Putting People Before The Brand

Yes, it has been quite some time since my last post. I've been meaning to write for a while, but my spare time keeps getting away from me! 

I've had this video on my radar for a few weeks now, and I thought it was a perfect example of how brands can make meaningful ads and really connect with consumers. VW put real human emotions, joy, and laughter ahead of their product messaging. They aligned their brand with how people feel. 

This ad had me smiling the entire time. At all ages and stages in life, the moments you spend laughing make everything worth it. Check it out, and pass it along. 

POGS,
Aktually Ashley

"Uptown Name with a Downtown Address"

So, here's the inside scoop: there's a great friend of mine who makes some spectacular jewelry. Her line is called Three Jane by Katie Schloss, and she's having a trunk show to showcase her new season of jewels. She's extremely talented, so definitely stop by on Thursday evening for some beverages, snacks, and, the main highlight, jewelry. Please see below for the details!

WHAT:   Three Jane Trunk Show
WHERE: Teich (22 8th Avenue at West 12th Street)
WHEN:   Thursday, July 19th from 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Also, check out her Pinterest. You'll be re-pinning for hours. 

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

5 Star Chicken... Fingers

Yes, I love my expensive, "special occasion only", dimly lit restaurants with incredible food. Trendy asian fusion finds, french bistros, steak houses, and wine bars. Guilty. My interest and love of restaurants, however, covers both extremes. For example, McDonald's is usually JUST as good as a candle lit dinner in the Meatpacking District. More often than not, I search high and low for something that falls under both categories: gourmet and cheap. That's where Sticky's Finger Joint comes in. Gourmet Chicken Fingers. Believe it. A restaurant, in the West Village, dedicated to serving a variety of high end, specialty, antibiotic free, hormone free, cruelty free, free range fried (or baked or grilled) chicken fingers. What a mouthful! Pun intended. 

I have to admit, I haven't actually gone to Sticky's, but I have had their epic chicken fingers. They made an excellent business decision when agreeing to ignore their delivery barriers, and travel all the way to Murray Hill (from west 8th street) to make my dream come true. So, thank you to the guy and delivery dude for making that awesome decision on July 6th. 

We decided to try a little bit of everything via the 10-finger sampler. They have a rotating menu, but some of the fingers are staples. After ordering two of their classic southern style fried finger, called "The Finger", we opted to get a little adventurous. I chose the "Wasabi Finger", which is topped with wasabi, ginger, seaweed flakes, tobiko and wasabi glitter. It literally tasted like chicken sushi -- YUM. Next, we both ordered "The Buffalo", which is buffalo chicken with a twist. The sauce is infused with balsamic vinegar and pure maple syrup! I'm currently on a buffalo kick, and it definitely hit the spot... and then some. We ordered two "General Sticky Tso" fingers, which definitely resulted in a sticky finger aftermath. They could have used more sauce, but were still delicious. 

The Wasabi Finger -- Courtesy of Thrillest

Sorry, need to take a breather... the memory of these fingers is putting me back into a food coma!

The last two orders were by far our best. We ordered two orders of the "Bada Bing!". It's essentially a chicken finger stuffed with a mozzarella stick, and topped with homemade marinara sauce, tomato aioli, fried basil leaves, and bada bing glitter (whatever that is). SO GOOD, and it gets better. The last finger was "The Salted Caramel Pretzel". I love chicken fingers, caramel, and pretzels -- separately -- but, I was a little nervous about the combination of the three when I read the menu. Boy, was I wrong. I completely underestimated this finger. It was by far the best out of the 6 flavors we ordered. The chicken is breaded with crushed pretzels, drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce, and topped with pretzel sticks and pretzel salt. Sticky, sweet, salty, savory... basically 30 different things going on with your taste buds at the same time. 

The Salted Caramel Pretzel Finger

Though the chicken fingers were the highlight of the meal, obviously, we also had the treat of dipping them in various sauces -- not that any of them really needed it. There are about 20 different sauces on the menu, but I asked the guy to toss in us their best sellers. We were given Balsamic Ketchup, Thai Sweet Chili, Sticky's Sauce (a Southern style white BBQ), Jalapeño Mac, and Garlic Aioli. 

By the end of the meal, I was stuffed and so satisfied. I'm glad I was talked out of ordering a side of their Purple Sweet Potato Fries, but I'm also secretly bummed. It's OK though, because I'll definitely have another chance. Next time I'd actually like to go to the restaurant and see the place for myself. Although, I hear there's not much to see. A futuristic, yet classic, red and white color scheme, cafeteria-esque, with metallic tables. Joint is the perfect word to describe it. Clearly, I won't be going for the atmosphere, but rather for another incredible, delicious, gourmet chicken finger experience! You must go and see for yourself, or order delivery!

Oh, and did I mention they are open until 4:00AM on Thursday-Saturday? In their own words, Get Fingered! Hmm...

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

"The Wisdom of Elevationism"

The game-changing, recently opened Atlantic City resort, Revel, has a few words of wisdom for its guests. They are as follows:
1. Jump into the Deep End of Everything.
2. 24 Hours is a Night Well Spent.
3. Bonfires & Bellinis: Mix Responsibly.
4. Manners Apply Only After You Finish Licking The Plate.
5. Sleep On Monday. 

Revel Resorts, a 20-acre beachfront destination, is changing AC. Rather than luring mainstream gamblers on an overnight jaunt, the resort is targeting the "beautiful crowd" through its innovative luxury, relaxing waterfront environment, varied entertainment... and yes, its spectacular casino. Revel was clearly developed through a unique and very un-AC concept. The main attraction is NOT the casino, though it does not at all lack in that department. It is more of a beach resort, highlighted by its 1,800 ocean view rooms, cabanas, fire pits, floor to ceiling windows, InOut pool, SkyGarden, and much more. The building's design was inspired by and resembles the curves of the ocean. It crosses boundaries and distinguishes itself from the other "resorts" (AKA casinos) on the boardwalk. Did I happen to mention that the casino has windows? Yes, windows, which is unheard of in traditional casino design and layout. They're not trying to lock gamblers in by disorienting their sense of time, but rather let them enjoy the casino while still reminding them of the resort's other offerings. 

Scéno Plus, the Montreal firm responsible for Cirque du Soleil's sets, designed the Casino.

The resort rocks options for everyone, with over a dozen restaurants, two nightclubs, a beach club, retail shops, a spa, two theaters, and various other amenities, some of which I mentioned above. Revel's three signature restaurants, Amada, Azure by Allegretti, and American Cut by Forgiorne, look onto the Atlantic Ocean, while the other foodie-attracting hot spots surround the casino. Two of these, the James Beard Award-winning Central from Michel Richard and Belgian gastro-pub Mussel Bar from Robert Wiedmaier, deserve mention... they look delicious.

Ivan Kane's Royal Jelly Burlesque Nightclub--a Revel spin on traditional burlesque.
Offers burlesque lessons for the adventurous guest--WOO!

InOut Pool

Bask Spa, developed by Exhale Mind Body Spa
Integrated approach to wellbeing, blending spa, fitness, healing, relaxation, and fun. 

Tapas at Amada:
White Sangria, Charcuterie, Salad with blue cheese and spicy almonds, Tortilla 

Mussel Bar 

Garlic Fries at Mussel Bar -- drooling...

The idea behind Revel is exciting, innovative, and fresh. Atlantic City definitely needed an extra something to boost the atmosphere and drive business--many believe the resort will be AC's "savior". It just opened, so hopefully this dream will turn into a reality. Until then, the witty, quirky, and semi-knockoff of another advertisement (for the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan Hotel) should keep you all entertained. You'll totally see what I mean by knockoff if you check out my other blog post, "Just The Right Amount Of Wrong". 

I don't really understand why Revel's advertising team decided not to showcase anything the resort has to offer. It's visually appealing and has a lot of fun aspects. The building itself is a work of art! Cosmopolitan took the same path (and they did it first). I guess I've come to the conclusion that this ad sparked my interest and prompted me to research and blog about Revel... SO their marketing staff can pat themselves on the back. Weird and non-traditional gets the people talking!


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Collect Moments

Hello. Hello. I apologize for the lack of posts this month. It has been crazy with my final, final exams and senior week! I just graduated from Boston College on Monday, May 21st, and now it is time for me to take my place in the "real world" outside of the BC bubble. Am I ready? I think so! Eagle on the warpath!

I'll commence (Get it? Like "commencement"? Fitting...) my regular posting soon, but for now, here's a relevant quote!

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

Good Thinking, Miller

College students across the country should bow down to MillerCoors for the company's creation and launch of the Punch Top Can. The innovative Miller Lite cans, which provide a smoother pour than a standard can, were made available in national retailers last week. Have you ever heard of shotgunning? If not, please attend a college party or tailgate and get that out of your system. So much effort is put into finding a key, locating the air bubble, and creating the perfect hole. Now, shotgunners can simply punch the extra tab of their Miller Lite and chug accordingly. Apparently, you can use almost anything to punch the second tab: a house key, golf tee, or even a dollar bill. MillerCoors' Director of Innovation and Activation, Amy Breeze, revealed that consumers "prefer the Punch Top Can three-to-one over the standard beer can because it's more like drinking from a pilsner glass."

To accompany the Punch Top Can's launch, the brand is introducing a new advertising campaign. The new commercials will run through mid-August and highlight creative ways to punch the can and enjoy the flowing beer. The launch is also supported by print, radio, out-of-home and digital advertising, as well as point-of-sale and PR. 

I, for one, am glad someone has come out with a better way to shotgun... especially before I graduate from college. It's about time! I just wish it was a different brand of beer-- I'm not particularly a fan of Miller Lite. On the other hand, the new Punch Top Can might be just the thing to switch me.


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

An Unlikely Investment

As you already know, I am a big fan of electronic dance music. It turns out, I'm not the only one. I'm not talking about the millions of EDM fans around the world. I'm talking about investors. For years the EDM industry has consisted of up-and-coming DJs, veteran artists, and weekend-long festivals. These festivals are all around the world; some are annual, like Tomorrowland, and others are traveling acts, like Sensation White. These festivals have become valuable brands, which are able to sell tickets on their name alone... though headlining DJs help to amp up the crowd. For example, for the Electric Daisy Carnival, which just expanded to the New York area (it's usually in Las Vegas), 60,000 tickets at $100 sold out in three hours. That was before the headliners had even been announced. It's not only about the incredible lineup, but it is also the expectations of the audio-visual performance that makes these festivals epic. They are (without fail) absurd, breathtaking, etc., etc. They're indescribable.

Sensation White

This music genre has shifted from being a marginal part of the music business to a fundamental segment of the mainstream. It's appealing due to a frequent flow of fresh stars and its huge youth following. "If you're 15 to 25 years old now, this is your rock 'n' roll," said Michael Rapino, the executive of Live Nation Entertainment. The success and profit margins of these festival promoters has attracted various potential investors from the music industry and Wall Street. Though no official offers have been made, this rush to invest can be likened to the dot-com era. It's growing in the US... fast. Investors want to be the first, and know they need to act before the bubble pops.

These festivals are also a great opportunity for corporate and brand sponsorships. Especially those targeting the EDM-loving youth. Though an association with these rave-like festivals could be risky, I think it provides a great opportunity. But the EDM industry's potential is being recognized quickly, so marketers (and investors) should act fast!

Armin at Electric Dance Carnival

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

A Picture Is Worth... $1 Billion

Facebook has made some moves, very expensive moves, to better compete in the social media market. In my past Pinterest post, I mentioned the realtively new site is an incredibly fast growing social platform. It's actually the 3rd most popular social media network (after Twitter and Facebook), and is particularly popular among the female population. In fact, 97% of the sites users are women--hint, hint, to marketers trying to reach this audience. Women tend to trust Pinterest recommendations over Facebook recommendations. This could be due to the quality of the photos, the relaxing "pinning" process, and the site's simplicity.

Pinterest is clearly creeping up on Facebook and Twitter, but Facebook isn't going to sit back and watch that happen. The company's strategic purchase of Instagram, a photo-sharing mobile app, for $1 billion is step one in ensuring Facebook maintains its position in the social media market. Any photo taken with Instagram somehow becomes gorgeous and perfect. The app has various filters that can be applied to the photo you take, and then you can post your professional looking picture to your social sites. The Facebook team would never admit they are threatened by Pinterest, but in the press release announcing the acquisition they position themselves in a very Pinterest-like manner. “For years, we've focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family. Now, we'll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.” Hmm... what a clever and unique way to state their mission. 

As of now, I don't see how Facebook and Instagram will develop an offering to its users that is even close to being as seamlessly integrated as Pinterest's platform. Even Facebook and Instagram agree it will be a while until anything is really changed by this buyout. So, for now, Pinterest is safe. Facebook is putting its Instagram weapon on the back burner. Will it ever be able to truly compete with Pinterest in regards to photo sharing or motivating consumer purchases through insider recommendations? Probably not. Facebook owns its position as the social network that connects people, brands, and events. Maybe they should focus on making Timeline less annoying so I don't completely switch over to Twitter and Pinterest. Just a thought. 

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

Quotation Rotation 4/7/12

True about life... and too true about my future profession. Words can help, but they can also hurt. Word choice is everything.

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

Final Post

April Fools!

I thought I'd share with you a few great pranks from some extremely successful technology brands. These tricksters have embraced their April Fools duties and have successfully connected light-hearted humor to their overall brand personality. I always admire marketers who understand the importance of sincerely and fully humanizing a brand... fun and harmless shenanigans and all. 

Today, Google announced they will soon be offering Gmail Tap... the new alternative to smart phone keyboards. By substituting the current "complex" keyboard for morse code keys (2), Gmail Tap allows users to revolutionize their lives and text messages/e-mails. They've also included a program for multi-tasking... by allowing users to type two different messages... AT THE SAME TIME! They're bringing morse code back and making the world a lot more productive through this new (but old) technology. 

YouTube is offering the entire YouTube collection on DVD! Now you can watch viral videos, makeup tutorials, and your favorite dubstep remixes in the comfort of your own home... and conveniently on your TV! You can ditch the Internet and watch videos the way they were intended to be watched. You can also add video feedback via snail mail... so convenient. 

Since throwback, low-tech solutions are so hot now, Skype has developed a new product offering called Skype for String. It makes communicating super easy... just like when we were kids! Similarly, you need two cups and a piece of string (any brand will do). As we all know, trying to find the perfect Internet connection  can be difficult, but that is all in the past now thanks to this new innovative offering!

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

Next Stop: 1965

There was an incredible amount of buzz surrounding the season premier of AMC's Mad Men, which aired Sunday, March 25th. This chatter was rightfully earned, especially because it has been over a year since the fourth season ended. Viewers have been itching to see how the men and women of Madison Avenue will stir up more raunchy and dramatic entertainment. Newsweek was smart enough to latch on to this popular topic and mass following, and published a special 1960s Mad Men edition to bind the connection the weekly magazine once had with these driven advertising professionals. They also tried to imagine how a 1960s website would look (a bit contradictory...) and have created a temporary page over their original website to show us (it pops up when you go to the Newsweek site). 

The new issue features a cover story about the Emmy-winning show. That's not all. All of the advertisements in the issue are designed in the style that Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (the fictional advertising company in Mad Men) might have produced. The ads are still for modern day companies, but readers might have to take a second glance to confirm it. Besides the blast-from-the-past advertisements, another extremely interesting aspect of this issue is the cover story, which was written by Eleanor Clift. She worked at Newsweek in the 1960s and attests to the show's accuracy (especially the relationships between men and women in the workplace... and the drinking... and the sex). The issue will on the stands this week (March 26th) and next week (April 2nd), so take a moment when you're walking by a newsstand to check it out! In the meantime, here are a few of the old-school advertisements that were designed specifically for this issue.
pictures courtesy of AdAge

Dunkin' Donuts really would have fit RIGHT in

An actual new model

The "Mayhem" character from the modern TV ads... so funny!

Tide ties in how long they've been around (1946)

I think it could be an interesting idea for a campaign. Instead of creating modern advertisements, an advertiser would place old-school style advertisements for the brand among the modern magazine ads. It would motivate readers to stop and spend time looking at the ad to determine why the advertiser went that route -- was it part of an overall campaign or a way to celebrate an anniversary? Either way, it's a creative tool to differentiate the brand's ad from the rest. It's a way to stand out. 


Interested in the advertising industry myself, I have become a loyal Mad Men fan and was sitting eagerly in front of the TV screen at 8:45 on Sunday night as I waited for the two-hour premier to begin. My thoughts? Well, I wasn't too impressed. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed that there was no real bang. Nothing screamed, "Mad Men is back and it's going to be a CRAZY season!" Luckily, they haven't lost me as a viewer because next week's preview looked incredibly dramatic and enticing. Phewf!


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Let The Games Begin

“Hunger games. Hunger games. Hunger games.” That’s literally the only thing I’ve heard coming out of people’s mouths for almost a year. If I'm being honest, one of those mouths is my own. The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Susan Collins, is the new Twilight. Though the two plots have somewhat similar themes, The Hunger Games' story line appeals to a broader audience. For those who don’t have children, friends, or any connection to the outside world, the trilogy takes place in a dystopian future. North America has become Panem and is split into 13 districts. Every year, the Capitol (the oppressive government) holds the Hunger Games, which require each district to pick two teenagers (one male, one female) to participate in a fight to the death. The protagonist is Katniss Everdeen… and she’s quite the heroine.

The Hunger Games is “coming to theaters near you” on Friday, March 23rd. Yes, I’m attending the midnight showing on Thursday night and I am so excited (and such a dweeb). The point of this post, however, is to delve into the incredible digital and social media marketing tactics that Lionsgate has (and will continue to use) to promote the film. The integrated digital campaign, which is part of a much larger campaign featuring traditional promotional tactics as well, really highlights the most detailed aspects of The Hunger Games and allows fans to become part of Panem. Lionsgate's marketers understand that by using digital tactics as the forefront of their campaign, they are able to easily and immediately track engagement. As they observe the reactions of and interactions among fans, they can shape future phases of the campaign to increase engagement. 

One of the most creative and interactive tactics allows fans to become an official citizen of Panem… ID card and all. They have created an interactive website in which you can register for a District Identification Pass. Once you receive your assignment (district, occupation, citizen number), you can download it to your Facebook, Twitter, Google+, phone, or tablet. You can even order a physical District Identification Pass for free off Facebook. Once you register, you’re prompted to join your district on Facebook. Each district has their own Facebook page and a mayor, recruiter and journalist—by the way, these individuals are true enthusiasts and fans of The Hunger Games and were elected to their positions by “The Capitol”. By using these enthusiasts, The Hunger Games was able to push its message through multiple platforms and to broader audiences--the beauty of consumer generated content and brand ambassadors! It also creates a sense of community among The Hunger Games fans. “Panem citizens” are able to watch sneak peek movie clips and receive various rewards for taking their fandom to the next level. 

YouTube hosts “Capitol TV” with clips and special trailers. These videos can also be seen on each District’s Facebook page under a tab called "The Square", which was the main gathering area in each district in the book. You have to “Like” the page before you can see the info, but it has branded messages, warnings, advertisements, and various other film promotions.

In addition to various other strategic social media tactics... I haven't even gotten to Twitter yet (not going to, so check it out for yourself--sorry!), The Hunger Games partnered with Feeding America and the United Nations World Food Programme to fight against hunger. The actors of the film starred in a PSA to raise awareness about hunger in the US and around the world.

As you can see, The Hunger Games did A LOT to promote the upcoming movie, but due to the campaign's heavy reliance on social media and digital tactics it was incredibly inexpensive and effective. There were still frequent TV advertisements, 3,000 billboard and bus shelter advertisements, movie posters, and almost 50 magazine cover stories, but with the help of social media platforms, the integrated campaign motivated a TON of engagement. The key is to constantly give fans something to get excited about and share--that that is exactly what Lionsgate did for The Hunger games. I'm quite confident that the film will do extremely well in theaters, and hope that other studios and marketers in all industries realize the power of creative and engaging digital promotional tools as centerpieces of integrated campaigns. 

I’d be happy to tell you about some of their other tactics, but I really want to register for my District Identification Pass so I know where my loyalty lies on Thursday night. Oh, and did I mention there is an iPhone game? The Hunger Games: Girl on Fire.

POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Celebration of Music and Drinks

Marketers are finally figuring it out. Electronic dance music is here to stay and is a great way to entice teens and young adults (in this case, JUST young adults... 21+). The EDM industry provides a slew of up-and-coming, influential artists... AKA potential brand ambassadors and promotional partners. Absolut Vodka is ahead of the game and has roped in the famous Swedish House Mafia to create a collaborative multi-dimensional cocktail experience to promote the new Absolut Greyhound cocktail. The Swedish, grapefruit-spiked cocktail is Absolut's new signature drink, as well as the official drink of electronic dance music. The drink must be absolutely incredible, especially since it inspired Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell, and Steve Angello's latest single... also called "Greyhound". 


"Greyhound" is a bit more low-key than Swedish House Mafia's typical instrumentals... though it still builds up, breaks down... bass drop, etc. I'm sure that was a strategic decision when considering the commercial aspects of the partnership... not everyone can handle EDM. The track is pretty good, but the accompanying video really finalizes the partnership. It's a Sci-Fi-inspired, desert dog race. It's incredibly futuristic, quirky, and dramatic. The three SHM DJ's appear underground and are the controls behind the three robotic greyhounds. They are essentially disc jockeys--get it?! Check it out.

Swedish House Mafia is big in the EDM world--and I mean BIG. The Absolut partnership adds to the growing number of musical acts teaming up with beverage companies in order to push culturally relevant brands. This partnership is perfect. SHM will take Absolut far... or will it be the other way around? Either way, the iconic Swedish brands have collaborated to celebrate two incredibly important things in society: music and drinks. Cheers and rage on!


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Bacon and Eggs... cocktail, please!

Don't worry, you're not going crazy. The title reads: Bacon and Eggs COCKTAIL. Restaurants have been playing off the gourmet comfort food for... well, forever. In the past years, however, I've come across a lot of savory cocktails on restaurant menus. There also seems to be some sort of obsession with bacon. I've come across various bacon-flavored products that range from gum, to chips, to toothpaste! Yes, your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, or roommate can wake up to your smokey bacon breath! Woohoo! 


This specific Bacon and Eggs cocktail is offered at New York's Whiskey Blue. The cocktail, served "sunny side up" (get it?!), features whipped eggs mixed in with a shot of bourbon and smoked bacon. When I first read about this cocktail, I imagined that in the place of a celery stick or swizzle stick, there would be a crispy piece of bacon! Lo and behold, that's exactly what it has! 

In addition to the Bacon and Eggs cocktail, they serve a Blueberry Scone cocktail, as well as a Waffle and Maple Syrup cocktail. As you might have assumed, the liquid comfort foods run for about the same price as the actual comfort foods -- $16. 


So, instead of ordering a Bloody Mary or Mimosa at brunch, why not just go all out and get a Bacon and Egg cocktail to go with your... bacon and eggs?


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Quotation Rotation 3/3/12

Valid point. I think I'll use my brains and feet to steer me to Punta Cana. 

See ya'll next week!

(My friends and me in a few hours...)

POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Sorry! Girls Only.

Imagine walking down the street and having advertisements change based on your gender, age, or race. This trend of ultra-targeted advertising has already started in London. Plan UK, a not-for-profit organization that helps children in third-world countries, launched a facial recognition billboard to promote its "Because I'm a Girl" campaign on February 22nd. As you may already assume, the ad is not the same for everyone. With 90% accuracy, the interactive advertisement scans pedestrians and identifies their gender. If it recognizes a woman, it allows her to see a 40-second campaign video, which promotes sponsoring a girl from a developing country to receive proper education. On the other hand, if it detects a man, it shows relevant campaign statistics and directs them to the Plan UK website. The purpose of this somewhat exclusive method of advertising is to show men "a glimpse of what it's like to have basic choices taken away." Personally, I think it is a bit creepy, but I'll have to get used to it (I'll explain why later).

The billboard, located at a bus stop on Oxford Street, cost Plan UK around $47,000 to execute (with help from Clear Channel UK, 3D Exposure, and Curb Media), and will only last for a total of two weeks (one down, one more to go). They hope to raise $400,000 in donations during the next four months, and believe the high-tech, emotion-inspiring billboard will motivate many of these donations. The amount of press the organization and its campaign has received due to the billboard will certainly help fundraising efforts as well--cue the need for PR professionals!


The 40-second video is part of a longer documentary, which showcases three 13 year old girls: Jasmine from the UK, Bintou from Mali, and Sur from Thailand. It highlights their differences, commonalities, obstacles, and dreams. If you have three minutes to spare, take a peak. Beware: it's emotionally riveting.

This new breed of outdoor advertising has incredible implications for the marketing industry. The technology used in Plan UK's billboard is the first of its kind and can be compared to the iPad and Xbox Kinect (combined). Not only does it scan faces, but it also measures the distance between the viewer's eyes, width of their nose, length of their jaw line, and shape of their cheekbone, to determine their gender. Ultra-targeted advertising through facial recognition software is in our near future. Some shopping malls are already testing the technology to more effectively reach and appeal to shoppers. 


I hope this technology can eventually be applied to television and the Internet. Maybe one day I'll stop seeing advertisements for arthritis medication or Viagra. One can only hope!


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

#Pinning is #Winning

I created my account on Pinterest in December and have been obsessively pinning ever since. For those of you who are a little behind in this booming social media trend, it is basically an online scrapbook. The site was launched in 2010, and went from 1.6 million registered users in September '11, to more than 7 million in December '11. WOW. The site is fun and engaging for users because it allows consumers to create and organize personalized and categorized bulletin boards, which they can pin their favorite images to. When they "pin" something, their friends/acquaintances/followers will see it and can re-pin it to their own boards, or simply "like" or comment on it. Additionally, Pinterest pins have the ability to go viral, just like posts on Facebook or Twitter. 


Pinterest is not only a great social media platform for consumers, but it also provides an incredible opportunity for companies, brands, and blogs. When users click on a picture, it will link them out to its source, which ultimately drives visitors to company websites and relevant blogs. Companies should highly consider setting up accounts on Pinterest in order to reach consumers in a visually appealing way. This is especially applicable to retailers who can post images of their own products, and ultimately link users back to the company's website and... DRIVE SALES! 


Like any social media website, the goal of Pinterest is to interact and engage consumers. Companies should not only post their own pins, but also re-pin the images of other users in order to maintain a presence and avoid being too promotional. The scrapbooking site is strictly visual... so it's not the optimal social media platform for every company. But if marketers are able and willing to think outside the box and get super creative, it might result in various positive outcomes! Chobani is one of these innovative companies. The popular yogurt brand posts pictures/recipes of delicious looking (and sounding) foods that use Chobani yogurt as an ingredient. It helps the brand drive consumers to its bloggers and website, which helps promote the brand's personality, values, and uses. Another Pinterest success story is Ideeli, an online retail "deal" site that specializes in luxury products. Ideeli has seen a 446% increase in web traffic from Pinterest in the last six months!


Here are a few of my favorite pins...these are just snippets of styles I love, delicious looking food and recipes, future home dreams, and incredible photography. 

Pinterest is quickly becoming all the rage among consumers...SO, if companies and marketers haven't signed up yet, they should probably get on that...today.


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

PS. Pinterest is my go-to site to find yummy recipes and trendy online shopping sites. Buffalo fried goat cheese? Yes, please. 

Happy Love Day!

Not your average Valentine's Day serenade but heart-felt nonetheless! These Puma football Brits sing (and drink) together in "perfect" harmony.


Happy Valentine's Day! 


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

The Sun Gets A Little Help

On January 23rd, an environmental phenomenon occurred... the sun rose significantly earlier in central London than normal. Well, not really. It was a man-made sun, but it helped the real sun brighten Trafalgar Square. Not only did this "sun" rise an hour early, but it also gave Londoners three extra hours of "daylight"!


The "sun" was around 30,000 times bigger than a football and had the power of 60,000 light bulbs, which apparently means it could have been seen from space. Greyworld, a UK art collective, was commissioned by Tropicana to design and build the sun in order to launch the company's "Brighter Mornings" campaign. It was the perfect (and gorgeous) way to brighten up the dark, mid-winter day. 

Photo Courtesy of Greyworld

Tropicana's "Brighter Mornings" campaign is a large-scale, integrated marketing campaign, which also includes a new Tropicana commercial. The key goal of the campaign is to increase sales and specifically link Tropicana with the ultimate way to start the day--yes, that rhymes. It also aims to strategically motivate retailers to back the campaign by selling single-serving Tropicana juices to boost on-the-go breakfast sales.

Obviously, an instillation like this is meant to generate a lot of online and traditional buzz... and Tropicana succeeded. There were TONS of tweets from consumers, marketing professionals, and media personnel from all over the world. Clearly, if the company was measuring the effectiveness of the campaign solely on the amount of digital buzz, they would be proud. Tropicana still needs some time, however, to see if the campaign influences positive sales results.

I love sunrises (when I'm unlucky lucky enough to catch them), but the installation was short-lived and the bang--or lack there of--didn't seem worth the time or money. The idea was pretty good, but the execution was... meh. It would have been a lot more impactful and memorable if Tropicana had these "suns" installed in multiple locations... maybe in specific areas that don't receive sunlight naturally. Money, however, is always a factor, and I'm sure the sun in Trafalgar Square didn't come cheap. I guess the rest of us will have to settle with the natural rise and fall of the real sun... "oh woe is me us." 

POGS, 
AKtually Ashley

Average Joe = Super Bowl Pro (Advertiser)

I'm not a big fan of cats either, so me and the cat-eating dog from the Super Bowl Doritos ad should team up. The Great Dane and his bribing strategy really made a splash in Sunday night's Super Bowl advertising competition. The spot ranked number one in USA Today's Annual Super Bowl Ad Meter... and was voted one of the most popular Super Bowl 2012 ads in various other ranking systems as well. The Doritos ad, "Man's Best Friend", was one of two awesome consumer-generated advertisements that aired during the game--the other one, "Sling Baby", was a Doritos ad as well, and ranked number four on the Ad Meter! Jonathan Friedman, the ad's creator, will receive $1 million from Doritos for his nationally recognized ad, which only cost him $20! Cheap and no celebs? Way to go Average Joe Jonathan!


USA Today's Ad Meter is regarded as the most influential Super Bowl ad rating system in the advertising industry. It tracks the second-by-second responses of a panel of viewers during the national broadcast and has them rank the ads from favorite to least favorite. USA Today also recently introduced a Facebook app, which allows consumers to rank and share their favorites as well.  


For those of you who missed the commercial (or the entire Super Bowl), here it is:

This is the sixth year Doritos has put on the Crash the Super Bowl contest, which invites regular "Average Joe's and Jane's"--AKA consumers--to submit ads. This year the contest received more than 6,000 submissions. After the Doritos team whittled that massive number down to five, consumers' votes determined one winner, while Doritos picked its personal preference. 


Doritos may have the number one and four spot on the Ad Meter, but my personal Super Bowl fave is still top five... M&M's spot, "Just My Shell". I previously posted about the intro of Ms. Brown... and man, did she introduce herself! I was right, she is sassy! Absolutely loved it! And Red has never been so funny. 

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, YEAH!


POGS,
AKtually Ashley