Fourth Of July is Expected to Make A Boom For Retailers

Click here to see what I mean

Value is Still the Main Ingrediant to Make You #1

Burger King is making up ground with its new edgy campaigns but they are still #2 and will have no chance of being #1 unless they focus more on value Click here to see what I mean

Burger King has been known for their edgy / controversial commercials like the Sponge Bog Square Pants Big butt commercials. These will never take the place of quality food, excellent operational execution, clean and sanitized facilities and value that McDonald's offers.

Value does not mean cheap but it does mean the consumer feels they've gotten value for money paid.

Lets say a marketing campaign somehow convinces an individual to head to BK for lunch. They get there, but the place is a little dirty and the employee behind the counter isn't paying any attention. So the consumer leaves because of lack of value. Was it worth it to run a campaign only the have the customer say I won't be back?

Peter Pan Theory for the Advertising Industry

Could the advertising industry be getting it all wrong? In a recent survey conducted by AARP the majority of consumers over 50 feels that advertising and marketing either portrays them negatively or ignores them altogether.

In other words, the advertising industry is not only being run by Peter Pan, but, just as Peter didn't understand the adult world, today's advertising industry doesn't understand the aging adult consumer. It thinks people over 50 are simply kids with graying hair who want and need all the same things that 30 year olds want and need.

Click here to read the entire article

The next time you watch TV look for these ads and then if you are watching TV with a person in the "baby boomer" category ask them if this is how they like to be portrayed.

Could this be the next fashion trend?

As I was watching the US Open golf tournament this past week I noticed a couple of trends shaping the golf apparel industry as well as men's casual apparel. The first and most obvious was the crazy pants. The second being the "engineer" style golf hats.

Which of these two fads is most likely to live longer?

Could this be the future of advertising?

This is an article from the Wall Street Journal about how congress is putting a smack down on tobacco advertising - in my opinion once this goes through they will start to attack other "sindustries" such as quick serve restaurants. Click Here to Read the Article

I am not a smoker, never have been, never will be. I think it is gross and love the fact MN is a smoke free state, but here are my thoughts regarding this article.

1. What happens when this destroys the industry and people lose jobs because of the government guidance?
2. OK so RJ Reynolds has to buy tombstone ads but can now buy more ads then before have they (the government) accomplished anything? Besides won't tombstone ads actually stand out? It's a common known idea that the more white space you create the more your ad will stand out.
3. I thought we live in a free enterprise system. Shouldn't the US keep playing with their "cars" and let the market determine the success or failures of other industries?

Facebook.com/MissedOpportunity

Facebook is rolling out another new feature that some people might actually want to pay for. But naturally, it's not charging. Another missed revenue opportunity.

Specifically, Facebook will start distributing vanity user URLs this Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET. That is, instead of being facebook.com/ profile.php?id=49304583045308, you'll be able to send around a URL like facebook.com/coolguy.

Facebook will not charge for this feature. But it could! Given how many people spend money on virtual gifts on Facebook (and domain names), we think that millions of Facebook's users might spend something like $5 -- or even $5 a year -- for this sort of feature. (Certainly companies and self-promoting users.) Click here to read the entire article

Assume the role of CEO for Facebook. Justify why you believe not charging for vanity URLs is a good idea?

Name That Tune...

The right song can help a product shine -- but the wrong one can hit an off note. Billboard consulted with a six-person panel of experts in advertising and branding to determine our list of the best five songs in commercials -- and five that made viewers reach for their remotes.

Click here to read the entire article and then tell me if you agree or disagree with this list. What type of criteria would you use to pick the best and worst ad songs of all time. What are your best and worst songs based on that criteria

Taco Bell Raps Back...

Going to a drive through and rapping your order has had its 15 minutes of fame. But now the employees are rapping the order back. Is this amazing? No. Is this entertaining? Yes. Notice how they are rapping back the order while another customer waits for their order. Explain why you love it or hate this ad from Taco Bell?

How Much Have We Changed?

With 5.7 million Americans out of work since the recession began in December 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and some 16% of U.S. employees living on reduced pay, according to a recent Hewitt Associates survey, it's no surprise that many people are cinching their belts. What's troubling marketers, however, is the prospect that consumer psychology has changed during the deepest recession in half a century, and that the tightening will remain when the downturn ends.

Do you think the recession will cause a permanent change in consumer spending habits? Why or why not?