Spike Jones at Brains On Fire points out that the term “brand ambassador” has variable meanings. Since Spike’s preferred definition is on the lofty side, it rattles him that there is a seedier side to the term. This weekend I received an email from a woman who wanted to offer her “brand ambassador” services, plus [...]
Milwaukee Ad Man Does Service Right
November 27, 2006 By Leave a Comment
Cause-related marketing has long been a means for the agency community to give something back. Many agencies support causes big and small with pro-bono work. Now, there’s a new twist on this model thanks to Serve Marketing in Milwaukee–the nation’s first and only nonprofit advertising and marketing firm, according to Utne Reader. Based in Milwaukee, [...]
Penguin Introduces New Coloring Books
November 27, 2006 By Leave a Comment
Penguin Books U.K. is introducing the consumer generated content idea to its book design. MyPenguin “Books by the Greats, Covers by You” currently has six titles available. More will be offered should the blank covers sell.
Gunning For X-Mas Sales
November 27, 2006 By 1 Comment
Stacey Burling of The Philadelphia Inquirer looks at a Philly-based company that seems to relish repeatedly stepping over the lines of decency. Urban Outfitters — no stranger to controversial products — is offering the 5-inch-long, Chinese-made gun ornament for $6 in its stores and catalogs this year. ”Bust a cap in your tree with this [...]
Spooks Turn To Advertising
November 26, 2006 By Leave a Comment
Associated Press investigates recruitment advertising efforts made on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency, an organization with a lot of new employees–40 percent began working at the agency after the Sept. 11 attacks. The agency started in 2002 with black-and-white ads. Last year, the agency’s television ads during Washington Nationals baseball games were so quiet [...]
Sexy Ad Gets Massachusetts Legal Briefs In A Wad
November 26, 2006 By 3 Comments
In the pages of GQ or Maxim, you wouldn’t think twice about the above ad, which is for Jiwani, a tailor specializing in custom-made suits. But place the ad in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and you’ve got a controversy on your hands. Slate examines the controversy: Evidently, at least two-dozen readers of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly were [...]
Measuring Word-Of-Mouth
November 24, 2006 By Leave a Comment
The New York Times looks at the power of word-of-mouth today. While every brand desires this supposed state of marketing nirvana, very few know how to accurately track the activity. “The majority of word-of-mouth happens in areas devoid of microphones or cameras or any other means of actually tracking conversations,” said Jamie Tedford, senior vice [...]
Be Edgy Or Be Damned
November 24, 2006 By Leave a Comment
PR blogger Steve Rubel has some interesting things to say about Weblogs Inc., now that its founder Jason Calacanis has left the AOL-owned company. Since AOL bought Weblogs Inc I feel it has started to lose that editorial bite it once had. The posts on blogs like TUAW and others have been very informative, but [...]
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