I can has cheeseburger's puppylicious cousin...
Friday, January 9, 2009
Early Valentine? From a Shoe?
I say early though in fact it was from last year. But unfortunately still up.
www.kissingwithross.com
Clearly I am not the target for Converse.
If you decide to click on the link at the bottom right, don't say I didn't warn you.
www.kissingwithross.com
Clearly I am not the target for Converse.
If you decide to click on the link at the bottom right, don't say I didn't warn you.
Digital Marketing Factoid of the Day: Global Online Video Viewers
How bout these numbas!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget ot write.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
RWW Predictions For 2009
There's a greatpost at ReadWriteWeb where industry pundits posit lists of intriguing, thought provoking, and sometimes enertaining comments on what may come to pass in 2009. Check it out here.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Worktopia: The Event Planner's Dream
Lately, many tasks that used to be done over the phone and through manual negotiations have succumbed to the power of the database -- the ability to access information from more potential vendors than you could possibly reach out to one by one. And with the added advantage of not getting 38 sales calls as follow up to your inquiries.
Worktopia is just such a service. It allows people to compare and book venues for company events across thousands of places. But it's more than just rooms. Catering and A/V equipment are also available from prescreened vendors, so there is less to worry about.
The events you can book through the system are currently less than 100 persons, but I would imagine that will expand out as the site adds to its already considerable list of partners.
Their positively ominous demo is here.
The system offers some accountability measures as well. One of the dynamics of small meeting booking currently is that the costs for these things aren't high individually, but collectively they add up to a giant industry. Finance often has little say or even understanding of how much money is being spent on this stuff. $290 for cookies? That sort of thing. With Worktopia, that no longer need be the case.
I have to say, I really think this service is fulfilling an important need and has great prospects.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Digital Marketing Factoid of the Day: Top 10 Online News Sites (US)
Here they are, people. Number 1? Yahoooooooooo!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Skype Video Cards:
Got an interesting heads up on a new Skype application on Facebook that enables you to send video messages to loads of people, either on or off the Facebook site. Now, this is the place where I am supposed to "show" you by making such a video. It's actually easy. but I hate the way I look on video so you won't get that. Instead, I will show you the build screens and 'splain:
You pick a prefab card, give permission to turn on the web cam, and record your message. Then the system sends it to all your Facebook friends, or indeed off the site if you prefer.
You also have the option to add the vid to your profile feed so that all can see you in your sight, sound and motion glory.
I like it. Simple, fun, easy. Pick three. And a special shout out to Violette Vérité of We Are Social, a conversation agency based in London. She knows how to politely reach out, provide the info, and intrigue a blogger with a concept. More pull than push and I salute her for that, and Skype for hiring her/them.
And no, I don't work for them, have never met them, no financial relationship, probably never will meet them. I just liked their approach. And while I have my doubts about whether Violette Vérité is her actual name (Purple Truth?) she's listed on their site, so I guess it must be true. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
You pick a prefab card, give permission to turn on the web cam, and record your message. Then the system sends it to all your Facebook friends, or indeed off the site if you prefer.
You also have the option to add the vid to your profile feed so that all can see you in your sight, sound and motion glory.
I like it. Simple, fun, easy. Pick three. And a special shout out to Violette Vérité of We Are Social, a conversation agency based in London. She knows how to politely reach out, provide the info, and intrigue a blogger with a concept. More pull than push and I salute her for that, and Skype for hiring her/them.
And no, I don't work for them, have never met them, no financial relationship, probably never will meet them. I just liked their approach. And while I have my doubts about whether Violette Vérité is her actual name (Purple Truth?) she's listed on their site, so I guess it must be true. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Senator Richard Shelby Hates His Dad
I believe I am breaking some sort of blogger ethics by running someone else's piece verbatim on my blog without asking permission, but I do it to help in some tiny way get the message out about how auto workers are deserving of our support. Note, I didn't say GM or Chrysler, I said auto workers. But the best way of helping them is getting GM and Chrysler on track. Anyway, this is a POV written by David R. Radtke, a partner in the Michigan law firm of Klimist, McKnight, Sale, McClow & Canzano and a member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee. This piece ran on the AFL-CIO website here.
David R. Radtke is a partner in the Michigan law firm of Klimist, McKnight, Sale, McClow & Canzano and a member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee.
I have a confession. My father is an autoworker. I know that some people will recoil in disgust upon learning that fact, but it gets worse—he's a retired UAW autoworker and he and my mother live on a pension and have retiree health care benefits that supplement Medicare. In other words, he is public enemy #1 to Sens. Richard Shelby, Bob Corker and Jim DeMint.
According to these senators, my dad and his cadre of active and retired UAW-represented autoworkers are responsible for this country's economic downturn. In the color-coded chart of America's enemies, they are right below Al Qaeda and moving up fast.
My dad is despised by the right and the left. Right-wing Republican senators rail against my dad on the Senate floor because he's lazy, overpaid and coddled. For some on the left, their view of class consciousness compels them to speak out against anyone who has middle-class existence without the rigors of a college degree. My dad also is detested by the rich and the poor. Rich people don't like my dad because if workers earn good wages and benefits, it somehow diminishes their own affluence. Many poor people don't like my dad because they have dead-end, low-wage jobs, nonunion jobs with no benefits. It's America's version of class warfare, where you hate other workers that have more than you but idolize their bosses.
Since I've already established that my father is the scourge of "right-thinking" Americans—high school educated, union member, blue-collar job and now retired with a pension and health care benefits. But let me tell you a little more about him.
My dad grew up in Hamtramck, Mich., a Polish enclave surrounded by the city of Detroit. His mother was born in Poland and his father was second generation German-Polish. My dad graduated from Hamtramck High School in 1955 and, like nearly everyone of his classmates, went into the military. After two uneventful years in the peacetime Army, he returned home and married my mother. He got a job servicing office machines and my mom worked at the phone company.
None of their friends or relatives went to college. None. They all got blue-collar union jobs in factories or driving trucks or working for the government.
After a few years, me and my sister were born and my mom quit her job. My dad got into a tool-and-die apprenticeship program in a small factory and served a four-year apprenticeship. He also joined the UAW and my parents bought a three-bedroom, 1,300-square-foot brick ranch in Warren, Mich.
After getting his journeyman’s card, my dad got a job at Chrysler. He worked at various plants in Metro Detroit as a tool-and-die maker. I remember he was laid off a few times and went on strike once. When my sister and I were in grade school, he was often on the afternoon or midnight shift, so he would wake up for an hour or so in the morning to see us before school.
At some point, my parents bought a small, empty lot for $1,500 on a little lake in northern Michigan. My dad and his cousins built a little two-room cabin. Other than two weeks at Disney World, we spent every vacation at that cabin.
I vividly remember the tension and unease in our house when Chrysler was in deep financial trouble in the late 1970s. After Congress gave Chrysler a loan (which it paid back early, with interest) we had a gold Plymouth Volare—with a bumper sticker that said: THANKS, AMERICA.
When I was six years old, I had a serious medical problem that required two surgeries, extended stays in the hospital and many, many doctor visits and tests. Because my dad had UAW-negotiated health care, our family was not financially devastated.
Later, my dad transferred to an office job with Chrysler's parts division where he continued to use his knowledge of tooling and parts. It also was a UAW-represented job, but it was 9-to-5, so he saw my sister and I every day.
Just weeks before I was to head off to college, my dad had a heart attack shoveling snow. He was hospitalized for a short time and was off work for a couple months. Because of the UAW contract, his medical treatment was fully covered and he received sick pay. The UAW contract also guaranteed that he could return to his job when he recovered. Because of these benefits, I didn't have to drop out of college and get a job. Instead, I was able to continue my education with my parents' help and student loans.
When my dad retired after nearly 30 years at Chrysler, he retired with a union-negotiated pension and retiree health care benefits that supplement Medicare. My parents still live in the same three-bedroom brick house in Warren and spend a lot of their time with their five grandchildren.
Other than the short time my dad was off after the heart attack, he never missed a day of work. He raised a family and now he and my mother have a comfortable life.
But dad's not alone. Most of my parents' friends live much the same life. They are now in their 70s and they have modest, secure lives. They have lived what I was taught to be the promise of this country. Each generation progresses from the previous. Every person who works has financial security, decent health care and a dignified retirement. I learned this lesson in the public schools I attended and have heard it in speeches made by many politicians.
So, when did it become acceptable to be against that ideal? How can U.S. senators stand on the Senate floor and denounce millions of Americans like my dad? Workers who spent their lives raising families, paying taxes, adding to their communities and laboring in good union jobs for a middle-class life—the vaunted American Dream. Well, it's not acceptable and it is those senators who should be denounced.
David is more polite than I. I know that I am supposed to forgive others, that hating someone hurts me, not them. But I despise Richard Shelby. Detest. Loathe.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
David R. Radtke is a partner in the Michigan law firm of Klimist, McKnight, Sale, McClow & Canzano and a member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee.
I have a confession. My father is an autoworker. I know that some people will recoil in disgust upon learning that fact, but it gets worse—he's a retired UAW autoworker and he and my mother live on a pension and have retiree health care benefits that supplement Medicare. In other words, he is public enemy #1 to Sens. Richard Shelby, Bob Corker and Jim DeMint.
According to these senators, my dad and his cadre of active and retired UAW-represented autoworkers are responsible for this country's economic downturn. In the color-coded chart of America's enemies, they are right below Al Qaeda and moving up fast.
My dad is despised by the right and the left. Right-wing Republican senators rail against my dad on the Senate floor because he's lazy, overpaid and coddled. For some on the left, their view of class consciousness compels them to speak out against anyone who has middle-class existence without the rigors of a college degree. My dad also is detested by the rich and the poor. Rich people don't like my dad because if workers earn good wages and benefits, it somehow diminishes their own affluence. Many poor people don't like my dad because they have dead-end, low-wage jobs, nonunion jobs with no benefits. It's America's version of class warfare, where you hate other workers that have more than you but idolize their bosses.
Since I've already established that my father is the scourge of "right-thinking" Americans—high school educated, union member, blue-collar job and now retired with a pension and health care benefits. But let me tell you a little more about him.
My dad grew up in Hamtramck, Mich., a Polish enclave surrounded by the city of Detroit. His mother was born in Poland and his father was second generation German-Polish. My dad graduated from Hamtramck High School in 1955 and, like nearly everyone of his classmates, went into the military. After two uneventful years in the peacetime Army, he returned home and married my mother. He got a job servicing office machines and my mom worked at the phone company.
None of their friends or relatives went to college. None. They all got blue-collar union jobs in factories or driving trucks or working for the government.
After a few years, me and my sister were born and my mom quit her job. My dad got into a tool-and-die apprenticeship program in a small factory and served a four-year apprenticeship. He also joined the UAW and my parents bought a three-bedroom, 1,300-square-foot brick ranch in Warren, Mich.
After getting his journeyman’s card, my dad got a job at Chrysler. He worked at various plants in Metro Detroit as a tool-and-die maker. I remember he was laid off a few times and went on strike once. When my sister and I were in grade school, he was often on the afternoon or midnight shift, so he would wake up for an hour or so in the morning to see us before school.
At some point, my parents bought a small, empty lot for $1,500 on a little lake in northern Michigan. My dad and his cousins built a little two-room cabin. Other than two weeks at Disney World, we spent every vacation at that cabin.
I vividly remember the tension and unease in our house when Chrysler was in deep financial trouble in the late 1970s. After Congress gave Chrysler a loan (which it paid back early, with interest) we had a gold Plymouth Volare—with a bumper sticker that said: THANKS, AMERICA.
When I was six years old, I had a serious medical problem that required two surgeries, extended stays in the hospital and many, many doctor visits and tests. Because my dad had UAW-negotiated health care, our family was not financially devastated.
Later, my dad transferred to an office job with Chrysler's parts division where he continued to use his knowledge of tooling and parts. It also was a UAW-represented job, but it was 9-to-5, so he saw my sister and I every day.
Just weeks before I was to head off to college, my dad had a heart attack shoveling snow. He was hospitalized for a short time and was off work for a couple months. Because of the UAW contract, his medical treatment was fully covered and he received sick pay. The UAW contract also guaranteed that he could return to his job when he recovered. Because of these benefits, I didn't have to drop out of college and get a job. Instead, I was able to continue my education with my parents' help and student loans.
When my dad retired after nearly 30 years at Chrysler, he retired with a union-negotiated pension and retiree health care benefits that supplement Medicare. My parents still live in the same three-bedroom brick house in Warren and spend a lot of their time with their five grandchildren.
Other than the short time my dad was off after the heart attack, he never missed a day of work. He raised a family and now he and my mother have a comfortable life.
But dad's not alone. Most of my parents' friends live much the same life. They are now in their 70s and they have modest, secure lives. They have lived what I was taught to be the promise of this country. Each generation progresses from the previous. Every person who works has financial security, decent health care and a dignified retirement. I learned this lesson in the public schools I attended and have heard it in speeches made by many politicians.
So, when did it become acceptable to be against that ideal? How can U.S. senators stand on the Senate floor and denounce millions of Americans like my dad? Workers who spent their lives raising families, paying taxes, adding to their communities and laboring in good union jobs for a middle-class life—the vaunted American Dream. Well, it's not acceptable and it is those senators who should be denounced.
David is more polite than I. I know that I am supposed to forgive others, that hating someone hurts me, not them. But I despise Richard Shelby. Detest. Loathe.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Begging Bowl For Joe Six Pack
I applaud the UAW for making the issue clear, but is it just me or is it rather sad that a bunch of Wall Street pricks I went to B School with got $700B with no accountability, and regular people get the shaft. People who work with their hands, begging. People who steal with both hands, rewarded.
Look, the regular people have been getting the shaft for years - I believe it is called compassionate conservative -- compassion for the Upper West Side, contempt for everyone else. Unfortunately the utter ineptitude of the Bush Admin -- in letting people drown in NO, in ignoring warnings about 9-11, in measuring the unaccounted for money in IRAQ buy the TON instead of the amount, by tasking the civil rights unit to protect the supposedly challenged rights of WHITE people -- has made us immune to travesties like this. "Well, that's the way it works..."
Feck that. Let's hope Obama has better judgement than he has shown picking Reverends for the Inauguration.
And BTW, before some laissez faire economist replies by saying it's survival fo the fittest -- I say where were THEY when these Southern Pricks like Senator Shelby were falling all over themselves to give billions to FOREIGN auto companies to locate in their states?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
ExpoTV.com: Let The Users Make The Infomercials
ExpoTV is a site that has to be seen to be believed. Yes, the stats on citizen reviews are amazing -- I have seen numbers in the 70%s for the percentage of people who seek out such comments online, and a stat from I cannot remember where that showed over 50% of people online had posted a review of something.
Enter ExpoTV, which combines the review with the video phenomenon. It's easier for me to show you than to tell you in this case:
See all Vacuums & Floor Care reviews at Expotv.com
How about that? Consumers shilling for products voluntarily. I selected the Swiffer because it is seemingly a rather mundane item, albeit with wonderful TV ads,
but the real action on the site is in areas like electronics, where expert voices compete with horse sense equipped consumers to help guide us toward better purchase decisions.
See all Television & Video reviews at Expotv
ExpoTV is available online obviously but also on an on demand basis. ExpoTV's Video On Demand Network is available through Comcast Cable, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Mediacom Communications, Insight Communications, Bright House Networks, VerizonFiOS, Bresnan Communications, Blue Ridge Communications, and PurDigital Media.
Reviews are also syndicated to AOL, Yahoo, YouTube, Google video, and Smarter. The marketing aspect of this appears to be in creating and sponsoring reviewers and sections of the site in support of your products. Here's a screen from P&G's Herbal Essences area.
They also have support for Gain on the site, so clealry this is an initiaive that P&G believes in.
Pretty cool idea and site. A great way for a variety of companies to get on board.
Enter ExpoTV, which combines the review with the video phenomenon. It's easier for me to show you than to tell you in this case:
See all Vacuums & Floor Care reviews at Expotv.com
How about that? Consumers shilling for products voluntarily. I selected the Swiffer because it is seemingly a rather mundane item, albeit with wonderful TV ads,
but the real action on the site is in areas like electronics, where expert voices compete with horse sense equipped consumers to help guide us toward better purchase decisions.
See all Television & Video reviews at Expotv
ExpoTV is available online obviously but also on an on demand basis. ExpoTV's Video On Demand Network is available through Comcast Cable, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Mediacom Communications, Insight Communications, Bright House Networks, VerizonFiOS, Bresnan Communications, Blue Ridge Communications, and PurDigital Media.
Reviews are also syndicated to AOL, Yahoo, YouTube, Google video, and Smarter. The marketing aspect of this appears to be in creating and sponsoring reviewers and sections of the site in support of your products. Here's a screen from P&G's Herbal Essences area.
They also have support for Gain on the site, so clealry this is an initiaive that P&G believes in.
Pretty cool idea and site. A great way for a variety of companies to get on board.
Daytime is PrimeTime In Online Vids, According to Nielsen
From AdWeek:
NEW YORK There’s more evidence to support the theory that daytime is the Internet’s prime time, at least when it comes to video, based on a new report issued by Nielsen Online. MORE
NEW YORK There’s more evidence to support the theory that daytime is the Internet’s prime time, at least when it comes to video, based on a new report issued by Nielsen Online. MORE
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Facebook Stats: More Than 140 MM Members!
The blog InsideFacebook is reporting that the site has now reached 140 million members. Who knew there were that many vampires on the planet? Anyway, forget my lame joke and sheck out these other factoids about the World's favorite soc net:
13 million users update their statuses at least once each day
2.5 million users become fans of Pages each day
700 million photos are uploaded to the site each month
4 million videos are uploaded each month
15 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared each month
2 million events created each month
19 million active groups exist on the site
A plethora of treasured facts await you when you click the link in the first line of the post.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
13 million users update their statuses at least once each day
2.5 million users become fans of Pages each day
700 million photos are uploaded to the site each month
4 million videos are uploaded each month
15 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared each month
2 million events created each month
19 million active groups exist on the site
A plethora of treasured facts await you when you click the link in the first line of the post.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
WebEx Goes iPhone
In another sign that the iPhone is fast becoming a main stage Internet access device -- the handheld PC that the mobile biz has been predicting for years, WebEx announced a native application for iPhone at MacWorld. The app lets you view WebEx presos right there yonder on the small screen. This is a great idea that I think will get a great deal of traction, particularly with distributed sales organizations.
See their preso here:
Learn more at RWW here.
See their preso here:
Learn more at RWW here.
Apple: Nothing For Something
I am always impressed when a company figures out a way to sell nothing. Apples version is that it will remove DRM from your existing songs. For 30 cents per.
From the Consumerist:
So, if you have 5000 songs, it'll cost you $1500 to have Apple take the DRM off.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
From the Consumerist:
So, if you have 5000 songs, it'll cost you $1500 to have Apple take the DRM off.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Joe The Unlicensed Plumber, Reporting From Gaza
Unlicensed for plumbing, but apparently has the right stuff for reporting (!)
14.997 minutes and counting...
14.997 minutes and counting...
Digital Marketing Factoid of the Day: Who Consumes Online News Sites
Remember the newsiest!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Just So We Are All Clear, The Gay Agenda Is That We All Eat Butternut Squash Bisque
How do I know this? Was I faxed the talking points today?
Nope, this article in Ad Age says that the American Family Association -- they of the seemingly endless lists of companies to boycott for promoting gay imagery and ideas, and of course the dreaded agenda -- have enlisted their supposedly considerable membership in a letter writing campaign to get The Campbell Soup Company to stop advertising the gay agenda in gay publications. For you see, this ad
that ran in The Advocate, clearly shows two lezzers in their diabolical plot to shred marriage from coast to coast by serving their children (can you IMAGINE!) Butternut Squash Bisque. Not soup, mind, but bisque. That there alone tells you it's the gay agenda tawkin'. Bisque indeed.
Anyway, look at the evil in that photo. The horns cleverly hidden in a hairstyle last seen on Rosie the Riveter (no doubt how Rosie liked her toast buttered, eh?)
I think we should all take the lead of former Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, and speak out against the tyranny of these two clearly evil women.
I for one just (this is true) came home from a trip to buy six cans of Swanson broth.
And to the AFA, I can only say...
...get yourself a feckin' life, you pissant little lunkheads living out in Roob Valhalla.
Nokia Digicrest
The esteemed Ryan Digicrest aka Adam Bergman has a great post about Nokia's new E63 Smartphone here.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: Expert Opinions On The Future of the Internet
Pew has released an excellent summary of predictions from Internet experts on the future of our medium. Find it here.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: On Strategic Logo Design
David Lemley of Lemley Design has put together a strong and entertaining piece on how retailers fail at repositioning and revitalizing themselves. Well written, and makes a very strong case.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: William L Haig, PHD Paper On Branding and Logo Design
Very interesting paper on how to use basic design ideas and principles in support of your brand message, Takes you through a “case” as well as offers critiques of logos for existing brands. Good read!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: Twitter 101
Feeling left out of the twitterevolution? Check out the deck below from Ogilvy 360, which offers a great in depth assessment of the medium and its implications on marketing.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: Graham Brown’s 50 Youth Marketing Trends for 09
The two decks below, which constitute 2 halves of the promised 50 trends, are really marvelous views of the psyche of youth and its implications for marketing. From Graham Browne of MobileYouth.org. Read them and be moved.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: All About Google
Faber Novel has graced us with another great deck on the industry – this one an in depth analysis of Google and what they are up to. This is wonderful stuff,, folks. Check this baby out below:
All about Google
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: google strategy)
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: Rubik's Cube
Hey, you are just getting back into the swing of the work week. Check out this document that takes you step by step through solving the Rubik’s cube. Never could do it myself until I read this. Which is of course cheating, but it allows one to sleep a little easier if they are as obsessive as me.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: Profile of Adults Who Game
Pew Internet and American life Project has put out a truly comprehensive presentation on adults that game – the whos, whats, whys and wherefores. Incredibly thorough. Get it here.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Uh Oh.
Tech Crunch says that NYT ONLINE revenue is down 3.5% in November. Forget for the moment the fact that online does not yet represent enough of total revenue for papers. Now it's shrinking?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Digital Marketing Factoid of The Day: Soc Net Ad Spend Projections
Solid growth next year, then pretty slow going….
Zumbox And The Paperless MailBox
This one took me several reads of the web site to understand, but it is fascinating so I thought I'd try to explain it. Here goes.
Digital facsimiles of snail mail, delivered to an electronic mailbox.
But wait you say, isn't that email?
Nope. These are exact digital copies of snail mail, pieces, designs, and everything else. And everyone gets their own digital mailbox, which is separate from an email box. Households have such a box automagically, without signing up.
Zumbox has actually assigned a digital mailbox number to every address in the US -- which I presume means that they have a mathematical formula for converting every postal address into a number when you as a user join online.
You would log on, and then read your facsimile mail without trees falling to make the paper and little stickers and "read this before you throw it away" inserts.
There are a couple of value props here -- environmentalism, lower costs for businesses, shorter mailing lead times, perhaps efficiency for consumers. Also, the company won't need to know the email address of the customer. Since many companies have postal but not email addresses, they will theoretically be able to get higher reach this way.
I try to be supportive of intriguing ideas at all times, even when I cannot entirely see the whole enchilada of how they will get adopted. With Zumbox, there are clearly a bunch of good things to point out. The challenge, of course, will be adoption by consumers -- WHY WOULDN'T A BUSINESS WANT TO LOWER COSTS and leadtimes?
They've got a lot of info on the site about security, and frankly I would welcome a mailbox that doesn't get broken into three times a week by criminals, as my postal service box does. And BTW, the USPS has been absolutely NO HELP WHATSOEVER on that score. So I will assume that this is truly a secure system.
But they really have to spend a great deal of time thinking about the value to the consumer. With virtually no costs to "mailing," won't these boxes be absolutely inundated with prospecting mailers? Virtual postal spam? How is that of value to the consumer? Will we be able to opt out of prospecting mailers? If I could move all the catalogue mailers and crap I get to this, and keep personal letters coming in on paper, I'd do it in a sec. But here's the rub: I'd never check the Zumbox in that scenario.
So I am a question mark on this. Business absolutely should encourage adoption, and join up themselves. Consumers, well, we'll have to see what they have for us in the way of value. They could crack the nut and make this a win win for everyone (except the USPS.) Or it could be a new spam box. Let's all make encouraging noises for Zumbox, and see what they can do.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Digital facsimiles of snail mail, delivered to an electronic mailbox.
But wait you say, isn't that email?
Nope. These are exact digital copies of snail mail, pieces, designs, and everything else. And everyone gets their own digital mailbox, which is separate from an email box. Households have such a box automagically, without signing up.
Zumbox has actually assigned a digital mailbox number to every address in the US -- which I presume means that they have a mathematical formula for converting every postal address into a number when you as a user join online.
You would log on, and then read your facsimile mail without trees falling to make the paper and little stickers and "read this before you throw it away" inserts.
There are a couple of value props here -- environmentalism, lower costs for businesses, shorter mailing lead times, perhaps efficiency for consumers. Also, the company won't need to know the email address of the customer. Since many companies have postal but not email addresses, they will theoretically be able to get higher reach this way.
I try to be supportive of intriguing ideas at all times, even when I cannot entirely see the whole enchilada of how they will get adopted. With Zumbox, there are clearly a bunch of good things to point out. The challenge, of course, will be adoption by consumers -- WHY WOULDN'T A BUSINESS WANT TO LOWER COSTS and leadtimes?
They've got a lot of info on the site about security, and frankly I would welcome a mailbox that doesn't get broken into three times a week by criminals, as my postal service box does. And BTW, the USPS has been absolutely NO HELP WHATSOEVER on that score. So I will assume that this is truly a secure system.
But they really have to spend a great deal of time thinking about the value to the consumer. With virtually no costs to "mailing," won't these boxes be absolutely inundated with prospecting mailers? Virtual postal spam? How is that of value to the consumer? Will we be able to opt out of prospecting mailers? If I could move all the catalogue mailers and crap I get to this, and keep personal letters coming in on paper, I'd do it in a sec. But here's the rub: I'd never check the Zumbox in that scenario.
So I am a question mark on this. Business absolutely should encourage adoption, and join up themselves. Consumers, well, we'll have to see what they have for us in the way of value. They could crack the nut and make this a win win for everyone (except the USPS.) Or it could be a new spam box. Let's all make encouraging noises for Zumbox, and see what they can do.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
RareShare: A Community Site Doing Nothing But Good
Have you heard of Rareshare? This social community is designed to help sufferers of rare diseases connect with one another and share stories and ideas about their conditions.
Over 700 conditions are listed here, with a community for each. What sorts of conditions? Well, Metachromatic Leukodystrophy for a start. This community has but one member at the moment, so if you've got it, why not join and support one another?
I absolutely love this idea because having people who KNOW as a support group can be tremendously valuable. While all sorts of support are enormously valuable, support of "afflicted" peers can be especially desirable.
Not all of these communities are populated yet, but those that are have rich personal thoughts and ideas, in addition to advice and experiences that can be of enormous value to a person working to overcome a condition.
No information on the site about marketing opportunities, but it seems a prime venue for a pharma outfit to do a CSR buy or for specific brands to be supported in relevant communities. You don't need to worry about tonality here -- these people are here to lick their problems, not wallow in them.
I salute the creators of this community, which is clearly meeting a heretofore untapped need. And, indeed, changing the lives of people experiencing these conditions.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Over 700 conditions are listed here, with a community for each. What sorts of conditions? Well, Metachromatic Leukodystrophy for a start. This community has but one member at the moment, so if you've got it, why not join and support one another?
I absolutely love this idea because having people who KNOW as a support group can be tremendously valuable. While all sorts of support are enormously valuable, support of "afflicted" peers can be especially desirable.
Not all of these communities are populated yet, but those that are have rich personal thoughts and ideas, in addition to advice and experiences that can be of enormous value to a person working to overcome a condition.
No information on the site about marketing opportunities, but it seems a prime venue for a pharma outfit to do a CSR buy or for specific brands to be supported in relevant communities. You don't need to worry about tonality here -- these people are here to lick their problems, not wallow in them.
I salute the creators of this community, which is clearly meeting a heretofore untapped need. And, indeed, changing the lives of people experiencing these conditions.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Microserfs and Union Yes!
This excerpt from the MediaPost Research Brief underscores two things:
1. Gen is are the hardest workers in our society, not the rumored slackers. Remember the book Microserfs? I guess lots of companies are expecting fealty.
Thanks fo rreading, and don't forget ot write.
1. Gen is are the hardest workers in our society, not the rumored slackers. Remember the book Microserfs? I guess lots of companies are expecting fealty.
2. While we metaphorically slept, the American worker has taken dozens of steps backawards as regards quality of life. One of the biggest changes in that same period of time is the decline in the percentage of Americans represented by unions. Is it an odd coinkydink or is it a Mr. Burns coinkydink?
Another index declining this year is the shrinking of America's leisure time, according to the latest results from The Harris Poll, tracking America's leisure time since 1973. The poll finds that The median number of leisure hours available each week dropped 20% in 2008, from 20 hours in 2007, to an all-time low of only 16 hours this year. This continues a trend which has seen America's median weekly leisure time shrink 10 hours from 26 hours per week in 1973.
The Harris Interactive survey of 1,010 adults between October 16 and 19, 2008 found that:
• The biggest changes this year in how people are using their precious leisure time were in TV watching (up 6 points), exercise (up 3 points) and spending time with family and kids (up 3 points)
• Since 1995 the largest changes in how people are spending their leisure time are exercising (up 6 points), computer activities (up 5 points), spending time with family and kids (up 5 points) and swimming (down 5 points)
• 30% of Americans say their favorite activity is reading (up from 29% in 2007) while 24% say it is TV watching and 17% say it is spending time with family and kids (up from 14% in 2007). Rounding out the top five leisure time activities are exercise (8%) and computer activities and fishing (each at 7%);
• The median amount of time spent working, including housekeeping and studying, is now at 46 hours per week, slightly from 45 hours in 2007. In 1973, when this question was first asked, the median was 41 hours a week
• Generation Xers (ages 32-43) are working the most hours (55 each week), followed by 50 hours each week for Echo Boomers (18-31) and Baby Boomers (44-62). As many Matures are retired, they are only working 15 hours each week.
In 2008, Americans increased their work week one hour, yet claim to have lost four hours of leisure time. As the American economic situation worsened, opined the report, people who were worried about their jobs spent more time "just checking in" via computer or wireless device and didn't consider it as time working, nor did they count it as leisure time.
Mark my words, peoplel, 2009 is going to be the firt year in I don't know how many where unions grow in America. And based upon the figures above, thank God for that!
Thanks fo rreading, and don't forget ot write.
PCH on Twitter, Ed McMahon, Not So Much...
I learned from the NYT that Publisher's Clearing House -- The House where dreams come true -- has entered the Twitterverse ad the iPhone app realm in an effort to lure young 'uns to sweeps. The company, which makes its dough selling magazine subs, is cleverly exploring new ways.
As for Ed McMahon? To my knowledge he is NOT on Twitter. He was on American Family's sweepstakes programs, not PCH's. Though he's quite alive and living large.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Irish Need Not Apply - Oh Wait, They Mean World of Warcraft Players
Did you see the blog post about the controversy about hiring WOW players? It is on the NYT here, and it reports that recruiters are telling people NOT to mention that they play WOW -- because employers find it too comprehensive a distraction -- making the prospect unable to work to their fullest potential. Here's an excerpt:
Online gamers in the market for a new job may want to skip any mention of “guild master” on their resume.
A member on F13, a forum for game-related news, recounted a recent job interview where his hobby of playing online games like World of Warcraft came up in conversation, with disastrous results: “I happened to mention I’d spent way too much time in the early 2000s playing online game… He replied that employers specifically instruct him not to send them World of Warcraft players. He said there is a belief that WOW players cannot give 100 percent because their focus is elsewhere, their sleeping patterns are often not great, etc.”
Now, the articles cite others who feel WOW is good leadership training. But the post concludes with the thought that most people agree -- it's not productive to get into such game playing in an interview:
Still, most of the readers in the F13 comment section shared a similar sentiment: When in doubt about the job compatibility of your gaming alter ego, the best policy might be to stay mum.
As one commenter put it rather bluntly, “It’s like telling them you’re into BDSM or something…once they know they’ll always look at you differently.”
Great Article on Death of a Brand
My friend Michele used to joke that whenever she went on a business it instantly went into decline. For her, and people like her, there is this article by Barry Silverstein, author of The Breakaway Brand.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Digital Marketing Factoid of the Day: Accessing Soc Nets Via Mobile
From MediaPost: The proportion of U.S. mobile subscribers who access social networks on their cell phones nearly tripled to almost 10% over a year ago, according to a consumer study by The Kelsey Group and ConStat spotlighted Monday by eMarketer.
Ad Makers Post 10: Spotzer
Spotzer's raison d'etre is efficiency, pure and simple. Their model allows advertisers to buy prefab ads, personalize them, and run them with a sliding scale pricing system based upon the level of exclusivity desired.
The ads themselves are quite attractive, and the tools with which to personalize them are well considered and intuitive. And the pricing, as you can see, is fairly reasonable:
The site also simplifies the process of planning and buying media by offering prefab plans designed around business objectives. By answering a few questions about your business and what result you want from your advertising, you get a solid media plan at the pricepoint that is right for you. Using relationships with MSOs and cable nets they assemble a media program appropriate for your business. Such plans can include TV only, TV plus web, or a broader range of multimedia.
The needs of Mom and Pops can be served by their solution, and they also focus attention on meeting the needs of franchisees and national accounts.
Easy is the buzzword for Spotzer. Check them out here.
Ad Makers Post Nine: TargetSpot
So, we have banners, video, and search ad makers, it's only natural that there also be Internet radio ad makers. And the leader is TargetSpot, an online radio ad network that makes it easy to create a campaign, produce ads, buy media, serve ads, and get reporting/diagnostics. One stop shopping for online radio ads.
While not attracting the obsessive attention that online video does, online radio reaches millions, and the radio format has been demonstrated to work well for both branding and DR advertisers.
Online radio can be targeted nationally, nationally by demo, by state, by DMA, even zip code if you can believe it. So lots of options for national, regional, and local advertisers alike. You can also focus on key listening times like morning, midday, etc. I would imagine that the key offline radio dayparts of morning drive and evening drive are not the critical times for Internet radio, but WTF do I know?
In terms of ad units, you can upload them or make one yourself via a PC mic.
A broad range of Internet radio pureplays and hybrid networks participate with TargetSpot. Here's a graphical list:
With a broad range of targeting options, and affordable buys, this medium may well be the sleeper of the ad supported web. Check it out!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Eight: Pump Audio
Pump Audio doesn't ads, rather, they offer a place for advertisers and music makers to trade in music for creative executions. Advertisers can buy preexisting tracks or work with independent musicians and labels to make something especially suited to their content.
This is a big idea. Music costs for TV ads are enormous. And worth it in some cases. But in many instances, the music that cost thousands and thousands is fairly forgettable.
And as the development costs of video content drop, advertisers have the opportunity to make more vids, provided that input costs like music can also be brought down. Also, advertisers that in the past could never afford TV or other forms of video advertising can access really great music at reasonable rates.
Pump Audio isn't only for ads, neither. Film/TV/and web video projects can also access affordable music assets quickly and easily. My understanding is that this music is also getting used in games as well. Great idea.
The flip side to all this, of course, is that independent musicians can participate in a level playing field -- something that emphatically did NOT exist in the past.
Pump Audio describes its advantages thus:
Independent Music
License songs by the best up-and-coming independent artists from around the world, all pre-cleared for any use.
Creative Freedom
Test dozens of different original music ideas with real songs. Create animatics, rough cuts and tests without any copyright concerns.
Simplicity
Pump pre-clears all necessary rights to its catalog, so you're certain to be able to license our tracks instantly. Pump can work within a variety of budgets, and you'll only ever have to deal with us.
Here's a sample of Pump Audio music to give you a sense.
In other words, no muss, no fuss. What a great idea!!! And darn simple and easy to use!!!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Seven: Ad Ready
The banner world is not at all immune to this trend either. A firm called AdReady offers prefab Flash and Gif banners you can customize and run -- at a fraction of the cost of developing from scratch. Banners are sorted into categories to make it easy to find the right one. Each is also rated on a performance, popularity, and newness.
Some are a little schlocky -- though I want to emphasize that I am NOT attacking AdReady with that statement. One of the funniest and truest of depressing refrains at creative agencies is that schlocky -- by which I mean abrupt, blindingly bright, and profoundly distracting -- usually out performs lovely tastefulness. It is a long term human truth, proven incorrect only by the Apple brand. And even then not consistently. How long term? If you were a greengrocer selling lemons in an Irish high street in 1811, you did better with loud and constant calls than a tasteful sign that blended into the environment. The corollary to this is that nothing ever beats a red button that blinks and says, seemingly redundantly, "click here". But I digress.
So these ads look hardworking.
And the AdReady people know this.
But don't for an instant think these lads and lasses only do ugly. They also have some genuinely pretty interactive units -- that let you, for example, change the color of an SUV or provide a lead right from the banner.
Something very yummy about AdReady is that every ad concept automatically comes in 7 different sizes you can customize. Making ads is free, it's the running where they make their dough. But even here rates are reasonable.
Designed for small to medium sized advertisers (at least primarily) the program offers convenient ways to buy and run media in quantities far below those $25K minimums some networks and sites charge.
A complete reporting system provides everything small and medium fry need to evaluate and optimize campaigns. And probably all the measures that ginormous brands usually look at. All the key measures are there for a DR advertiser.
AdReady is a great alkternative for advertisers in the DR bucket, and for small brands that need a quick and easy way to get a display ad program online.
It's a big idea that comes in convenient bite sized morsels, at bite sixed prices.
Ad Makers Post Six: SpotMixer
Spot Mixer's approach is a bit less prefab than Spot Runner's. The templates they offer seek more of your own assets -- or advertisers can choose stock footage instead. The system allows for a greater range of creativity, which is of course a double edged sword. It gives an advertiser the ability to really make an ad their own -- though they need to have the creative instinct to make "their own" pleasing and compelling.
But the thing is, many can with these tools. They are truly as easy as pie.
Once you make your ad, however, what you do with it on this platform is different than for Spot Runner and other full service offerings. Here the goal is online distribution through key video venues like YouTube and Google TV. At a pricepoint as low as $59 per month, this approach is a lot more affordable than a SpotRunner, though the potential distribution is probably lower than with TV centric solutions.
Before you pooh pooh the distribution mechanism, remember that you could also embed such vids into a web site, virtual white pages listing, or the like. That could DRAMATICALLY expand your distribution
One thing I don't know is what kind of distribution such videos manage. And I am sure regular TV distribution must be on their product plan. In the meantime, they offer an eminently easy to use and affordable approach to creating video content.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Before you pooh pooh the distribution mechanism, remember that you could also embed such vids into a web site, virtual white pages listing, or the like. That could DRAMATICALLY expand your distribution
One thing I don't know is what kind of distribution such videos manage. And I am sure regular TV distribution must be on their product plan. In the meantime, they offer an eminently easy to use and affordable approach to creating video content.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Six: SpotRunner
SpotRunner is offering a more tutored approach to this space that deserves recognition. By defining its ad making and planning solutions in the context of local advertisers, national advertisers, political campaigns, and agencies, they get to make their case on the features and benefits that impact their decisions the most.
The other key difference is that SpotRunner is about customizing readymade video ads – ads that are more than moves on your photos. The way it works is that you choose from hundreds of ads in dozens of categories, and then customize it with a few assets. The result is a more professional offering than possible from some of the other platforms.
News of their approach is getting great acclaim. Check out this CNBC profile of the company:
And as you can see, the offering is about more than creative. By inputting info about your business you can get a prefab media plan – a pretty good one based upon the plans I dug through.
In essence, then, Spot Runner is more of a modular ad agency than an automated ad builder. I went through the system and found video ad prices of $500 or so in lots of cases. Combine that with, say, $3500 in media and you have a nice ad program that can be locally targeted through an MSO buying group.
I am really impressed by that twist – the idea of a real innovation in the agency model. Now, some of us won’t like the new model, but you cannot argue that it is ingenious. And compelling to a host of advertisers in loads of categories.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
The other key difference is that SpotRunner is about customizing readymade video ads – ads that are more than moves on your photos. The way it works is that you choose from hundreds of ads in dozens of categories, and then customize it with a few assets. The result is a more professional offering than possible from some of the other platforms.
News of their approach is getting great acclaim. Check out this CNBC profile of the company:
And as you can see, the offering is about more than creative. By inputting info about your business you can get a prefab media plan – a pretty good one based upon the plans I dug through.
In essence, then, Spot Runner is more of a modular ad agency than an automated ad builder. I went through the system and found video ad prices of $500 or so in lots of cases. Combine that with, say, $3500 in media and you have a nice ad program that can be locally targeted through an MSO buying group.
I am really impressed by that twist – the idea of a real innovation in the agency model. Now, some of us won’t like the new model, but you cannot argue that it is ingenious. And compelling to a host of advertisers in loads of categories.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Five: Balihoo
At Balihoo, the focus appears to be localization of national creative -- where a dealer or franchisee can create localized creative and buy media across TV, radio, print, outdoor, and online from a central control panel.
In addition, the local organizations can also manage lead gen, DM, and email efforts from the same platform. Here's how they present their benefits on their website:
Built upon Balihoo’s AnyMedia™ Database containing a vast collection of media properties spanning all mediums, the Balihoo Marketer Edition provides franchisors and co-op marketers and their agencies multiple tools to take their local marketing efforts to the next level:
Centralized Creative Asset Management – Store logos, POP in-store material, photography, package designs, ad layouts, collateral material, audio, video or any other digital file. Balihoo Marketer Edition makes digital assets easy to access and download - ensuring brand consistency, reducing costs, and increasing productivity.
Full Creative Customization – Dealers can quickly and easily on-the-fly customize all stored creative assets for usage in their local market. Add custom photos, logos, copy, pricing, video/audio and other variables to corporate-approved creative to create market-ready materials on the fly.
Media and Marketing Planning – Plan local media and marketing activities within an eighteen month window with a simple, calendar-based utility giving single-view visibility into the complete plan. Planning can be done within the tool by the dealer or by an authorized third-party service provider.
Media and Marketing Buying – Full implementation, media buying and creative trafficking of all approved plans is handled seamlessly by your chosen authorized service provider.
Direct Marketing Engine –Complete direct marketing engine for planning and implementation of direct mail and email campaigns that leverage national pricing rates at the local level.
Mailing List Services – Upload or purchase mailing lists and manage all existing customer lists. Plan and implement targeted direct mail and email marketing campaigns targeting customers at unique stages in their buying cycles.
Reporting – Complete visibility into marketing activities at the local, regional or national level including total spend, media selection and results reporting.
Importantly, you don't need to be a local outlet of a national retailer to realize benefits from this option. This can work for localization of almost any brand where such regional versioning can be of benefit in getting leads and sales.
Here's an excerpt of a podcast about Balihoo from ScribeWire:
Interestingly, Balihoo makes an effort to present itself as a good solution for local agencies as well -- so this is definitely not a solution hell bent on taking us out of the equation.
I have to say that I think that these guys have a great take on the appropriate positioning of an offering like this: easy but with total creative control at HQ. I think we are going to see a lot of these guys and gals over the next months and years.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Four: Illumobile
So this one isn't video. It's Outdoor. Yes, Outdoor. You remember Outdoor, the medium that people were predicting the death of not many years ago when ciggies stopped using it extensively. O'course, that was before digital outdoor started blowing people's minds with creative possibilities, and before illumobile began implementing its small but growing network of poster sized ads in heavy foot traffic areas in the Bay Area.
You can see a demo of the posters here.
Now, naturally, the primary target for a poster system in retail districts is retail customers, but its pretty easy to see how this system could also grow awareness for events and other ad categories as well.
The boards are dynamic, so they will naturally attract additional attention.
Ad rates are rather low in terms of cash outlay. Check this out:
illumobile’s outdoor digital display network (called StoreFrontScreens™) reaches millions of pedestrians at natural inflection points in neighborhood commercial districts. We provide a cost-effective and targeted way for clients to advertise on a dynamic outdoor media platform.
Outdoor Digital Media for Everyone
At illumobile, we believe that everyone should have access to outdoor advertising. That’s why we’ve built the best outdoor digital network available. Whether you advertise on our large Metro Spot or our more economical Community Spot, our versatile platform will fit your needs. Each display within our StoreFrontScreens™ network reaches 200,000+ pedestrians every month. Advertising across ten displays yields reaches 2 million+ people per month and advertising across our entire network reaches over 5 million+ Bay Area residents every month. Call us to launch your ad campaign and influence your target audience today!
Broad Reach at Incredibly Low Rates
We deploy our displays in densely trafficked, urban areas, and situate them at eye-level, achieving optimal reach to pedestrian traffic. According to an Arbitron study, pedestrian media achieves a 79% reach, far more than print and TV media. At $200 per month for our largest format Metro Spot, you’ll reach thousands of people at a price point that is much more cost-effective than print or traditional outdoor billboards.
It'll be interesting to see how this solution works for advertisers -- what kind of impact it can drive. In the meantime, I expect that this format can attract some ad dollars that are falling loose from the newspaper sector.
Naturally, there are also opportunities to integrate Illumobile with mobile marketing efforts that may actually take off next year. An iPhone/Android app tied to a board? SOunds like an intriguing concept to me!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Three: LiquidUs Media
Another offering in the automated ad making space is Liquidus Media, an offering focused on helping users make and place video ads in broadcast, VOD, cable TV, and online. Liquidus offers both an ad making platform and an automated solution to PLACE ads in markets across the country instantly. Without contacting a sales rep.
Here’s some text from their web site:
The revolutionary Liquidus SpotSense video advertising platform allows advertisers to create and distribute high volumes of video classified ads quickly, easily and cost-effectively on digital cable Video on Demand, broadcast TV and the Internet.
The result is engaging ads that put consumers in control – and a solution that allows advertisers to reach qualified buyers who are actively searching for products through their TV or computer.
Since pioneering this advertising niche in 2005, the Liquidus platform has been deployed by most of the major cable operators (MSOs) in the U.S. including Comcast, Charter, and Time Warner. Liquidus allows its customers to maintain an advertising presence on TV and the Internet 24/7, place localized ads or national ads on a mass scale, and modify ads quickly so the content is always fresh.
Our video advertising products are completely scalable and meet the marketing needs of many product categories including automotive, real estate, employment, travel & entertainment and more. From creation to production, we’ll guide your ad program every step of the way.
It’s actually pretty darned easy. You include text, graphics, and up to 12 pictures and use the dead simple SpotSense platform. The final result is a nice looking piece of creative that can offer a visual and factual showcase for a product or indeed a service.
I’m guessing most of us have seen Liquidus ads, on those Sunday morning real estate shows or on the hotel TV channel. They do their job and can be pretty engaging. “1984” they are not, but then “1984” is probably not the best way to sell a 3 bedroom split level.
But with Liquidus, it’s not all ads. They work with major MSOs to offer on demand services guides – for auto, dining, real estate, luxury living, and more. These channels enable users to browse video ads much as they might web pages, but with the advantage of the video format.
Check out this promo video to see the breadth and depth of their solutions:
The final offering they have is a program length solution that helps you turn a set of video ads into a full length program. It’s not the Tonight Show, of course -- rather a sort of vendomatic of similar ads – as for real estate, for example. See 45 homes in an hour, right on your boob toob.
The focus of this company appears to be more local and regional than outfits like Live Technology, but as Google has shown, there is enormous money in such media. At margins that often exceed those of national campaigns. They certainly offer production cost advantages.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Ad Makers Post Two: Live Technology
I always thought that advertising would be relatively immune from automation, but I was wrong. And part of it is a reflection of how little value agencies add to small budget advertisers. One local car dealer ad is pretty similar to another. Ditto an ad for a regional grocery chain.
Etcetera.
Live Technology offers a powerful platform called Live Ad Maker that gives you the tools to quickly and easily make pretty good looking ads in just a few minutes.
It’s plain that their ambition is not just to meet local advertiser needs but rather to offer an opportunity for national advertiser to make more effective localized versions of messages rapidly and cost effectively. Here’s a blurb from their site:
LiveAdMaker is an end-to-end technology that builds entire marketing campaigns across all forms of media in a series of simple selections and then delivers the ads to market in record time. Everyday, leading brands such as Intel, Sprint, AARP, GM and Century 21 all rely on LiveAdMaker to create and deliver thousands of ads to market.
For the first time, advertising is being completely localized, with Madison Avenue standards, for newspaper, TV, radio, mailers, in-store, menus, and online-without the time, effort or cost that is traditionally associated with high quality effective marketing. LiveAdMaker gives absolute control and complete insight into marketing and advertising campaigns, giving brands and local businesses the ability to react to market influences quickly and create relevant and focused advertising where and when they know it will be most effective.
The site claims that an entire ad campaign can be executed in less than 10 minutes. While that sounds a scosh ambitious, I have little doubt that you can make some pretty decent ads with this platform at speeds that plainly no one could anticipate just a few years ago. ANd you can do it across a vast array of media:
LiveAdmaker has attracted a number of truly blue chip advertisers to its LiveAdMaker platform. These include:
The benefits aren’t solely in the form of time and money, according to the site:
For the central brand, LiveAdMaker provides:
Greater Control - increased Brand and message control.
Measurement, Insights & Optimization - insight into activity to identify best and worst practices.
Speed to Market - deliver ads for any form of media in record time to respond quickly to local marketing conditions.
High Standards - the quality of local marketing materials dramatically improves.
Saves time and money - reducing the production of entire campaigns from man-days to minutes (with parallel cost reductions).
At the local level, LiveAdMaker provides:
Relevant Marketing - offers and messages with local customization to drive increased sales.
Higher Quality - Madison Avenue marketing materials improve the impact of ads.
Reduced Costs - 40-80% cost savings on local marketing.
Reduced Time - lead times are reduced from days to minutes.
Reduced Effort - interaction required to create an ad is significantly reduced.
Our world is changing, people. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing. But somehow we need to move from charging money for activity to charging for ideas.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Etcetera.
Live Technology offers a powerful platform called Live Ad Maker that gives you the tools to quickly and easily make pretty good looking ads in just a few minutes.
It’s plain that their ambition is not just to meet local advertiser needs but rather to offer an opportunity for national advertiser to make more effective localized versions of messages rapidly and cost effectively. Here’s a blurb from their site:
LiveAdMaker is an end-to-end technology that builds entire marketing campaigns across all forms of media in a series of simple selections and then delivers the ads to market in record time. Everyday, leading brands such as Intel, Sprint, AARP, GM and Century 21 all rely on LiveAdMaker to create and deliver thousands of ads to market.
For the first time, advertising is being completely localized, with Madison Avenue standards, for newspaper, TV, radio, mailers, in-store, menus, and online-without the time, effort or cost that is traditionally associated with high quality effective marketing. LiveAdMaker gives absolute control and complete insight into marketing and advertising campaigns, giving brands and local businesses the ability to react to market influences quickly and create relevant and focused advertising where and when they know it will be most effective.
The site claims that an entire ad campaign can be executed in less than 10 minutes. While that sounds a scosh ambitious, I have little doubt that you can make some pretty decent ads with this platform at speeds that plainly no one could anticipate just a few years ago. ANd you can do it across a vast array of media:
LiveAdmaker has attracted a number of truly blue chip advertisers to its LiveAdMaker platform. These include:
The benefits aren’t solely in the form of time and money, according to the site:
For the central brand, LiveAdMaker provides:
Greater Control - increased Brand and message control.
Measurement, Insights & Optimization - insight into activity to identify best and worst practices.
Speed to Market - deliver ads for any form of media in record time to respond quickly to local marketing conditions.
High Standards - the quality of local marketing materials dramatically improves.
Saves time and money - reducing the production of entire campaigns from man-days to minutes (with parallel cost reductions).
At the local level, LiveAdMaker provides:
Relevant Marketing - offers and messages with local customization to drive increased sales.
Higher Quality - Madison Avenue marketing materials improve the impact of ads.
Reduced Costs - 40-80% cost savings on local marketing.
Reduced Time - lead times are reduced from days to minutes.
Reduced Effort - interaction required to create an ad is significantly reduced.
Our world is changing, people. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing. But somehow we need to move from charging money for activity to charging for ideas.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
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