Trash—it’s inevitably everywhere and there always seems to be more being generated. Here in the United States, the trash concept is simple: we take our trash and recyclables to the curb on our given garbage pickup day and it disappears via the garbage to truck to a landfill or recycling center. However, in Indonesia, trash is a huge issue—lining the street and rivers since the country is too economically impaired to fund municipal projects like trash pickup.
One artist, Ann Wizer, has helped create a special project aimed at not only helping clean Jakarta, Indonesia streets, but also establish well paying jobs, and create some really cool new items out of plastic consumer packaging. XSProject, Wizer’s foundation, keeps trash out of landfills—she hires local trash pickers to collect (usually colorful) branded packages, and repurposes them into usable bags, binders, pillows, and a variety of other products and literally turning one man’s trash into another’s treasure.
While this article isn’t exactly advertising centric, I think that XSProject and other similar groups are creating a solution and spreading awareness about the global trash issue to create functional and trendy items to be sold in the marketplace. While branding is so important to creating awareness among consumers, I think that advertisers have an obligation to be socially and environmentally conscious in regards to product packaging. According to XSProjectGroup.com, “only 1 in 10,000 products are created with the environment in mind,” and “98% of all products are throw out within 6 months of purchase.
I think that what XSProject is doing is a wonderful service to the people of Jakarta—creating new goods, establishing viable business opportunities, and cleaning up the streets.
To see some examples of their work and to learn more about the project, please visit: http://www.xsprojectgroup.com.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Mobile User and Abuser
It’s a well know fact: I break technology. I don’t really think that I’m breaking all things electronic, but rather, I think that I am testing them to the limits. Unfortunately, this usually renders all things mechanical that I handle useless and otherwise broken. Last week, for the fifth time in my entire cell phone life, my cell phone leaped from my hands and went crashing to the ground. This tragic act of cellular suicide triggered a thought—is it time to upgrade to an iPhone or Blackberry?
From my understanding, cellular phone usage is increasing, especially with the rise of wireless technology—specifically applications (apps). My issue is and always has been how connected to “the world” do I want to be? Currently, my phone plan is basic. I don’t text, I don’t surf the Internet, and I have no apps. Although economical, it’s not the best for my social life or connecting to the world around me. So why should I make the next technological step into the 21st century with an iPhone or Blackberry?
According to Did You Know 4.0, a popular YouTube video, there are over one trillion pages, in the last five years, online readership has grown thirty million readers, and sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook are social media phenomena. However, cell phones, iPhone, Blackberries, and various other Internet providing phones, are allowing people to become more connected with one another, the world, and with brands and advertising messages. It is even predicted that by next year (2010), the cell phones will be the primary communication and connection tool to the Internet.
My joining the Mobile media trend surely in, but I think I’m up for the challenge not only as an advertiser, but also as a consumer. I am excited to view the world in a different way with knowledge, information, and Internet connection at my fingertips. I can’t wait to interact with applications, social networking, and more importantly what new innovations advertisers are producing to adapt to market trends and meet the needs of a growing mobile and Internet savvy audience.
Let’s hope that my new cell phones, regardless of its brand or capabilities, stays intact and away from my mobile misfortune. More to come on this topic.
References
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/infographic-day-what-cellphone-provider-best-you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8
http://www.apple.com/iphone/?cid=OAS-US-DOMAINS-iphone.com
http://www.blackberry.com/
From my understanding, cellular phone usage is increasing, especially with the rise of wireless technology—specifically applications (apps). My issue is and always has been how connected to “the world” do I want to be? Currently, my phone plan is basic. I don’t text, I don’t surf the Internet, and I have no apps. Although economical, it’s not the best for my social life or connecting to the world around me. So why should I make the next technological step into the 21st century with an iPhone or Blackberry?
According to Did You Know 4.0, a popular YouTube video, there are over one trillion pages, in the last five years, online readership has grown thirty million readers, and sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook are social media phenomena. However, cell phones, iPhone, Blackberries, and various other Internet providing phones, are allowing people to become more connected with one another, the world, and with brands and advertising messages. It is even predicted that by next year (2010), the cell phones will be the primary communication and connection tool to the Internet.
My joining the Mobile media trend surely in, but I think I’m up for the challenge not only as an advertiser, but also as a consumer. I am excited to view the world in a different way with knowledge, information, and Internet connection at my fingertips. I can’t wait to interact with applications, social networking, and more importantly what new innovations advertisers are producing to adapt to market trends and meet the needs of a growing mobile and Internet savvy audience.
Let’s hope that my new cell phones, regardless of its brand or capabilities, stays intact and away from my mobile misfortune. More to come on this topic.
References
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/infographic-day-what-cellphone-provider-best-you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8
http://www.apple.com/iphone/?cid=OAS-US-DOMAINS-iphone.com
http://www.blackberry.com/
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Fall Fantasy Football Phenomenon
It’s fall. It must be time to sit back, tailgate, and watch some football.
Estimated between 15 and 18 million, some football fans are taking their love of the sport to new, digital, heights by drafting real NFL players onto fantasy football teams. The premise of the “sport,” is to allow people to “draft teams of players and compete against other teams based on their players' real gridiron statistics.”
“Predominantly male, married, in a high income bracket and more likely to do research or make purchases online,” the number of fantasy football participants is not only a captive audience, but they’re also growing – with 7-10% growth in the past three years. Most users spend approximately four hours per week on fantasy team management via free sites (Yahoo, ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.).
Coors Light beer, for example, is targeting users via a variety of websites, including Facebook. By using this platform, Coors is targeting specific users (21+), and inundating them with advertisements (display ads and online commercials)—thusly reaching attentive core users who drink their product. In addition to Coors Light, major advertisers for this football season are GMC, McDonald's, Budweiser, Toyota, and Coke.
While I do not play fantasy football myself, I am observant to some ads targeted to this group: Bud Light’s Tailgate Approved ads are the specific example that comes to mind. On the Tailgate Approved micro site, not only are there a variety of tailgate essentials and games, but also the Fantasy Football Namerator to assist in choosing one’s fantasy football team name (in essence a word slot machine that make a nonsensical fantasy football team name).
I think that the popularity of fantasty football will continue to grow, and the intensity of the advertising campaigns will follow suit. In the future, I expect more products targeted at the male audience (like Gillette, Axe, and maybe even Viagra) to be more visible online, especially on fantasty football sites.
References:
http://www.nfl.com/
http://adage.com/article?article_id=139005
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/11/news/companies/fantasyfootball/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORrqdkDYnoM
http://www.tailgateapproved.com/tg/#/home
Estimated between 15 and 18 million, some football fans are taking their love of the sport to new, digital, heights by drafting real NFL players onto fantasy football teams. The premise of the “sport,” is to allow people to “draft teams of players and compete against other teams based on their players' real gridiron statistics.”
“Predominantly male, married, in a high income bracket and more likely to do research or make purchases online,” the number of fantasy football participants is not only a captive audience, but they’re also growing – with 7-10% growth in the past three years. Most users spend approximately four hours per week on fantasy team management via free sites (Yahoo, ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.).
Coors Light beer, for example, is targeting users via a variety of websites, including Facebook. By using this platform, Coors is targeting specific users (21+), and inundating them with advertisements (display ads and online commercials)—thusly reaching attentive core users who drink their product. In addition to Coors Light, major advertisers for this football season are GMC, McDonald's, Budweiser, Toyota, and Coke.
While I do not play fantasy football myself, I am observant to some ads targeted to this group: Bud Light’s Tailgate Approved ads are the specific example that comes to mind. On the Tailgate Approved micro site, not only are there a variety of tailgate essentials and games, but also the Fantasy Football Namerator to assist in choosing one’s fantasy football team name (in essence a word slot machine that make a nonsensical fantasy football team name).
I think that the popularity of fantasty football will continue to grow, and the intensity of the advertising campaigns will follow suit. In the future, I expect more products targeted at the male audience (like Gillette, Axe, and maybe even Viagra) to be more visible online, especially on fantasty football sites.
References:
http://www.nfl.com/
http://adage.com/article?article_id=139005
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/11/news/companies/fantasyfootball/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORrqdkDYnoM
http://www.tailgateapproved.com/tg/#/home
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Importance of Brands
A friend, who is currently looking to change careers, recently forwarded me a link to a site about branding yourself with color during the interview process, and it made me think about not only the way that I brand myself, but also how products are branded—how consumers connect and remember a brand.
Although I think my signature color to be green, I don’t readily denote that synergistically from interview garb to resume to follow-up notes (although I think it’s a cool idea). Instead, I market myself via a variety of online profiles, and of course, this blog. Hopefully these items attribute to my professional ability, skill set, and interests in the online marketplace to reach my target audience – professionals and other advertising enthusiasts…and anyone else who’s listening (Hi Dad!).
For products, brands are usually denoted with logos. Nike’s swoosh, Coca Cola’s distinctive script, and Michelin with their puffy/marshmallow Michelin man are all examples of how brands’ mark their products as unique and connect them with advertising messaging. Logos allow consumers to recognize a brand product line and bring to mind the unique selling proposition in the marketing message when faced with a purchase decision.
I recently saw a display banner for Kleenex brand tissues. The copy, read:
Brand Identity Theft. Kleenex should be always be be followed by a (R) and the word "Tissue." Kleenex: Help us keep our identity ours.
As a consumer, I use the term ‘tissue’ and ‘Kleenex’ synonymously - or rather, when I ask for a tissue, I'm really asking for a Kleenex brand tissue. Kleenex cementing their brand identity in the minds of consumers by associating the word "tissue" and the brand name "Kleenex"--asking consumers to use the two together so that when one asks for a tissue, they're asking for a Kleenex brand tissue. Another example of this is the use of the term ‘coke’ to refer to a carbonated and caffeinated beverage from 'Coca-Cola.' These two examples show the importance of branding—two completely different brands have become synonymous with the products that they advertise.
Branding is an important part of advertising strategy. Not only is it is a visual link between the consumer and product, but also allows consumer to distinguish brands from one another, build loyalty and choose a preferred brand, and allows for price leveraging based on real or perceived brand benefits.
References:
http://excelle.monster.com/news/articles/3975-how-to-brand-yourself-with-color
Although I think my signature color to be green, I don’t readily denote that synergistically from interview garb to resume to follow-up notes (although I think it’s a cool idea). Instead, I market myself via a variety of online profiles, and of course, this blog. Hopefully these items attribute to my professional ability, skill set, and interests in the online marketplace to reach my target audience – professionals and other advertising enthusiasts…and anyone else who’s listening (Hi Dad!).
For products, brands are usually denoted with logos. Nike’s swoosh, Coca Cola’s distinctive script, and Michelin with their puffy/marshmallow Michelin man are all examples of how brands’ mark their products as unique and connect them with advertising messaging. Logos allow consumers to recognize a brand product line and bring to mind the unique selling proposition in the marketing message when faced with a purchase decision.
I recently saw a display banner for Kleenex brand tissues. The copy, read:
Brand Identity Theft. Kleenex should be always be be followed by a (R) and the word "Tissue." Kleenex: Help us keep our identity ours.
As a consumer, I use the term ‘tissue’ and ‘Kleenex’ synonymously - or rather, when I ask for a tissue, I'm really asking for a Kleenex brand tissue. Kleenex cementing their brand identity in the minds of consumers by associating the word "tissue" and the brand name "Kleenex"--asking consumers to use the two together so that when one asks for a tissue, they're asking for a Kleenex brand tissue. Another example of this is the use of the term ‘coke’ to refer to a carbonated and caffeinated beverage from 'Coca-Cola.' These two examples show the importance of branding—two completely different brands have become synonymous with the products that they advertise.
Branding is an important part of advertising strategy. Not only is it is a visual link between the consumer and product, but also allows consumer to distinguish brands from one another, build loyalty and choose a preferred brand, and allows for price leveraging based on real or perceived brand benefits.
References:
http://excelle.monster.com/news/articles/3975-how-to-brand-yourself-with-color
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
There's No Such Thing As A Free Concert
Two weeks ago, one of my friends invited me to go with her to the Summer Krush tour featuring Dierks Bentley. The show was “free,” and I use the term loosely, as the old adage says—there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and like lunch, this show was not really free.
Sponsored by Samsung and AT&T, the show was scheduled to begin around 8pm. However, the show time came and went, and the only visible activities were the continuous looping of a Samsung Jack commercial on overhead monitors, and an on-stage screen that projected text messages of concert-goers (most to the tune of “I heart Dierks” and “Hi Mom!”). When the MC finally arrived on stage, he chose two random numbers who had texted the screen to win prizes—one person won a Samsung Jack, and the other a Summer Krush electric guitar. Then, Dierks took the stage, and put on a great show.
I think that offering a free concert series is a really innovative way for advertisers, in this case Samsung and AT&T, to bring together a large group of targeted consumers (I estimate Caucasian females between 14 and 30 years old who like country music) and inundate them with a targeted message—in this case, the messaging described the “coolness” of the Samsung Jack, and its text messaging/email/Internet features.
Not only is it a great way to interact with consumers thus strengthening the relationship with them (read: face time with potential buyers), but as a targeted consumer, I am more receptive to listening to their message...especially if there's no hard cost for me. While I do not intend to purchase a Samsung Jack any time soon, I like that Samsung and AT&T are not only reaching out to consumers and becoming more accessible in the marketplace, but also are trying a new strategy to reach consumers that I've never experienced before.
References:
http://www.samsungsummerkrush.com/atlanta.asp
http://www.dierks.com/
http://www.samsung.com/us/
http://pages.samsung.com/ca/jack/eng/
Sponsored by Samsung and AT&T, the show was scheduled to begin around 8pm. However, the show time came and went, and the only visible activities were the continuous looping of a Samsung Jack commercial on overhead monitors, and an on-stage screen that projected text messages of concert-goers (most to the tune of “I heart Dierks” and “Hi Mom!”). When the MC finally arrived on stage, he chose two random numbers who had texted the screen to win prizes—one person won a Samsung Jack, and the other a Summer Krush electric guitar. Then, Dierks took the stage, and put on a great show.
I think that offering a free concert series is a really innovative way for advertisers, in this case Samsung and AT&T, to bring together a large group of targeted consumers (I estimate Caucasian females between 14 and 30 years old who like country music) and inundate them with a targeted message—in this case, the messaging described the “coolness” of the Samsung Jack, and its text messaging/email/Internet features.
Not only is it a great way to interact with consumers thus strengthening the relationship with them (read: face time with potential buyers), but as a targeted consumer, I am more receptive to listening to their message...especially if there's no hard cost for me. While I do not intend to purchase a Samsung Jack any time soon, I like that Samsung and AT&T are not only reaching out to consumers and becoming more accessible in the marketplace, but also are trying a new strategy to reach consumers that I've never experienced before.
References:
http://www.samsungsummerkrush.com/atlanta.asp
http://www.dierks.com/
http://www.samsung.com/us/
http://pages.samsung.com/ca/jack/eng/
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