Guacamole
This is by far the best thing you will see all day. I encourage you to call everyone you know into your office/cubical/dwelling/etc and watch this together.
What if pirates wrote their own news headlines?
A while ago I read an article on another pirate hijacking that mentioned a pirate spokesperson. My immediate reaction was – “Pirates have spokespeople that respond to media?! How do I get this job?” Next thought was – “Wait, I would probably have to endanger my life to get that job…” Needless to say, I did not do additional research about becoming a pirate spokesperson.
This got me thinking…what would pirates write if they could write their own headline?
• Pirates hijack ship, demand four million dollars in ransom
• Pirates bring ship to shore, ask for four million dollars to compensate for their efforts
• Pirates rescue ship, need compensation for rescue expenses
• Seamen rescue stranded ship, request four million dollars to cover their rescue expenses
How Not To Do Corporate Communications
P.T. Barnum once said,” Any publicity is good publicity.” This article, however, begs to differ. Enjoy a laugh at someone else’s expense, just don’t get any bright ideas!
Snowballing
For those last few individuals out there who doubt the validity of social media / marketing, here are the latest numbers from Facebook and Twitter. First, a few stats from Facebook:
- More than 200 million active users
- More than 100 million users log on to Facebook at least once each day
- More than two-thirds of Facebook users are outside of college
- The fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older
To see their full stats page, go here.
Not nearly to the scale as Facebook, but showing staggering growth nonetheless, is Twitter with 76.8 percent growth in March and an annual growth rate of 1,202 percent! Twitter is rapidly closing in on the leading newspaper website, The New York Times, which sees more than 16,000,000 visitors monthly. See the full article here.
Art & Copy: The Movie
Every once in a while you need a swift kick in the ass to remind you why you got into this business in the first place. Art & Copy, a new documentary, is such a movie. A bunch of us from the creative department and a few account folks went to see it at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham. In the movie, ad legends Hal Riney, Lee Clow, George Lois, Jeff Goodby and others talk candidly about their agencies and their creative philosophies; as well as share behind-the-scenes stories about some of their most famous campaigns. It’s very inspiring. Leaves you with the feeling that you want to push further and challenge convention… not just for creativity’s sake, but because being original and memorable is what’s best for the client (and the agency). Hopefully this newly inspired state lasts until the DVD comes out in a few months. Then it’ll be time to recharge the batteries again with another viewing.
Check out the trailer at artandcopyfilm.com
Marketing In A World Without Phones
Yesterday, Read Write Web posted an entry about a world without phones. The post was about T-Mobile working with Google on mobile data devices. The central idea is that in the future we will all have mobile devices that are driven by data transfer. Voice will be only one of the many things that would be transmitted by these devices. Is this going to happen? Most likely it will, we are already seeing it with things like Skype for the iPhone. It is easier for mobile devices to not have “voice” plans. Sure this will take a while as phone companies become data companies.
What does this mean for marketing?
A world driven by mobile data devices offers a strong opportunity for companies to reach customers in more relevant ways. As devices become carrier agnostic companies have the opportunity to create their own experiences for customers. This could mean niche mobile operating systems, custom VOIP clients that interact directly with customer service and sales, or company sponsored data networks. The potential and possible relevant application is almost limitless.
We have seen some of this tried in the past. Anyone remember ESPN’s failed mobile phone effort? Many of the past ventures have failed do to contract restrictions and closed cellular data networks. As devices become more focused on data and flexible across multiple networks, marketers have to understand the long-term applications of interacting with their customers.
Evolving…
The world of communications is changing and along with it so do we. When I first got into PR, I remember sending media pitches via fax. Crazy, right? I’ve always hated faxes so I was thrilled when more and more media began welcoming e-mails. Now it’s the norm.
I live far from family so I welcomed the Facebook with open arms, but initially, I dug my heels in at the thought of an iPhone or Twitter. However, I relatively quickly succumbed to both. I’ve had my iPhone for about a month, and it does make “being connected” much easier – it’s great for time management – and I quite enjoy it. I’m SOLD!
As far as Twitter goes, more and more, I’ve been hearing news programs and other media promote their presence on the social network, so this weekend I ventured onto the site and set up my own log in. As a communicator, it’s important that I maintain my finger on the pulse of emerging industry trends – it’s my job. So, I’m now dabbling on Twitter.
I’ve also recently started a personal blog to help chronicle everyday special moments with my family – in particular my 2-year-old toddler. I could have kept a traditional journal, but opted for the more technological route because of ease, and all the chatter about blogging drove me to experience it for myself.
I’m excited to see what else is to come in the industry. I look forward to exploring and understanding evolving media both for my clients and for myself.
The cheaper alternative to Microsoft's Surface table
The Gents at Maximum PC were unwilling to shell out the $10,000+ need for a Microsoft Surface table, so they hacked together their own for a few hundred bucks.
Live Blogging the NCAA Championship Game – 11:05 pm
For this I’m missing the Daily Show? They just made a huge announcement. Michigan State has had eighteen turnovers. I think, if given the opportunity, I could eat eighteen cherry turnovers. maybe 15 apple ones. I like donuts too . Just went down to the Krispy Kreme on Peace Street for the first time. 67-49 UNC. Check it out if you get a chance or if you’ve never been. Great place to take young children. Cheap entertainment. And the donuts always deliver. We had a cruller and two with sprinkles. Great Raleigh diversion. It was the perfect cap to a day at the ‘Cuegrass Festival. Plenty of BBQ and Bluegrass music to be had down at the pit. Food courtesy of pitmaster Ed Mitchell. The more I think about it, Raleigh is a great place to live. Ignore the Forbes articles on #1 city and all of those pieces on quality of life. Check out stuff on newraleigh.com – Pillowfight championships, ‘cuegrass festivals, a mellow mushroom and great ad agencies. Come on down.
UNC 72
Mich 53
7:33 left
Live Blogging the NCAA Championship Game – 10:58 pm
UNC 62 Mich St 43 13:00 left to go.
Oh wait, it’s now 62-44 UNC. Now 46. They’re coming back. . Hansbrough is number 50. Mercedez commerical just came on. Weird freaky red lighting surrounding the car and silhouettes of a pit crew. Huh? Coke Zero commercial. Love this campaign. So unexpected.
