I interrupt the extremely serious and meaningful discourse here on OLDMTA to shamelessly plug a company whose owner I have never met. Whose business I have no economic interest in. Without any possible benefit to ME ME ME.
So why am I doing it? Because Mediocre represents the new era of video content production made possible by the web -- a world where opportunities are democratized and the most entertaining and dare I say valuable ideas are chosen by viewers instead of six guys in shiny suits in a Hollywood conference room. Because Mediocre is that digital cream rising to the top of the glass. And because MF stuff is so funny it deserves a shameless plug.
The history of Mediocre Films, taken from their website, is as follows:
Mediocre Films was formed by Greg Benson to create a sketch comedy TV series called "Skip TV," which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in as "Skip." One 12 episode season aired in Los Angeles, and it quickly gained a strong following of fans with questionable taste.
...
After spending the next few years eating bags of potato chips over the sink and crying, Greg began producing and acting in original short films to fill the void in his empty heart. His first project, "Ace Up My Sleeve," was a drama written and directed by ABC-TV's Edwin Lewis. Greg would like to take this moment to reassure you that he will not attempt to make another drama.
Defin'ey my sort of humour. Greg is a clever guy, and to prove it here are some of my favorite MF productions:
See em all here.
Now, after watching those, don't you think Mediocre could make a better movie to interest people in your start-up than that red and blue animated Flash demo thing you are contemplating?
www.mediocrefilms.com
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
LIP SYNC FRIDAY - CREDIT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PRODUKSHUNS
LOKASHUNZ
KOSTUMZ
SPESHUL EFFECTZ
KOREYOGRAFEE
KOSTUMZ
SPESHUL EFFECTZ
KOREYOGRAFEE
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Global!
With the arrival of a visitor from Parrow South Africa (which is on the outskirts of Cape Town,) OLDMTA has now amassed readers on 6 continents. Only penguins appear to be able to resist the dulcet tones of our lyrical editorial and classic commercial showcase. But how long can these well dressed citizens of Antarctica hold out?
What does all this mean? Well its clear that old is the new black.
What a wonderful day for OLDMTA! Think of OLDMTA as an enormous wrinkly liver spotted slightly palsied occasionally forgetful balding circle of global marketing love!
And in the oldest and most enduring tradition of hype on the web, I thought I would define my first "World's largest" marketing claim. OLDMTA is the
WORLD'S LARGEST San Francisco-based Boomer-authored digital marketing and lip sync showcasing blog!
Nearly 20,000% growth in daily uniques since its launch just three or so months ago.
With such incredible growth figures, its only natural that enormous companies will soon be offering to buy OLDMTA! I am OK with that. In fact, if Microsoft offers $46Billion for OLDMTA, they can expect nothing but cheerful cooperation from our editorial board (me.) References available, I am not difficult to work with. Coy no c'est moi. I am UNANIMOUS in that promise!
I'll be keeping my celly on 24/7 waiting for that call from Bill.
We'll call it Microld.
(BTW, the reporting tool I use tracks the location of the ISP people use, nothing else. So your privacy is safe here at OLDMTA.)
Hey Ringo, Can Money Buy Me Love?
Far be it from me to suggest that my opinion should matter to you about pay per post blogging. I don't do it, I won't do it, I've never done it, though my reasons may be a lot less Joan of Arc than you might think.
I have to admit the first time I heard about pay per post I was a little queasy. Well, a lot queasy. Being someone with excessive interest in Washington and politics, I am all to familiar with the consequences of prostituted media.
But I am also aware of my own willingness to jump to conclusions -- contempt before investigation. So I put on my trenchcoat and trust trilby, and grabbed my magnifying glass for this post.
But let me get back to my lack of angelic purity for a moment -- I don't and won't do PPP because I have no desire or inclination to make money on this blog. It's a place for me to give my opinion, and while accepting PPP would not preclude me from doing so, for me it's important for me to write about things I find and am thinking about on my own.
For my investigation I went to Izea.com and their site SocialSpark.com, which is billed as a combination pay per post and social media venue for bloggers. Here one can communicate with other bloggers as well as view and apply for opps advertised by marketers. Here's an example of one of these opps:
So, you may not know that IZEA has a code of ethics, the cornerstone of which is disclosure of the fact that a blogger accepts PPP sponsorships. To meet this requirement, a blogger must do one of three things (sponsoring companies can insist on one.)
1. Including an oval "sponsored post" graphic.
Here's what that looks like in a blog, this example from the HillBilly-Willy blog,
As you can see, Willy is a disclosin' saint. There is no subterfuge here. Bravo!
2. Including text in the post that indicates that it is sponsored.
3. Including text somewhere on the blog that says that the blogger accepts PPP sponsorship. My personal opinion is that the first two are sound, the third is pretty squishy.
But beyond that particular criticism, this kind of disclosure is similar to the "advertorial" notice a magazine provides. It is BETTER than the lack of disclosure on a magazine's "best bets" or similar pages that feature the products of companies who "just happen" to have purchased full page ads in the issues. Never noticed this? Grab a women's magazine and check it out.
The Izea site and advertisers make a big deal about the fact that they insist on full disclosure and don't want to pay for insincere shilling. That's something to consider. I am certain that advertisers want to avoid the appearance of supporting shills. We have all seen how quickly fake posts or the like are "outed" online.
Realistically, a small or midsize blogger -- which is clearly the sweetspot of this model, as it is tough to imagine a Tech Crunch or a Perez Hilton doing this -- would lose their audience rather quickly if they posted a lot of lies. You might not agree with this, but I have enormous faith that the online audience is far more adept than the average TV viewer at discerning truth from crap.
So what are the responsibilities of bloggers? I believe that they are high (I am going to get bleeding heart political here, WARNING!!!) in many categories. I think of blogs as the only media today that have the potential for telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing of the truth. For my American readers, let's remember that we live in a country where a tiny number of companies own virtually all major media outlets. Frighten yourself by visiting this web page: Stop Big Media.
So, I view bloggers as the critical conduit of unvarnished info to the public, or at least the 76% or so of Americans that can afford Internet access. If you accept that belief that bloggers are actually essential to modern democracy, the idea of sponsored posts may appear to run counter to this mission.
But not all bloggers are firewalls of a free society. For example, I would not put in this category a certain aging huckster blogger that runs lip synch videos in lieu of content posts on Fridays because his site traffic used to plunge on that day. I ain't changing the World here at OLDMTA.
Apologies, because I have gotten pretty far from a review of PPP. But all this is important to me as an explanation for why so many have such passionately negative feelings about PPP. Many of us expect virtuousness from bloggers because we have elevated the media form to paramount social importance. Forgetting that for every HuffPost there are like 7 million blogs about:
* The family dog
* Obama girl
* Nestbuilding habits of nuthatches
* Toddlers
Which is not FOR A MOMENT diminishing the quality or editorial independence of these blogs. Actually, I thought all these blogs were excellent. I am just pointing out that they're not all covering major political issues like TPM or Matt Drudge.
In nonpolitical categories, I have less concern about PPP. I don't really care if a Hollywood blogger posts about a celeb photo contest, so long as it is disclosed.
And IZEA is not basing its model on political anything. A look at the current offers shows a preponderance of entertainment programs, a bunch of contests, and web site launches. Oh, and I checked. No offer of $7.50 to advocate for annihilating Iran.
One also needs to consider that there are many people attempting to earn a living blogging, or at least a significant supplement to their incomes. If your Talking Points Memo, or Drudge, or Pink is the New Blog, or SheFinds, you have garnered the sort of massive audience that makes that possible through banners and AdSense. For the niche blogger, or the blogger that got a later start, one may feel the need to find supplements to Google listings to make an economic "go" of it.
A good blogger is going to write about what they care about, whether they're paid to do so or not.
OK, so I have spent about 2 million electrons on this post, do I have a cogent conclusion?
I think IZEA and PPP are far from the evil some make them out to be. They may not be my cup of tea for OLDMTA, but in a free society people should be "free" to do what they want and make money how they choose to. And my magical dream about a world where penniless but virtuous bloggers toil away in studio apartments in holey sweaters content to eat admiration instead of having money for food -- well, that's probably unrealistic as an expectation.
And I also feel the need to point out that it IS possible to LIKE something, and accept $5.50 for talking about them on your blog. I sometimes write about our clients and they pay us a lot more than $5.50 or whatever. But I hope my readers know that when I write about them it's because they make me excited to be working on their concepts.
But I'd still prefer that people didn't need PPP to make a living blogging.
So, no cogent conclusion at all. Perhaps I should have posted four lip synchs instead of this... ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
I have to admit the first time I heard about pay per post I was a little queasy. Well, a lot queasy. Being someone with excessive interest in Washington and politics, I am all to familiar with the consequences of prostituted media.
But I am also aware of my own willingness to jump to conclusions -- contempt before investigation. So I put on my trenchcoat and trust trilby, and grabbed my magnifying glass for this post.
But let me get back to my lack of angelic purity for a moment -- I don't and won't do PPP because I have no desire or inclination to make money on this blog. It's a place for me to give my opinion, and while accepting PPP would not preclude me from doing so, for me it's important for me to write about things I find and am thinking about on my own.
For my investigation I went to Izea.com and their site SocialSpark.com, which is billed as a combination pay per post and social media venue for bloggers. Here one can communicate with other bloggers as well as view and apply for opps advertised by marketers. Here's an example of one of these opps:
So, you may not know that IZEA has a code of ethics, the cornerstone of which is disclosure of the fact that a blogger accepts PPP sponsorships. To meet this requirement, a blogger must do one of three things (sponsoring companies can insist on one.)
1. Including an oval "sponsored post" graphic.
Here's what that looks like in a blog, this example from the HillBilly-Willy blog,
As you can see, Willy is a disclosin' saint. There is no subterfuge here. Bravo!
2. Including text in the post that indicates that it is sponsored.
3. Including text somewhere on the blog that says that the blogger accepts PPP sponsorship. My personal opinion is that the first two are sound, the third is pretty squishy.
But beyond that particular criticism, this kind of disclosure is similar to the "advertorial" notice a magazine provides. It is BETTER than the lack of disclosure on a magazine's "best bets" or similar pages that feature the products of companies who "just happen" to have purchased full page ads in the issues. Never noticed this? Grab a women's magazine and check it out.
The Izea site and advertisers make a big deal about the fact that they insist on full disclosure and don't want to pay for insincere shilling. That's something to consider. I am certain that advertisers want to avoid the appearance of supporting shills. We have all seen how quickly fake posts or the like are "outed" online.
Realistically, a small or midsize blogger -- which is clearly the sweetspot of this model, as it is tough to imagine a Tech Crunch or a Perez Hilton doing this -- would lose their audience rather quickly if they posted a lot of lies. You might not agree with this, but I have enormous faith that the online audience is far more adept than the average TV viewer at discerning truth from crap.
So what are the responsibilities of bloggers? I believe that they are high (I am going to get bleeding heart political here, WARNING!!!) in many categories. I think of blogs as the only media today that have the potential for telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing of the truth. For my American readers, let's remember that we live in a country where a tiny number of companies own virtually all major media outlets. Frighten yourself by visiting this web page: Stop Big Media.
So, I view bloggers as the critical conduit of unvarnished info to the public, or at least the 76% or so of Americans that can afford Internet access. If you accept that belief that bloggers are actually essential to modern democracy, the idea of sponsored posts may appear to run counter to this mission.
But not all bloggers are firewalls of a free society. For example, I would not put in this category a certain aging huckster blogger that runs lip synch videos in lieu of content posts on Fridays because his site traffic used to plunge on that day. I ain't changing the World here at OLDMTA.
Apologies, because I have gotten pretty far from a review of PPP. But all this is important to me as an explanation for why so many have such passionately negative feelings about PPP. Many of us expect virtuousness from bloggers because we have elevated the media form to paramount social importance. Forgetting that for every HuffPost there are like 7 million blogs about:
* The family dog
* Obama girl
* Nestbuilding habits of nuthatches
* Toddlers
Which is not FOR A MOMENT diminishing the quality or editorial independence of these blogs. Actually, I thought all these blogs were excellent. I am just pointing out that they're not all covering major political issues like TPM or Matt Drudge.
In nonpolitical categories, I have less concern about PPP. I don't really care if a Hollywood blogger posts about a celeb photo contest, so long as it is disclosed.
And IZEA is not basing its model on political anything. A look at the current offers shows a preponderance of entertainment programs, a bunch of contests, and web site launches. Oh, and I checked. No offer of $7.50 to advocate for annihilating Iran.
One also needs to consider that there are many people attempting to earn a living blogging, or at least a significant supplement to their incomes. If your Talking Points Memo, or Drudge, or Pink is the New Blog, or SheFinds, you have garnered the sort of massive audience that makes that possible through banners and AdSense. For the niche blogger, or the blogger that got a later start, one may feel the need to find supplements to Google listings to make an economic "go" of it.
A good blogger is going to write about what they care about, whether they're paid to do so or not.
OK, so I have spent about 2 million electrons on this post, do I have a cogent conclusion?
I think IZEA and PPP are far from the evil some make them out to be. They may not be my cup of tea for OLDMTA, but in a free society people should be "free" to do what they want and make money how they choose to. And my magical dream about a world where penniless but virtuous bloggers toil away in studio apartments in holey sweaters content to eat admiration instead of having money for food -- well, that's probably unrealistic as an expectation.
And I also feel the need to point out that it IS possible to LIKE something, and accept $5.50 for talking about them on your blog. I sometimes write about our clients and they pay us a lot more than $5.50 or whatever. But I hope my readers know that when I write about them it's because they make me excited to be working on their concepts.
But I'd still prefer that people didn't need PPP to make a living blogging.
So, no cogent conclusion at all. Perhaps I should have posted four lip synchs instead of this... ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
The sound of sidewalks rolling up on Mad Ave
Are you an agency person? Well, how would you like to compete with 6 billion people in your next pitch, instead of say 5 other agencies? Ack!
Impossible you say?
Not according to the folks who built BootB, a tool that lets an advertiser run a creative search from an easy to use web platform. This lets anyone -- mega agencies, boutiques, people in garages, even students up late in dorm rooms submit their ideas for creative challenges.
Now, of course, creative agencies offer more than just the idea -- but the idea is what many base their value models on, and the idea of having to participate in jump ball after jump ball may cause a run on Maalox ad Duane Reed.
So...BootB. NOW how will agencies ad value? Could it be...strategy?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Impossible you say?
Not according to the folks who built BootB, a tool that lets an advertiser run a creative search from an easy to use web platform. This lets anyone -- mega agencies, boutiques, people in garages, even students up late in dorm rooms submit their ideas for creative challenges.
Now, of course, creative agencies offer more than just the idea -- but the idea is what many base their value models on, and the idea of having to participate in jump ball after jump ball may cause a run on Maalox ad Duane Reed.
So...BootB. NOW how will agencies ad value? Could it be...strategy?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Video Ads for Little Guys
As the web moves inexorably from text to video centric, small and medium sized businesses are between the granite and the concrete wall, eh?
Not if you buy into the concept of Spotmixer, an online application that lets advertisers create online video ads using a combination of stock and video assets.
Amateur ads are nothing new.
But being able to create a video ad using a simple tool that works like the Microsoft video maker is an idea that will be a welcome arrival for many small businesses. Using such ads, such marketers can gain a presence in Youtube, Google Video Adwords, and the like. I don't think they're ready for TV, but then there's more to life than the big box.
See some of these ads here:
http://www.spotmixer.com/create_video/get_inspired#
If you're a little guy, or someone who has trouble justifying 6 digit costs for :30s, it may be your new best friend.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Not if you buy into the concept of Spotmixer, an online application that lets advertisers create online video ads using a combination of stock and video assets.
Amateur ads are nothing new.
But being able to create a video ad using a simple tool that works like the Microsoft video maker is an idea that will be a welcome arrival for many small businesses. Using such ads, such marketers can gain a presence in Youtube, Google Video Adwords, and the like. I don't think they're ready for TV, but then there's more to life than the big box.
See some of these ads here:
http://www.spotmixer.com/create_video/get_inspired#
If you're a little guy, or someone who has trouble justifying 6 digit costs for :30s, it may be your new best friend.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
To Those That Say The Web May Kill Off TV...
...I say...how soon? Watch the vid. My favorite part is shown at 2:08, where the people of San Francisco are depicted as:
A Latina with twists who dances like it is 1977 (all shoulder and hips)
A black man in a straw cowboy hat designed to make him look gay (hunh???)
A white woman with a multicolor Mohawk, because, as well all know, Culture Club is at the top of the charts.
A Latina with twists who dances like it is 1977 (all shoulder and hips)
A black man in a straw cowboy hat designed to make him look gay (hunh???)
A white woman with a multicolor Mohawk, because, as well all know, Culture Club is at the top of the charts.
Tribbit, Tribbit, Tribbit
Tribbit. No, it is not the sound of a digital frog. Rather it is the next generation digital ecard, enbling deep levels of customization and mass signings in the manner of an evite invitation.
Here's a vid that explains it.
object width="425" height="355">
Yep, add photos, vids, sound files, and send it around to everyone to sign in their own unique ways.
So, being an OAP, I have general distaste for digital cards. I mean, the typical greeting is of the why bother sort, in my book. But for me Tribbit ALMOST cuts it as a meaningful way to recognize someone, and that is a pretty high bar in itself. That's about as high as any pile of electrons is going to get in my world.
I'd still rather get a paper card (I don't turn them over, so Hallmark's not necessary) because I like to keep cards. But I would be pretty happy to get one of these. Which is not me fishing for cards to be sent to me. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Here's a vid that explains it.
object width="425" height="355">
Yep, add photos, vids, sound files, and send it around to everyone to sign in their own unique ways.
So, being an OAP, I have general distaste for digital cards. I mean, the typical greeting is of the why bother sort, in my book. But for me Tribbit ALMOST cuts it as a meaningful way to recognize someone, and that is a pretty high bar in itself. That's about as high as any pile of electrons is going to get in my world.
I'd still rather get a paper card (I don't turn them over, so Hallmark's not necessary) because I like to keep cards. But I would be pretty happy to get one of these. Which is not me fishing for cards to be sent to me. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Live Search Meets Discover Card
Well, you've probably seen or heard about the latest from MSFT, and offering that rewards you for using Live Search Cashback over Google by offering you discounts. It takes a bite straight at the jugular of Google Search by diverting people who are ready to buy to the Live world.
Hey, there have been a lot of initiatives in Search to decrown Google, none succcessful. But this one has some potential, at least as I see it. Why WOULDN'T I choose to get a discount on something if I am ready to buy? And if you're MSFT, your fortunes have nowhere to go but up in Search. So it makes some sense for them.
Of course, its success will all depend on what Yahoo and Google do...if they also offer discounts than all Live will have succeedied in doing is depressing the profits of the search industry. But I imagine that Google at least will adopt a wait and see attitude. It bears keeping it on your radar.
Hey, there have been a lot of initiatives in Search to decrown Google, none succcessful. But this one has some potential, at least as I see it. Why WOULDN'T I choose to get a discount on something if I am ready to buy? And if you're MSFT, your fortunes have nowhere to go but up in Search. So it makes some sense for them.
Of course, its success will all depend on what Yahoo and Google do...if they also offer discounts than all Live will have succeedied in doing is depressing the profits of the search industry. But I imagine that Google at least will adopt a wait and see attitude. It bears keeping it on your radar.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Younguns2Watch: Catalystas
So now its time for me to point out the strengths of Catalyst:SF's team of young people. I'll be focusing on permanent employees, and there are three remarkable people here making outstanding contributions. Each deserves his own entry, but I am combining them so they get fewer headhunter calls as a result of this post. I want them to stay here.
That being said, and yes, it is a selfish rationale, I want to point out all of their contributions, so this'll be a fairly long post. I am discussing them in the order in which they joined the company.
First up is Kevin Long, who started with Catalyst:SF about a year ago, and now runs a variety of accounts, projects, and financial duties for us. What has impressed me about Kevin from the beginning is his relentless focus on doing what's right as opposed to what's easy. Kevin's the sort of guy that doesn't give up and is always anxious to take on new responsibilities and learn by doing.
His contributions in the area of strategy are growing rapidly. He's taken the strategic lead on one of our more important accounts, and his work is always greeted with strongly positive reactions from our clients. For someone to be playing such a critical strategic role this early in his career is quite impressive.
With Kevin, you always get an opinion, backed up by a thorough and well reasoned argument. That's the stuff that makes for a great marketing guy.
Chris Schwarze has taken the lead in the area of media for Catalyst:SF, which is rather challenging as our focus is not on kerplunk banner buys but rather emerging media, including media that really don't have a well defined planning and buying process yet.
In other words, buying is never easy at CSF, but Chris makes it happen, and always has a positive and collaborative attitude in the process. Several people from which he has purchased media have told me that his intelligence and style make him a pleasure to work with, even when he brings them ideas that have never been tried before. And he does that a lot, he is not a path of least resistance guy.
He's also taken the lead on an important new media planning and buying initiative we'll be announcing shortly. And the plan he's developed is titanium strong.
The third Catalysta I would like to recognize is Adam Bergman, who is the most recent addition to CSF but who has made immediate and magnificent contributions in the areas of project management, strategy, and creative development. In creative in particular, Adam seems to have a Midas touch -- and since this is the aspect of our work that shows the most, I am very grateful for that.
I work with Adam on many projects and love my job in great part because of his contributions. With Adam, when he has a project, you don't need to worry about it getting done, and getting done right. And he has the marketing instinct -- that je ne c'est qua that separates the greats from the rest.
And he handles a long list of responsibilities with a positive and irreverent manner that makes me smile.
There's not a day that I am not grateful for their efforts. There's not a day that I don't get a great laugh from their jokes. There's not a day that I don't learn something big from each of them. There's not a day that I am not happy to work with them.
Too often, younger people in a strategically focused org such as ours are seen as minor players -- but that ain't the case with these guys. And they are NOT interested in new jobs, recruiters, so don't bother calling. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
That being said, and yes, it is a selfish rationale, I want to point out all of their contributions, so this'll be a fairly long post. I am discussing them in the order in which they joined the company.
First up is Kevin Long, who started with Catalyst:SF about a year ago, and now runs a variety of accounts, projects, and financial duties for us. What has impressed me about Kevin from the beginning is his relentless focus on doing what's right as opposed to what's easy. Kevin's the sort of guy that doesn't give up and is always anxious to take on new responsibilities and learn by doing.
His contributions in the area of strategy are growing rapidly. He's taken the strategic lead on one of our more important accounts, and his work is always greeted with strongly positive reactions from our clients. For someone to be playing such a critical strategic role this early in his career is quite impressive.
With Kevin, you always get an opinion, backed up by a thorough and well reasoned argument. That's the stuff that makes for a great marketing guy.
Chris Schwarze has taken the lead in the area of media for Catalyst:SF, which is rather challenging as our focus is not on kerplunk banner buys but rather emerging media, including media that really don't have a well defined planning and buying process yet.
In other words, buying is never easy at CSF, but Chris makes it happen, and always has a positive and collaborative attitude in the process. Several people from which he has purchased media have told me that his intelligence and style make him a pleasure to work with, even when he brings them ideas that have never been tried before. And he does that a lot, he is not a path of least resistance guy.
He's also taken the lead on an important new media planning and buying initiative we'll be announcing shortly. And the plan he's developed is titanium strong.
The third Catalysta I would like to recognize is Adam Bergman, who is the most recent addition to CSF but who has made immediate and magnificent contributions in the areas of project management, strategy, and creative development. In creative in particular, Adam seems to have a Midas touch -- and since this is the aspect of our work that shows the most, I am very grateful for that.
I work with Adam on many projects and love my job in great part because of his contributions. With Adam, when he has a project, you don't need to worry about it getting done, and getting done right. And he has the marketing instinct -- that je ne c'est qua that separates the greats from the rest.
And he handles a long list of responsibilities with a positive and irreverent manner that makes me smile.
There's not a day that I am not grateful for their efforts. There's not a day that I don't get a great laugh from their jokes. There's not a day that I don't learn something big from each of them. There's not a day that I am not happy to work with them.
Too often, younger people in a strategically focused org such as ours are seen as minor players -- but that ain't the case with these guys. And they are NOT interested in new jobs, recruiters, so don't bother calling. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Get the Dead Bird Out Your B*tt
Ah, Zadby, the product placement service for Youtube videos. This is all that. Companies make compensation available to Youtube videos.
For example, Polk Audio is offering the following program: $12.80 CPM for views between now and September. Not a bad rate -- actually I think that's probably more than UGC usually drives.
Sort of a competitor to XLNT Ads, which I also love.
As always, the creativity of users is astounding. Check dis awt:
Kudos to Polk Audio for paying for creativity like dis. Zadby is worth a look. Peaceout.
For example, Polk Audio is offering the following program: $12.80 CPM for views between now and September. Not a bad rate -- actually I think that's probably more than UGC usually drives.
Sort of a competitor to XLNT Ads, which I also love.
As always, the creativity of users is astounding. Check dis awt:
Kudos to Polk Audio for paying for creativity like dis. Zadby is worth a look. Peaceout.
Preroll for Skateboarding Dogs
Videorix is a new service offering advertisers and UGC creators a way to get together and moake money. Producers of video can add preroll ads and make money on a CPM basis.
Advertisers create "opportunities" that outline the type of content they want to sponsor. Producers can then match content to these specs and bing bang boom ad opportunity.
This is VERY SIMILAR to XLNT Ads, which I think will actually good for XLNT. Market activity raises all boats, to mix a metaphor. This is a winning concept and there is room in my opinion for multiple players -- actually that will grow awareness and interest in the concept.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Advertisers create "opportunities" that outline the type of content they want to sponsor. Producers can then match content to these specs and bing bang boom ad opportunity.
This is VERY SIMILAR to XLNT Ads, which I think will actually good for XLNT. Market activity raises all boats, to mix a metaphor. This is a winning concept and there is room in my opinion for multiple players -- actually that will grow awareness and interest in the concept.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
MySpace Meets Second Life in Kaneva
Well, the genres are a blending at Kaneva, a sort of 3-D social network virtual world that gives every member a customizable city loft and myriad ways to meet people and make friends. I like the 3-D own space concept, a much more attractive way to display your content -- and without the glittery bling of Rupert's place.
I found it easy to work, and the level of customization available is remarkable. Check out the World Welsh Society Area.
Definitely worth a join! A mindbogglingly cool place online. And lots of tasteful ways to market to boot!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Instant Web Site Forms? Wufoo!
Oh my! An instant form maker for web sites! That's right! A great new offering from Wufoo gets rid of one of the stickier bits of simple site development. Dear reader, I was able to make the form below in 17 seconds. All entries are then submitted to a Wufoo account, where they can be retrieved instantly. A limited offering is free, while paid versions allow you to make more forms and collect more entries. Check out Wufoo and get rid of the email links on your site with forms guaranteed to boost response rates! Wufoo!
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Powered by Wufoo
Google Sightseeing
Will the inventiveness of humans ever cease? I hope not. This site, not affiliated in any way with Google but using the photos available from Google Earth, takes you to some of the most interesting and strange places on the planet. Worth a visit. Suggestion: Type in "Ryugyong Hotel" or just click here.
If you like travel writing, as I do, here's a chance to get a little travel eye candy.
If you like travel writing, as I do, here's a chance to get a little travel eye candy.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Social Media Data from McCann
JD Lasica of SocialMedia.biz made a great post about the state of social media. The results of a recent Universal McCann study are summarized. Great summary -- one that's worth a look.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Wall-E Wall-E Wall-E
Like Cory gets excited about Pearl Jam, like Adam likes his Apple stuff, like Kevin likes Chelsea, and like Chris likes making biting yet irreverent social commentary, like The Durham enjoys his Krug, I feel about Pixar movies. I saw Cars more times than I care to admit. I cried when The Incredibles made saving the planet a family affair. My favorite was Monsters, Inc.
And now the new Pixar film, Wall-E, is beginning to get the Disney hype machine treatment and I am breathless with anticipation. But don't take my word for how exciting it will be. Check out this widget:
Their website is excellent...
and includes a build a custom robot game.
Wait, actually it's not a build game only. Its a build a robot and then PLAY YOUR CUSTOM ROBOT IN A GAME. Mmm mmm good.
I like that Disney is truly embracing digital in its mega marketing machine. It alsways amazed me how this company can actually do an integrated markeitng program -- movie, video game, ride, even rain ponchos emblazoned with the logo all over the theme parks when they release a flick.
The depth of the Wall-E site is really impressive. In an industry that COULD produce amazing content sites but usually spends about $12 doing a cookie cutter trailer 'n bios piece of cr*p, I'm glad Disney went for depth.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
And now the new Pixar film, Wall-E, is beginning to get the Disney hype machine treatment and I am breathless with anticipation. But don't take my word for how exciting it will be. Check out this widget:
Their website is excellent...
and includes a build a custom robot game.
Wait, actually it's not a build game only. Its a build a robot and then PLAY YOUR CUSTOM ROBOT IN A GAME. Mmm mmm good.
I like that Disney is truly embracing digital in its mega marketing machine. It alsways amazed me how this company can actually do an integrated markeitng program -- movie, video game, ride, even rain ponchos emblazoned with the logo all over the theme parks when they release a flick.
The depth of the Wall-E site is really impressive. In an industry that COULD produce amazing content sites but usually spends about $12 doing a cookie cutter trailer 'n bios piece of cr*p, I'm glad Disney went for depth.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
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