Once in awhile, I wax poetic and unfairly find the common threads with life’s raison d’être and a brand’s raison d’etre - this is one of those times.
I currently find myself amidst a brand positioning assignment conducting the customary executive workshop, competitive research and messaging analysis. While I believe highlighting strengths and finding a market opportunity are [...]
With the influx of freelancers symptomatic from the outflux in agency layoffs, there is a new agency business model emerging. One that won’t be beneficial to clients.
A hypothesis: A large client comes to an agency needing a campaign including TV, print, digital, and/or buzz. A couple years ago, the agency would have created a highly complex Excel spreadsheet [...]
Nokia - HK Honey from The Silentlights on Vimeo.
Purifying the elements.
Deconstruction the human cause.
Writing naked.
Painting the environment.
Respecting the audience.
Fearlessness.
After perusing a topline report for “B-to-B Marketing in 2010: Trends in Strategy and Spending” by MarketingProfs/Forrester Research, I thought one chart important to share with my readers. It points to a significant increase in developing digital tactics due to more cost-efficiency and targeted reach. While communicating digitally is certainly predominant, you can see marketing [...]
As a three time entrepreneur, two service businesses and one product, I can attest to the at times insurmountable challenges that this journey provides. For every small up there can be an equal or exponential down. The emotional exhaustion, financial insecurity, and overwhelming responsibility can derail the best of us. For those that have made [...]
One of the most subjective processes in launching a new company/product is choosing a name. One that encapsulates the brand promise, product portfolio, personality, values, etc. and accelerates the company/product to an increased state of value.
Before proceeding down this often treacherous path, take a common-day example to heart. Think of the last time you chose [...]
The below will be an evergrowing list over the next six months. Some may say these words/phrases have already become tired, I would suggest that they may take on new meanings or approach mainstream. I welcome comments and additions.
“Now that the dust has settled.” An anti-recessionary message for economic growth in 2010. A derivative of this burgeoning optimism is currently [...]
While reading this month’s Inc. issue, I came across a very powerful visual that stood apart from all of the images of leisurely entrepreneurs seeming intelligent. The image looked like a mesh between a paperclip and a leveling tool.
What pulled me in further was a quote by the CEO stating, “Your physician has a lot [...]
A post in Business Week Online earlier this year, is worth reblogging. Bruce Nussbaum, is a seasoned writer who focuses on innovations in all areas - technology, service, design, communication, etc. His articulation of the 10 worst mistakes you can make in a recession are a perspective refreshment as we enter the second half of 2009 [...]
As someone heavily involved in B2B technology branding, I dream in acronyms.
It seems that for every million in company revenue, 10-20 acronyms can be born. While I understand the short-hand exercise and quite honestly many would be writing all day to spell out each acronym, I also believe we begin to wear them like [...]
When digging deeper into your core demographics, often you find surprises of ways that connect them outside of “male/24-34/tech spirited/golfer, father, entrepreneur.” Taking the time to study the individuals, say through an ethnography, may reveal other threads that tie your audience. Perhaps they are also all Trekkies? CNET gives the top 7 sites where you [...]
Over the weekend, Dell launched a female-targeted microsite called Della - primarily focusing on the exploding netbook market. Through visual and behavioral language, the site was created to appeal solely to women and is yet another attempt to capture this influential gender using a more mass-relatable approach than the Adamo by Dell. Below are my thoughts on its [...]
I’m typically an early adopter, or at least on the early part of the curve, but I also am a highly tactile, visual learner/thinker. Perhaps this is why I have yet to buy a Kindle. I do know once I use one, that I’ll likely become addicted, a tech trait I covet. But the smell [...]
I prefer to not blog about people who blog. I fear that journalistic authenticity or insight deteriorates in quality like making a copy of a faxed copy.
Although, I came across this image today and found it an incredibly over-simplified yet a refreshingly simplistic view of cultural trends.
When is haggling appropriate? At car dealerships, tourist traps, and perhaps with your cable provider. But, haggling is becoming more and more common with retailers suffering. A writer from the New York Times had one such experience at Best Buy this weekend. He was able to negotiate down his 42″ LG Plasma and also include a [...]
For my faithful followers (in the millions now! ;)), my sincerest apologies for slacking on keeping up with my blog. Since we last spoke, I’ve had two things happen:
I’ve been busy practicing what I preach
I had my laptop stolen by the Best Buy Guy
Ok, maybe not a Best Buy Guy specifically, but a guy/girl who [...]
When speaking of luxury, one typically thinks of Prada, BMW, or perhaps Eames. When speaking of technology, does “luxury” come into play? Typically not, says Tim Herbert, senior director market research for CEA (Consumer Electronics Association).
One difference between CE and other markets like jewelry is CE products are considered more necessity than luxury in many [...]
A harmonious marriage was released today, Skype has finally launched on the iPhone. The free app will be available shortly on ITunes making it easy to see your loved ones and business types while going about your daily life (barring you are close to a Wi-Fi source as the video capability won’t work over your [...]
Yesterday, Nokia released images of the fully-functioning song-inspired winners of the Nokia Music Almighty Headset Competition - an ingenious idea developed by Wieden + Kennedy London. The competition began last year, in which 6,000+ entrants crafted their Nokia Bluetooth headset around inspiring songs such as Daft Punk Robot Rock or Kelis Milkshake (one looking almost [...]
While flipping through the pages of Fast Company’s April 2009 issue, this clip to the left caught my eye. The Zikmu, by Parrot looks like two big trumpets with a small ipod on the top. The cool look made me dig further to find a product launch flash site and an inspiring video from Philippe Starck himself.
As [...]
I flew Virgin America over the weekend, my airline of choice. I will spend just a little extra to use the simple kiosks stands equipped with orchids, sit at the gate as Coldplay fills the air and walk onto the plane where the purple glow feels cozy and comforting. I always sit down in my seat, excitedly [...]
As mentioned in my blog on March 11th, Cisco has squelched the rumor of acquiring Pure Digital Technologies, the makers of the ever-so-simple Flip Video mini camcorder, by publicly announcing the $590 million agreement. Cisco used this announcement to also address their commitment to the consumer electronics space and plan to become a house-hold name [...]
Last year, Philips released a series of LCD TVs called the “Design Collection.” With similar strategies as outlined in my Adamo blog, the brand wanted to further appeal to the females whose CE influence and purchase power would strengthen their position in the evolving technology market. According to Philips’ research, 98 percent of women consider [...]
As the iPhone OS 3.0 will no doubt steal the blogosphere today, I thought it important to give some well deserved credit to the other white meat - the new PC debut, Adamo by Dell. There has been great anticipation to the official release and finally they are available today.
The Adamo, latin for “to fall in [...]
As the ultimate homage to fashion meets technology, the Japanese Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology unveiled a ‘fashion model robot‘ today. She is 5′ tall, 95 lbs, can speak, express emotions and walk with grace. She will hit the catwalk in Tokyo on March 23rd and likely many tradeshow floors shortly thereafter.
While the fascination with robots [...]
There are many facts supporting female’s power over purchases made in every B2C sector. Although, most of these studies don’t further segment women into those who drive the female consumer to make these choices. Just as in any other demographic segmentation there are those who influence and those who are influenced.
The strategic challenge becomes highly-complex [...]
Simple and direct has replaced complex and obscure.
Example: Flip sales figures and acquisition rumors this week.
Function and ease-of-use marry exclusivity and fashion.
Example: Fergie promoting HP usability.
Reliability and convergence usurp bleeding edge.
Example: Engadget’s nod to Nokia for exploring the next big trend.
Consumer retention outweighs acquisition.
Example: Kodak’s new upsell technology released at PMA.
Insightful innovation leads ubiquitous invention.
Example: Intuitiveness of the [...]
If you missed Engadget Editor-in-chief Joshua Topolsky on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, you didn’t miss much. Their energized tête-à-tête at CES didn’t carry over to national television, it became a lovefest over the not-yet-available Palm Pre. As this type of mainstreaming of technology fascination becomes a staple on talk TV, it will be a creative challenge to bring the [...]
For all those who attended CES early this year, you may have noticed a celebrity comedian roaming the aisles - Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Fallon and Engadget editor-in-chief Joshua Topolsky, put on a funny impromptu review discussing the PalmPre and the “not netbook, ultra-portable, coat pocket-fitting” Sony Vaio P.
Obviously, this duo hit it off and Jimmy has [...]
GE’s interactive “Smart Grid technology” YouTube spot shows you how to create your own virtual Smart Grid - with only a printer, a webcam and a microphone. Impressive and a unique approach to connect consumers with the company’s value of innovation. The site is also visually engaging.
