It's that time again.. time to play celebrity guess who!
If you can guess the celebrity voice in the following ad, you win a $10 Amazon gift card! (It's not going to be easy so put your thinking caps on.)
Check back next Saturday when I announce the results.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Paula Deen and the falling out
It's been a rough couple of weeks for the butter loving Paula Deen.
Let's recap her PR Nightmare:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Low ratings
- Discrimination suit
- Racism filled deposition
- Bye bye food network
- So long Smithfield
- Then the rest of the endorsements fall: Kmart, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.
Interestingly enough, I don't think the public is outraged over the revelation that Paula Deen used a racial slur. (Maybe no one surprised?) I think people just didn't really like her in the first place. In my opinion, this is easiest and most cost effective way for corporations to her to drop her from the payroll.
Thinking about the direction that we're moving in society, people are becoming more obsessed with health, fitness, and eating right. Paula Deen's cooking doesn't appeal to the key demographic that every TV advertiser is hoping capture: 19-40. Being in the 19-40 year old demo myself, I can say with some certainty that these are people hoping to look young and fit, who want to feed their children healthy meals, and who want to live well into old age. Those traits do not align with the fried buttery goodness that is Paula Deen.
Do you think it's an end of an era or good riddance?
Thinking about the direction that we're moving in society, people are becoming more obsessed with health, fitness, and eating right. Paula Deen's cooking doesn't appeal to the key demographic that every TV advertiser is hoping capture: 19-40. Being in the 19-40 year old demo myself, I can say with some certainty that these are people hoping to look young and fit, who want to feed their children healthy meals, and who want to live well into old age. Those traits do not align with the fried buttery goodness that is Paula Deen.
Do you think it's an end of an era or good riddance?
Guess Who? Results
If you guessed Chris Pine as our mystery celebrity voice for the previous "Guess Who?" challenge then you are right!
Congrats to @MelanieMmH who won via twitter. I'll get your $10 Amazon Gift card to you via email.
Check back on Wednesday for another edition of "Guess Who?"
Congrats to @MelanieMmH who won via twitter. I'll get your $10 Amazon Gift card to you via email.
Check back on Wednesday for another edition of "Guess Who?"
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Guess Who?
Welcome to the Weekly "Name That Celebrity Voice" Challenge
Here's how it works: Watch the commercial below. Guess the celebrity voice, leave a comment below, win a prize. (Currently I'm thinking a $10 Amazon gift card!)
Here's how it works: Watch the commercial below. Guess the celebrity voice, leave a comment below, win a prize. (Currently I'm thinking a $10 Amazon gift card!)
Do you think it's worth it for companies to pay for celebrity voices? Do enough people recognize the voice to influence purchasing? Or is it something else a celebrity voice brings?
Game ends Friday at Midnight PST. Winner will be chosen at random from correct guesses and announced on Saturday. So please check back!
My social media payers have been answered...
First, yes, I am alive! Hooray.
Second, I found this:
Social Media Perfect Posts Infographic is an infographic that was produced by mycleveragency
http://www.mycleveragency.com/2013/06/how-to-create-the-perfect-social-media-posts/
And it is awesome because of that last bit about "Optimum Timing for Social Media Posts."
I have been looking for this information FOREVER through social media research, but never something so succinct. (That's the beauty of an infographic.)
Also, stay tuned for a new recurring segment later this week titled: Name That Celebrity Product Endorser
Second, I found this:
Social Media Perfect Posts Infographic is an infographic that was produced by mycleveragency
http://www.mycleveragency.com/2013/06/how-to-create-the-perfect-social-media-posts/
And it is awesome because of that last bit about "Optimum Timing for Social Media Posts."
I have been looking for this information FOREVER through social media research, but never something so succinct. (That's the beauty of an infographic.)
Also, stay tuned for a new recurring segment later this week titled: Name That Celebrity Product Endorser
Monday, August 6, 2012
My mom can write a better commercial than Chase, can you?
If you've been watching the Olympics lately, then you've seen this Chase commercial:
(Until I actually had to search for that clip, I thought it was Citi-Bank. That commercial is wrong on so many levels.)
The ad is annoying because it makes that kid seem like such a jerk. He's so unlikeable and, yet, his Nana still gives him $100 bucks. (Do Nana's everywhere know that birthdays are worth $100 now??)
Here are 2 ways this commercial could have gone so much better: (Yes, one of them is my mom's idea.)
1. The kid could have opened up the card, read it's heartfelt message, hugged his Nana and said "thank you." Then the rich and tech savvy Nana would send him $100 from her fancy phone. The now awesome and likeable kid would say, "Wow. Thanks, Nana. I love surprises." Or maybe something better, but at least he wouldn't look like such an ungrateful brat.
2. The Nana could have just sent him the money and then given him the card. Ya know, make it look like he was surprised there was no card instead of no money.(Which is absurd, but this is television. Anything can happen.)
How would you re-write this commercial??
(Until I actually had to search for that clip, I thought it was Citi-Bank. That commercial is wrong on so many levels.)
The ad is annoying because it makes that kid seem like such a jerk. He's so unlikeable and, yet, his Nana still gives him $100 bucks. (Do Nana's everywhere know that birthdays are worth $100 now??)
Here are 2 ways this commercial could have gone so much better: (Yes, one of them is my mom's idea.)
1. The kid could have opened up the card, read it's heartfelt message, hugged his Nana and said "thank you." Then the rich and tech savvy Nana would send him $100 from her fancy phone. The now awesome and likeable kid would say, "Wow. Thanks, Nana. I love surprises." Or maybe something better, but at least he wouldn't look like such an ungrateful brat.
2. The Nana could have just sent him the money and then given him the card. Ya know, make it look like he was surprised there was no card instead of no money.(Which is absurd, but this is television. Anything can happen.)
How would you re-write this commercial??
Sunday, May 6, 2012
JC Penny: What's wrong with this picture?
Ron Johnson, former Vice President of Retail Operations at Apple and current JCPenny CEO, has been making big changes for the ailing retailer lately. But will they actually help??
Overview of changes and my thoughts:
1. Ellen DeGeneres.
I love Ellen. I think the viewership of her daytime show will respond to her ads and are the type of consumers interseted in JCPenny. However, what about the rest of the JCPenny customers? Will they be alienated by someone they can't relate to? Think about it: Ellen is a millionaire TV show host with no children and married to another woman. I would venture to guess that JCPenny's core customer is a mother who is trying to outfit her family and home without the busting the bank.
2. Prices no longer end in 99. Like this commercial:
Let me point out that there is a reason most prices end in 99. When a consumer see $14.99 they tend to drop the .99 part and round down. It's not rational since 15 is a much closer number to 14.99 than 14, but that's what happens. Retailers know this so they use it. Not because they are trying to dupe the customer, but because it helps them remain competitive.
3. No coupons
How Wal-Mart of them! Does this mean they're offering everyday low prices? (I think that's probably trademarked, so they won't come right out and say it.)
I am confused how JCPenny is going to sell more clothes. They certainly are offering less of a hassle, but that's about it. There hasn't been any mention of their products in any of the ads. They are differentiating themselves on service during the sale instead of on products.
What they really need to be doing is changing their product mix and condensing their offerings. They also need to find their target market and appeal to them to the max. If it's busy moms then have busy moms in your ad and show them how JCPenny is going to make their lives easier.
Overview of changes and my thoughts:
1. Ellen DeGeneres.
I love Ellen. I think the viewership of her daytime show will respond to her ads and are the type of consumers interseted in JCPenny. However, what about the rest of the JCPenny customers? Will they be alienated by someone they can't relate to? Think about it: Ellen is a millionaire TV show host with no children and married to another woman. I would venture to guess that JCPenny's core customer is a mother who is trying to outfit her family and home without the busting the bank.
2. Prices no longer end in 99. Like this commercial:
Let me point out that there is a reason most prices end in 99. When a consumer see $14.99 they tend to drop the .99 part and round down. It's not rational since 15 is a much closer number to 14.99 than 14, but that's what happens. Retailers know this so they use it. Not because they are trying to dupe the customer, but because it helps them remain competitive.
3. No coupons
How Wal-Mart of them! Does this mean they're offering everyday low prices? (I think that's probably trademarked, so they won't come right out and say it.)
I am confused how JCPenny is going to sell more clothes. They certainly are offering less of a hassle, but that's about it. There hasn't been any mention of their products in any of the ads. They are differentiating themselves on service during the sale instead of on products.
What they really need to be doing is changing their product mix and condensing their offerings. They also need to find their target market and appeal to them to the max. If it's busy moms then have busy moms in your ad and show them how JCPenny is going to make their lives easier.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
More notes on digital marketing...
I have had quite an amazing 2 days when it comes to social media: 1. Monday, I was ROTD (review of the day) of Yelp 2. Josh Clark re-twetted my post about his talk so like a ton more people visited my blog yesterday. Let's try to keep up that momentum...
Today's post is a re-cap of the rest of the Paramore University event from yesterday.
Our second speaker was David Baker. He brought presents, but it was more like homework because it was a copy of his book! (Review to hopefully follow.)
His job is as a business consultant to marketing firms. His talk yesterday focused mainly on in-house marketing, but I suppose he also works with agencies.
Here are some startling statistics he told us about in-house marketing departments:
We know they aren't less expensive that hiring contractors or an agency. However, they are more consistent with the brand. They have, very importantly, a deeper and greater expertise in the business's product or service.
How do you get the most of this expertise?
Find a way to create a greater team environment so they are a part of business discussions. Allow them to say "no" without being seen as unhelpful.
It's all about alignment. If you hired an outside agency, you would be particular about what you asked them to do and how many revisions they made. You would also be more exact with your requests. We all know an agency is costing money. However, the cost structure for an in-house department is different. So they are often asked to complete work that is less meaningful or not worth their time.
One interesting point to note:
David requires that his clients pay him upfront for services so that he can say "no" without fear of non-payment for not agreeing with the client.
It looks like he will be back in the fall with ParamoreU. So good news for people who are struggling with in-house marketing versus agency marketing decisions. Also good for people who want to know about his experience living with Mayan Indians. (Really, read his bio!)
The final speaker was Leslie Camacho, CEO of EllisLab.
"Avoiding the Knowledge Coffin" OR What you need to know when choosing a CMS (content management system)
Leslie says his job is to "translate NERD to help you be more successful." He wants to serve content in a way that makes his customers more successful. He also flew all the way out to Nashville from Portland.
BUZZWORD ALERT: COPE. Which means: Create Once, Publish Everywhere. It's similar to what Josh was saying about building for the web. Here is a good explanation/example that Leslie recommend we all check out from NPR's CMS.
According to Leslie, the #1 mistake people make when choosing a CMS is not understanding who your content helps people succeed.
A lack of customer empathy creates a knowledge coffin so: ask customers, use your own product, and don't skimp on the discovery process.
My biggest takeaway: Don't ask the designers or engineers to create a button, ask them to solve a problem.
His recommended readings:
Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham
The Nerd Handbook by Rands in Repose
Final note, it was my first time at a meeting or event with a graphic recorder! I have always seen the hand that draws during TED talks, but it was pretty cool to see it done in person. A big thank you to Alpha Chimp!
There should be a re-cap on the Paramore website soon that includes the graphics. Once its posted, I will link to it on my blog. So check back.
Adios Marketing Amigos!
Today's post is a re-cap of the rest of the Paramore University event from yesterday.
Our second speaker was David Baker. He brought presents, but it was more like homework because it was a copy of his book! (Review to hopefully follow.)
His job is as a business consultant to marketing firms. His talk yesterday focused mainly on in-house marketing, but I suppose he also works with agencies.
Here are some startling statistics he told us about in-house marketing departments:
- 61% of marketing departments have less than 10 people
- 49% of employes work 41-45 hours per week
- Attrition is low (less than 10%), but when people do leave it is because of a lack of opportunities
We know they aren't less expensive that hiring contractors or an agency. However, they are more consistent with the brand. They have, very importantly, a deeper and greater expertise in the business's product or service.
How do you get the most of this expertise?
Find a way to create a greater team environment so they are a part of business discussions. Allow them to say "no" without being seen as unhelpful.
It's all about alignment. If you hired an outside agency, you would be particular about what you asked them to do and how many revisions they made. You would also be more exact with your requests. We all know an agency is costing money. However, the cost structure for an in-house department is different. So they are often asked to complete work that is less meaningful or not worth their time.
One interesting point to note:
David requires that his clients pay him upfront for services so that he can say "no" without fear of non-payment for not agreeing with the client.
It looks like he will be back in the fall with ParamoreU. So good news for people who are struggling with in-house marketing versus agency marketing decisions. Also good for people who want to know about his experience living with Mayan Indians. (Really, read his bio!)
The final speaker was Leslie Camacho, CEO of EllisLab.
"Avoiding the Knowledge Coffin" OR What you need to know when choosing a CMS (content management system)
Leslie says his job is to "translate NERD to help you be more successful." He wants to serve content in a way that makes his customers more successful. He also flew all the way out to Nashville from Portland.
BUZZWORD ALERT: COPE. Which means: Create Once, Publish Everywhere. It's similar to what Josh was saying about building for the web. Here is a good explanation/example that Leslie recommend we all check out from NPR's CMS.
According to Leslie, the #1 mistake people make when choosing a CMS is not understanding who your content helps people succeed.
A lack of customer empathy creates a knowledge coffin so: ask customers, use your own product, and don't skimp on the discovery process.
My biggest takeaway: Don't ask the designers or engineers to create a button, ask them to solve a problem.
His recommended readings:
Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham
The Nerd Handbook by Rands in Repose
Final note, it was my first time at a meeting or event with a graphic recorder! I have always seen the hand that draws during TED talks, but it was pretty cool to see it done in person. A big thank you to Alpha Chimp!
There should be a re-cap on the Paramore website soon that includes the graphics. Once its posted, I will link to it on my blog. So check back.
Adios Marketing Amigos!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Digital Marketing. AKA "What I learned today"
Just sat down from a morning of learning at Paramore University. It's hosted by the lovely folks at Paramore -a digital marketing agency here in Nashville. (There will be another session in the fall so mark your calendars.)
Our first speaker was Josh Clark (@globalmoxie) author of Tapworthy and incredible Power Point designer. Hands down best use of Legos in a business setting.
In short, here are my takeaways on his presentation of "7 Deadly Myths of Mobile." (Yes, deadly. So it's in your best interest to read...)
1. Mobile users are rushed and distracted
Think about all the times you've used your phone during a 3 hour airport layover or when you're too lazy to get to a computer. Personally, I lay in bed in the morning on my phone checking twitter and Facebook, etc.
Customers expect the experience on a mobile device to match the experience of their desktop/laptop.
2. Mobile = Less
Don't confuse context with intent! It's a smaller screen, not a smaller website we want to look at. Because honestly, can you define "a mobile use case" that is different from a "laptop use case" easily? With the amount of people admitting they checking their phones while in the bathroom, I think not.
3. Complexity is a dirty word.
Complexity is different from complicated. Complexity is also different from dumbed-down. So, don't be afraid to have a lot of content. Think about it as a conversation. People will click more to find out more information. It better be there.
4. Extra taps and clicks are evil.
Unlike the days of yore, there is little waiting time for additional data when you open a new page. With pre-fetched data, this is even less of a concern.
Practice "progressive disclosure." Where a little content at a time is provided to the user.
5. Gotta have a mobile website.
You need to have a website that is mobile compatible, but it doesn't need to be a separate platform from your website. Instead, think about building for the web and not building for different devices.
Content and API run the show. You should build a common back end to serve all the options - mobile, desktop, xbox 360, etc. This is especially true since you don't want to have different content for each device.
6. Mobile is about apps.
An app is not a strategy. Your content is your strategy. So, find content that can fit any platform.
Ex. NFL Network - "Get the NFL. Anytime. Anywhere"
7. CMS and API are for database nerds.
Don't re-purpose the design, instead re-purpose the content.
Ex. The Guardian
And some examples of websites like that have excellent content driven websites:
Boston Globe
Facebook
The Guardian
Amazon
Finally, you can view a PDF version of this presentation at http://globalmoxie.com/blog/josh-clark-talks.shtml.
Be sure to also check in with Paramore for a run-down on today's event as well.
Ciao!
Our first speaker was Josh Clark (@globalmoxie) author of Tapworthy and incredible Power Point designer. Hands down best use of Legos in a business setting.
In short, here are my takeaways on his presentation of "7 Deadly Myths of Mobile." (Yes, deadly. So it's in your best interest to read...)
1. Mobile users are rushed and distracted
Think about all the times you've used your phone during a 3 hour airport layover or when you're too lazy to get to a computer. Personally, I lay in bed in the morning on my phone checking twitter and Facebook, etc.
Customers expect the experience on a mobile device to match the experience of their desktop/laptop.
2. Mobile = Less
Don't confuse context with intent! It's a smaller screen, not a smaller website we want to look at. Because honestly, can you define "a mobile use case" that is different from a "laptop use case" easily? With the amount of people admitting they checking their phones while in the bathroom, I think not.
3. Complexity is a dirty word.
Complexity is different from complicated. Complexity is also different from dumbed-down. So, don't be afraid to have a lot of content. Think about it as a conversation. People will click more to find out more information. It better be there.
4. Extra taps and clicks are evil.
Unlike the days of yore, there is little waiting time for additional data when you open a new page. With pre-fetched data, this is even less of a concern.
Practice "progressive disclosure." Where a little content at a time is provided to the user.
5. Gotta have a mobile website.
You need to have a website that is mobile compatible, but it doesn't need to be a separate platform from your website. Instead, think about building for the web and not building for different devices.
Content and API run the show. You should build a common back end to serve all the options - mobile, desktop, xbox 360, etc. This is especially true since you don't want to have different content for each device.
6. Mobile is about apps.
An app is not a strategy. Your content is your strategy. So, find content that can fit any platform.
Ex. NFL Network - "Get the NFL. Anytime. Anywhere"
7. CMS and API are for database nerds.
Don't re-purpose the design, instead re-purpose the content.
Ex. The Guardian
And some examples of websites like that have excellent content driven websites:
Boston Globe
The Guardian
Amazon
Finally, you can view a PDF version of this presentation at http://globalmoxie.com/blog/josh-clark-talks.shtml.
Be sure to also check in with Paramore for a run-down on today's event as well.
Ciao!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Noob Guide to Marketing
This isn't a real post. More just an update to announce that I'm not dead. Instead, I'm trying to figure out what I should do with my blog now that b-school is nearing a close.
I suppose I could still chat about marketing, but I think I might make this more of a business in general blog. You see, I will starting a real job in July. In my mind, I'll be a very fancy and fashionable consultant, but chances are I'll just be flying around the states looking quite the mess.
Here is an interesting link to check out in the mean time: http://unbounce.com/noob-guide-to-online-marketing-infographic/
Ya know, 'cause I'm always here for all your marketing needs. =)
I suppose I could still chat about marketing, but I think I might make this more of a business in general blog. You see, I will starting a real job in July. In my mind, I'll be a very fancy and fashionable consultant, but chances are I'll just be flying around the states looking quite the mess.
Here is an interesting link to check out in the mean time: http://unbounce.com/noob-guide-to-online-marketing-infographic/
Ya know, 'cause I'm always here for all your marketing needs. =)
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