit the way we use the internet, and specifically online communities, to share opinions and information.
Continue reading "A New Era for Qualitative Market Research?" »
Tiffany - Extending the Brand Magic to New Categories?
by: Idris Mootee
We did a little shopping this weekend my wife and I stumbled upon a few good finds including a pair of Burberry snow boots and a pair of elegantly designed Tiffany sunglasses (with Swarovski crystals on the sides).
Continue reading "Tiffany - Extending the Brand Magic to New Categories?" »
Consumers Wake up. Thanks, Apple?
By: Marina Natanova
In late January Apple conducted a big press-conference in
Complete Neuro-Ranking of 2008 Super Bowl Ads
by: Roger Dooley
Yesterday, I commented on Advertising Age's 2008 Super Bowl ad coverage that included neuromarketing firm Sands Research and their EEG-based ad analysis (see Your Brain on Super Bowl Ads.)
Continue reading "Complete Neuro-Ranking of 2008 Super Bowl Ads" »
The Cartoon Wears Prada
Fashion house Prada is breaking new ground with multi-media creative content.
Its latest effort is a CGI short called "Trembled Blossom," in which a neutered cartoon character strolls through an antiseptic forest to acquire a gender (high heels and a dress) and a handbag (a cloven character transforms a fish to make it).
February 11, 2008
Interaction 08 In a Word: Better
by: David Armano
As a self-proclaimed synthesizer, I'm always on the lookout for patterns. There were lots of them at Interaction 08 which just wrapped up over the weekend. The first pattern was the obvious--everyone there seemed to experience a type of "euphoria" which came from the realization of what they are.
Your Brain on Super Bowl Ads
by: Roger Dooley
For the last few years, while fans have been recovering from an excess of guacamole and sports analysts were explaining why the winning team actually prevailed (scored more points?), small teams of neuroscientists have been at work doing their own post-game analysis: measuring which ads lit up viewers' brains.
Being Peter Kim: What's Wrong with Mobile Marketing
by: David Polinchock
If you want to know what's wrong with advertising and why it has so many problems, take a look at the list of reasons that mobile advertising isn't working. You'll notice that not one person mentioned there's no real value for the consumer. That's why mobile marketing isn't working right now.
Continue reading "Being Peter Kim: What's Wrong with Mobile Marketing" »
February 10, 2008
Comfort Shopping: Sad Customers Buy More
by: Roger Dooley
Most merchants would include "happy customers" as a key part of their mission. Oddly, new research shows that sad customers are likely to spend more money when shopping. Merely watching a sad video clip caused subjects to pay nearly four times as much for a water bottle than subjects who watched an emotionally neutral clip.
Most merchants would include "happy customers" as a key part of their mission. Oddly, new research shows that sad customers are likely to spend more money when shopping. Merely watching a sad video clip caused subjects to pay nearly four times as much for a water bottle than subjects who watched an emotionally neutral clip.
Continue reading "Comfort Shopping: Sad Customers Buy More" »
Tapping the Emerging Celebrity Power of Online Influentials
by: David Wigder
Today, online influentials are emerging as "celebrities" of sort, based not only on their domain knowledge but on their ability to attract and engage audiences online.
Continue reading "Tapping the Emerging Celebrity Power of Online Influentials" »
The New Midlife Crisis--It's an "Existential Necessity"
by: John Caddell
I've been working through my midlife crisis (profiled in this earlier post)--not buying a sports car or seeking a trophy wife (I have one of those already), but confronting this: since retiring at fifty is neither practical nor desirable, working 2000 hours or so per year better be fun and have some meaning in it.
Continue reading "The New Midlife Crisis--It's an "Existential Necessity"" »
February 9, 2008
Nielsen Buys Into Neuromarketing
by: Roger Dooley
Has neuromarketing arrived? If not, it has reached a new plateau of credibility as the privately held Nielsen Company has invested in NeuroFocus, a firm that uses brainwave, eye-tracking and skin conductance measurements to measure consumer reactions to ads and products. Nielsen, best known for its television viewership ratings, has a diverse portfolio of businesses involved in media and marketing. According to their press info,
Has neuromarketing arrived? If not, it has reached a new plateau of credibility as the privately held Nielsen Company has invested in NeuroFocus, a firm that uses brainwave, eye-tracking and skin conductance measurements to measure consumer reactions to ads and products. Nielsen, best known for its television viewership ratings, has a diverse portfolio of businesses involved in media and marketing. According to their press info,
Alan Cooper: "Best of Market Trumps First to Market"
by: David Armano
Alan Cooper, widely respected in the field of Interaction Design and related practices kicked off Interaction 08 with a simple but profound message.
Alan Cooper, widely respected in the field of Interaction Design and related practices kicked off Interaction 08 with a simple but profound message.
"Best of market trumps first to market"
Continue reading "Alan Cooper: "Best of Market Trumps First to Market"" »
a google horror story: what happens when you are disappeared
by: danah boyd
Earlier this week, an acquaintance of mine found himself trapped in a Kafka-esque nightmare, a nightmare that should make all of us stop and think. He wants to remain anonymous so let's call him Bob. Bob was an early adopter of all things Google. His account was linked to all sorts of Google services. Gmail was the most important thing to him - he'd been using it for four years and all of his email (a.k.a. "his life") was there. Bob also managed a large community in Orkut, used Google's calendaring service, and had accounts on many of of their different properties.
Earlier this week, an acquaintance of mine found himself trapped in a Kafka-esque nightmare, a nightmare that should make all of us stop and think. He wants to remain anonymous so let's call him Bob. Bob was an early adopter of all things Google. His account was linked to all sorts of Google services. Gmail was the most important thing to him - he'd been using it for four years and all of his email (a.k.a. "his life") was there. Bob also managed a large community in Orkut, used Google's calendaring service, and had accounts on many of of their different properties.
Continue reading "a google horror story: what happens when you are disappeared" »
And on the Tail: "Airline"
The latest mergers rumored in the airline industry are proof that brands in air travel have become irrelevant, only to be replaced by blank, white tails on which the word "airline" will appear.
Delta and Northwest are close to acquiring one another's planes, gates, labor contracts and fuel costs. United and Continental are said to be talking about the same thing. The financial news reports that all airlines are under pressure to deliver profits for shareholders, some of whom include hedge funds.
February 8, 2008
Edelman - Where Have You Been for the Past 5 Years?
by: Dick Stroud
There is an article in advertising Age called the:" The Misunderstood Generation". I can never work out if AdAge is on subscription or not. Anyway here is the gist of the thing.
Continue reading " Edelman - Where Have You Been for the Past 5 Years?" »
February 7, 2008
How Community Builds Audiences and Makes Discovery Stick
by: David Jennings
At a music marketing event in London a couple of days ago, Scott Cohen, Co-founder of The Orchard (and on the left in the collage), presented a nice thought experiment that demonstrates the importance of community and narrative in making sure that discoveries stick in the mind of audiences.
Continue reading "How Community Builds Audiences and Makes Discovery Stick" »
open-access is the future: boycott locked-down academic journals
by: danah boyd
On one hand, I'm excited to announce that my article "Facebook's Privacy Trainwreck: Exposure, Invasion, and Social Convergence" has been published in Convergence 14(1) (special issue edited by Henry Jenkins and Mark Deuze). On the other hand, I'm deeply depressed because I know that most of you will never read it.
Continue reading "open-access is the future: boycott locked-down academic journals" »
February 6, 2008
Five Magazines You Have Never Read
by: Ilya Vedrashko
Someone famous (Ogilvy?) said that it was a good idea to make a habit of picking up magazines that are outside of your usual set.
Our Prejudiced Brains
by: Roger Dooley
Years ago, I worked with a group of field representatives selling industrial equipment, and found that many had interesting adaptations to local culture in different parts of the U.S. One based in Texas always kept a Western-cut sheepskin jacket in his car. If he was visiting a plant in a remote location, he'd shed the suit coat he wore in Dallas and put on the rugged-looking jacket.
Productivity and the Design + Usability Culture
by: Idris Mootee
We're playing with the new MacBook Air in the office today and we all appreciate what Apple put into this machine. Apple is no question a company that focuses not on its product, but on innovation.
Continue reading "Productivity and the Design + Usability Culture" »
Luxury Schmuxury
"Mass-affluent" brands like Burberry, Tiffany, and Coach are hurting in this dicey economy of ours, just like their lesser-branded competitors.
I guess I still don't understand the branding equation: expenditures on branding are an investment because they imbue products and services with attributes, associations, and a substantive equity that should somehow supercede competitive comparisons of function or price.
February 5, 2008
Google's RE
by: Michael Hoexter
I've generally applauded or appreciated Google's initiatives in the area of climate and energy. Among large technology firms, Google has seemed to have gotten the basic outlines of the future renewable electron economy.
I've generally applauded or appreciated Google's initiatives in the area of climate and energy. Among large technology firms, Google has seemed to have gotten the basic outlines of the future renewable electron economy.
Lenovo and Apple - The Tales of Two Customer Experience Stories
by: Idris Mootee
Talking customer experience, here are my most recent stories:
Continue reading "Lenovo and Apple - The Tales of Two Customer Experience Stories" »
Green Content Syndication: Part III - Activating Diggers
by: David Wigder
Today, dozens of social news sites exist where users bookmark content for the site's community to view and rate. Specific content related to the environment is available on both general news sites such as Digg, Newsvine, Propeller (AOL) or Reddit and green vertical sites such as C2NN, Hugg, Five Limes and plant change (Aus). Squareoak Media provides a fairly comprehensive list of social news sites categorized by vertical.
Continue reading "Green Content Syndication: Part III - Activating Diggers" »
The Law of Association
by: David Armano
It's a simple exercise really. Take a brand, and next to it--write the first word that pops into your head.
Super Bowl Ads: Brain Dead
by: Roger Dooley
While sports analysts pick over the performances of the Colts and Bears, the real work begins for advertising pundits: declaring winners and losers among the Super Bowl commercials. And this year, once again, we have brain scan data to help compare the Super Bowl Ads.
Doomed to Repeat It
When philosopher George Santayana suggested that failure to learn the lessons of history doomed us to repeat its mistakes, he presumed that we'd at least be aware of it.
Woolworth's had no such awareness when it offered the "Lolita Midsleeper" bed set for kids. And neither did lots of its customers.
February 4, 2008
just because we can, doesn't mean we should
by: danah boyd
Learning to moderate desires and balance consequences is a sign of maturity. I could eat only chocolate for all of my meals, but it doesn't mean that I should. If I choose to do so anyhow, I might be forced to face consequences that I will not like. "Just because I can doesn't mean I should" is a decision dilemma and it doesn't just apply to personal decisions. On a nation-state level, think about the cold war. Just because we could nuke Russia doesn't mean that we should've. But, just like with most selfish children, our nation-state thought that it would be infinitely fun to sit on the edge of that decision regardless of the external stress that it caused. We managed to grow up and grow out of that stage (although I would argue that our current leadership regressed us back to infancy).
Learning to moderate desires and balance consequences is a sign of maturity. I could eat only chocolate for all of my meals, but it doesn't mean that I should. If I choose to do so anyhow, I might be forced to face consequences that I will not like. "Just because I can doesn't mean I should" is a decision dilemma and it doesn't just apply to personal decisions. On a nation-state level, think about the cold war. Just because we could nuke Russia doesn't mean that we should've. But, just like with most selfish children, our nation-state thought that it would be infinitely fun to sit on the edge of that decision regardless of the external stress that it caused. We managed to grow up and grow out of that stage (although I would argue that our current leadership regressed us back to infancy).
Continue reading "just because we can, doesn't mean we should" »
Subject to Change: Creating Great Products and Services for an Uncertain World
by: David Armano
While I still have great appreciation and admiration for the field of graphic design--the simple fact is that I have a tough time relating to many aspects of it. I haven't looked at an an issue of Communication Arts in years and AIGA becomes less relevant to me as digital media continues to evolve.
Continue reading "Subject to Change: Creating Great Products and Services for an Uncertain World" »
How are Companies Marketing Online?
by: Christian Smagg
Although there are many online tactics available to supercharge your digital marketing plan, not all of them deliver the same effectiveness or even are appropriate. It is obviously highly depending on the target audience you are trying to reach and develop relationship with, the product and services you are promoting as well as the marketing objectives you are trying to achieve.
Super Bowl Ads - A Pick for Neuro-Worst
by: Roger Dooley
The Loser. The inevitable fMRI neuromarketing analyses of the 2008 Super Bowl ads hasn't appeared yet, but I've got my pick for the worst: Planters Nuts spot showing a hideous-looking woman who seemed amazingly attractive to those around her. This sounds like a good scenario for a perfume, perhaps... through most of the commercial, one has no clue as to what is being advertised. Then, in the closing seconds, we see how the woman became so magnetic: by rubbing herself with Planters cashews.
Continue reading "Super Bowl Ads - A Pick for Neuro-Worst" »
February 3, 2008
Three Simple Concepts for DIY Innovation
by: Idris Mootee
It is not easy to break through the clutter of the hundreds of competing products out there and some wonder if differentiation is even possible. That's the reason why some of the greatest brands of the world are coming to us for innovation. Innovation is the only way to break out of the commodity cycle.
Continue reading "Three Simple Concepts for DIY Innovation" »
The Penny Drops. Well Is Dropping
by: Dick Stroud
Two very different subjects, one thing in common.
Firstly this article from Motley Fool: "60 is the new 40".
It looks like "boomer-focused" retail companies like Chico's CHS , Coldwater Creek CWTR , Stein Mart SMRT, Christopher & Banks CBK and Talbots (NYSE: TLB) are having a hard time of things.
February 2, 2008
Just Say No
If there's a single lesson we brand marketers can learn from the world of politics, it might be that people make choices less because they like something, and more so because they dislike something else.
"Everything You Should Know About Me as an Entrepreneur You Could Learn from My OB/GYN"
by: Guy Kawasaki
An email pitch from an entrepreneur named Sherry Couch of BizNiche
brought a big smile to my face. First of all, how could I skip an email with a subject line like this one: "Everything you should know about me as an entrepreneur you could learn from my OB/GYN"?
After The Click
by: David Armano
"...Journalists and PR professionals, the influence brokers of traditional media, have lost a huge degree of influence on the web in large part because they don't link to anything. While traditional media brands are still powerful channels on the web, they are losing influence everyday to the link-driven web network -- journalists and PR professionals can no longer depend on controlling these former monopoly channels to exert influence online."
~The New Influentials (PSFK)
Strategy and Innovation: from Clausewitz to Lao Tzu
by: Idris Mootee
The most amazing thing with strategic experience innovation is that it takes one kind of company and leadership to create the idea and another kind of company to scale it up and drive industry transformation and we see it in markets after market.
Continue reading "Strategy and Innovation: from Clausewitz to Lao Tzu" »
February 1, 2008
They're Here
A new strategy of installing TV monitors at Borders to show original programming, ads, and weather, will bring "knowledge and entertainment" to the affluent book browsers who spend an average of an hour in the store. It'll also direct traffic to its web site and pave the way for more "cross-promotional deals with large media companies."
Voila. Thus has this week's dim bulb award been won.
How to Homebrew Wii Games: 73 Tips, Tutorials and Resources
by: Amy S. Quinn (guest blogger)
Certainly you've heard that fully integrated Wii homebrews are in the near future, but did you know that developers are already homebrewing for the Wii? Through the Internet Channel, you can play Flash and Javascript games, and yes, even make your own. So if you've spent all your money on a bidding war to get the Wii and you're out of cash for games, follow this guide to some of the best Wii homebrew resources out there.
Certainly you've heard that fully integrated Wii homebrews are in the near future, but did you know that developers are already homebrewing for the Wii? Through the Internet Channel, you can play Flash and Javascript games, and yes, even make your own. So if you've spent all your money on a bidding war to get the Wii and you're out of cash for games, follow this guide to some of the best Wii homebrew resources out there.
Continue reading "How to Homebrew Wii Games: 73 Tips, Tutorials and Resources" »
Serious Games For Hospitality Training
by: Eliane Alhadeff
Hilton Garden Inn, the award-winning mid-priced hotel brand with locations throughout North America and Europe, this week unveiled Ultimate Team Play - the first interactive training game to be used in the hospitality industry that utilizes game-based technology.
Starbucks Admits Sensory Mistake
by: Roger Dooley
Starbucks understands sensory branding, and in particular olfactory marketing. The wonderful aroma of a good coffee shop is a great selling and branding tool - this is particularly important since research shows that the majority of the experience of drinking espresso comes from the coffee shop experience itself. Now, Starbucks has announced that they will quit serving breakfast. Why? Because the smell of heating egg and cheese sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma.
Starbucks understands sensory branding, and in particular olfactory marketing. The wonderful aroma of a good coffee shop is a great selling and branding tool - this is particularly important since research shows that the majority of the experience of drinking espresso comes from the coffee shop experience itself. Now, Starbucks has announced that they will quit serving breakfast. Why? Because the smell of heating egg and cheese sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma.
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