Ballista Blog [Catapult Marketing]

Google+: Facebook Adversary, or Flash in the Pan?

2011-08-02T18:01:00.001-04:00

With 1.8 million visits in less than a month since it’s beta release, Google+ is hardly busting down Facebook’s doors. In fact, those visits only represent less than 0.5% of Facebook’s traffic during the same time frame. So when and why should marketers start paying attention to it? The answer to the first question is now. Why? Because it’s growing. It’s important to understand that even though it’s only reached a small percent of Facebook’s traffic, that it is still in beta testing, and only reachable via invite. Once the general population gains access, site traffic can only go up. Marketers need to fish where the fish are, and if consumers are migrating over to Google+ (which they may very well do so, as it’s billed as being a much easier platform for users to share content), then it would be wise to start exploring now.

It will be interesting to see how much traction Google+ gains, especially once released into the wild. We should start paying attention now. We know Facebook will be.

Have you started playing with Google+ yet?

Who Saved More Than $57 Million with Online Coupons? You did!

2010-09-16T18:10:00.003-04:00

From RetailMeNot report published on marketingcharts.com , citing 49% increase in online coupon users in the first half of 2010, compared to the first half of 2009.

I find most interesting the diversity of the most searched coupons from clothing, e-commerce, QSR and auto rental. For CPG brands we're noticing a decrease in the average overall value of digital coupons, but a steep increase in multi-purchase offers.

Search for a specific brand and the word "coupons" on Google.com and you'll be surprised by how much activity you might find.

A Different School of Thought

2010-09-09T14:39:00.002-04:00

(from our summer intern, Emily S.)

Ah, college, the original social networking system. When one thinks of this little haven of freedom, what comes to mind? Brick dormitories adorned with ivy, old friends, new friends, outlandish parties, parental liberation and, oh yeah, that irritant called studying. With two-hour lectures, novel length research papers, late night studying, and last minute cramming, these unfortunate activities constitute a majority of one’s college experience. However, once every semester there is an unnerving occurrence in which every student must face: no, it is not preparing for a 25 essay midterm, or making an oral presentation before 90 of your peers – this, my friends, is buying textbooks.

As any seasoned collegiate could tell you, there is nothing more frustrating that waiting in a labyrinth of stanchions just to fork over your next three paychecks for textbooks that may or not ever see the light of day. But it doesn’t end there. One would figure that this monetary hiccup is only temporary as you would surely get to return your “almost new” books for a healthy reimbursement when all is said and done. As you gleefully place your books on the counter to regain what is rightfully yours, you soon find out that this will not be the case --- you slowly walk away cursing under your breath as you count and recount the dollars in your hand --- a fraction of what you originally paid only some few months earlier.

Now, to be frank, I never really saw much sense in buying an Apple iPad. To me, it is just a laptop wannabe with a bunch of fingerprint smudges. Coming from a graphic design student who cares for her iMac Powerbook more than her own well being, that is a generous compliment. Yet, just when you think the iPad may be heading to the same fate as the Apple Lisa, there is a new application on the market for the iPad that could actually justify the cost of its purchase --- and turn this novelty item into a student’s best friend.

A San Francisco based company, Inkling, (www.inkling.com) has brought new life to an old means of reading textbooks. Inkling’s new application, exclusively for the iPad, allows students to download textbooks, or parts of textbooks, directly from the publisher, for a more “hands on” way to read, research, and understand volumes of text and give students, along with professors, a way to communicate information in an engaging and interactive manner that we have not seen before. Some of the features include the ability to rotate 3D graphics, change the size of type, and search for key terms throughout chapters. You can even highlight specific passages and leave notes for others students to read on their own iPads thereby creating more in-depth --- and interactive --- discussion around the work at hand. One would have to say that this is not just simply changing the way we read textbooks but, rather, turning our social networking into more of a learning network.

And if that wasn’t enough, you might say, the Inkling application can be good for your health. No more schlepping around 50 pounds of books in an already too small backpack. Forget your notebooks and laptops. The iPad is now a convenient, accessible, and sleek library weighing in at only 1.5 pounds.

I know what you are thinking. From a student’s standpoint, money is always a factor. If we can’t afford school books, how can we ever expect to come up with the hundreds dollars for the latest and greatest iPad? With Inklings ability to offer its users a single chapter for the ridiculously low price of $2.99, as compared to spending upwards of $150 for a single textbook, it soon becomes clear that even with the purchase of an iPad, a student’s total costs for textbooks can be drastically reduced.

My back is feeling better already.

BlackBerry Burnout

2010-04-05T16:04:00.005-04:00

With fresh rumors about a Verizon iPhone aswirl and Google’s Android phones pervading the mobile realm, RIM, the one-time star of the Smartphone space, faces mounting pressure to redefine itself or risk being extinguished. This shouldn’t, however, come as a shock as all the signs have been present for some time. On one side, there’s Apple making their way into consumers’ pockets and purses at rates not seen since the adoption rates of the original iPod. Apple has seemingly had an easy time attracting consumers who sought to own the iPhone mainly for its cool apps, and stands to increase its appeal as it considers building a CDMA-version of the device that can run on Verizon’s network. To be exact, though, Apple’s act of war came a couple of years ago when it licensed Microsoft’s synchronization technology, ActiveSync. At the time, a major obstacle to widespread adoption of the iPhone was that it lacked the ability to properly sync one’s company email and calendar, specifically Outlook and Exchange. Apple sought to woo corporate users who longed for a device with all of the functionality, intuitiveness, and must-have appeal of an iPhone. Soon after licensing this technology, the iPhone’s support for push email came and the exodus off of competing platforms ensued. Predictably, companies like Kraft and Oracle began supplying their employees with iPhones instead of BlackBerry devices as they had done in the past. For employees with iPhones for personal use, Kraft has even developed a Web page that provides support for the company’s Exchange servers.

On the other side are Google Android OS-based phones. Much like the iPhone, Android devices combine a user-friendly operating system with a robust app market. Google’s approach, however, appears to be “Android everywhere,” driving to embed their powerful and highly-touted OS in as many different devices as it can. Motorola alone plans to release 20-30 Android-powered devices this year. This plan is proving to be successful as Google is outpacing all other competitors in percent change in marketshare.

With Apple flirting with a possible deployment of a CDMA version of its iPhone, iPhone owners currently with AT&T, subscribers with competing Smartphones, and those with standard feature phones will all likely consider making the switch to Apple’s newest offering on Verizon’s venerable and ubiquitous network. I know I am.

Whether or not Apple decides to make a phone that works on CDMA networks is still uncertain. One thing is for sure, however: As more and more Crackberry owners wean themselves from the device for which they were once fiends, RIM will have to find new ways to keep current customers and attract new ones, or this once-dominant player runs the risk of being eclipsed.

Tip of the Iceberg for Mobile Apps and Retail

2010-03-02T13:35:00.005-05:00

6 Mobile Apps That Evolve The Shopping Experience

AdAge picks 6 of their favorite mobile apps that are evolving the retail experience. Mobile shapes the shopping experience by not being either "online" or "offline". Mobile further demonstrates how the experience becomes more engaging, more immediate and the brand more connected to the consumer.

Retailers who's floor staff are paid on commission and therefore not working to access the greatest amount of information (via online or mobile) are selling their own expertise short in the mind of the consumer.

Are you wondering why make the effort to actively pursue the customer at every touchpoint? Because you may lose the sale if you don't. The digital experience should be mapped out in this 360 world to help prioritize what content should be created, organized and served up to the consumer.

Read the original article on AdAge here: http://bit.ly/9tEO1n .

OMMA Metrics: Does the Key to Successful Social Media and Digital Strategies lie in a CUPCAKE?

2010-02-24T16:39:00.004-05:00

So, all of this talk about the challenges of online metrics demands a post about what we CAN do and do well in the digital and social media space. The latest panel discussion brought up the top four questions that are keys to a successful approach to this fast-paced space:
1. What are the business objectives?
2. What assets do you have to work with?
3. What are your consumers doing in the space and how are they using social media?
4. What value does your brand provide?

If you can't answer #1, stop. And don't proceed to #2 until you can.

These questions led to some discussion of best in class examples and one that caught my attention was Sprinkles Cupcakes (who doesn't like cupcakes?!). It was described as a best in class example of a brand bridging the offline and online experiences, and driving consumers in-store. So I did a little investigating and found a GREAT write-up on their integrated campaigns and the results, as well as an interesting article on the Top 5 Tips to Marketing Premium Food. These are tips that are simple, yet critical, and completely in line with what we are hearing today at OMMA Metrics!

OMMA Metrics: Are the tools that we have for measuring Social Media adequate?

2010-02-24T15:46:00.006-05:00

The resounding answer was "NO!!" at this afternoon's panel discussion on "The Social Media Measurement Quagmire Continues..."

Shiv Singh from Razorfish describes the core challenges as follows:
- Access to data (whether it be because of infrastructure or platform)
- Change in the digital (specifically social media) space is happening so fast that the investments in developing measurement tools are slow (slow to commit)
- Shortcomings on everyone's end in terms of too many people trying to apply traditional metrics/measurements to the online and social media space.

The bottom line is that not all users are equal, and the current tools are user agnostic - in other words, the tools treat all users equally. And we all know they are not.

So what to do? Until there are standards for online metrics, a hybrid approach of automated and human measurement systems is critical to and the key to success.

More from OMMA Metrics: MRM Worldwide working to define an "engagement score"

2010-02-24T14:44:00.003-05:00

In a panel discussion titled "Cracking the Code" held today at OMMA Metrics, several panelists have been dicussing the evolution of the measurement models over the past decade. The metrics and models are changing quickly in the digital space, and the bar is being raised for marketers' ability to understand and utilize them.

Vipin Mayar from MRM Worldwide spoke about moving from away from ROI measures and towards engagement measures that effectively compare across channels and across time. He then spoke about an effort that MRM is working on to create an "engagement score."

Well, we all talk about engagement and how it can be measured. And we all know that we are not defining engagement in the same way. So the obvious question is "What is this 'engagement score'" and why is it better than what we're working with now?

An "engagement score" is a process by which we would be able to assign points to various "engagements." So different point values (based on objectives/priority) would be assigned to different engagements and interactions (like site page or content) and then linked to outcomes. The key, Mayar claims, is to "connect metrics to value creation."

A new way to look at engagement, but will it gain traction? Tell us what you think...

Data Reporting: Are we all saying the same thing?

2010-02-24T11:22:00.007-05:00

Standardization of data sets is one of the biggest challenges and concern with delivering and interpreting web data. So, how do we know if we are all saying the same thing? Fortunately, the IAB puts forth standards for publishers and metrics providers (like Omniture and WebTrends) to follow. So for anyone measuring "site visits" from omniture data, for example, knows how to define that term. One document of interest today at the OMMA Metrics conference is the IAB Reach Measurements Guidelines.

The challenge then lies in how data is reported to our clients across agencies, and across data sources. Unfortunately, the reality is that they will never match exactly. There is some hope that with the evolution of HTML 5 and univeral tags, this challenge could be overcome. In the meantime, it is up to us to follow the IAB guidelines closely and do our best to explain discrepancies in data.

What are they doing on their mobile phones for more than 2.5 hours per day??

2010-02-24T08:29:00.007-05:00

What do mobile users do for over two and a half hours per day on their phones? It is not likely that it is to find out the the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow, or any other educational purpose. It is more likely that it is for accessing social media channels, managing personal finances or even to rally in support of a cause (hmmm...think Pedigree Adoption Drive!).

The numbers are impressive: 91% of mobile users go online to socialize (100 MILLION access Facebook from a mobile device) compared to only 79% on a desktop. Mobile users are 1.6 times more likely to manage finances and 1.4 times more likely to support a cause.

Why? Immediacy.

Read on for all the latest and fun stats on that person next to you feverishly engaged with their mobile...

No Income? Apply for a Golden Grant!

2010-02-04T10:27:00.002-05:00

General Mills has created a campaign with a pretty cool premise, Golden Grant. It targets those who have fallen victim to the plummeting economy.

A spin-off of both Twitter and FML, the Golden Grant microsite asks users to share their “ridiculous job search story” in 140 characters or less. The most “convincing” economical sob stories become short films. The winners get a generous supply of Golden Grahams to allay their fears of starvation…

As with any user-submitted-content-based campaign, I fear that people will exercise their drama skills and simply falsify or exaggerate their personal experiences. Also, I wonder how original the idea really is. Either way, I believe it’s a risk worth taking. Something tells me a lot of laughter (and maybe sympathy) is on the way.

Doggie Dentures on AdFreak

2010-02-02T14:52:00.003-05:00

A little attention always makes us blush and frankly this is no exception. Check out today's post on AdWeek's AdFreak blog for the latest Pedigree DENTASTIX campaign. And if you haven't "Dentured your dog" be sure to get to it! Just click to get started!

Text To Donate - Help Shelter Dogs

2010-02-02T08:46:00.001-05:00

We are helping The Pedigree Foundation help raise dollars to help shelter dogs in need find loving homes. Please participate and tell your friends and family to help as well. Text “pedigree” to 20222 and $5.00 will be donated to help dogs in need (the $5.00 is added to you phone bill and the entire amount goes to the foundation). It just takes a second to make a difference – and every donation adds up!!!

iPad – the moment we have all been waiting for?

2010-01-28T22:33:00.001-05:00

For months, we have all been clamoring for a peek under the hood, a glimpse at how Apple’s “latest creation” would look and how it would work. The prevailing rumors were that it would be a tablet and it would roughly be 10” in size. Then the rumor mills picked up steam and spun tales that an even larger announcement was pending and that in addition to a tablet, Apple would unveil the latest incarnation of the iPhone: a more versatile, Verizon-friendly 4G version of its current 3G device. Yesterday, those mills proved themselves unreliable, as they often do, when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad sans any mention of a new iPhone (sorry Verizon subscribers).

The device has largely been met with reviews that are tepid at best. As is the case with seemingly everything that comes out of Apple’s Cupertino labs, the iPad is visually pleasing. It has a 10” LED widescreen display that sports multi-touch capability and “fingerprint-resistant coating.” The iPad has an onscreen keyboard when it is being used in landscape mode and a USB port for a physical board when it is being used in portrait mode. The device’s 10-hour battery life allows users to essentially go the whole day on a single charge. With the iPad comes the introduction of the iBookstore; a digital book application, used for purchasing titles and displaying them in a virtual bookshelf. iPad owners who purchase books from the app can read the downloaded titles instantly.

A 3G version of the device will be available in April and will allow subscribers to surf the web, download movies, music, books and apps wherever they are but only through AT&T.

Unfortunately, for the army of us who eagerly await Apple announcements, this device leaves a lot to be desired. Though it surfs the web, runs iTunes, and providers consumers with access to the roughly 140,000 apps in the App Store it lacks a camera, microphone and Flash, making it nothing more than a larger iPod touch.

Don’t get me wrong, the iPod Touch is a great device (I actually own one) but so much was expected from this device that we are left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. It’s like seeing Kobe Bryant score 50 points everytime they play at the Staples Center. If he only scores 30 points the next time you see him, you’d be appreciate the effort but won’t be nearly as satisfied. Such is the curse of the superstar. Maybe if this device were an Acer or Asus the world would embrace it more warmly.

That said, I’m sure Apple will be just fine. Early Adopters will still add them to their carts and line up in store for their iPads in March. In fact, if history has taught us anything it is that:

1) 1st generation Apple releases are typically followed, almost immediately, by much better upgraded devices.

2) Roughly 45% of Early Adopters upgrade to newer devices*

So is this the moment we have all been waiting for? Hardly. So I, for one, will sit back, wait and watch as the magnificent marketing machine that is Apple crank out better, more exciting features for the iPad 2.0.

* Morgan Stanley Study on the iPhone measuring Early Adopters who bought the 1G iPhone in 2007 and later upgraded to the 3G iPhone in 2008

Target Leads The Way With Mobile Couponing

2010-01-26T08:19:00.001-05:00

Target is first out of the gate with true Mobile Coupons that are sent to phones and scannable at checkout registers. This is a big part of a broader Target Mobile initiative that includes weekly mobile circulars, a revamped Iphone app and exclusive mobile deals. This will will ignite innovation within Mobile couponing.

And no surprise, P&G is among the first to Partner with Target with its Tide brand. Given the I went ATVing this weekend in the muddy woods of Butler, PA I am off with my Blackberry to local Target Store to test my Tide Mobile coupon.

Text "Haiti" to 90999

2010-01-15T08:18:00.003-05:00

A brief post on the power of mobile marketing and a reminder on the goodness of the human spirit. Over $1MM was rasied to aid in the crises in Haiti in 24 hours, $10 at a time via Text to Donate. Please join those who have given to help those in desperate need. Text "Haiti" to 90999 to help support The American Red Cross efforts. $10 will be added to your phone bill and the entire amount will go to The American Red Cross.

Thank you.

In App Ads Tipping Point?

2010-01-14T17:28:00.002-05:00

Retail Giant, Walmart continuing to focus on reaching new targets is running in-app banner ads on iPhones. Walmart’s ads appear in the NBC Today Shows Recipe App.

Interestingly the Walmart call to action featured in the Today Show in-App Ad is to download Walmart’s own iPhone App, which is focused on helping shoppers find great deals.

In addition to Walmart, Microsoft, Unilever and others are testing In-App Ads which means many more retailers and manufacturers will likely soon follow.

Are “Social Norms” to Blame?

2010-01-11T11:38:00.002-05:00

From being an exclusive “college” network to letting the whole world in, Facebook has evolved astronomically these last few years. I remember looking back on my own experience and thinking, “What’s gonna happen to my profile when I graduate?” Well, I now have my answer, obviously.

But in the midst of this grand evolution, there still has to be some element of privacy. (Facebook recently amended its privacy settings.) We all know that Facebook has made once private information available to the public in recent months. Is Mark Zuckerberg’s argument that the ever-changing “social norms” of society are to blame, convincing enough? The author of this article doesn’t seem to think so; in fact, he believes that Zuckerberg is deviating from his past beliefs:

“I don't buy Zuckerberg's argument that Facebook is now only reflecting the changes that society is undergoing… ‘Privacy control, he told me less than 2 years ago, is "the vector around which Facebook operates” .’

However, Zuckerberg makes a good point: “"We view it as our role in the system to constantly be innovating and be updating what our system is to reflect what the current social norms are.”

I personally think the term “social norms” is a bit dated for this argument, but that’s a whole other discussion.

I can see both sides of the story. But either way, just have common sense. Figure out Facebook’s privacy settings. Don’t post stuff you wouldn’t want your grandmother or her Bingo friends to see.

What should Google Fear in the New Year?

2010-01-07T07:49:00.003-05:00

Turnabout is fair play - With Google jumping into the handset market in 2009 with the Andriod targeting Apple, it only seems just that the one of the first big announcements of 2010 is that Apple is shifting its startegy to jump into the digital media space.

Apple has acquired Quattro Wireless for $275MM to compete with Google and their acquisition of AdMob putting them in the mobile advertising space for the first time. Quattro Wireless is the 5th largest Mobile Ad Network with 7% share.

The acquisition leads to key, intriguing questions for the year ahead:

1. Who's next? With only a few big players left in the Mobile Advertising space left, who will Yahoo and Microsoft Gobble Up?
2. How will Apple navigate new territory?

Its only the first week of the New Year and the Mobile space is setting up for a very interesting year.

The Augmented Reality Train rolls on

2009-11-20T08:51:00.002-05:00

By now if you've been following our blog or twitter feed (or seen the latest copy of Esquire magazine here) you know all about this thing called Augmented Reality (A/R) and that we're fans (for the right brand, done the right way of course!). So, with that in mind no one here should be surprised that A/R just keeps rolling on and marketers are trying to find the killer app of this technology.

Enter the latest bid from our friends from Coke Zero and Hollywood with their promotion of the hope-to-be blockbuster "Avatar: The last Air-bender." In a typical Hollywood overstatement of reality (or augmented reality in this case) the Coke spot that promotes this campaign and on product "AVTR" tag certainly makes it look ALOT cooler than it is, but it's still pretty darn cool.

Coupled with a almost unbranded presence on a microsite you can try the A/R at AVTR.com. So, grab a coke and go check it out!

Some interesting credits

2009-11-16T08:46:00.003-05:00

For the latest release of Activision Blizzard/Infinity Wards Call Of Duty video game series, Modern Warfare 2 there were some interesting credits in terms of what agencies were recognized to be a part of the largest video game, hence entertainment release of all-time as Infinity Ward stated on it's website. The game, which retails for $59.99, sold 4.7 million units in its first day on sale, taking in $310 million for the game publisher. By comparison, the year’s highest-grossing movie, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” earned more than $200 million domestically by the end of its first weekend as reported by the New York Times.

So, what agencies developed the campaign to promote the game? Well, While TBWA/Chiat is the companies lead agency, it was a compilation of other agencies, and most interestingly retailers that are responsible for the games launch. In reviewing the Article on AdAge take notice that retailers like WalMart (in cooperation with Activision), BestBuy and Gamespot developed and ran creative and components of the campaign for the launch. Further evidence at the importance of the retailers as a central component of manufacturs campaigns rather than just points of distribution.

Read the article here.

Insane, Crazy and flat out cool

2009-09-25T08:40:00.004-04:00

So, you know how fast the whole "web" thing is moving but just feel like you haven't had the time to stay on top of the latest, craziest, innovative uses of all the technology and creative thinking out there? Well, Google to the rescue once again!!!

The fine folks in Mountain View have taken the time from the Lab to put together the 87 coolest things that folks have done with access to the latest & greatest API's, clever thinking and flat out smarts to put together. The fact is that at this stage there is almost no limit to what can be done. That's not to say there aren't bad ideas out there... I mean, just because you can do it doesn't make it good, interesting or well, right. However, have no fear with this presentation from Google. After watching several times I'd have to say there is very little here that isn't worth checking out. It just might take you awhile. Oh, and don't forget... there's nothing stopping you (or us!) from being the 88th thing that could get added to the list.

So BE CREATIVE!!!!

Bionic eye

2009-09-24T19:34:00.003-04:00

This is amazing stuff . A use for augmented reality that can prove very useful to retailers and brands of all types. (We tweeted about it a while back, but here's the video again.)

http://marketingballista.blogspot.com/

It's Bud Light lime people, everyone settle down.

2009-09-24T10:32:00.001-04:00

http://marketingballista.blogspot.com/

Make Phone Calls on Twitter.

2009-09-17T09:39:00.004-04:00

Interesting Beta that let's twitter users connect without sharing either parties phone number. I can't really think of a great use for this, I mean I follow many on twitter, but i don't know if I'd like to talk to most of them. I don't have time to talk to my actual friends, lol. This seems to change the Twitter game a bit, but you can decide for yourself though. Read the full article here.

Shakable Ad, pretty cool.

2009-09-16T17:44:00.002-04:00

This is an example of many new ads I've been seeing on the iPhone. I wish i could find the last one i saw, it was an ad that was a game and it was pretty fun. (but unfortunately i can't recall the brand, which is telling.)

here's another example of a ad that entertains as the phone is shaken. Definitely inviting and interactive.

Social media - the newest tool for social change

2009-09-09T22:55:00.003-04:00

Non-profits are tackling the social web, but haven't had quite the attention as big businesses and brands. A report issued this summer from Dartmouth indicated the nation’s largest non-profits have outpaced corporations in adopting social media. And the Center for Marketing Research noted (and not a surprise) that the Fortune 500 and the Inc. 500 have increased their social presence but charities are continuing to lead in usage.

Social media is the newest tool in social change. Non-profits have it an efficient way of reaching a large audience of like-minded, cause conscious individuals, vocal individuals.

For companies and brands with strong philanthropic ties, social will prove to be an invaluable vehicle.

The Dartmouth study:
http://sncr.org/2009/06/28/nonprofit-organizations-lead-the-way-in-social-media-adoption-according-to-society-for-new-communications-research-chair-dr-nora-ganim-barnes-and-eric-mattson-of-financial-insite/

From a funnel to a circle???

2009-07-23T14:36:00.006-04:00

For a long time marketers have relied on the age-old model of a purchase funnel as the cycle that consumers move through in making purchase decisions. From Awareness, Consideration, Preference to Loyalty. This model made sense when consumers played a more passive role (presumably) where they received messages pushed to them by marketers. For those of us in marketing roles we know that has changed - where consumers are not only actively seeking information but in many cases serving a role to create it and act as influencers. The question now is how to marketers adapt to this change?

In a study published by McKinsley Quarterly in June of this year titled "The consumer decision journey" a new model is proposed suggesting that instead of a funnel where consumers have more brands at the top and slowly narrow their selection - that they now start with a few, then move to active information gathering where they greatly expand the number of brands and then ultimately make their decision at the point of purchase. Essentially moving from a funnel to a circular approach.

What's driven this paradigm shift? The leading cause is technology (dare we say web 2.0 - I swore I wouldn't use that term ever again!). With consumers ability to connect, share and be more vocal to other consumers and brands technology has greatly impacted the way they make purchase decisions. As a result, marketers are trying to figure out how to engage in this new world. Be sure to read more for yourself at www.mckinseyquarterly.com.

Pecha Kucha

2009-07-21T08:10:00.003-04:00

Japanese for "Chit-Chat, and pronounced "Pe-CHATCH-ka", Pecha Kucha is a form of PowerPoint or Keynote expressiveness that started in Japan a few years ago. Basically, it involves presentation gatherings where all participants present a slide show on a given or a self-chosen topic. Sounds boring, right? Well, the fun is that Pecha Kucha involves a presenter telling his or her story in exactly 20 slides for exactly 20 seconds each slide. That means 6 minutes and 40 seconds on the nose.

Started by 2 Europeans living in Japan and looking for ways to give young designers a way to meet and share ideas in a structured yet fun manner, Pecha Kucha has taken off, with events being hosted in over 170 cities around the world. You can see examples of this unique form of communication in this smart tutorial, or at the official Pecha Kucha Website to look for an event near you. It's become such an accepted form of focused presentation development that the giant Autodesk corporation required their 2007 sales meeting be made up of only pecha kucha-style presentations. It was a huge hit, since listening to someone droning on about their pet project for only 6:40 doesn't seem so bad.

The last presentation I was witness to had 150 slides with less than 40 images total. Yes, that's right, you can imagine the excitement. Had it instead been made up of 3 or 4 crisp pecha kucha presentation segments with relevant, compelling images as the primary content accompanying the presenter's spoken words, it would have been potentially a bit more compelling.

We're considering trying it for one or two presentations at our next mid-year meeting. You should try it too.

Peer Pressure?

2009-07-13T17:02:00.003-04:00

Microsoft will offer it's newest version of it's Office Suite online for free. The columnist's claim that this move was "a stroke of genius" remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, Microsoft's peers are forcing the giant to revamp their business model in ways they'd hope they'd never have to.

Cool 3D work.

2009-06-26T09:45:00.003-04:00

This home video takes on a little life of it's own. Enjoy!

Your new iPhone 3GS as a Credit Card?

2009-06-22T17:51:00.005-04:00

Well, that time is getting closer and closer. With the continuing evolution of the iPhone, Blackberry and other smart phones coupled with advancements in commerce technology the day where you leave your house with only your car keys and your phone - and no wallet - are just around the corner.

Whether it's your cell number, text messages or custom platform formats, there are a multitude of ways for consumers to start transacting through their mobile phones. At this point it's all about who gets enough VC money and pilot concept out there to validate the concept and start bringing it to scale. If large companies can band together (which is unlikely) to bring some scale a solution could be here before you can say "charge it to my iPhone".

Check out this article in the New York Times to learn more!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/technology/22pay.html

Demo of the sixth sense. TED.

2009-06-09T13:00:00.004-04:00

This is amazing, how interactive meets, retail, shopper marketing and the physical world. This demo shows how we may be gathering information, make decisions and interacting in the future, not to mention the it's the tip of the iceberg for usability design. fascinating!

Mobile Couponing Tipping Point?

2009-06-01T13:07:00.005-04:00

To date, other than Cellfire, success in Mobile couponing has been somewhat limited due to inability of checkout scanner to read bar codes on phones. The lack of this functionality has put a burden on retail compliance because of complexity created for cashiers, sandwich makers, etc. without a scannable bar code.

A new iPhone App, called Cardstar, may be just be a game changer in mobile couponing – The App is the first we've see where a UPC Code can be created on a phone and scanned at checkout (handheld scanner only) at major retailers.

It is being marketed as a loyalty card manager where you no longer need to carry your grocery loyalty cards with you once you have loaded them to your phone.

We tested it and it worked at a CVS store & Petco, but in reading the reviews there seem to be many instances where it does not. The CardStar App is available at the App store.

Definitely something worth watching!

Zinio - an online library

2009-05-06T10:30:00.009-04:00

A former colleague is now at Zinio so I decided to check it out, zinio.com. Basically it's all the magazines I have on my coffee table, online. They even have comic books.

Something cool, you can rip out a page from your favorite digital magazine, and post it. Just go to zinio.com and search for your favorite magazine or book or article, click on “inside” and the magazine or book will open up, find the page you want to rip out. Click on + and select where you want to post the page. Post away.

The Future of Marketing... What is Your Prediction?

2009-05-05T15:40:00.003-04:00

An article on the future of marketing was published today on Talent Zoo, written by the head of planning at Modernista!, Gareth Kay. Gareth is well published, and reading up on his opinion is easy (just do a google search and related content goes pages deep). In this article, he predicts that marketing will be headed in the the following direction:

1. Brands will be built on cultural and social missions, not commercial propositions

2. Marketing will be about what you do, not what you say

3. Lots of little ideas, not one big idea

4. People first

But his prediction for the future came up against some criticism.... Take a look for yourself, and post a comment! Would love to know what you think - are you a believer? Or do you have a better crystal ball?

Twitter.com/catapult_mktg

2009-05-05T15:29:00.003-04:00

Our foray into social media continues. First, we brought you Marketing Ballista, our very happening blog about all things marketing. Thank you for visiting. :)

Our latest experiment is proving to just as successful, and almost overnight. We have started a Catapult Marketing “Twitter feed” less than 2 weeks ago, and already we have a nice initial following to our thought leadership, published at least several times a day.

See for yourself at http://www.twitter.com/catapult_mktg, our new home on Twitter.com. Our followers, attracted with no marketing or announcement on our part, includes the Instore Marketing Institute, various thought leaders in the social media space, and several clients

What is Twitter you ask? It’s a “Micro-blogging” service where one can publish their thoughts to anyone who cares to “follow” them, but only in 140 character bursts. You can only publish to your “Feed”, but you can read anyone else’s who you choose to follow or visit. It makes for very compact, easy to digest reading, that’s for sure. Ashton Kutcher twitters, with over 1.5 million followers (The current leader). So does the Whitehouse, Jet Blue, The NY Times, Martha Stewart, Shaquille O’Neil, Miley Cyrus, Anderson Cooper, David Gregory, Oprah, and a press agent posting for Britney Spears, as well as millions of others around the world, both famous, hoping to be famous, corporate/marketers, and mostly, ordinary people like me (twitter.com/hewsonb). For a fun list of interesting folks to follow if you’re just getting started, see http://twitter.com/invitations/suggestions

If you’ve never been to twitter.com and are afraid of getting sucked into some giant ponzi scheme-like vortex, just visit http:www/twitter.com/catapult_mktg to get a gentle introduction in a familiar environment. You don’t need to register or log on to view our feed.

If, when I say “twitter”, you hear the trombone voice of charlie brown’s teacher, but want to start an understanding of this growing phenomenon, please see the link below as a pretty good quick executive summary of who and how twitter is being used most successfully. http://mashable.com/2009/04/20/twitter-strategy/

If you already have a Twitter account and twitter regularly (I know there are more than a few of you out there who do, come on, admit it!), please add “catapult_mktg” to your “Follow” list, and we’ll of course return the favor and retweet you as often as we think you won’t offend our delicate sensibilities. :)

Twitering

2009-04-15T10:19:00.004-04:00

As marketers and brands are still looking for ways to effectively utilize Facebook, another social network is taking hold in a big way. It’s Twitter. You’ve seen it in the newspapers, you’ve heard people talking about it and even the evening news is feeding parts of their discussions by utilizing Twitter.

For a brand it can be a bit overwhelming, Twittering, tweeple, tweets, what is a brand to do? It’s intriguing though; there is a lure here for many marketers and brands alike. Think about how amazing is it for a brand to have all these followers that hang on every word said? How could you go wrong?

Well, the answer is not that black and white. The big question you face is, does your brand need an active and daily dialogue with customers? Does it have enough to say on a regular basis? Can your brand even support that sort of dialogue and is it in your brands nature to do so? Twitter is not the equivalent of a dry corporate website it is VERY different. Twitter has the potential to be a lot more personal if used correctly.

Brands that have spent a lot of time successfully developing their brand personality certainly may have an easier time at it. Look at Jet Blue with 240,000+ followers. This brand dialogue didn’t start on Twitter, Jet blue simply uses Twitter as another natural extension of their brand and customers are eating it up. For the right brand under the right circumstances Twitter is a low cost way to communicate effectively. Indeed, there is massive potential to build brand equity and to keep fans and followers informed, but choose wisely and understand the hills and valleys before you start tweeting.

Mini, fun video.

2009-04-15T09:40:00.003-04:00

Well at least they are poking fun at themselves here, I mean where else is there to really go?

Don't miss the bus with this.

2009-03-20T14:44:00.003-04:00

What a great outdoor interactive display for Cadburry Eggs. This bus stop display is a touch screen game, how cool. Bringing this level of interaction outdoors or in store is a great way to engage, educate and entertain customers and shoppers alike.... or even people who ride the bus.

Marketing Ballista

1989: First Cell Phone Commercial

2009-03-19T14:54:00.003-04:00

I find this pretty humorous and ironic overall. Humorous because, well, it's a huge clunky thing. The idea of owning one of those is inconceivable to me (and probably the rest of my generation). Ironic because driving while talking is prohibited these days. It's pretty much automobile-centric. Times have certainly changed.

Great NYTimes article

2009-03-18T18:11:00.002-04:00

Very creative! Sometimes it's nice to see something abstract and imaginative.

I LEGO N.Y.

Is Dell Skating on "Thin" Ice?

2009-03-18T16:38:00.005-04:00

The skinny on the skinny.

It's sleek, sexy, thin...just like the MacBook Air, "with its guts wedged into a single piece of aluminum." It's called the Adamo and it's a whole pound heavier than the Air. It's also slower and more expensive.

To be frank, I'm not so sure about this. According to the article, the MacBook Air wasn't as well received as anticipated. So, what can Dell do that Apple can't? Here's some "insight":

”While a premium computing experience was assumed for Adamo, the intent was for people to see, touch and explore Adamo and be rewarded by the select materials and craftsmanship you would expect in a fine watch.”

A fine watch? Seems like a weak comparison to me that only focuses on the clean, sleek design. I guess "time will tell" whether or not this is an invention gone wrong.

Cut, Copy and Paste!

2009-03-18T10:20:00.006-04:00

Strangely enough, I asked myself the other day, "Why can't I copy and paste a line of text on my iPhone?" The simple act of cutting, copying and pasting is nothing new, so what's the holdup, Apple? Apparently, it's proven difficult to execute in a secure and user-friendly manner.

Well, all you iPhone and iPod Touch users might be happy to know that this capability the cut/copy/paste functionality is among the several software upgrades available this summer.

Like any other technological device, there's always room for improvement. I'm hoping that, sooner rather than later, the iPhone will become equipped with video capabilities. (I honestly haven't looked into the reasoning behind that one, but always thought it would be a nice-to-have.)

As an aside, the software upgrade is free for iPhone users and around ten bucks for those with the iPod Touch.

let's go for a drink!

2009-03-17T14:53:00.007-04:00

A couple months old, but...

Goldstar Beer puts a whole new twist on, "let's go for a drink." Check it out. Or, does it?

This simple, flow-chart-style ad campaign is admittedly hilarious (well, to most) but perhaps a bit sexist. (The tagline is, "Thank god you're a man.") It's safe to say you can take a look at it and think, "enough said."

The perfect ad to read while sitting on a bar toilet inebriated (apparently, bathroom stalls were the main display location).

It really appears to have angered some reviewers, but that just makes it all the more interesting! Dare I ask, "Let's go for a drink?" Eek.

NFL Fantasy Files: The Best Players

2009-03-17T10:18:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure about the history of this, but the special effects are great. Clearly this is Reebok sponsored, I could not find a supporting site, but this video has over 7 million views. Fun stuff.

If They Don't Hear It, Say It Louder...

2009-03-13T09:58:00.003-04:00

... and if don't see it, MAKE IT BIGGER! That's the latest initiative from the Online Publishers Association in an attempt to combat desensitivity to online banner ads. In an effort to maintain an evolution in online advertising, and create new ways for agencies to integrate a brand's experience with more interactivity, three new online ad units have been introduced. These ad units will be available through nearly two dozen OPA participating members including New York Times, MSNBC.com, MTV Networks and Wall Street Journal, whose combined reach is over 108.3 million unique visitors (that's 66% of the total US internet audience).

Read on to get the skinny on the creative objectives of this initiative and all the deets on the new creative units that will be available in early July!

re: iPhone Forrester Study

2009-03-11T16:24:00.005-04:00

A recent Forrester study supports the previous post. iPhone apps ranked highest for web browsing for convenience by on the go consumers followed by other Mobile apps, with mobile web surfing ranking at the bottom.

500MM Apps downloaded and rapdily counting.

Looking forward to the Blackberry App World!

iPhone has huge mobile browsing saturation

2009-03-11T15:15:00.006-04:00

This doesn't come as much surprise. After all, the iPhone was the first mobile web browser that gave users the Internet in full (albeit Flashless), pinchable form. Arguably, it still is the best game in town. At least until the Palm Pre releases.

66% is a big number. And makes it even more important to think about iPhone-friendly sites as a part of a bigger interactive strategy.

Now where's that Flash anyway, Apple?

Intel: Programmable Matter is in the future.

2009-03-11T15:05:00.005-04:00

I know this blog isn't necessarily "popular mechanics", but this technology really just makes me realize what dramatic changes that we and especially our kids will see in the future. Here is a technology that is 20-40 years in the future, but the ground is being broken today by Intel and others.

It's really interesting to imagine how something like programmable matter could affect the products we buy, how we sell, how we demonstrate usage, how a single product might be customizable to fit your needs in a way few of us could imaine. There are several articles out there on this subject. it's nice to dream.

Q&A: Why Best Practices Matter in Shopper Marketing

2009-03-05T22:33:00.001-05:00

Nice Q&A on the creation of the shopper insight council.

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/shopper-marketing/e3i99cfa85eeeab5b040544f46ec5714cad

.................
Sent from my iPhone

Augmented Reality from GE.

2009-03-05T10:34:00.003-05:00

Ok, this actually gave me the chills, which really doesn't happen too often. It's a really imaginative evolution of 3D online. It's most likely a combination of Papervision 3D and as you can see the use of a QR code (of sorts).

Regardless of the technology used, this is really a show stopper. Print out the QR-ish code and hold it up to the screen and a 3D world erupts on screen, mapped to the image on the paper - Amazing! The marketing and in-store opportunities for something like this could be HUGE. I'll definitely be looking more into this.

Try it out for yourself

Bully Free Zone.

2009-03-04T14:33:00.004-05:00

Facebook is going through more IA and design changes to make its self a bit more 'real time', like Twitter. The last Facebook layout update (which most people still hate) really put the emphasis on your Facebook status, clearly a response to the popularity of Twitter, even at that point. So here we are again, Facebook is trying to overtake what Twitter has carved out for its self in the social networking arena.

See the posting at techcrunch

Interesting stats.

2009-03-02T13:50:00.001-05:00

Super Sweet from Tumblr.

2009-03-02T12:52:00.006-05:00

As you may know Tumblr is a social site that allows easy personal blogging of video, text, photos... etc. I noticed that you can also call in audio and have it posted to your blog page. I'm sure this feature isn't for everyone, but for those with some flair and personality, it could be a hit. If you come across any audio blogs, please post them in the comments.

Skittles.com : Interesting take on information architecture

2009-03-02T10:53:00.003-05:00

Skittles.com has a new online experience to check out. This is the 2nd time i've personally seen this type of information design in place, the other time i saw this was on Modernista's web site. I guess imitation is the best form of flattery. In short it's using social sites on the web to host their content. So friends of Skittles are on Facebook, videos are on YouTube. The main page their navigation sits on is Twitter. It's pulling in everyone who's talking about Skittles, which is pretty cool. Products are hosted on Wikipedia. This is still an interesting approach. Outside of this you can't help but realize that there are many ways for a brand to utilize social sites (Other than the obvious ways) and utilize their benefits.

Wow. Jaguar, Land Rover Make $1.6 Million Mobile Buy

2009-02-28T10:10:00.003-05:00

Huge mobile marketing buy here and big news here from Jaguar / Land Rover. Interestingly they see the medium as not just awareness, but direct response. I'd agree completely. Even on a very basic mobile level it is super easy to interact and get information on basic information like weather/news and just as easy (and convenient) for appropriate branded messaging. I can't wait to see how this mobile marketing campaign comes to life in the marketplace. I'm also really curious about it's success.

Read the ad age article here >

Oldie but a goodie, What if Microsoft designed the iPod?

2009-02-26T16:03:00.001-05:00

Tropicana pulls back new packaging after a few weeks.

2009-02-26T06:56:00.004-05:00

So Tropicana redesigned their packaging and put it into market just a few weeks back. Here's the thing, they promptly pulled it off the shelves after just about a month and went back to their original package design.

Did sales plummet? Was the shift to an entirely new look and feel just too much for consumers? To the left you can see the 2 designs, on the left he classic orange with straw inserted into it and on the right the new design.

Personally, i'm glad they went back to the original design. It's a classic brand and classic design that everyone knows. The new creative feel too much like a generic orange juice brand. It's contemporary and attractive, but It just doesn't hold onto any of the brand equity or frankly, the heritage that has been established over the years by Tropicana. So hit your local super market for this limited edition Tropicana packaging, get them fast, because they'll soon be gone.

What's Ping?

2009-02-24T09:31:00.004-05:00

I came across this very cool site which allows you to manage all your social networks from one place. Most of us are on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, LinkedIn, AIM or Delicious, Flickr. But, you can also manage your accounts on Plurk, Tumblr, Identi.ca, Brightkite, friendfeed, Jaiku, Plaxo, Bebo, Hi5, Mashable, Xanga, Wordpress, Blogger (hey that's what this blog uses), yammer, Vox, typepad and about 15 other social networks out there in the world.

Realize Ping doesn't give you "full" access to manage these account, but gives you in many cases the ability to update a status on particular social network, or All statuses on all your social networks that accept statuses. I actually could have posted this blog post from Ping, but wasn't sure how to add the nifty Ping logo above, next time i will.

Million Dog Mosaic in Brandweek.

2009-02-23T10:27:00.003-05:00

Nice case study from Brandweek on Pedigree's Million Dog Mosaic below.

Case Study: Pedigree's Million-Dog Mosaic
Feb 21, 2009
-By Kenneth Hein

The Challenge
Every year, more than four million dogs end up in shelters. Pedigree decided to do something about it by creating the Pedigree Adoption Drive Foundation last year. The charitable organization is dedicated to helping shelters and rescue groups find homes for dogs. Now the issue was how could the Mars Petcare division raise awareness and money for its cause.

The Plan
The foundation and the "Million Dog Mosaic" were promoted at Pedigree.com, Dogsrule.com as well as at Milliondogmosaic.com/pedigree. Each time a consumer uploaded a photo of their favorite dog onto the site, the Pedigree brand donated $1 to the foundation. The mosaic was promoted via a custom Facebook application, the Westminster Dog Show Pedigree Pop-up dog store as well as integration with its advertising campaign, which features the hero adoption dog, "Oliver." Oliver is featured on the site comprised of consumers' uploaded photos. It was featured on a nonprofit channel on YouTube and targeted e-mails sent to an in-house database also got the word out. Catapult Action-Biased Marketing helped put the effort together.

The Results
In one month, there were more than 1 million page views of the mosaic. To date, more than 55,000 photos have been uploaded. It set the record for user-generated mosaic participation, beating American Idol. "It signified that Pedigree is a company that walks the walk when it comes to fully aligning with the values of its consumers," said John Anton, director of marketing at Pedigree. "A million dollars was raised for the Pedigree adoption drive. [The campaign] brought together dog lovers in a fun place where they could be entertained, do research on the best way to feed and treat their dogs, join a like-minded community and be rewarded for their engagement."

Mobile hotel bookings on the upturn.

2009-02-22T08:03:00.005-05:00

Mobile hotel bookings rise

In an economy where the hotel business is on the downward trend there is one thing they are doing that's working. It's mobile hotel reservations. As users get more comfortable with mobile devices the convenience of making a reservation seems to be too much to ignore. It's clear that instances like this will be popping up all over, instances where the mobile option just makes it easier to communicate with the brand.

What's in store for in store marketing displays?

2009-02-22T07:55:00.002-05:00

How about digital signs that actually read customers? This display knows whether customers glance at the signage, stops to read it or ignores it all together. pretty interesting stuff. See the full article on the CScout Japanese site here

very small game

2009-02-21T23:59:00.000-05:00

Pouring BudTV down the drain

2009-02-19T09:59:00.002-05:00

According to this AdAge article Bud TV is ceasing to exist. I'm a little surprised that it lasted as long as it did. I think we all remember when it launched, it was a big deal, but it's had a lot of competition in the video space. The production of original content was just too much. In comparison, It's funny that Hulu had press about it that it could never succeed in this pace and it's a great site.

Txt your revelation

2009-02-12T08:47:00.001-05:00

If I could get a few of my twitter statuses on a coffee cup, I'd be a
happy man. Txt cup to 30241 to share your revelation.

The future implications here are huge. The opportunity to interact
with a brand like green mountain while doing something as simple as
drinking your morning coffee.

My revelation. "I need to get back to my work".

I love Wordle

2009-02-10T22:54:00.003-05:00

If you have a moment check out Wordle.net. It's a really fun app that allows you to add text which in turn creates some really cool typographic layouts. The text you place can come from anywhere, like another website or perhaps your favorite song. Heck you could even paste in the lease on your apartment. The sky is the limit. The layout options are very cool too, change colors, type and composition of text. Give it a whirl.

Crayon Physics

2009-02-09T10:23:00.003-05:00

Let's rethink gaming for a moment here. Crayon Physics is a problem solving game that is not just fun, but also quite relaxing to play with. Do all that you can to get the little red ball to touch the star. Using physics, things you draw will fall, roll or draw a hinge to have another item you draw swing. This game is probably best played on a tablet or with a mouse, but they also have an iPhone version. I like this app a lot, (although my fingers seem to get in the way.)

In the mood for something different? I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Breaking the desktop paradigm

2009-01-27T17:16:00.008-05:00

For so long we've all worked within some pretty traditional constructs of what we call our desktops - whether on a Mac, PC, Linux or Commodore 64. We've all worked with the basic file structures and architectures that compose our virtual working/living world on our computers and how we interface with them.

With advancing web technologies and continually evolving interface design we've certainly seem some breakthroughs but they have mostly been at the site or application level, not on our day-to-day computer desktops. Neither OS X or Windows Vista have evolved things that much. That is until now (or soon hopefully).

Check out Bumptop. Designed by Anand Agarawala. BumpTop represents a paradigm shift in how we can think about our virtual desktops and allow them to become more intuitive and more important productive. Not to mention it's about as cool as you could imagine! While this is in beta now, follow it's development and sign up for a beta as the developer gets closer. I for one am hopeful to get a sneak peek!

Help Us Help Dogs

2009-01-27T09:43:00.004-05:00

Our client Pedigree(R) Food for Dogs is on the 5th year of it's campaign to support dog adoption. This year, it is supporting it in a big way with a superbowl spot which you can see here. To amplify this traditional marketing activity, we've created an online extension of this work, featuring "behind the scenes" back stories for the crazy pets and their crazier pet owners featured in the Super Bowl TV spot. And to mark Pedigree's commitment even more explicitly, we have built in the benefit to the user that each video watched will result in additional donations by Pedigree to support dog adoption through their charity, the Pedigree Foundation.

Funny stuff, great cause.

Add Ballista Blog to your RSS reader

2009-01-18T08:54:00.002-05:00

Add Catapult Marketing's
Ballista Blog to your google, yahoo or other RSS reader. It's easy and the fastest way to keep up on the postings.

http://marketingballista.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Twitter related apps and websites.

2009-01-18T08:21:00.003-05:00

Not sure where to begin, so many twitter apps and sites and just not enough time. Between location based, the ability to set groups, delay tweets, search tweets, the options seem endless. Twitter is turning out to be pretty awesome and the technical problems from early 2008 seem to have gone away. If you're not into twitter now, i'm sure you will be in 2009.

Article here

2009-01-15T22:57:00.003-05:00

See what's happening -- right now.
http://search.twitter.com/

Sling Media to bring live TV content to iPhones

2009-01-15T22:34:00.002-05:00

We met these guys last week at CES in Vegas. Sling media is the company that brings your cable tv to your computer. And now they bring it to your mobile device too. iPhone support is coming very soon in the next few months. A little birdy at CES told us that although the they officially support the product on AT&T's 3G Network, it will still work for us "original iphone" owners.

Here's an article about what Sling Media is up to these days.

The Shorty Awards

2009-01-13T15:13:00.003-05:00

Check out some of these tweeple if you have time
The best producers of short* content in 2008
*140 characters or less, on Twitter
Finals voting is open! The finals will last from January 12-23.

http://www.shortyawards.com/

NEW URL for Ballista!

2009-01-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

http://marketingballista.blogspot.com/

Samsung Flat Screen.

2009-01-12T21:08:00.002-05:00

This may be my final CES 2009 posting. I got scolded for taking a picture (or two) of this Samsung flat screen. Apparently the only ones able to take photos of it were those from the press. None the less, here we are. Hit the press for detailed specs, but this 50+ inch flat screen was no more than a half inch in depth. You may get more visual detail by clicking on the 2nd photo.

Clearly moving forward we'll be seeing a whole new world of flat screens. larger, thinner, lighter and using less power. The way these will impact our homes and shopping environments will be huge, no doubt.

Take a wire and make it flat. What do you get?

2009-01-12T20:57:00.003-05:00

One of the coolest things I saw at this year's CES was something rather basic in a lot of ways. It's called Flatwire and no surprise, it's wire that's flat. lol

What's genius about this is that from speaker wire to 120v wire it all is manufactured like, impossibly thin.

From what i could tell, rewiring could take on a whole new life as you essentially apply this flatwire to the outer surface of your wall, a little adhesive, Spackle and paint and you are in great shape. Perhaps for a real edgy look, you leave it exposed. Either way, no more snaking wires through your walls.

FlatwireReady.com

Major media in the shopping aisle

2009-01-12T18:12:00.002-05:00

Great article named "Major Media in the Shopping Aisle"
A pretty comprehensive overview of in store marketing today. Definitely worth checking out.

Digital Signage Secret.

2009-01-10T22:09:00.006-05:00

We came across this very attractive digital signage at the show. It featured a simple dissolve between content and specifications. It was clean and quite effective.

Upon closer observation, we realized that this shiny little object was just some simple, almost store bought technology fabricated to be a bit more useful.

I think the picture below speaks for itself, a basic digital picture frame, but modified. Just upload it with images and walla! Instant in-store digital signage.

Hitachi frames flat screens.

2009-01-10T21:52:00.004-05:00

At CES this year Hitachi spent a lot of time showing the public exactly how flat screens will integrate with their homes in the future. I touched on this in a previous post, but here you'll see another nicely designed stand and monitor frames. In theory we should be spending time choosing the frame of our flatscreen, just like we do when we hang nice art work in our homes. This also speaks even further to how technology integrates and blends with our home & work lives.

Consumer design leads to line of limited edition Sony Vaios

2009-01-10T18:28:00.001-05:00

The Sony booth showcased custom designed Sony Vaio computers. The
designs were created by consumers and entered into a contest. There
were upwards of 20k entries and you can see below the final winning
designs which were priducednin limited quantity.

These custom designed computers were only available through their
website. Cool stuff!

Eco friendly. Design friendly

2009-01-10T00:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a small fan running on solar power. As u can see the solar
panel is designed very nicely, resembling a tile. Perhaps solar would
be accepted more widely if it simply looked nicer, who knows.

Keep your coffee off my table.

2009-01-08T21:11:00.003-05:00

I came across this gem in the NBC booth. I don't have much info on it, unfortunately. I know i've seen this before somewhere. This digital coffee table is so interactive and easy to use. It's really impressive. You can see me sorting thru different cards there, each one with videos that can be played simultaneously, either full screen or small.... In short, I want one! If you know what this table is, please let me know. thanks....

i7 processor racing simulator

2009-01-08T21:00:00.003-05:00

Intel had a very interactive booth at CES. It showed the many ways that the i7 processor is pushing the limits of computing. This is a video of a racing simulator and all the processing power is being handled by just on i7. That includes the 3 huge LCD monitors, the game itself (the refresh rate was amazing) and also the interactive motion cockpit. It's like driving a real formula race car, bumps and all. Amazing.

Areaware high end design

2009-01-08T19:47:00.003-05:00

Areaware had a small booth with some amazingly designed products. There is a large influence of green, environmentally friendly products scattered throughout the show. We see a touch of that here with this very old fashioned, yet very contemporary bicycle. You can't help but notice it's unique lines, antique style seat, handle bars, tires pedals, yet it's got front and back solar powered lights built into it's aluminum body.

check out more at Areaware.com

Impressed by Hitachi

2009-01-08T19:40:00.002-05:00

I was really impressed with the Hitachi display. A lot of LCD prototypes, which i'll address in another posting. The LCD below was just beautiful to look at. 50 inches and you can see how slim this unit is, in person it's amazing. Hitachi is spending a lot of time doing something that others aren't, which is designing monitors that actually fit into the interior design of homes.

No big black brackets with big black LCD's hanging off them. Once you see a nicely designed LCD you realize that the black ones we're all buying really only deserve to be in sports bars. More on this soon.

One hundred and what inch LCD?

2009-01-08T19:36:00.003-05:00

This 108 inch monitor from sharp was pretty impressive until I came across the 150 inch from Panasonic. The impact these displays can make for a marketer and for a brand is pretty impressive. They get noticed.

S1 shoulder headset?

2009-01-08T18:13:00.000-05:00

Not sure what you'd call these, but it's a pretty cool idea. A speaker
set that airs on your neck. It allows u to listen to music while also
being socially open to talk while u listen. Office setting, perhaps?

The biggest drawback foe me was the most important one. Poor sound
quality, no bass to speak of.

LG wrist cell phone

2009-01-08T16:06:00.001-05:00

A fully featured cell phone on your wrist. Bluetooth enabled or
speakerphone. Europe only! Bad luck for us in the states. Launch date
still TBD.

Intel i7 processor powered workstation

2009-01-08T15:37:00.002-05:00

An awesome ergonomic workstation that is adjustable to you. Full access to the most powerful processor, 3 huge LCDs and amazing comfort.

http://www.iclubby.com

Who stole my freaking pint??? (Of ice cream)

2009-01-05T21:48:00.001-05:00

What are people saying out there, what are they willing to confess?

Here is a site where people can anonymously vent, tell their secrets their dreams and more. Give advice, get advice on this free site. (But remember the advice is worth what you pay for it.)

http://www.answerjam.com/

10 Ways Twitter Will Change Blog Design in 2009

2009-01-05T15:12:00.001-05:00

Learning about tweeting? See how twitter can change things.

http://mashable.com/2009/01/04/twitter-blog-design/

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Sent from my iPhone

Brothers In Arms iPhone Game Review - AppVee.com

2009-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

Every time I think I've seen a great iPhone app, another appears. It's
amazing to see the capabilites of these small devices and to imagine
what's to come. Gamer or not, see where brothers in arms takes gaming
to a new level on the iphone.

http://www.appvee.com/t/brothers-in-arms

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Sent from my iPhone

Becoming A Power Twitter User With New Firefox Addon Power Twitter | Social Media Vision

2009-01-04T10:59:00.001-05:00

This may be worth checking out. A twittified firefox add on that keeps
you in touch with all your tweeple.

http://socialmediavision.com/social-media/blogs-social-media/twitter/becoming-a-power-twitter-user-with-new-firefox-addon-power-twitter/

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Sent from my iPhone

Retailers Brining SalesPeople Online

2008-12-18T11:25:00.005-05:00

Traditional Brick and Mortar retailers have begun to recognize the opportunity to extend the value of their trained consumer facing sales people into the online space, leveraging their expertise, and their branded recognition, to offer valuable information and service to shoppers. One case in point is Best Buy who has launched www.askablueshirt.com to allow consumer electronic shoppers to take advantage of the expertise of the trained Best Buy sales force to build shopping preference and drive instore traffic.

Additionally, they are using the distribution power of this environment to generate buzz around events like Black Friday, in this case, showing photos of people camping out prior to the big holiday sales event. It shows that Best Buy, and other leading retainers, are starting to experiment with online well beyond their e-commerce and general brand building activities online.

Ask ChaCha

2008-12-18T10:13:00.026-05:00

Nielsen reports that ChaCha, launched less than a year ago, is the fastest growing mobile search service to surpass Yahoo! and Google. ChaCha's 300% quarter over quarter gain is tremendous, but also a result of an increase in mobile search supported by the latest hardware options.

Personally, I like the concept. Users text a question and get a reply in minutes. With so much content out there, it's useful. Users must, however, be specific or the relevancy in the results are lost.

Big brands including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and even the Obama campaign, have leveraged the tool for marketing purposes and have reportedly seen response rates up to 5% which well exceed mobile industry averages.

The Obama campaign specifically, used the service to urge early voting. Folks using ChaCha received a prompt that offered the option of getting more information on how and where to vote early - and of course there was a plug for Obama.

This will be one to watch - although it might be hard to miss.

www.chacha.com

A Weekend In The Life of Today's Shopper

2008-12-17T13:13:00.003-05:00

To help illustrate how digital technology is changing the way shoppers shop, we introduce you to a Young Gen X family and their digital shopping experiences over one weekend with the holidays appraoching.

Meet Bob and Sarah and their 4 year old son Zac. This dual income family lives in the suburbs of New York. Bob works full time in Manhattan at an advertising agency and Sarah works part time at a prestigious marketing services agency in Westport, CT. Their lives get crazier by the day.

Friday afternoon

·Sarah has picked up Zac from daycare and is back home. She needs to plan her grocery shopping list, so to keep Zac busy, she sets him in front of the computer and fires up the toy section at Amazon.com. Watching him, she chuckles, 4 years old and he’s creating his own holiday wish list. Dragging and dropping items…his total is over $10,000! Sarah uses this time to get organized. She checks the mail and remembers how her mom used to get those over-sized Val Pac mailers and store circulars. Now Sarah gets alerts on her cell phone to download new coupons in her pre-selected categories.

·The holidays are approaching and Bob is behind on his gift shopping. He’s walking down 6th avenue in New York City and wondering where he can get the best deal on a digital camera without having to pop into store after store. Bob opens the Slifter application on his cell phone and researches deals and product reviews within a 5 block radius. Bob’s turned 6th avenue into the main aisle of an electronics store.

Friday afternoon is turning to Friday evening

·Bob is rushing to Grand Central Station to catch his train. He gets a call from Sarah with a plea to pick up some dinner. Wanting to avoid the after work lines, and trying to eat healthy before the holidays, Bob goes to his favorite sandwich chain’s WAP site and places his order right from his phone. He’s pretty sure Sarah likes Banana Peppers.

Its Saturday morning and the family is up early.

·Bob and Zac decide its time for a little video gaming. They fire up the console and a welcome reminder tells them they have earned enough loyalty points to download a free, new adventure for their favorite game – Life is good!

·Sarah still needs to do her grocery shopping. She goes to her iKan unit in the kitchen and reviews her personalized, recommended shopping list based on purchase history. She presses the Buy Now button to have her groceries delivered. Check one chore off the list!

·Bob decides to go to the local electronics store. He’s shopping for a Tablet to go with his new digital camera. When he comes to the aisle the screen on his cart instantly changes with a list of Tablet suggestions personalized based on his previous purchases. The loyalty card in his wallet is embedded with an RFID tag, so he’s greeted by a sales associate ready to answer questions. The sales associate uses the screen on his chart to pull up the chain’s custom social networking site so Bob can check out consumer reviews.

·Sarah decides its time to do a little holiday shopping for herself. With Zac in tow, she heads out to her local department store. In the dressing room she uses the virtual shopping assistant to see what her outfit would look like with different color matches. She goes with Fuchsia on Black.

Sunday night, Bob gets a text from his boss

·Bob still can’t believe his boss is making him travel last minute! He’s racing to catch the flight and instead of stopping at a kiosk to print his boarding pass, he simply shows the QR code on his phone at security. This leaves him enough time to go to the self-service kiosk at the gate and download a movie for the flight to his laptop in under a minute.

·Sarah, missing Bob, thumbs through an Esquire Magazine for gift ideas for Bob. She comes across a Ralph Lauren Ad for a Cashmere Sweater and special offer. She scans the QR code on the page with her cell phone to get more details before she decides to make the purchase.

•Zac, missing daddy, grabs a photo from The Target Shutterfly site and posts it to Daddy’s Facebook page

These are just a few of the touch points that marketers can use to drive incremental sales with Bob, Sarah, and Zac. Technology makes their shopping experience more intuitive, personalized, convenient, which drives a stronger value proposition overall for shoppers.

As demonstrated by this family, technology has dramatically accelerated the sophistication and variety of shopper touch points. This will become more pervasive over the next 5-10 years. Availability and adoption will increase and scale will drive implementation costs down. Shoppers will have access to products and services anytime and anywhere.

Axe, Eat Your Heart Out

2008-12-17T10:22:00.005-05:00

Because nothing will get the girls knocking down the door to jump your bones like the scent of freshly flame-broiled beef.

Burger King has released its own fragrance: Flame. For when you want that just-got-off-the-night-shift fast food employee smell. Irresistible.

Of course, this works as a formidable PR stunt. But will anyone buy it in its undoubtedly short lived life?

Fostering Not Just Innovation, But Intellect

2008-12-02T17:29:00.002-05:00

The campaign around Herman Miller's new chair, Embody, does more than what it sets out to do - foster innovation. It also fosters intellect. It is a site that is emotionally soothing, mentally stimulating, and seemingly an innovation in and of itself. I highly recommend perusing with a coffee and bagel tomorrow morning.

Check out TODAY'S THOUGHTPILE now