Attack of the Lollipop Head

Over the weekend, a story caught my eye and I can’t stop thinking about it – Extra TV ran a segment about a recent ad for Ralph Lauren, in which a basically skeletal model is depicted as having a head larger than her pelvis, thanks to some questionable photoshopping. Immediately, this threw me into an uproar – as a woman, this ad offends me, but what upset me more than anything is Ralph Lauren’s rather lame statement: “For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman’s body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately.”

Excuse me? They didn’t know that this had been done? I have worked in retail marketing and nothing went to press without several rounds of approvals, and that was at a furniture manufacturer in the midwest. They’re trying to tell me that an iconic international brand like Ralph Lauren would print something without final approval? I don’t think so.

Over the weekend, a story caught my eye and I can’t stop thinking about it – Extra TV ran a segment about a recent ad for Ralph Lauren, in which a basically skeletal model is depicted as having a head larger than her pelvis, thanks to some questionable photoshopping. Immediately, this threw me into an uproar – as a woman, this ad offends me, but what upset me more than anything is Ralph Lauren’s rather lame statement:

“For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman’s body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately.”

Excuse me? They didn’t know that this had been done? I have worked in retail marketing and nothing went to press without several rounds of approvals, and that was at a furniture manufacturer in the midwest. They’re trying to tell me that an iconic international brand like Ralph Lauren would print something without final approval? I don’t think so.

Will Tweet for Food

From time to time, I like to point out grassroots marketing efforts, particularly because of the degree of authenticity. Those who know me well know that I am also involved in a group called Tastecasting, which combines two of my favorite things – dining out and social media. Check us out here, especially if you’re interested in starting a chapter in your city.

Defining Average

The 2010 Census is sure to bring surprises to marketers – the “average” American consumer is no more. As demographics expert Peter Francese writes for Advertising Age, “The average American has been replaced by a complex, multidimensional society that defies simplistic labeling.” Though official data won’t be released until April, 2011, we do know some of the preliminary findings: diversity statistics are widely varied by demographic group, the American household is extremely varied (married couples without kids are the prevalent type, followed by single people), and the population is shifting toward the southern and western portions of the country.

Happy Monday (and Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers)

Finally, here are a couple of spots that have been making me laugh lately. Bud Light does a genius job drawing parallels between an uncomfortable breakup and selecting a beer, which Geico presents a talking pothole that is eerily reminiscent of how I imagine Britney Spears sounds like. Enjoy!

Giving Oprah the Finger

KFC’s CMO is pointing the finger of blame at Oprah Winfrey for last May’s grilled chicken promotion/fiasco, claiming that they were given very short notice of their upcoming appearance on the show, thus giving the chain less than a week to prepare franchises for the sheer volume of the giveaway. According to an article by AdWeek Media, the fast feeder had planned for 4 million people, tops, to redeem their coupons. Instead, within 24 hours, 10 million people had tried to get their free Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal.

A Commercial That Will Change Your Life
Once in a while, you see a commercial that makes you stop and think, and possibly shed a tear or two. This spot from Thai Life Insurance celebrates the human spirit and embraces life in a way I have never seen before by telling the story of Toi, a young cancer patient who won’t let her disease stop her from celebrating life with the three most important people in the world.

This spot also took the Grand Prix for TV at the Asia Spikes last week.

Coming to a Geek Near You
Microsoft doesn’t just want to sell you software, they want to make your life a little easier, too, by helping you manage those pesky social platforms by aggregating monitoring tools and combining them with the rest of your organization. Looking Glass, which is still in the testing phase, will then connect that data into Microsoft’s enterprise platforms, such as Outlook and Sharepoint. Microsoft officials describe Looking Glass as a “bridge between IT and the marketing organization.” For example, a CMO gets an email in the middle of the night about increased chatter on twitter about his company’s product. That information is then linked to the company’s customer relationship manager system to decide if a PR response is warranted.

My New Favorite Website

Yes, kids. Even the King shops at WalMart

I know it’s just plain wrong to laugh at people, but PeopleofWalmart.com is just plain hilarious. Will/should the discount doppelganger squash the site? I hope they don’t, and it’s not just because I’m easily amused. Yes, the site mocks the more eccentric WalMart shoppers, but it also went viral virtually overnight, which puts WalMart in the collective conscious of potential consumers. There isn’t enough money for that kind of publicity.

Thought Leaders and Other Marketing Wunderkind
As many of you know, I have been involved with the Community Marketing Blog since May when I competed in the blog-off. We have recently relaunched the site. To see what we’ve been up to, as well as discover some of the findings in our little social media experiment (and show me some love as I wrote this entry), check it out here.

What is a Facebook Friend Worth to You?
So you want to be a Facebook rockstar and have a grillion friends, but you just don’t have time for the legwork? Well, today is your lucky day – online ad firm uSocial can help you. Pay them and they’ll make you appear to be big on Facebook – in fact, they’ll deliver you 5,000 Facebook “friends” for 7.6 cents per friend (or a mere $654.30), or up to 10,000 Facebook “fans” for a mere 8.5 cents a fan (or $1.167.30).

Speaking of Facebook, the social networking site is testing a lite version of Facebook. Try it here.

Meanwhile…
According to a study by ComScore, online video consumption is up in the morning and late night dayparts. Anyone else not shocked? However, that’s something to keep in mind if online videos are part of your marketing arsenal.

And Finally, a Little Joy Just Before the Weekend
The outro movie from the long-anticipated Rock Band: The Beatles game. Enjoy.

Photoshop is our Friend, Right?

Just when I was ready to give Microsoft kudos for taking the high road in its advertising, they go and do something stupid. Let me start by saying that I get the point of global advertising and the fact that you will probably need to adjust your ad to fit the markets in which it is running, but that still is not an excuse for sloppiness.

The original image, which ran in the US, showed an Asian man, a black man, and a white woman around a conference table. However, in the version running in Poland, the same photo appeared with a white man’s head pasted over the black man. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the photoshopping was a tad sloppy – the black man’s hand is still there. Microsoft has since apologized and taken down the photo.

Nothing Like a Public Health Scare to Move Products
Thanks to the H1N1 coverage, antibacterial products are flying off of store shelves as kids head back to school. As you’ll recall, Swine Flu coverage peaked in the spring, but quickly died down in May when the virus did not prove to be as deadly as previously thought. Thanks to google searches for products effective against H1N1, now that kids are heading back to school, supply lists around the country are including antibacterial wipes, gels, etc, from Lysol and Chlorox. Wonder where I can get a deal on surgical masks?

A Classic Cautionary Tale

I’ve always been a big fan of PSA’s, after school specials, and the like, and this PSA from the Gwent Police Department is an extremely disturbing and graphic depiction of why texting and driving is a bad idea. (Warning: not safe for viewing by children)

The Worst and Weirdest iPhone Apps Ever Created

I admit it – I’m a total dork when it comes to my iPhone and all of the available apps. This week, I discovered the wonders of Regator. Of course, I also came across some real clunkers that have me scratching my head.

YoHottie
Basically, think of this as “Am I Hot or Not” for the iPhone generation. In a sense, it’s leering (or people-watching, depending on your inclinations) at its finest.

iCycle
For the man who wonders why his lady friend is acting strangely this week, iCycle allows you to track the menstrual cycle of that special lady (or up to 5 ladies) in your life.

Nicado
Upon first impression, Nicado seems innocent enough – it tracks and reports your exact location and lets the world know precisely where you are. Perfect for the ultimate narcissist who feels the need to let people know where they are every minute of the day. Also helpful for stalkers and freaks to track you down.

Beer
This is an application I just don’t get. The makers bill it as the ultimate keg party where the beer never runs out, but seriously, what is the point of virtual beer? And to pay .99 for it? Why?

Offender Locator/Sex Offender Search
This handy dandy app let your inner OCD run free by letting you know when an offender has moved into your neighborhood and where they work, etc. Sometimes, I think there’s such a thing as too much information.

Annoyance
If you need to exact revenge on your annoying coworker, then this is the app for you. It lets loose a series of annoying sounds like a jackhammer, crying baby, siren, chainsaw, and chewing. Beats opening one of those foil packs of tuna and crackers in your cubicle, doesn’t it?

iVoodoo
This is one of the creepiest apps I’ve ever seen. For realz, it’s a virtual voodoo doll. All you have to do is import a photo of someone into iVoodoo and then stick ‘em with virtual pins. And to make it even more ghoulish, here is the description:

iVoodoo is the answer to your magical and spiritual needs. In today’s society it can be difficult to whip out a voodoo doll and stick it full of pins … That’s where iVoodoo comes in. Just launch the app and you’ll be manifesting destinies in no time at all.

To add to the creepy fun, you can customize five dolls, you can choose from seven different pins, and there’s a pin management system, among other things. Long story short, someone takes this voodoo stuff a little too seriously for my comfort level.

MobileSpy
In case you need to step up your stalker game, check out MobileSpy. This app allows you to  surreptitiously monitor everyone who contacts you. It runs as a background app, and automatically tracks and records SMS messages, phone calls, and GPS locations. It enables the user to track down where a SMS is sent from or where a phone call is coming from. All data are automatically uploaded to a separate website where a user can access it.

iPee
If you’ve been cursed with a shy bladder, behold the wonders of iPee

Photo credits: Krapps.com

Shout Out

Kudos to client mywebWOW!, who launched their sweet refurbished website last night. More things (read: BIG things) are coming for the MWW team over the next year, so please check out their site and consider them for your web needs.

Late to the Party

So I’m a little late with this, but John Hughes was one of my heroes during my teen years because his movies captured teen angst so perfectly. What you may not know is that he was a copywriter at Leo Burdett in Chicago before making his way to Hollywood. Click here for a touching tribute from a former colleague.

Please Don’t Call me a Mommy Blogger

One of the terms I hate more than anything is “mommy blogger.” First of all, it’s insulting. Yes, I am a mother who blogs and I tend to mention my family from time to time, however, the fact that blogging mothers don’t get as much respect from the blogosphere at large as, say, political bloggers or social bloggers is absurd. For some reason, there is a misnomer that mothers who blog only write about their kids and how to get their whites whiter. For the record, I manage two blogs of my own – one is a foodie blog and the other is my marketing blog, plus I write for two online magazines, and contribute to two marketing and advertising blogs. Mommy blogger, indeed!

What has set me off on this particular course is an article I read, touting the swag BlogHer attendees took home last week. Once upon a time, advertisers didn’t take us seriously because they thought our blogs were all about our kids and homes, and not especially substantive or relevant. Then, they  came to the realization that women who blog are influencers who build brand loyalty by word-of-mouth. Who are you going to trust – some guy in a suit at an ad agency who tells you that his product is great or a mom in your play group who has actually used the product?

Not Your Mama’s Phone Interview
If you, like me, are still looking for work, you’ve no doubt been through the rigors of what I like to call Phone Interview 2.0. Remember the days when you used to get a call from someone in HR and had a pleasant, but breezy conversation that ended in an appointment for a face-to-face interview? Those days have been replaced by the new breed of phone interview. Click here to learn how to survive it.

Social Media for Competitive Intelligence
One of the things I love about marketing is strategy. While your actions have to be deliberate, you also have to monitor the competition. Thanks to Webbed Marketing’s Bill Baldarraz  for this brilliant article on how to utilize social media when doing reconn.

On my Bookshelf
I may be a little late to the party, but I’m finally on the Seth Godin bandwagon. I’ve just started reading All Marketers are Liars: the Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World and I can’t put it down. If you want to master the art of  telling authentic stories, this is the book for you.

Die Fail Whale, Die!

If you spend any kind of twitter, then you know the Fail Whale: the eponymous whale that lets you know when twitter is having issues. This is especially frustrating when you’re in the middle of a conversation, promoting your latest project, or trying to track down an old friend. To vent your frustration, Andrew Conn has graced us with a Flash game that lets you take out your frustration.

Speaking of Twitter…

If you’re tired of having to do detective work every time you receive a follow request, then Twimailer is for you. Once you sign up, you will receive an email from Twimailer with a the potential follower’s user name, avatar, bio, and recent tweets, as well as links that will allow you to follow or block the user.

So What Should I Write About?
I think by now we’ve cleared the question of whether or not your company should blog, so next comes the Big Hairy Question of what you should write about. I’m asked this all the time by my clients, who are terrified of blogging because all they know are spreadsheets. Remember, blogging is about building relationships, so here’s a list to help you get started.

• Check your inbox. What are people talking about? Are there any questions you can answer?
• Comment on someone else’s blog. What blogs are you reading? Do you have an opinion about what they’re saying?
• Offer advice. Most of the time, people read blogs because they’re looking for ideas and advice to help solve their own problems. Are there any services that you can offer to help solve these problems?
• What have you been up to? Can you offer behind-the-scenes stories or insights?
• Comment on the state of the union. Are there any new developments in your field? Can you discuss real-world applications?
• Photos and videos are absolutely priceless. People love to see the proverbial “man behind the curtain” at work. Be transparent and let your clients in on what you really do.
• E-books are incredibly valuable when you offer something that your readers can’t get anywhere else, plus they are a natural blog entry.
• Share your presentations with your readers. Have someone video your latest presentation or upload your slides on slideshare and let your readers get a feel for what you presented.
• Be the News. A blog is a great place to announce the latest developments at your company – new hires, awards, new developments, technology updates, etc.
• Dialog is the New Black. Use your blog to generate debate and/or discussion with your readers. This will help spark future topics, as well as generate reader loyalty.

So Much for What we Leaned in College
Remember the basic advertising classes we took in college and they beat into our heads what differentiates a good spot from a bad one – clear call to action, make your product memorable, etc? The latest spot for Chi Chi’s Salsa breaks those rules, but still works because it’s clever, repetitive, and funny as hell. Plus, if you’re a dork like me, you’ll imitate the robot in the ad for days. Enjoy it here.

A Little Burst of Happiness

Now that the 4th of July holiday weekend is over, it’s time to get back to the business of life, in general. But, before we get back to work, I wanted to share the following with you – a commercial for the Columbus Zoo, which was recently named the best zoo in the country (after years of being #2) by USA Travel Guide. The choreography and the lyrics are an absolute riot and I can’t help but laugh every time I see the spot on TV. Enjoy!

Anyone Else Not See This Coming?

Imagine for a moment that you’re a 16 year-old boy named Zack Johnson. Now imagine that you wake up one morning, only to find that your “guy parts” have been replaced by “girl parts.” Believe it or not, this is actually a stealth viral campaign for P&G’s Tampax tampons. The campaign is anchored around a video-rich blog and even a twitter account. Despite the marketers not knowing at this point how the campaign will end, they do say they’re pleased with young Mr. Johnson’s sudden popularity.

That’s Gotta Hurt

In a textbook example of a well-executed attack ad, in “True Stories,” Best Buy calls out Walmart by name for its lackluster customer service. In the spot, an actual customer service rep recalls talking to a frustrated customer who called her from a Walmart because the associate there couldn’t answer his question about a TV. Granted, Walmart is attempting to bridge the void left by Circuit City’s closing by offering more upscale electronics at Walmart price points, kudos to Best Buy for differentiating itself in a way that is meaningful to consumers. Watch the spot here.

Whose Way is it Now?
Don’t get me wrong – I love Wendy’s and have for a long time. But what I do not love is their advertising. Maybe it’s because they went through their Golden Age of creativity with their “Where’s the Beef?” campaign in the 80’s and then hung their collective hat on the head of beloved founder Dave Thomas in the 90’s with “Dave’s Way.” However, the chain’s current approach to advertising has me confounded.

This spot bothers me in so many ways from a creative and marketing standpoint, and is truly indicative of the organization’s problems – inconsistent product quality, skyrocketing prices, and schitzophrenic advertising. I really feel that it’s time for Wendy’s to take a simpler approach and go back to the basics of value and quality.

Cannes, Schmannes
I know the advertising world is getting excited for Cannes and there are predictions flying that CP+B will take home a ton of Lions, I can’t help but yawn. Read why here.

Long Time, No Blog

I’ve had some emails from readers of my blog who want to know why I haven’t updated it lately (shame on me!). Truthfully, I have been very busy – In addition to looking for work, I’ve been networking, meeting new people, and, of course, writing. I was very fortunate to be invited to participate in a blogging competition on the Community Marketing Blog and the results are in – I made the top 5, so you may be seeing more of my writing on a much larger scale. As soon as I have the details, I will post them here. I’m also writing for Talent Zoo’s Beyond Madison Avenue blog, which means I’ll be putting my own spin on advertising and related issues.

Riddle Me This
I’ve been seeing a commercial for Pepsi that has me a bit troubled – the spot touts that Pepsi is now made with natural sugar for a limited time and called “Pepsi Throwback.”

This begs the obvious question – what were they making it with before? I’m just sayin’

This Doesn’t Bode Well
If you’re craving ice cream tonight, Sonic is offering free floats tonight between 8 and midnight while supplies last. I have a feeling this won’t go well – they’ve been running spots, the story is getting TV coverage, and the restaurants have been putting out signs in their surrounding neighborhoods. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – free food+crappy economy=FAIL. Have we learned nothing from the Oprah-KFC debacle? I’m going on record as saying that they will run out of supplies early on and the promotion will turn ugly quickly.

Virtual Keg Party? Sweet!
Michelob is joining the twitter fray, but users who are eager to hear what the brewer has the say may be asked via direct message if they’re of legal drinking age. Industry guidleines require manufacturers to limit marketing messages to audiences where at least 70 percent of recipients are at least 21 years old, which could lead to backlash regarding how legitimate the age checks actually are. Here’s my question – what is the actual ratio of underage users to adults over 21? I have to think that at least 70 percent of users are of age, so what’s the problem? Apparently, only time will tell.

All Hail the Queen

KFC is experiencing what can only be described as Hurricane Oprah. The identity-challenged brand has re-launched its grilled chicken product, which didn’t sell too well a few years ago (“Rotisserie Gold,” anyone?) by using Oprah as its pitch person, offering a coupon for a free 2-piece meal on its website. The deal runs through May 19th (but it is not redeemable on Mothers Day) and has already overwhelmed the fast feeder. Restaurants were not prepared for the onslaught and have had to turn away scores of customers. Ouch. Will the Yum Brands-owned chain be able to maintain the hype once the campaign is over? Stay tuned.

McYawn

McDonald’s has launched its ad blitz for the McCafe line of gourmet coffees. As I’ve already said, I think this venture will be a huge McFlop for the fast feeder and the latest spot proves it. I get their point. Really, I do. They’re trying to show how wrapping one’s swine flu-infested paws around a McCafe can elevate even the most mundane of experiences, such as cubicle-dwelling at work. However, I am a firm believer that iconic brands should stick to what they’re known for, especially in today’s economy, where brand loyalty is key.

The Shudder Heard Round the Ad World

If ever there was a time when I questioned my decision to become a writer, this would be it. Work is scarce and I’m constantly bombarded by opportunities to become one of those annoying people who hand out samples in front of Walmart, so now is the time for action. Enter Lawson Clarke. The former Arnold creative has unleashed his own site on the unsuspecting public to showcase both his work and his sense of humor. Inspired by Burt Reynolds (and, frankly, who isn’t?), the hirsute Clarke lounges nude on a bearskin rug, naughty parts cleverly concealed by a well-placed TV showing a shot of the White House and playing the national anthem. I’m not sure what else is on the site because I was entranced by the waving American flag, but give it a look, if you dare.

Riddle Me This

In a massive PR campaign, former NFL star Michael Vick is attempting to rehab his image in the wake of the dogfighting scandal. He has even gone so far as to discuss endorsing animal rights group PETA in an attempt to get in the public’s good graces. So, here’s my question: how credible of a spokesman is Michael Vick expected to be against animal cruelty? Seriously.

Keepin’ It Real

It’s no secret – I’m a huge fan of grassroots marketing and, for that reason, Crimson Cup is my new purveyor of choice of my favorite legal drug – coffee. I recently had the privilege of attending my first Coffee Cuppers Club meeting, of which I learned via twitter. In addition to slurping coffee grounds and meeting new people, I also got to meet one of the roast masters and learn about what makes a good cup of coffee. No pressure and no sales tactics, just an enjoyable afternoon that helped me put a face to the brand and personally identify with it. Cheers!