I would be remiss if I didn’t participate in the conversation surrounding Steve Jobs’ highly publicized passing earlier this week.

An American icon, Jobs is being called today’s Thomas Edison.  His remarkable role as Apple’s leader makes him synonymous with the brand.  Jobs, a pioneer in both marketing and technology, single-handedly changed these industries forever.

Although he was extremely private, he was infamous for his attention to detail and perfectionism.  His Stanford commencement address encapsulates his extraordinary life.  Our world is a better place because of him.  RIP.

We often talk in great detail about social media and best practices, but it’s not often we see companies embracing social media with engaging campaigns. And when we do, it’s definitely worth sharing.

Chobani Yogurt’s campaign using real-life customers from the social-sphere caught my eye a few months ago. Now Audi has taken a safe driving pledge, combined it with a sweepstakes and added the social media component to boot.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Recycling is a word we use commonly today.  We think more about our environmental “footprint” than we ever have and consciously support “green” efforts.  Segueing from paper mail to electronic seemed the natural and eco-friendly choice.  But have you ever considered the e-waste you’re producing and its potential harmful effects?

I hadn’t either until a recent presentation by Lester Lithograph on sustainability.  Paperless actually comes at a cost*, just how much may surprise you:

• 24% annual growth of energy consumption at U.S. data centers

• 62 trillion spam emails are sent every year, contributing greenhouse gases equivalent to two billion gallons of gasoline

• Over 200 million items of e-waste are thrown away every year in the U.S.

• 70% of toxic waste in U.S. landfills comes from e-waste

And most shocking of all… Reading the news online produces more CO2 per year, per reader, than reading a printed newspaper!

But it’s not all facts and figures; the idea is to find the right balance between the environment and your communications.  Design with sustainability in mind and consider all your options before making recommendations to your client.

*All facts and figures supplied by NewPage Corporation.

The nose knows

Some of my fondest childhood memories were the aromas that wafted through our house. Whether it was the honeysuckle bushes in our backyard, my parents’ home cooking or the burning firewood, certain smells transport me to a simpler time.

Today paper manufacturers are recapturing our nostalgia with scratch and sniff advertisements. The concept isn’t new; in fact, children’s books and perfume companies have long engaged our schnozes as a means of tugging at our heartstrings. But it would appear, scratching and sniffing is making a comeback in a big way.

During a recent presentation by Lester Litograph, I was privy to one of their latest magazine offerings boasting the mountain air scent of a rock-climbing ad. I admit I was taken aback and never would’ve thought to smell the paper! So the next time you’re thumbing through an issue of your favorite publication, let your nose be your guide! It doesn’t come cheap, but it definitely adds to the sensory experience, which is priceless in advertising.

For more information on this and other innovative advertising, we encourage you to contact our team!

With the social media landscape changing daily, it’s hard to keep up… For some, more than others. The introduction of Google+ has Facebook running for its money, which in turn sent MySpace packing that originally pulled the plug on Friendster. (Are you following?) Recently it’s been reported that both Yahoo and Hulu are for sale. So what does that mean, not only for these companies, but their customers as well?

According to this article in the Washington Post, Yahoo’s controversial CEO, Carol Bartz was fired over the phone, causing pandemonium amidst standing chaos. Hulu is currently run by the parent companies of NBC, ABC and Fox, which contribute their own shows to the site. Now, with sale signs on the doors of these multi-million dollar companies, what, if anything, can Hulu and Yahoo bring to the tables of their respective buyers?

Yahoo has been accused of “living in the 90’s”, a content-heavy site with no core business focus (e.g. Facebook for photos, Google for search.) Hulu would also lose leverage if the content providers remain unwilling to contribute their shows post-purchase. Advertising has been the main driver and perhaps the main draw of both sites. Bidders, however, include Amazon, Dish and Google.

Will it be the end of an era for Yahoo or Hulu?

Most of us, whether we are accountants, lawyers or creative professionals, need an outlet, which inspires our creativity. For me it has always been writing. For others art, design, gardening, cooking and sewing are popular ways to tap into the right brain. Regardless of who you are or what you do for a living, creativity is paramount to a well-balanced and happy life. Furthermore, lack thereof has been linked to depression and anxiety.

So how do you find yours if you haven’t already? Some of the best resources today are online. Without committing to any one thing in particular, browse different sites and see what tickles your fancy. Then, if you find something that you’ve always wanted to try, take a class! A group environment is a great way to get motivated and stay inspired. Finally, don’t be shy – there’s no limit to how many hobbies you can explore. So try, try again!

Finally, when you do find something you love, share it! It wasn’t until I had the privilege of blogging for Motor that writing became so important to me. It is amazing the amount of gratification a simple post brings.

Share with us, what is your creative outlet?

I rushed to work this morning, all atwitter about posting a new review on Yelp:

Avanti Cafe on #Yelp: It's Costa Mesa restaurant week and if you can get to Avanti Cafe before it's over, go immedia... http://t.co/kIlXdZE

August 24, 2011 10:07 am via YelpReplyRetweetFavorite

@aliciamfranks

Alicia Franks

And then I got to thinking…  I was SO excited about writing my review because I couldn’t WAIT to exclaim to friends, family and colleagues that I had discovered the impossible: a healthy, delicious AND affordable meal, right around the corner!!!  In turn, when I’m extremely ANGRY about a product or service, I take to social media as well to proclaim my plight.  So it dawned on me that people typically write reviews when they are moved, in one direction or another; thereby making it a bit more difficult to take their advice at face value.

Hence, the law of averages was born.  I figure, if people only write a review when they are extremely satisfied or extremely dissatisfied, then the majority of patrons are moderately satisfied and not moved enough to express their opinion.  Furthermore, the average of the good and bad reviews equate to a median score.  This is just a general formula, of course if all the reviews are poor, the law of averages wouldn’t apply and vice versa.

As more customers become critics, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind:

1. As a business owner, use this as an opportunity to listen to your customers – acknowledge the bad reviews, offer incentives to change their mind and thus change their opinion.
2. As a customer, use the law of averages – people typically only review something when they are emotional.  Take reviews with a grain of salt and seek several sources of information.
3. Utilize social media yourself – write and read reviews to help others.

Are you moved enough to review?

Playboy is one of the most recognizable brands in existence. The sales from their magazine and radio station alone are staggering to say the least. Now add to that a Las Vegas nightclub and you’ve solidified success.

With the launch of this social media campaign, featured here on Simply Zesty, Playboy has taken interactive to the next level indeed. Smart, savvy and still controversial, Playboy is positioned as a leader in the industry (and with over 13 million views worldwide, this campaign is no exception;-)

As marketers, our clients are ALWAYS right…  Or are they?  They tell us who they are, what they do and why they do it better.  We take that message and develop a campaign to strengthen their brand and deliver said message to their target audience.  But what if they don’t buy what we’re selling?  In other words, what happens when you have an amazing creative concept and the client sends it packing?!

First and foremost, don’t lose heart.  As previously discussed, American Beauty is in the eye of the beholder…  Art, like the artists themselves, is created by experience and circumstance.  That is what makes it so unique and why different styles of art appeal to different audiences.  Furthermore, it is our  job to present our clients with options so they have choices.  As consumers we have endless options and our decisions vary as widely as the product choices themselves.  It isn’t to say one is necessarily wrong, perhaps there is simply more than meets the eye.  Typically, as in big corporations, there is also a trickle down effect.  If someone at the top level is disapproving, even the savviest of campaigns won’t stand a chance.

So make sure you’re listening to your client, learning from them and leaving without questions.  As you develop a deeper relationship your visions will align more closely and the creative will soon follow.  Finally, reassess the client’s strategy and ensure everything is copacetic.

What do you think, is the client always right?

To continue this week’s discussion about controversial ads – here are a few more for your viewing pleasure (or pain)…

This ad was recently pulled by the Milk Board due to it’s controversial nature (that’s right guys, PMS jokes still aren’t funny…)

This ad from Google stages an “email intervention”… AOL fans, it’s officially over.

Got comments?