Clive Thompson, writing for Wired, explains why losing weight with Weight Watchers is easy, and even fun, to do. Weight Watchers is an RPG. That's "role playing game" for those over 40. …
A Brand’s Message Board Is Also A Consumer Generated Ad (for better or worse)
Pete Blackshaw, author of Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3,000, wrote a piece for Ad Age about the customer contact form and how stiff it is—an odd thing in a world where conversations with customers are so highly valued. I dare you to find a feedback form that winks even a quasi-friendly smile. And if you find one that allows consumers to truly communicate in their native voices -- …
Opt Out Is Good But Opt In Is Better
Yahooligans will soon be able to opt out of "customized advertising" on Yahoo.com. Yahoo! announced the new opt-out capability as part of its response to a Congressional inquiry about customization sent to 33 companies from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Stephanie Clifford of The New York Times notes that Yahoo already allows users to opt out of customized ads that it serves on other companies’ pages. This …
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Gaining Online Cred Is the Real Contest
Brands want to play in the social media sandbox. That much has been established. But what games are they playing? That topic needs a bit more exploration. Spike Jones of Brains of Fire suggests the "go to" game is a social media contest. He says it's good in that contests promote interaction, participation and involvement. But they lack for equally important reasons. In the vast majority of cases, it’s the brand …
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Yes, Arabs Are Mad Because Of Better Fuel Economy
In Israel, the Nissan Tiida apparently gets really good gas mileage. Once you know that, you need not speak Arabic or Hebrew to figure out this spot: Here's the really big shocker: The Saudis aren't happy and are threatening a boycott of Nissan. …
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Wer’e Not In Sao Paulo Anymore
According to The Wall Street Journal, officials in Dubai are negotiating with international and local companies over naming rights for two dozen mass transit stations. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority is offering naming rights for 23 of the planned 47 metro stops, as well as for the two metro lines themselves. A rider on the new Dubai system might someday be getting off at, say, the Citibank stop on the Nike …
Hyper-Targeted Out of Home
Get through to Oprah (or her producers) and you just might reach millions with your story, product or service. According to Ad Age, a Pennsylvania animal shelter managed exactly that in its ongoing crusade against puppy mills. Last spring, Main Line Animal Rescue bought a billboard four blocks from Harpo, Ms. Winfrey's Chicago studio. The show's producers quickly contacted the shelter and enlisted its help in a …
Columbia Makes An Impression On Cycling Fans
Days before Tour de France started last month, Columbia Sportswear scored a sponsorship coup by picking up the pieces for Team High Road--the cycling team that was dropped by T-Mobile after 16 years. According to The Oregonian, Columbia's Chief Executive Tim Boyle said, "The sponsorship was an unqualified success by any measure." The team's five stage victories thrust Columbia's name and the yellow-flared trademark …
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