Talk less, show'em some love.

Many believe that Branding and Advertising may generate the same impact: awareness. So, if the outcome is identical, then why waste million-dollar into branding? Why not just develop a TV commercial and gain million viewers at the same time? I tell you what; what others may believe might not always be right.

There are more and more companies spending gazillion money, time and efforts to produce one advertisement that creates a boom in the market without really having a lasting impact. Advertising may give you a maximum exposure at a relatively short amount of time. But, could it build trust and loyalty? I don’t think so.

Let me start with the ultimate question: What is a Brand? As I have previously discussed in 'I am more that what you see' post, Brand is holistic unification of a company’s strategies with their operations, and how you communicate it in the eyes of the public; it is the whole story of your company and what your company is all about. Whilst Advertising is in its juxtaposition to branding, where it helps you to communicate and giving exposure of the story and message of your brand through mass media. 

Advertising is one of the ways to communicate your message as a brand; but advertising itself could not create one brand. Branding is not just an overnight sensation; it takes steady growth and consistency in the way you behave over time to earn trust and love of people.

Take an example of the simplest most beloved brand in the world: Starbucks. All their employees knows how to ‘behave’; all their trainings, the benefits of being part of the company, and their sense of solidarity through fair trade coffee served – generate a different approach on how they should ‘behave’ being a Starbucks employee.

It shows how, if you understand your brand – its values, its mission, its reason for being- and integrate it consistently into everything you do, your entire organization will know how to behave in virtually and all situations.

Therefore, through branding, it gives a consistency for the whole company that guides behavior and quality, over time, builds trust. Advertising, if it is any good, should help to confirm what already is, not what should be.  

Think of it like this: “Advertising is shouting. While Branding is whispering; when you whisper, people lean forward.”

So, do you shout or whisper?

Sound off below, and tell me what you think!

'till then,tha!xx

Today in the Past.

Do you ever wonder how Social Media would be advertised in the 1960s?

 

 

Don't you feel lucky that you were born today? ;)

The Pink Stuff Chronicles

‎"because the companies that make this trying to trick the girls into buying the pink stuff instead of the stuff that boys want to buy, right?!" 

When i browse through YouTube the other day, i came across this, and what amused me is, i completely 100% in utter shock to hear what she has to say about a mere things like "pink stuff" and "superheroes". In near the end of the video, she even said: "why do girls have to buy some princesses?!some girls like superheroes, some girls like princesses; some boy like superheroes, some boy like princesses. So why girls have to buy pink stuff and boys buy different color stuff?"

WOW.

even a five year-old girl can tell...

what a smart cutie :)

you know you're not the first...

"You know you're not the first,

but do you really care?"

This ad by BMW Greece that are supposedly for their premium used car, are such a......i don't know, can't really found an exact word to describe it.

Maybe the message that they are trying to say is, BMW premium car are so beautiful, and it does not matter if it is an used car or you are not the first person to drive it...but, doesn't it sending a totally different message? 

Well, i have to be honest i did not get the right message straight away.. i thought they are trying to sending off a completely different message (something have to do with "used women = used car?")

This sort of sexy alluring ad may have attracted most of the male population, but it might also alienating the potential BMW female consumers at the same time. Not just that, they are provoking a certain perception of female which may  find this offensive. Sex, women, luxury and car industry may have diddling each other for decades, but do they really have to go this path?

So, i guess wouldn't it be better if you run through it to many (more) different audience before you officially launch it to the public, BMW? 

What do you think?

Toyota gets social with "Social Snapshot" application

Recently Toyota has launched a new features on their website called “Social Snap Shot” that was developed by Glueisobar, that allows the user to select a maximum of ten off the user’s facebook friends, and it allows you to get a video summary of your friends updates depending on the updates time period you would like to receive (usually: daily, weekly, and monthly).

I must say, I am impressed by the idea of developing “social snap shot”, however, I don’t see how it relevant to the total brand image of Toyota Yaris. Yes, they might want to be perceived as youthful, upbeat, and exciting brand, but do you have to go to that extend and develop your ‘own facebook’? I don’t personally see how it relevant in developing a social updates summary of your friend with a car brand.

That is what I feel with some of the facebook or the ‘so-called-social media’ tools that has been used by numerous brands these days. Somehow they don’t seem to fully understand how to engage with customers through the help of social media while being relevant to their brand message or image at the same time; and merely seen as a ‘social media trend follower’.

What do you think?is this "Social snapshot" idea are relevant to their product? 

Leave you comments below, and tell me what you think! :)

cracking the "QR Code"

How often did you see a rectangular matrix at the bottom of an advertisement?at the back of a business card? product tags and packaging? It may seem unusual at first, but more and more business and advertisers are utilizing such matrix or codes to provide their audience more informations about the business. Let me first start off by explaining what is QR Codes.

QR Codes is rectangular-shaped and two-dimensional bar codes that often contains URL which able to direct users to access informations provided within that code; which often known as ‘mobile tagging’.   The trend of having QR Codes placed on every print advertisement was initially started in Japan, their escalating popularity reach the United States and Europe along with the immense popularity of Smartphone and 3G networks.

The innovation of QR Codes has literally diminished the term “boundaries”, which it allows unlimited sharing of informations.  When people are passing through informations on the Internet, they are indirectly building a community on their own, for example QR Codes that direct the users to their facebook fan page. Not just building a community on their own, but they also stimulating a different mindset and acts as ‘call of action’ tool. In recent studies by Baltimore advertising agency MGH, they have found numerous reason why people use QR Codes, such as: 

• ·      Secure a coupon, deal or discount (53%),
• ·      Access additional information (52%);
• ·      Enter a sweepstakes (33%);
• ·      Sign up to receive more information (26%);
• ·      Access video (24%)

But the remaining question is, HOW EFFECTIVE THE QR CODE IS?

In the studies by Baltimore advertising agency MGH also found that approximately 72% of smart phone users have the tendency to recall an ad with QR Codes; how cool is that?! This study indicates that people are getting more and more interested and willing to participate in the interactions with ‘QR Coded’ advertisements that signal other additional benefits like deals, coupons, and social media interactions. (further studies: MGH,Inc QR Codes survey results)

It may seem as a potential powerful tool for marketers, but bear in mind that not everyone is aware of QR Codes, quite heartbreaking actually, ... It is such a great technology innovation.

Have you ever try QR Codes? What do you think? Does it have the potential to survive or will it eventually be dead?

Leave your comments below, and share your experience with QR Codes!

Social Media breakthrough for Disney "Toy Story 3"

I have recently developed a video about: How The Walt Disney Company utilize Social Media. And i have to be honest, i am totally impressed with their initiatives and efforts in utilizing every media platform out there to delivering their message for Disney fans around the world. And particularly in this video, i analyze how they utilizing social media like: Myspace, Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook in promoting Toy Story 3.

There are two innovative methods that they implement within the period of promotion. 

1. Promoted Trending Topic on Twitter.

     While i was researching about their means of promotions during the release of Toy Story 3, i found that The Walt Disney Company has utilize every single possible way of promotions in the internet. And they are not just utilizing them, but they also innovating new platforms, like the sponsored trending topic. They are the FIRST company that ever sponsored a trending topic on twitter.

2. 'Disney Tickets Together' on Facebook.

    Just how aggressive they are in finding new and interesting methods for promoting their movie release, Disney launched Disney Tickets Together. An  application that allows users to purchase tickets without having to leave facebook site, and allow them to see of which their friends have purchased tickets of the film or inviting their friends along when purchasing tickets. Talking about innovations ...

Looking at these efforts that Disney Company had given for the success of Toy Story 3 had made me realize that The Walt Disney Company are continuing to be innovative and always give their best for their fans around the world. It may seem like a business gimmick for some people, but i personally think it is their effort to continually be relevant and delivering the best innovations.

What do you think?is it only just a business gimmick from Disney?

Let me know what you think, and enjoy the video! :)

URL Bar Ads first love?

When you think about online advertising, what is the first thing that came out in your mind? Banner ad? Pop-up banners in every websites? 

Well, it seems that McCann Erikson Israel, one of world's largest advertising agency has developed a brilliant idea for a new platform to advertise and conduct their online promotional activities. It is through creating messages that is placed besides the site's URL.

“♥♥♥ I told my friend: “For Her, I would swim across the ocean” ♥♥♥

“♥♥♥ Cellcom Presents: First Love, Season 2. Press enter to watch ♥♥♥”

It was first developed for Cellcom, an Israel-based telecommunications company to promote their recent ‘First Love’ campaign which mainly focused on young adults and teenage first love experience. Which i think is rather an innovative and creative idea that i think it is something new to the advertising industry. Will it work effectively to attract attention? i must say, they certainly grab mine.

What do you guys think? Is this just another attempt to innovating a new ad space, or it is rather seen as a breath of fresh air to online advertising?

Sound off below, and tell me what you think! :)

Google Apps vs Office 365 - Which one would you rather choose?

credits to: DaPicsProductions via YouTube

"His ads are unsolicited based on what you type, Makes you wanna ditch Gmail and go Office 365."

It is just part of the lyrics in the recent spoofs video made by Microsoft that was leaked to the web. The video was shown in the Microsoft’s annual Global Exchange Sales conference in July 2011, in front of 15,000 Microsoft’s employees; does it really leaked on to the Internet? Or is it a just gimmick to hype the Office 365?

Regardless of it, this video pointed out some inevitable fact about Google Apps (service provided that includes Google Docs,Talks, groups, Calendar, Sites,and Gmail), especially Gmail. They pointed out how Google are capable to detect some of the keywords from our mails and display ads that they thought are relevant and something that you will be interested on. What makes this Google system very attractive is that they allows businesses and marketers to target the exact market with the right offers that caters their preferences, at the right time. Also, they are seen as the future of the Marketing industry, as it caters small business to promote their business with relatively small amount of money, as they only pay for Cost-per-Click.

In contrast with Google Apps, in June 2011, Microsoft launch the Office 365 that is a software plus services which includes the Microsoft Office suite of desktop applications and hosted versions of Microsoft's Server products that are able to be accessed and shared through the Internet (in short: Its just Microsoft’s version of Google Apps). And their competitive advantage over Google Apps are Ads-free service. But, my question is, does it really matter? How often do you pay attention to these ads? Does it really effective? Not to mention the invasion of privacy conducted by Google to detect all the users preferences.

So, which one would you rather choose – turn into Office 365 or  stay true to Google Apps?

Tell me what you think, and leave some comments below!