SpaktoBasics

"Easter on Tuesday" Proclaims New Text

2009-04-10T05:13:00.000-07:00

"Throughout the Christian world, biblical scholars and their hair-dressers are reeling in the wake of the recently-discovered Gospel of Judas.

The Gospel of Judas was among the many biblical-era texts not included in the original canon by Constantin and the Counsel of Nicaea in the 4th century. Collectively known as the Gnostic Gospels, these rejected text are considered heretical by Christian leaders and are rarely found at used book sales. The Gnostic Gospels, which also include the books of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Albert and Mort, portray Jesus in a more human light with many of the same issues facing any middle-aged guy.

Of all the Gnostic texts, the Gospel of Judas has created the greatest stir among Biblical scholars because it paints a dramatically different picture of the Crucifixion story:

Judas Did Not Betray Jesus: The Gospel of Judas sheds new light on the accepted belief that Judas betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. According to Dr. Martin Schoerson, Head of Biblical Studies and Fashion Design at Long Island Community College and Day Spa: 'The Gospel of Judas introduces someone named Kurt into the Crucifixion story. Kurt, the son of Ephram who beget Barry and Todd, apparently had a number of outstanding parking tickets and may have sold his soul to wipe the slate clean with the local Centurions.

The resurrection happened on Tuesday: Judas maintains that it took Jesus five days to rise from the dead; not three, as proclaimed in the official Gospels. "I always thought the three day story was a little too tidy," said Dr. Ronald McClean, head of Biblical merchandise for The National Hockey League." He added: "I believe Emperor Constantin opted for a three-day resurrection story because he felt that no company in the world would buy into a five-day Easter holiday."

Mary Magdalene was not with Jesus at the Last Supper: This long-standing debate, fueled in recent years by Dan Brown's best-selling novel "The DaVinci Code," is challenged by the Gospel of Judas. According to Judas, Mary was not at the Last Supper because she was hosting her book club on that particular Thursday.

The Last Supper was a raucous affair: The official Gospels paint a scene of relative harmony as the disciples congregate to break bread with their Lord for the last time. But according to Judas, the Last Supper was anything but harmonious. Judas claims that there were problems from the start as the restaurant had difficulty seating the party of 13 immediately due to an unexpected rush that night. There were also issues about which of the disciples would sit closest to their Savior. It was finally agreed that everyone would rotate throughout the evening, although there was still much grumbling. Judas also claims that a number of disciples were vegetarians who complained about the serving of the Pascal Lamb. Others disciples were apparently distressed that only red wine was ordered for the tables. The translation states that Peter asks "Why cannot the blood of Christ be a crisp Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay?" Finally, according to Judas, the night ended on a particularly sour note when the check arrived and sat on the table for what "seemed like an eternity.' It is suggested that Jesus picked up the check in exasperation saying "None of you will repay me." The official Gospels claim that Jesus ended the Last Supper by saying: "One of you will betray me."

Despite widespread challenges to the book's authenticity within Christian circles, The Gospel of Judas is being embraced as a significant find by many scholars. "It's the real thing," proclaimed Alan Peterson, Senior Purchasing Manager of Housewares and Antiquities for J.C. Penney. "Through carbon-dating, we determined that the coffee stain on the back cover was made in the Spring of 33AD. We're thrilled about this momentous discovery and, at $39.99, think it will be a big seller for the Easter holiday."

To Jay on St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

My son is adopted and 100% Irish. Every St. Patrick's Day, I have a pint of Guinness to celebrate the blessing I was given when he came into my life. He is a truly remarkable young man and I am so proud to be his father.

Someone sent this Irish friendship greeting and, in honor of my son and his birth-parents, I share it with the world:

AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Great Netflix Bait & Switch

2009-02-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

My 13-year old son and I love to watch movies. He's now getting old enough to be introduced to many of the classics, such as The Godfather, Dr. Strangelove and others.

We recently hooked up XBox Live to our big screen. Knowing that I was a movie lover, a friend suggested that I look into streaming NetFlix films directly our TV through the XBox. How cool was that? I'm thinking that my days of spending $4 a movie at Blockbuster where over. I went on to Netflix and, as it happens, they were having a FREE trial offer. I chose the $8.99 plan which is perfect for the Xbox deal because it gives me unlimited access to as many movies as I can watch each month. AND no worrying about mailing them back in. I had arrived in movie-lover's heaven! Or, so I thought.

After giving up my credit card information I was invited to browse the Netflix library to add movies to my queue. It was only after building my queue with about 40 classics that I realized I had been had. Only a handful of the movies in my queue were available for Instant viewing through the Xbox connection. Upon digging a little deeper I came across the "instant" library which was comprised of the movies that fall under the Xbox deal. It is an absolutely pathetic collection of mostly straight-to-video films with a smattering of "better" movies thrown in. Of the Netflix top 100, only 8 are Xbox eligible. You can imagine how excited I will be to see the laugh-riot "Victor Victoria" one more time.

My son asked me if Netflix "lied." No, they didn't lie. But they painted a very misleading picture of what is included in this offer. What their PR machine was touting as a groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft is, in my opinion, a bait & switch scheme.

I was really excited about what I believed would be a truly great way to introduce my son to some of the greatest movies of all time. As it now stands, it's time to head back to Blockbuster.

Thanks Netflix.

Everything Old is New Again

2009-02-28T05:44:00.001-08:00

Just read about how the new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show is going to revolutionize live TV by using the immediacy of technology such as Twitter to maintain an interactive relationship with viewers.

But, for marketers, I think the bigger story is that Fallon is going to incorporate live commercials into the show. This hearkens back to the nascent days of radio and television, when shows were sponsored by national brands and commercials flowed seamlessly into the fabric of the programming. WVXU, a Cincinnati-based public radio station has programming blocks dedicated to re-runs of classic radio shows like Burns & Allen and Fibber McGee and Molly. It's fascinating to hear how commercials blend into the story-lines and would often be extended by the stars through what sounds like impromptu banter. These early radio stars eventually transferred the idea of commercial integration to the new medium of television.

It will be interesting to see if Fallon begins a new trend and one that I've been anticipating for quite some time. We continue to hear that consumers are looking for more authenticity from companies. Perhaps we'll begin to see a "devolution" back to a model of advertising that is more straight-forward and authentic. Perhaps elegantly produced branding messages will begin to give way to simple, direct, factual messaging about a brand's unique qualities.

Beyond greater authenticity, of course, live commercials provide advertisers with a strategy to combat zapping. As DVR penetration approaches critical mass and time-shifting becomes second nature, commercial zapping will be a critical issue for TV advertisers. Commercial integration will be a critical defense mechanism to avoid the zap and live commercials are obviously the easiest way to achieve this integration.

And now a word from our sponsor!

Recalling Lent

2009-02-21T03:46:00.000-08:00

I just read a piece in the Wall Street Journal about this year's new spiritual under-taking: adults who are "giving up" Facebook for Lent.

The article took me back to my youth in the steel-mill suburbs of Pittsburgh. I grew up in a Christian Orthodox family, with a Ukranian Orthodox mother and a Russian Orthodox father. Our faith (or, in my case, lack of faith) was built on a foundation of confession, holy communion, incense, a love of the Virgin Mary and deep-seeded guilt. We were, essentially, like Roman Catholics except, as my mother would say, "we don't report to the Pope."

Lent was a very big deal in our family as it was a prelude to the Super Bowl of religious holidays, Easter. There would be no Christianity without the story of those three days when Jesus suffered on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. My mother focused most of her energy on the suffering part of the story as commemorated through the tradition of Lent. To the unaware, Lent recalls the biblical tale of Jesus going out into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights (to do what, I am not sure). To pay homage to this story, many Christians sacrifice something of importance during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

In our family, the week leading up to the start of Lent was rife with tension. We had numerous and lengthy, Camp David-like negotiating sessions during which my sister and I would submit our proposed Lenton observations for my mother's approval. Being a savvy negotiator, I'd start the proceedings by putting a long-shot on the table in the hopes that I would catch mom in a weak and/or (rarely) generous moment. "We'll give up liver and onions," I would proudly proclaim. Mom was wise to my liver gambit ever since the day she forced me (I think at gunpoint, but can't be 100% sure) to eat liver and onions for dinner only to have me heave it back up on the dinner table (it was the last time I've ever eaten liver and onions).

With liver off the table (pun intended), we would negotiate into the night, working our way through the major food groups. But mom was simply too good and her resolve, resolute. Without fail, the Lenton negotiations came down to my having to sacrifice the one thing that sustained me during my youth: Charles Potato Chips. Charles Chips came in a large aluminum can and were delivered fresh to our door every Wednesday afternoon. Mom knew that 40 days without Charles Chips represented the ultimate sacrifice and would put me in good stead with God.

As a last gasp maneuver, I would enlist the aid of my father to undermine my mother's position. Unfortunately, in our home, dad was Switzerland. As a neurtral observer, he had little interest in upsetting the delicate socio-political balance of our family unit. In other words, he didn't want to piss off my mother. He responded to my entreaties for intervention with a simple: "Do what your mother says." Dad knew then what I've come to learn through years of personal experience: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

This post was prompted both by the WSJ article and my recent decision to observe Lent again, after a 30+ year hiatus. As a child, Lent, and to a larger degree, the Easter holiday, was about suffering. I had no choice but to make a sacrifice, even though its significance was never fully explained to me. As a non-practicing adult, I have come to see Lent from a different perspective: as a period of cleansing, contemplation and meditation. It's about taking a small portion of your life to be mindful, not necessarily sacrificial. It's about looking within, not doing without.

Having moved beyond my Charles Chip addiction, I will refrain from the consumption of caffeine during the Lenton season which begins Wednesday.

Any other observers out there?

Mel Karmizan's Miracle Solution

2009-02-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

It was just announced that John Malone's Liberty Media will bail out Mel Karmizan's Sirrius/XM Satellite radio network for a half a billion bucks.

Frankly, I don't get it. What does Malone see in satellite radio? I wrote about Sirrius last week. I continue to sample the satellite dial in search of something interesting enough to make me want to shell out $10 a month. And I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

The thing that really jumps out at me as I listen more closely is the dearth of simply awful commercials. It seems like every break is populated with commercials touting the next miracle solution: debt solutions, male enhancement solutions, dating solutions, weight loss solutions, colon-cleansing solutions, bad-breath solutions. Satellite radio is late night TV "yell & sell" advertising on Alex Rodriquez-endorsed steroids.

What gets me back to the premise of this post: what would prompt Malone to dish out a boat-load of cash to salvage something with little, inherent consumer value?

Unless, of course, the idea of being Mel Karmizan's boss is too irresistible to pass up.

Twitter and Branding

2009-02-13T07:53:00.000-08:00

This was an interesting piece related to using Twitter as a Branding tool.

Many Brands are dabbling in Facebook, Twitter, et. al. Unfortunately, this dabbling is often done without a coherent strategy.

The point below make a lot of sense to me.

February 13, 2009
Activating A Brand On Twitter
By Max Kalehoff

Do you like speaking with humans or inanimate objects?

I think most people prefer to speak with humans, and that's especially true when it comes to interacting with companies. In fact, customers get frustrated when companies limit or dehumanize interaction, especially when product or customer service is involved.

That's probably why personal blogs authored by employees often resonate better than official corporate blogs. And why corporate blogs that include more human elements, including strong personal profiles, resonate more than ones with less.

All this makes me wonder about micro-blogging, specifically Twitter. I'm not going to debate whether your brand should be on Twitter. I'll just say that your brand should be where your customers are, and that often is on Twitter.

But what's the right way for a brand to activate itself on Twitter? Specifically, is it better for companies to actively engage on Twitter with a brand profile, or a human profile?

To be sure, some companies use their standalone brands for their Twitter username, the core element of a profile. Consider Southwest Arlines, or @southwestair, widely considered successful and useful to customers.

Other companies use a hybrid of brand and employee names. Consider Zappos, another success. Its main profile username is @zappos, but it clearly indicates in the bio and profile page that the author is Tony Hsieh, the company's CEO. There also are companies that have profiles that use hybrid usernames, incorporating employee names and the brand. Consider Lionel Menchaca at Dell, whose username is @LionelatDell.

There are also companies that activate on Twitter only via employees' personal profiles, either by design or accident. Consider AdWeek with its ubiquitous digital reporter, or http://twitter.com/bmorrissey @bmorrissey.

Which form is best? It depends on your objective and the relationship your customers have with your brand. Ultimately, you should use any social-media platform in whichever way works best for you. But marketers must consider that customers usually prefer interactions that are more human, not less. I found this out through my own experience on Twitter.

Here's my story: I've been on Twitter a few years and have remained an active user with my personal profile, @maxkalehoff . When I joined Clickable, my search-technology startup, I immediately claimed our company's profile and username on Twitter, @clickable. When we launched our product commercially in late 2008, I began using our company profile to alert customers and other stakeholders to company news, including new product features, service updates, and events, among other.

But I also started using our company Twitter profile to conduct customer service and business development interactions. Whenever I identified problems and opportunities through monitoring, or received inbound questions, I'd respond. And that's where I noticed the limit of a brand profile. Compared to my personal profile, interactions simply were not as engaging or rich. When I reverted to my personal profile to conduct Clickable business, I found receptivity to be far higher. This was especially apparent with Twitter members whom I'd never interacted with before.

As a result, I now maintain our company profile on Twitter, and use it primarily as an alert channel. But if I need to interact with customers or other stakeholders, I'll defer to my personal profile, which clearly indicates my company affiliation. At first, I was reluctant to mix my personal profile directly with work. But I eventually realized that maintaining two identities not only is increasingly difficult, but artificial. We are who we are and we have to bank on our own transparency and common sense.

While our strategy works for our startup, I acknowledge we'll need to adapt it as social platforms and our company mature. But however we grow, I'm committed to maintaining as much humanity and personality as possible. People prefer that, and we'd rather connect with our customers in a more meaningful way.

What form of Twitter profile works for you?

Why Satellite Radio is Siriusly F#@&ed!

2009-02-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

I bought a new car this week. A 2009 VW Passat. I tried to buy American, but my money was not welcomed by Ford. You can see my post below on this subject.

My new Passat came with 90 days of free satellite radio. This is my first satellite radio experience as I have been a dedicated terrestrial radio fan. Satellite radio is a little overwhelming. There are so many choices and so many niches that it is nearly impossible to figure out where to start.

I continued to scan each band until I came to the comedy/adult talk channels. Sirius 100 is Howard Stern followed by Playboy, Raw (adult comedy) and Laugh USA. I've always been a Howard Stern fan, from his earliest days in New York when his endless prattle about nothing was a refreshing respite from the monotonous morning chatter of Top 40 radio. You had to sift through his ramblings, but could always come across a gem, some little bit that was both unique and very non-commercial. I enjoyed listening to Howard the rebel, pushing the envelope and the FCC's buttons at the same time.

Then Howard decided to thumb his nose at the FCC and take Sirius money as the savior of satellite radio. And with his passing from the terrestrial band to the insignificant world of satellite, Howard become instantly irrelevant. Not that he was highly relevant before, but he did shake up the radio establishment and he served a purpose in pushing the bounds of the First Amendment. But he traded his relevance for the ability to say F#%k. That's it. He left for a half a billion dollars and one word. It's a word that does not make him the least bit funnier. It's a word that, frankly, diminishes the edge from which he used to work his magic.

As I tuned in the various other channels on the "adult" band, it occurred to me that satellite radio's promise was essentially built on a foundation of one, four-letter word. Sure, it's cool to have access to Bob Dylan's program and 24 hour Boss. But the satellite visionaries ultimately believed that the ability to hear one, FCC-banned word would attract enough shallow Americans to make satellite, well, serious. Well, as Sirius/XM scrambles to make a $170 million bank note in the next few weeks, it is painfully obvious that one simple word won't be enough.

It's really a f#%*ing shame!

In the Stillers of the Night

2009-01-31T05:55:00.000-08:00

I don't like schlocky attempts at humorous poetry, especially those forwarded through the Internet.

But, on the eve of my beloved Steelers (or Stillers as they are known in Pittsburgh) attempt to win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl tomorrow evening, I will share this poem with anyone who is a fan.

If you grew up or lived in Pittsburgh for any amount of time, becoming a Steeler fan was a right of passage. The Steelers epitomize Pittsburgh, at least the Pittsburgh of my youth: hard-edged, genuine, determined. There was never anything flashy about Pittsburgh or the Steelers. And, as a Steeler fan, it was impossible to not be drawn into the magic of Myron Cope's uniquely Pittsburgh commentary as the color man during Steeler's broadcasts. Only a Pittsburgher could love Myron and his almost gross exaggeration of the unique Pittsburgh dialect.

Most people remember Myron for his creation of the now-ubiquitous Terrible Towels that serve as the official flag of The Steeler Nation. But I remember Myron for his passion and boyish enthusiasm that made listening to a Steeler game a weirdly exhilarating experience. You felt his joy during great wins and grieved along with him during the bitter disappointments. I can still hear Myron screaming in the background of the radio broadcast on the winter day in the early 70's when the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders with what has since become knows as Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception." Many may argue, but I believe that singular moment changed the fortunes of a city that was in the midst of its own economic collapse. People began to believe in miracles and, within time, Pittsburgh moved beyond its industrial roots to become a center of commerce and education. On some level, Myron was more than a broadcast color man for an NFL team. He was, in many ways, the voice and the spirit of a Renaissance.

I have lived in Cincinnati for more than 20 years. When I tell locals that I grew up in "the Burgh," they are quick to opine that the two cities are very similar and, thus, I must feel "right at home" in the Queen City. Indeed, they are both cities of majestic hills overlooking one of the country's great rivers. Both cities were carved out of the country's expansion as an industrial power. I have come to like Cincinnati, but have never felt "right at home" here, because, at heart, I will always be a Pittsburgher. I will always feel an affinity for its ethnic heritage and neighborhood spirit. I will always have The Steelers. And the memories of Myron taking me down the field on a last minute drive to Steeler glory.

This poem is about Myron and what he means to Pittsburghers.

If you know Myron, I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Go STILLERS!!

‘Twas the Night Before the Super Bowl
   ‘Twas the night before the Super Bowl, when along the gulf shore,
Steelers fans were praying for “just one more;”
The players were nestled all snug in the sack,
With visions of the first NFL Six-Pack;
Coach Tomlin was young, but wise for his years,
   So I drifted off to sleep without any fears;
   When at the stadium there arose some strange chatter,
The Cardinals feared, what was the matter;
   We heard “Okel Dokel”, we heard “Double Yoi,”
We jumped from our beds, our hearts jumped for joy;
   He stood at the fifty with a grin ear to ear,
Steelers fans everywhere started to cheer;
Then in an instant to our surprise,
This little old man had tears in his eyes;
He went to the booth and there took his chair,
While Terrible Towels waved in the air;
   Then over the airwaves came his shrill voice,
   The Steelers Nation began to rejoice;
He said, “I am back, but you know I can’t stay,
I just had to see my Steelers play;
From my home up above, I have a great view,
   But I wanted to celebrate here with you;
   So bring on the Birds, we’ll send them a flyin’,
   On the way back to Phoenix , they will be cryin’;
   Ben, Hines, Troy , Jeff and all of the rest,
No matter the outcome, to me you’re the best;”
   The airwaves went silent, the stadium still,
   Was this just a dream, it seemed so real;
   In our team we have faith, in our team we have hope,
But the game’s not the same without Myron Cope

"Shout" Out to TMobile

2009-01-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this video from Tmobile ...it's worth a look.

It got me thinking about the economic model for traditional TV advertising. This is essentially a 2 1/2 minute TV commercial. Think about this: production for an average TV spot runs for about $500K per :30, so you can do the math. If this video cost Tmobile more than $100K, I'd be shocked.

They posted it for FREE. Let's say you could buy 2 1/2 minutes of Primetime to run this spot. The cost would be between $500K and...well, who knows.For one airing! And you have no guarantee that it wouldn't be zapped or missed or simply ignored. As of this morning, 1.5 million people have made the decision to watch this video. I suspect this number will continue to grow as this video is good enough to forward to a friend and watch several times yourself.

If advertising is about creating an emotional link between brands and consumers, this video surely does the trick. It simply makes you feel good. And based on the comments, most of the 1.5 million people agree.

Is this the future of TV advertising?

I Tried to Buy American

2009-01-26T03:21:00.001-08:00

I'm car shopping. I'm not sure anyone likes to shop for a car, but it's what we do.

I've been leasing cars and am tired of making perpetual car payments, so we've decided to suck it up and buy something so that we can see light at the end of the payment booklet tunnel.

I've been a VW guy for awhile, so I went back to the local VW dealership to check things out. I went because my wife suggested we go. I really intended to buy American; a Ford Focus, perhaps. The guy at the VW dealership could not have been nicer and more helpful. He had a great deal on a Passat. And, he is working out a deal to buy back the final seven months of the lease on our Beetle. We're getting 66 months at zero financing. For a really nice car.

But I was still intent on giving the Americans a shot at my business. I went to the massive Ford dealership near my house. I could not believe how many cars and trucks were sitting in that lot. One would think that the sales people would be instructed by managers to make a deal with anyone for any amount of money just to empty a small portion of the inventory. The guy who trudged out of the showroom to greet us probably didn't get that memo from his manager.

His indifference to our potential business was amazing. Instead of inviting us in to the warm showroom, he buttoned up his parka, flipped his hood up and led us out to the Focus Gulag to examine one uninteresting car after another. "So, these are at zero percent financing," I asked. As it turned out, the zero percent financing was only available if you added $500 to the purchase price. And, it was only available for 36 months.

I actually felt sad as I got into my car to leave. This guy, who I'm sure was nice enough, looked as if he had thrown in the towel. He had (hundreds) of average to below-average vehicles to sell and nothing to offer as a true incentive. I also felt angry that my tax dollars are going to prop up companies that simply cannot compete. I drove away from that Ford dealership realizing that the bailout is only delaying the inevitable.

So, I'm buying a German-made car. It's built better. It has better re-sale value. And the pricing was more attractive. I tried to do the patriotic thing and support our industry. But it's clear that they've given up the good fight. And what the government doesn't see is that propping them up is, in many ways, as unpatriotic as letting them succumb to the realties of the marketplace.

Interesting times.

Are You a Twirgin?

2009-01-25T04:22:00.000-08:00

I love to listen to people talk about Twitter. There are three camps:

1) Twitter has changed my life and is the best thing I've ever experienced.

2) Twitter is stupid, brainless and a complete waste of my valuable time.

3) I'm curious about Twitter, but haven't gotten up the courage to try it.

Relatively speaking, I probably fall into the third camp, the group I call Twirgins.

I have been Twittering for a month or so. I update occasionally. Maybe once a day. I typically update if I find an article that is interesting and I want to share it. This is probably where I find the most value out of Twitter: having people I follow uncover interesting pieces of information that would otherwise sneak by me. I heard someone refer to Twitter as "my personal A.P." I agree with that definition.

The problem with being a Twirgin is that I occasionally slip into the second category above after reading a stream of chatter about what people are doing at that moment. This is the self indulgent aspect of Twitter that I haven't been able to understand. Why should I be interested in what you're having for dinner that night?

I like Twitter and continue to find different ways to use it. I found an interesting video when I Googled "Why I use Twitter."

R.U. a Twirgin??

http://tinyurl.com/6c4vcs

A Bite Of Inaugural Reality

2009-01-22T03:15:00.000-08:00

I was in Columbus Tuesday for a day-long meeting. As I'm sure many Americans did on that day, we stopped what we were doing in time to watch Barrack Obama take the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. It was a stirring moment and one that I will not forget.

My associates and I then headed to a local brew pub for lunch. Had you walked into the bar without any knowledge of what was happening that day, you would have surely thought that the patrons were watching a major sporting event, the Super Bowl, perhaps. The bar area was packed, every table full. The crowd was mostly African American. There were glasses of wine and a few flutes of champagne on some tables. These people had come to celebrate an event that I am sure many, if not most, believed would never happen in their lifetimes. They cheered each passage of the President's speech as if they were watching their Buckeyes make a last minute drive against Michigan. It was a stirring moment and one that I will not forget.

We finished our lunch and left the restaurant into a bitter cold afternoon for the short walk back to the office. The middle-aged African American woman who was just outside the restaurant door did not notice us. She was busy rummaging through the green trash can for her lunch. Coming up empty, she quietly moved on to the next green trash can; a pattern that most likely continued throughout the afternoon.

I suspect that nobody told her about the inauguration of Barrack Obama; she probably didn't catch CNN that morning. I'm sure that any celebrating she would do on that momentous day would be prompted by the discovery of a half-eaten sandwich or a Starbuck's cup with the last drops of a double-shot, skim Latte. She probably wasn't too concerned about bail-outs or the Dow, the state of her IRA or the latest unemployment estimates. She probably wasn't swelling with pride that an African American was now the leader of the free world. She likely didn't get the memo telling her that "yes we can" change. And I suspect that she doesn't have the "audacity to hope." She was just cold and hungry on that incredibly historic day.

It was a stirring moment and one that I will not forget.

There Is No Honeymoon

2009-01-19T05:02:00.000-08:00

OK, I too was awash in emotion on the November evening when the United States chose to have a man of color as the next President. It was a compelling moment. I voted for Mr. Obama on the basis that I believed he could restore dignity to America's tarnished reputation abroad. I made my decision only in the final days of the campaign, primarily because my hope for what Obama could do internationally was offset by my fear of what he might unleash domestically.

Tom Friedman wrote an excellent Op-Ed piece in yesterday's NY Times suggesting that Obama call together the top 300 bank CEOs for an emergency meeting on his first working day in the office. In this meeting, each CEO would be given an ultimatum: come back with a plan to clean up the mess you've made or your bank will be nationalized and folded into another bank. I would be encouraged if Mr. Obama made such a bold gesture right out of the blocks.

I am concerned, however, that instead of such a gesture, the new President is going to begin writing even more blank checks without any accountability measures attached. This would surely be an act of dysfunction that would prove disastrous in the long run.

President-elect Obama: be bold on your first day in office! Be strong and call these bankers on the carpet for their actions. Good luck.

Spam-alot

2009-01-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

Some dolt in the marketing department of AT&T came up with a brilliant idea during a recent brainstorming session: "Let's spam-text 70 million of of our most loyal users with an invitation to tune into the season premiere of American Idol."

AT&T is the official cell phone sponsor of Idol and only its users can participate in the voting.

Unfortunately, because of the "no idea is a bad idea" mantra of corporate brainstorming sessions, nobody stopped to consider the implications of spamming current customers.

The Twitter-led uproar over AT&T's incredible indiscretion has been overwhelming. AT&T users are pissed that the company would violate their privacy with a blatant and schlocky marketing come-on. And they are right to feel this way. A spokesperson for AT&T said that they were simply sending a "friendly reminder" to tune into to Idol. Well pal, thanks, but that isn't AT&T's job! Considering that only a fraction of your users participate in the Idol text voting, that means most of your loyal users don't give a crap about the show.

Earlier last year, I submitted a request to Verizon for ring-tone options. Instead of simply sending me the requested information, I have been added to a spam list that results in numerous un-wanted text messages each week. And I can't figure out how to remove my number from the list. You can bet that this endears me to Verizon!

When will companies realize that arrogance is not a great "go to market" strategy in today's instant communication world?

"...got nothin' to lose."

2009-01-05T04:17:00.000-08:00

I've always loved Bob Dylan's line: "If you ain't got nothin,' you ain't got nothin' to lose."

As we turned to corner to 2009, there was a collective sigh of relief from those claiming that 2008 was (pick one):

A meltdown of epic proportions
A financial disaster
One of the worst years since the Great Depression
Financial Armaggedon

With 24-hour news constantly rattling our collective, psychic cages, it is easy to forget that 2008, like every year, had crappy moments. I worked for a company that lost it's largest account and had to let a quarter of the staff go. It was terrible and painful. But the next day, we began the healing process anew and started to re-build. Most, if not all, of our friends who left have since moved on to new opportunities. Those that remained continued to do great work and celebrated their own victories over the course of the year. Crappy moments do not define an entire year.

I have always believed that January 1 does not wash the slate clean. It is just another day, as is January 5th, the day I write this post. Barrack Obama offers hope, but not ultimate solutions. We will experience victories and defeats this year...as we do every year. I am grateful today to be employed and to work beside people for whom I have tremendous respect. I am healthy today as is my family. I live in a country today that, within its borders, continues to enjoy peace and security. It isn't all perfect, but today it is good.

Yes, my portfolio today is thinner. But I am not my portfolio (although I wouldn't mind losing a few extra pounds). I get to wake up every morning and have hope (Obama or no Obama). Americans forget that much of the world is simply trying to meet basic needs while we despair over the relatively small dents put into the excess that we consider our entitlement. Perhaps we should be grateful that we have something to lose?

This morning alone, I have come across the words "dire," "bleak" and "dismal" in articles or blogs heralding the "new year." Here is my prediction: 2009 will be exactly like 2008! It will be comprised of 365 days that are 24 hours long. Each day will bring successes and failures, joys and dissapointments. Jobs will be lost and new journeys begun. Financial portfolios will expand and contract. Companies will die and new enterprises will be born.

Let's not become paralyzed by the headlines. Instead, let's be buoyed by the knowledge that every morning we get to wake up and begin another wild ride that will be crazy, frightful, exhilirating and never predictable.

Here is my wish for a healthy, happy and prosperous... January 5th, 2009!

Drive Time for Radio

2008-12-30T06:44:00.000-08:00

If you're in the radio industry, you should read yesterday's piece in MediaPost entitled Possible Automotive Media ReThink.

The article summarizes an analysis conducted by BIGResearch that measures the gaps that exist between how ad dollars are spent versus what consumers say works best when it comes to buying a car.

The big loser is TV, where automotive manufacturers spend at a rate that is roughly 2.5X greater than what is necessary based on consumer inputs.

The big winners are radio and outdoor. The spending model would have radio getting 21.5% of media dollars when it now gets less than 3%. Outdoor's under-allocation is even more pronounced with about 1% of current spending versus an ideal level of 14.6%.

It is important to note that these spending figures cover dollars spent by the Big Three manufacturers. Nonetheless, I think it has tremendous relevance for local dealership spending because it clearly supports the fact that radio is important when consumers are shopping for a car.

Perhaps the best way to get around TV's default as a visual medium, is for the radio and outdoor industry's to band togetehr to create compelling cross-platform programs that go head-on against local TV.

So, get out there and sell some radio time so that I don't have to keep seeing those awful Tom Gill TV spots during every freaking commercial break!

My Kindle Dilemma

2008-12-29T04:23:00.000-08:00

In the movie "Anchorman," Will Ferrell’s smarmy protagonist, Ron Burgundy, is putting the moves on his sexy new colleague, Veronica Corningstone. "I'm kind of a big deal," says Burgundy. "I have many leather-bound books."

I recalled this scene as I familiarized myself with the new Kindle my wife gave me for Christmas. I was skeptical of Kindle. I enjoy the tactile aspects of reading...curling up in bed each night with one of my many leather-bound books (You know...I'm really kind of a big deal!). But it didn't take very long for me to become Kindleized.

Kindle's print is large and legible. It has a built-in dictionary feature that can be used to help define obscure words. If you come across an interesting quote, the page can be stored in a separate clipping file. And for about nine bucks a best seller, it really makes reading cost efficient.

The problem, of course, is that books stored digitally through Kindle can not be displayed in all of their leather-bound glory in my home library. Who among us doesn't spend a fair amount of time deciding which authors and titles get prime display space so as to impress our visitors? I love my collection of "The Onion---Year in Review." But if you visit my home and browse my library, it will be Camus' "The Stranger" that will catch your attention. After all, a library, more than any other aspect of one's home, speaks volumes about who we want the world to believe we are.

I suspect my strategy will be to continue enjoying the value and simplicity of Kindle while searching garage sales and used book sales for just the right leather-bound versions of the classics for my home library.

Simply Ex(mas)hausted!

2008-12-24T04:19:00.000-08:00

I went to the mall this past Sunday. I really didn't need to go, but my son and I just went to burn some time and look for last minute gift ideas.

As would be expected, the mall was packed and an air of Christmas frenzy was pervasive throughout. But instead of igniting any latent Christmas spirit that might have been trapped inside, my trip to the mall resulted in an almost overwhelming sense of exhaustion. I felt drained and anxious. Not even an Annie's Pretzel could quell my feeling of being disoriented as I wandered aimlessly past window after window of merchandise that was neither interesting or attractive.

Upon reflection, it occurred to me that my bout with exhaustion was, perhaps, emblematic of what is now happening in the economy. I think we are exhausted by the demands of consumerism. It's very possible that this economic melt-down is really a badly needed consumer time-out. There is actually some macro-economic support for my theory.

In the post-war years, the GDNP was fueled in equal parts by business investment and consumption. America's prosperity was driven, in large part, by a healthy and vital entrepreneurial environment.

Starting in the 80's, the game began to change. Instead of business investment being a key driver to growth, the burden began shifting to consumption. Today, consumers fuel more than 70% of the GDNP. The penultimate example of this shift to a consumption based economy was the creation of creative financing that allowed more Americans than ever to partake of the dream of home ownership. Nobody ever thought to ask if the dream was realistic. We just plowed forward on the arrogant belief that every American should have a nice home and bigger car(s).

Well, everyone knows how the strategy backfired, leading us into the mess that plagues the economy today. What is clear (and has been clear longer than anybody wants to acknowledge) is that consumption cannot sustain the economy. Not everyone can afford a home in the suburbs. Not everyone can maintain four over-extended credit cards without having to pay some consequence.

I realized, in the days following my trip to the mall that I was exhausted by the burden of being an American consumer. There is too much pressure on me to keep the engine churning and to buy more crap that I neither need or want. So, we cut back this year, not out of financial necessity but out of a need to simply take a break and let the economic cards fall where they may. Perhaps America is going through a collective "consumption colonic" the results of which will be a healthier awareness of how we "use" money.

Wow...that was a little over-the-top, but it's my blog and I can do with it what I want. If anyone happens to read this, I'd love to know if you are having consumption exhaustion...and, if so, how are you handling it. Do you feel responsible for perpetuating the consumption ethos in this country?

Happy Holidays

The Future is...Yesterday!

2008-12-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

I have been on extended hiatus from this blog...for no other reason than, well, I have.

I have a full notebook of stuff to riff on. But I want to come out of the blocks with a piece that I'm sure many of you have seen. It is incredibly powerful...almost scary powerful.

It was produced by Sony and is called "Did You Know"

Watch it. Watch it again. I've already watched it three times (no, not during working hours).

What is most frightening, I suppose, is the thought that our kids and our education system are simply behind...and behind in a way that makes me realize that we will likely, never catch up. Here's a stat: India has more honor (high IQ) kids than the U.S. has kids!

Anybody out there have any thoughts on this.

If so, I'd like to get them... yesterday!

Why I Love NPR

2008-08-20T11:20:00.000-07:00

In the final analysis, advertising, brand engagement, consumer connections, et. al., is about story telling. We tell stories in an attempt to build an emotional bridge to someone who we define as a target.

The default for story-telling in our business has become "the visual." Magazines, TV, YouTube...somehow, it is easier and more compelling to tell a story with through the magic of sight, sound, motion, etc.

In our quest for visual impact, radio, or the art of creating theatre of the mind has been, for the most part, been left by the way-side. Radio is not cool.

But radio done right can be the most engaging of media. I was thinking about this on the way to work this morning. The news stories on NPR are almost always engaging and the "visuals" in my mind, more compelling than anything I would see on CNN. A few weeks ago, a female reporter did a story from inside San Quentin prison and it was the most riveting theatre I have experienced in a long time. I'm providing the link to the San Quentin story...it's worth five minutes of your time.

Various studies indicate that people are 2-3X more likely to remember something they hear than see. Maybe it's time to give radio another look...sorry, listen!

Any NPR lovers out there?

An Ode to Marriage

2008-08-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

I don't post videos all that often...but this is worth the investment of time:

Flight of the Concords

"OMG Doug, R U Wearing a Speedo???"

2008-08-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

If you didn't notice, 24 of the first 25 swimming Gold Medals have gone to Speedo endorsers (the lone outcast was wearing a polyester leisure suit).

I'm sure the folks at Speedo are thrilled. In fact, they are so giddy that they are planning their first consumer advertising campaign to support the new body suit.

Here's the problem: according to a highly accurate regression analysis I recently completed, 96.4% of all United States citizens SHOULD NOT be permitted in a public place wearing anything emblazoned with the word Speedo.

I actually wore a Speedo once (many years ago) to a public pool and and was held underwater for 8 minutes by two lifeguards and Mrs. Spak #1. Speedos are for people who are serious swimmers. Speedos are not for people who lay on big floaty things and guzzle beer all day.

So, here's the deal: unless you can do the 100 meter freestyle in less than an hour, do us all a favor and stick with the big, baggy, drawstring swim suits sold at Kmart.

Advertiser Video Contest #2,345,672!

2008-08-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest addition to the rapidly expanding world of "video contests."

Go to Klondike Contest to see the finalists in the "What Would You Do For a Klondike" contest. I have to admit that I got a chuckle out of a few of these.

I like one of the comments: "This is like a real commercial." Which raises the bigger question: what defines a "real commercial" in today's world of amateur Mad Men?

What's your favorite spot...and do you like Klondikes?

Pass The Explosives!!

2008-08-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Originally written 8/5/08

As part of the chain-wide renovation of its 900+ restaurants, Ruby Tuesday pulled off an interesting stunt today. In TV spots, they promised to blow up one of their oldest locations to introduce their new "It's a whole new Tuesday" campaign.

So, here was the stunt: the Ruby Tuesday's representative is set up across the street from the tired looking Ruby Tuesday's. He hits the detonator and nothing happens. The camera slowly pans left to reveal an O'Charleys restaurant one second before it is destroyed by the blast. The camera pans back to the Ruby Tuesday's guy who is "aghast" at his tragic mistake.

OK, they got me to watch. But they sure didn't make me feel better about Ruby Tuesday's by blowing up an O'Charleys.

Another ideation session run amuck!

Are The Olympics Relevant?

2008-08-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Originally written 8/1/08
When I was young, I loved the Olympics...especially the Summer Games. There was something very authentic about the games, despite the fact that the East German women had more facial hair than I did.

Maybe it was that athletes weren't as revered (or despised in some cases) as those of today's generation. Maybe it was because there was this US/USSR, "us vs them" drama that seemed to serve as the foundation of the games. Maybe it was before 24 hours, global sports and news coverage.

I think my disenchantment with the Olympics started with The Dream Team and the hype surrounding their dominance of the first games to allows pro athletes.

Nonetheless, the Olympic Brand still is strong based on a recent study of the major sporting events. I just wonder if this is residual equity that is driven by those old enough to remember the games when they were interesting. The TV ratings continue to decline and are expected to contiune as such this year.

I'll watch certain events out of curiousity...but not with the same level of interest as years past.

How important are the Olympics to you?

Pass the Twizzlers

2008-07-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

As a movie lover, I was intrigued when I saw an article about Hershey's Mega Movie Promotion.

The concept is relatively simple: you collect and send in a bunch of UPC codes from Hershey's Bag Candy and get a free movie ticket (valued at $8.50). Seems like a reasonable value based on a simple insight that candy and movies go together. Unfortunately (and as often happens in the world of marketing), Hershey's failed to transform a decent idea into a simple, compelling marketing program.

This could be a much stronger promotion with a bit more investment and a few tweaks:

Match the value of the free ticket to the cost of the most expensive movie ticket in the U.S. Wouldn't you be pissed if you lived in New York and had to shell out another $2 because your $8.50 voucher didn't cover the cost of your ticket. This makes Hershey look cheap!
Simplify redemption (maybe the biggest lesson for marketers). The process of taking a "tear one pad" from the grocery store or going on-line to download a redemption coupon is so '80's. Provide a process whereby UPC codes can be entered online to speed up the redemption process.
Same theme: broaden the offerings and make the redemption points equal for each line item. I shouldn't be penalized for liking Twizzlers (3 redemption points) more than Hershey's other products (5 redemption points).
Shorten the length of the promotion; it will lose energy running through March 2009.
Do a little off-line advertising to heighten awareness and create interest. The only way consumers find out about this is through on-line banner and in-store. Wouldn't a cinema ad be interesting, relevant and engaging? Or possibly radio?

The big idea, in my opinion, is to link the promotion concept with brand advertising to create a truly integrated marketing program. I think this could have been a lot stronger program for Hershey if they put a little more energy into the initial idea.

Non Stop Laugh-Fest

2008-07-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

If I see this review blurb on any movie ad, I RUN as fast as possible in the other direction.

I've only seen one, non-stop, laugh-fest in my many years of film-watching and that was "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." It still is a non-stop laugh-fest after about the 100th viewing. Fortunately, I hadn't seen a review blurb (promising a "non-stop laugh-fest") prior to my first viewing of the Holy Grail, otherwise I may have run in the other direction and missed out on years and years of enjoyment.

A trailer for the new Kevin Costner film, "Swing Vote," ran on Good Morning America today, proclaiming it as a "non-stop laugh-fest." Now, I like Kevin Costner. But, with the exception of "Waterworld" and "Dancing with Wolves," it is pure folly to associate his name with any film that is a non-stop laugh-fest.

Which brings me to the point of this blog: movie reviews. I recently discovered Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, two sites dedicated to extensive reviews of the arts (including games). Both sites amalgamate reviews from top critics across the country with reviews from every-day schmos like us. It's great to get the good, bad and ugly...along with an average score that gives you the down-low on a film.

Had I known about these sites, I could have saved much time and money by avoiding M. Night's "The Happening" (34 out of 100 Metacritic score), Will Smith's "Hancock" (49) and Adam Sandler's "Don't Mess with the Zohan." (54). Unfortunately, I probably still would have had to suck it up and go with my wife to see "Sex and the City." (53).

So, now, if a film gets a 95 rating and more than one person calls it a "non-stop laugh fest" I might be inclined to give it a go.

(Star) Bursting With Stuff

2008-07-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Written July 18

Check out the new Starburst web-site.

Talk about going non-traditional...there is so much going on in this site. Some of it is very interesting and some of it is very lame.

They are putting a lot of emphasis on videos in their marketing efforts. For example, they have a series of professionally-produced :60 videos that are actually quite funny. To compliment the professional videos, they have enlisted three of the more popular vloggers to create Starburst-themed videos. These vloggers aren't very good and, I believe, don't add much to the Starburst story.

Starburst is also sponsoring an animated, on-line series called Nite Fite with the characters Penalty and Lloyd. Not very funny, in my opinion.

I wanted to share this because there is some interesting stuff here and it is a good example of how marketers are "dabbling" per my earlier post. However, there are so many different things happening here...and not all of it is integrated behind a single idea.

I think is a terrific example of how we continue to try and find that balance between "quirky and engaging" and sound marketing.

Starburst has given it a good shot.

TGI Summer of Slurpee!

2008-07-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

OK...something stupid. I saw an article on the Summer of Slurpee and thought about how stupid it sounded. Here is my take on it:

Dallas-based 7-Eleven convenience stores are set to launch its most ambitious marketing program to date: "The Summer of Slurpee."

"We realize that it's been a difficult year for many Americans," said a spokesperson for 7-Eleven. "Soaring gasoline prices, a sagging economy, global warming, home foreclosures, brush fires, floods and the continued, yet unexplainable success of "The Price is Right Primetime" are helping to contribute to a growing sense of despair and hopelessness among average Americans, as well as the cast of "High School Musical 3.0. So we thought, 'what better way to help someone who has been devastated by natural disaster or stupid financial planning, than by giving them the opportunity to enjoy a classic 7-Eleven Slurpee!'"

Throughout the summer, Slurpee "street teams" will visit malls, beaches, Humvee dealerships and towns washed downstream by raging Mississippi River flood-waters. The Slurpee street teams will be handing out t-shirts, beech towels, FREE Slurpee certificates and autographed photos of Clay Aiken. Added the 7-Eleven spokesperson: "We think the Summer of Slurpee will be a big hit, especially with families across America who have lost everything in recent months."

Anyone wanting to learn where they can find a "Summer of Slurpee Street Team" can log onto 7-Eleven's special micro-site: www.ineedafreakingslurpeejusttosurvivethisshit.com

"And That's The Way It WAS!"

2008-07-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Written June 27

There are not many among us who can remember the days when Walter Cronkite ended each broadcast of the CBS Evening News with the iconic sign-off: "And that's the way it is."

In the days when CBS dominated news coverage, Cronkite was considered the most trusted person in America. I can still remember him holding our collective hands in the hours and days following JFK's assassination. And his almost giddy, child-like enthusiasm when Neil Armstrong was taking man's first stroll on the surface of the moon. In fact, many would argue that Cronkite's weekly Vietnam casualty counts fueled the anti-war movement and ultimately brought an end to that painful chapter in America's history.

My "waxing nostalgic" was prompted by yet another report released today showing the continued free-fall of network news audiences. Cable news outlets now have a collective 58% share of all news viewing...up from 54% just a year ago. Most notably, CBS Evening News has lost 27% of its audience since the last presidential election. One can easily surmise that this may be the final year that the major networks report on presidential elections as they have become irrelevant in the face of 24-hour coverage and immediate e-mail bulletins.

This post is not to argue for a return to the "good old days." Yet, it sometimes feels as if the unfettered, constant access to news dampens the spirit and, quite often, fuels our most base fears. Plus, the increasingly vitriolic partisan "reporting" (on both sides) is, I believe, creating a culture of cynicism (and cruelty) that is numbing.

Yes, I think dialogue is important in a free society. But sometimes, it would just be nice to have Walter telling me that everything will be all-right just for today...instead of Bill O'Reilly giving me tonight's "pin-head" report.

ds

That's Entertainment

2008-07-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Written June 25

Every morning I scroll through my on-line version of The New York Times. If I see something interesting, I'll click and read the article.

On Sunday morning, the Times takes on an entirely different role in my life as I gather the hefty, hard-copy from my front lawn and, coffee in hand, retire to my back deck to read each section of the paper from front to back.

These are two different experiences...one is functional and information-driven. The other is for relaxation and enjoyment...with information secondary. I almost never see or pay attention to a banner ad on NYT.com. But the advertising in the "real" NY Times is actually part of the reading experience. I particularly love ads for store like Barney's.

Last week, the Times ran a story about a recently-released Yankelovich study called When Advertising Works The study revealed that advertising which appears in traditional media is "much more likely" to make a positive impression than ads in digital media.

The reason for this is simple...and relates to my New York Times story. People who are involved with traditional media are "in a more positive mood and more likely to be interested in entertainment and relaxation." By contrast, people who are using digital media are "in more busy moods, seeking control or solving problems."

Entertainment and "release" have always been the cornerstones of traditional media...and the reason why advertising has prospered. Digital platforms are essentially about information gathering...even within the world of social networking.

Indeed, these two worlds are colliding and people will continue to have many choices as to how they are entertained...many of which sans advertising. But I believe there will always be a place for media that allows people to take a break from information overload...and relax with the Sunday Times or the semi-finals of American Idol.

Orwell That Ends Well!

2008-07-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Written June 16

The foundation of engagement marketing is built on the notion that technology will continue to give advertisers unprecedented access to consumers...along with sophisticated metrics that more accurately define those consumers.

In this regard, companies like TruMedia Technologies and Quividi have been getting a lot of press lately in reaction to their expanding portfolios of "real time" audience measurement tools. Products such as ICapture automatically capture and detect the faces of viewers who pass by billboards, bus shelters and other types of out-of-home displays.

Several weeks ago, The New York Times ran an excellent piece called Billboards That Look Back which juxtaposed the promise of these new technologies with the obvious privacy issues that they bring to the fore.

Some might scoff at those who raise concerns that we are heading towards an Orwellian society in which the government uses this advancing technology for surveillance and control of the masses. However, it wasn't too long ago that a number of the major telecoms worked with the National Security Agency on warrantless wiretaps of U.S. citizens.

I think the fascinating question behind this debate is this: how passive will consumers be in the face of increased treading into their personal space. Orwell's premise for "1984" was about the passivity (and ultimately, ignorance) of the masses. But I might argue that technology is rendering passivity as a thing of the past. Blogs are allowing people to become actively involved in the public discourse, hopefully keeping government in check and preventing an Orwellian future.

Perhaps Steven Jobs and Chiat-Day were right when they closed the iconic TV commercial 1984 with the tag-line "And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984."

Are you concerned about an Orwellian future?

Maybe It's Not What You Know

2008-07-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Written June 13

I once read a story about a Buddhist monk who gave only one lesson to his students: "Practice don't know."

The lesson, of course, is about the ego's need to be right, better, wiser and more successful than the next person. I know this lesson would be lost on most people who work in the ego-less business of advertising!!!

But I think the notion of "not knowing" is very relevant in today's increasingly complex marketing world. The reality is that the more complex our world becomes, the less we know about what truly works. Yet, as counselors to our clients, we feel compelled to always "know" the answers and be the experts. But, all one needs to do is read the pundits who write about our business to know that nobody really knows which end is up...everyone has an opinion and each opinion is equally valid. But no individual is really right.

Anyway, this post was prompted by a piece in MediaPost this morning called Acknowledging What You Don't Know It was an interesting take on how we can use our "not knowing" to become wiser and, at the end of the day, more well informed.

How are you at "not knowing?"

Research Envy

2008-07-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Written June 4

Starcom MediaVest just completed a year-long, $500,000, world-wide research study on how media buys and ad messages influence consumer intentions to buy their products.

OK, so I have some research envy. It would be great to have that kind of money to piss away on research that tells us what we already know but is still impressive because it's so damn massive in scope.

Wow...here's a really breakthrough insight: for certain products it is imperative to get on the "shopping list" before a consumer goes to a retail outlet.

Here's another: For high ticket items, the goal might be to simply get a consumer to go on-line to a brand's web-site to seek more information.

This is what they got for $500,000?? I would have given them the same insights for a fraction of that amount. But, alas, they are Starcom MediaVest and $500,000 will get them through lots of doors even though the research probably reveals nothing of great importance.

Let me know if you have any insights on this topic.

Street Furniture

2008-07-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Written May 30

Interesting article in Ad Age this week about a company called CEMUSA that specializes in something they call Street Furniture

CEMUSA creates this incredibly cool, high-design out-of-home and place-based media.

This is yet another example of the number and variety of creative (i.e. engagement) platforms that continue to proliferate in what is fast becoming a "post-mass" world.

Street Furniture seems like a great place for totes?

ds

Are You Digitized?

2008-07-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

Written May 22

As we hurtle down the information superhighway to our futures a digital marketers, the question arises: how digitized are you? In a recent study, Scarborough Research says that only 6% of Americans can be considered Digitally Savvy. Eighteen hi-tech consumer behaviors and purchasing patterns were identified and isolated within their national study. Those consumers who satisfied eight or more of them were considered Digitally Savvy. I've listed the 18 behaviors below. I'd love to hear how many of you would classify as Digitally Savvy (be honest).

PDA
DVR
Satellite Radio
VOIP
MP3
HDTV
Online banking/bill paying
Blogging
Gaming
Dowload podcasts
Download/listen to audio
Download/watch video
Instant messaging
Download ringtones/video games
Email messaging (instant, picture, text)
Stream video
Access internet from cell/PDA

Editor's note: In my opinion, simply "trying" some of these behaviors (downloading a podcast once) does not constitute a "yes" in this survey. These behaviors need to be an on-going part of your daily life.

Are you digitized??

In Support of Branding

2008-07-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Written May 14

I think I get a million email newsletters a week. Every once in awhile, I read one that begs a response.

Here is something from today's Online Spin. It was entitled "Did Winston Churchill Work in Brand Advertising?" It was written by one of the many on-line bloggers who relish the idea of traditional media being laid to waste by the emerging technologies. No, I'm not in denial about what's happening. But I also think the doomsday stuff is overplayed.

Anyway, here is the article and my response near the bottom. "Did Winston Churchill Work in Brand Advertising?"

The Art of Dabbling

2008-07-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

Written May 10

My son loves going to arcades. It's always interesting to watch his patterns in one of those places. Over the course of an hour, he will bounce around and try several games. But the majority of his time is typically spent with a few (highly violent) favorites.

This is what it feels like to be in marketing today. We have become dabblers in a world awash with choices. Just a few weeks ago, MediaPost ran a story about Heinz Ketchup's national contest for a consumer-generated commercial. They received about 3,000 entries, with the winning entrant receiving $57,000 for his spot. The spot was posted on YouTube and may, or may not, see the light of national television. Nice story for Heinz Ketchup. But effective brand marketing?

I'm not against dabbling. In fact, I'm not sure we have much of a choice but to dabble as there is not enough research or understanding to support any one "new medium." And agencies are just as intimidated by the entire enterprise as their clients. Dabbling is safe. Perhaps not very effective, but safe.

Still, like my son in the arcade, we tend to gravitate back to those things we know and trust once our need to dabble has been satisfied. Even when we're not 100% certain that those things we trust are terribly effective.

Do you think it's OK to dabble?

Marketing Intimacy

2008-07-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Written: April, 2008

Last year, a new drive-through Starbucks opened about a mile from me on the increasingly congested eye-sore known as Beechmont Avenue.

At the time, I half-jokingly said to my wife: "Drive through will be the death of the Starbucks brand."

Well, the brand is far from dead, but as most people know, it is in a world of hurt. Several weeks ago, Time ran an excellent feature story on the return of founder Howard Schultz in the wake of Starbuck's first-ever drop in same-store sales. Read Time article It seems as if the spirit that made Starbucks one of the world's great brands gave way to the desire to just sell more coffee and even more “stuff.”

As our industry struggles to wrap its head around the notion of "brand engagement," perhaps we should consider the one brand that was built on a single minded commitment to engagement: Starbucks. Howard Schultz' vision of Starbucks being the "third place" to go during the day had nothing to do with coffee---or CDs, egg & cheese sandwiches, stuffed animals and $250 Espresso machines, for that matter. Starbucks evolved out of a notion of customer intimacy. It was the "place" that was special. There are plenty of places to go for a decent cup of coffee. But Starbucks is the one place to go to "meet someone” over a cup of coffee.

That's why I always felt that drive-through at Starbucks is completely counter-intuitive to the company’s founding vision. Brand engagement is about the customer experience. For Starbucks, the customer experience was in the store. Drive through may have expanded the opportunity for incremental volume, but it took the customer out of the essential Starbucks experience---it removed the intimacy.

I’m intrigued by the notion of customer intimacy as it relates to brand engagement. We use brand engagement as a fairly generic, all-encompassing concept. But is it all encompassing? Do some product/service categories involve greater levels of customer intimacy than others and, thus, require different approaches to engagement?

For example, most CPG products are utilitarian with short purchase cycles and a minimum amount of consumer interest and involvement. As marketers, we are essentially far-removed from the ultimate “customer experience” as it starts in the store and ends in the home. In this regard, mass media still plays a critical role in maintaining brand awareness and reinforcing brand affinity. I maintain that it is difficult and ultimately inefficient to build and maintain a truly intimate dialogue with CPG “brand ambassadors.”

On the other hand, categories such as restaurants or fast food afford tremendous opportunity for customer intimacy and marketing approaches that are highly engagement-focused. Every day, people make the decision to walk into Long John Silvers, for instance. Many of these people are passionate customers who would readily become brand ambassadors. The opportunity to build a more intimate dialogue with these loyal customers is, I believe, the essence of brand engagement and the key to driving stronger ROI for the client.

Brand engagement, to me, is the bridge that links mass communication to customer intimacy. Every product or service sits somewhere on this bridge. Our opportunity is to create the discipline that helps clients identity where they sit on the engagement bridge in order to help model the best mix of on/off-line, traditional and non-traditional marketing elements.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail, I’d be happy to meet you at Starbucks!

DS

(Big) Give Me A Break

2008-03-04T03:30:00.000-08:00

I know I'll get a lot of grief for this post...assuming that anybody even reads it! I'll likely get the most grief from my lovely wife who is one of Oprah's biggest devotees.

I watched the first episode of "Oprah's Big Give" on ABC this past Sunday evening. It's "The Apprentice" meets "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" meets "The Great Race." We decided to watch as a family on the belief that this would be program filled with great lessons about altruism. The show was promoted ad-nauseum by ABC and during Oprah's afternoon talk-show. This, we were told, would be an hour that would change our lives...as if Desperate Housewives hadn't already accomplished this feat.

If you were un-lucky enough to miss the show, here is the premise: Oprah picks a bunch of contestants from (I'm sure) the 20 million entries she received on her web-site. For this first episode, the contestants were put into teams of two and assigned the task of tracking down individuals or families who are in desperate need of assistance for one reason or another. The teams then had five days to raise as much money as possible through their own creative fund-raising efforts.

Lest there be some doubt, I am not a cold-hearted, cynical bastard. There have been many times I've cried watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. People need help and I applaud Oprah's intentions. But the "Big Give" was ultimately about competition and back-biting when it was all said and done...and that's my issue. If Oprah wants to help the needy, she could have taken just one of her weekly pay-checks and taken care of every person featured in the program...and then some. Instead of providing a lesson to my 12 year old son on the beauty of giving, the show ended with a panel of judges who eliminated one of the contestants because, I suppose, she didn't give enough. Hell, Mother Theresa wouldn't have made the grade in this cut-throat battle to help those in need.

So, the lesson of "The Big Give:" it's not about giving...it's about giving more than someone else.

Thoughts?

Too Good Not to Post

2008-02-19T13:31:00.001-08:00

I'm sure this has made the rounds, but if you haven't been lucky enough to be on a distribution list, take a few minutes to enjoy.

Will Farrell just get's it.

http://sjl.funnyordie.com/v1/view_video.php?viewkey=3efbc24c7d2583be6925

A Werd of Warning

2008-02-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

I received an interesting post today and wanted to share it with the millions of you who tune into this blog on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

A new web-site/blog has been created by and for people in the advertising community… or people who have lots of spare time on their hands. It’s called Addictionary. Here is the link:

http://ad.addictionary.org

This is actually a helpful little resource if you are looking to get definitions for all of those “new media” terms that you often hear but seldom understand (such as long-tail).

The Addictionary also includes something called “werds” which are created by the readers in a Wiki of sorts. Here are a few that I really liked:

Egonomics: branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption and transfer of self-esteem.

Mometer: the palm of a mother’s hand when used as a temperature-taking device when a child is sick.

Fame Retardent: any action or behavior which, when engaged in by a celebrity, reduces his or her popularity.

Witard: an individual who cannot manage or hold a Wii remote, let alone us it properly.

I have a few werds that are in development and will be added to Addictionary soon.

Radio...The Original Social Network

2008-02-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

I had dinner last night with my good friend Michael Walter, who is affectionately known as Fin…short for Dolphin. Fin recently returned to Cincinnati after a brief stint with Clear Channel in Atlanta to become the new Program Director for Cumulus Radio’s Rock 96. He has the mouth-watering challenge of taking on the station where he once was the PD…Clear Channel’s heritage rocker WEBN.

As someone who has always loved local radio, it’s exciting to see a company like Cumulus bringing back an “old radio guy” like Fin. It’s ironic that Fin’s return to his old stomping grounds coincides with the recent announcement that Clear Channel will need to divest itself of several properties in Cincinnati because of anti-trust issues. With Clear Channel having dominated Cincinnati’s radio market for more than a decade, it will be interesting and, dare I say, refreshing to see the competitive landscape change so dramatically.

My hope is that Fin and others like him will bring back the thing that always made radio special: its local-ness. Before the web and the advent of social networking through Facebook, etc. al. local radio stations were the original social networks on a market by market basis. People had favorite stations and tuned in for much more than music…they tuned into the personalities, the contests and the activities that defined radio stations. Radio formats became social networks. Sadly, much of that magic was lost during the post de-regulation years when rapid consolidation led to homogenization. Radio slowly lost the one thing that defined it for many years: its link to the community.

But I see a revival on the horizon. Radio is in a unique position to exploit the marketing community’s insatiable appetite to better “engage” consumers. Satellite radio is failing because it isn’t local…and therefore, not very interesting. Television faces tremendous challenges as DVRs and on-line video continue to chip away at attention-strapped consumers. Newspaper is in a fight for its existence as younger, digitally savvy consumers abandon the traditional form of news for the immediate on-line version.

To me, it’s all very exciting stuff as all traditional (i.e. off-line) media must adhere to the oft-repeated axiom: “adapt or die.” I don’t expect any of the traditional media to die, but it will be fun to watch them re-cast themselves to a marketing industry that is rapidly rejecting the status quo.

The opportunity for local radio, in this brave new media world, is to return to its roots and exploit the very qualities that make it a unique medium: immediacy, personality and, above all, local relevance.

I think it was Bette Davis who said: “You better strap yourself in, it’s going to be bumpy ride.”

Comments?

You Are My Sunshine

2008-02-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

A friend from London emailed this spot to me yesterday.

There's a lot of talk in America about how advertising must be "disruptive." Even our most disruptive work (whatever that may be) pales in comparison to this highly-engaging spot.

I'd love to hear your opinion.

Cheerio!

Death to TV...Long Live TV

2008-02-05T04:11:00.000-08:00

On Sunday evening, 97 million people made a statement about the future of media and advertising and that is: "if you build it and make it interesting, we will come!

It has become sport in the marketing world for the "digirati" to proclaim the death of all things traditional. TV is dead. Magazines are dead. Radio is dead. Ad agencies are dead. But I ask the question: Why must anything die?The hard, cold reality is that people, like the 97 million who watched Sunday's Super Bowl, look to media for entertainment. Yes, there are now many more choices and digital platforms have indeed changed the face of our world. And, to be clear, I love surfing YouTube for a bit of entertainment. But, I get much more enjoyment out of watching an episode of Boston Legal and I truly look forward to the 500+ pages that come wrapped inside the September cover of Vanity Fair. Yes, ads and all.

We need to stay focused on the difference between information and entertainment. When advertising is at its best, it is a perfect blend of these two elements. And are we "engaged" by good advertising? Without question. Advertising has always been about engagement, despite the fact that the digirati have co-opted the term to describe the role of non-traditional platforms in today's marketing mix. Our business has always been and will continue to be about engagement. It's just that today, we have expanded the engagement continuum by adding a higher level of information and greater actionability.

Indeed, I would agree with the digital pundits who argue that not a single, incremental six pack of Bud Light was sold as a result of the brand's $10MM plus investment in Super Bowl commercials. But 97 million people were entertained (to a degree) by the spots and by the free Super Bowl coverage they engendered. And, for that, I believe Bud Light earns a lot of points with beer-drinking consumers.

Now...where's my February Vanity Fair??