A few years ago, only geeks, programmers and few others knew what "#" was called. We listened to "Jane," the voice of our voicemail and automated phone systems, call it "the pound sign." If you were coding in HTML, you may have used the # as a page tag or named page anchor. But now, the little # or "hashtag" has become a part of our vocabulary and is ubiquitous.» 1 Comments
It wasn't so long ago that we relied on TV to reach the mass market. Anyone who advertised during the Super Bowl - or "The Carol Burnett Show" for that matter - could reach a huge percentage of American households. A generation ago, advertising on ABC, NBC or CBS would get you into the majority of American homes, and command the attention advertisers today can only dream about. Back then, multi-tasking meant eating popcorn and watching "The Ed Sullivan Show" at the same time. Advertisers didn't have the battle for attention they have now.» 1 Comments
For many brands sports fans are the ultimate target. Dollars constantly feed into sponsorships, media spots and social programs timed to players and teams. However, one of the most cost-effective solutions might be right above their audiences. Literally.» 0 Comments
Some viewers and even industryites out there might hit awards show burn-out this time of year, but not me. I love everything from the strategic nominee campaigns to the red carpet fashion, and I think Billy Crystal's Oscar monologues are among the best TV moments in the history of the medium.» 0 Comments
This week, Las Vegas is being stormed by legions from Madison Ave., Silicon Valley and Hollywood, descending on the annual CES melee. I decided to skip the madness this year; however, I have been watching the tweets and various updates from afar.» 0 Comments
Last January, I rang in the New Year with a look at the marketing of shows like "Intervention," "Celebrity Rehab" and "DUI." Now, I'm celebrating Chrismukkah with "Project Roadblock," aPSA initiative in which local TV stations around the country offer free airtime during the week of Dec. 26 in an effort to put the brakes on drunk driving. The multi-platform campaign, which also includes a social media program, runs during one of the deadliest auto-fatality weeks of the year and culminates with a concentrated roadblock of on-air spots, texts, and tweets leading up to New Year's Eve.» 0 Comments
"He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought ... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!"» 0 Comments
If 2012 was the year of the London Olympics, the Election, and GangnamStyle, what does 2013 hold in store for marketers? Where will the growth come from? We see a number of trends ready to shape the way we do business. Across several categories below, we'll make a "safe" and an "out on a limb" prediction.» 0 Comments
It's very exciting to see how mobile video is taking off these days. I'm pretty passionate about the medium, obviously, so I'm always excited to see brands launching video ads that are optimized for tablets and smart phones. I know it works, and I know they'll see great results. Except ...» 1 Comments
Frequently, I find myself sitting in a room with a brand manager or agency discussing their "marketing pillars" and many times, if targeting women, entertainment is top of the list. These people are charged with leveraging entertainment platforms, or more daunting yet, creating new entertainment experiences, that will both engage users and align with their brand. This all sounds like fun but with many media options out there, breaking through the clutter is no easy task and delivering an ROI without insurmountable spend can be quite the challenge.» 0 Comments
