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!

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 Earth Week upon us and Earth Day just a few days away, green is everywhere! And companies are leveraging their conscience to get your attention. The idea is not new, however, since the release of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and the escalating debate over global warming, our green initiative is growing – and green marketing is making it all possible.

So what is green marketing? By definition, it is the marketing of products that are presumed to be environmentally safe. From LED light bulbs to hybrid cars, a campaign exists to promote the features and benefits of these greener gadgets. What sets ecological marketing apart is the added social responsibility component. Buying green is actually benefiting the consumer AND the environment. So what’s the catch? The rules are a little fast and loose when it comes to the regulations on “green” and cost is sometimes a prohibitive factor, but becoming a legitimate, environmentally friendly products or services provider is certainly a win-win strategy for the future.

Things to consider when greening your campaign:

• Target Market – would your consumers find value in a greener product?
• ROI – is going green affordable and/or profitable for your offering?
• Sustainability – is a green campaign sustainable for your company?

Happy Earth Week!

Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, weighing in at $950 million in funding, the current champion in group discounts – GROUPON!  And in the red corner, from Washington D.C., weighing in at $232 million in funding, fighting for the championship title, LivingSocial!

Who will win?  According to this recent blog post from Mashable, LivingSocial plans to overtake Groupon in 2012…  So what IS the deal with group coupons and are you buying it?

Let’s step into the ring… Groupon works as an assurance contract; whereby, if a certain number of people elect to participate in the daily deal, the offer is valid to all.  If the minimum number of required participants is not met, the offer is void.

Groupon makes a profit by splitting the discounted proceeds with the retailer.  In the case of, let’s say a spa, they take a $150 spa service and offer it to the consumer for half price (or $75.)  Then Groupon and the retailer split the $75 ($37.50 each.)  LivingSocial works similarly without any upfront costs.  Although LivingSocial started a year earlier than Groupon, it didn’t offer daily deals until more recently (which may be among the reasons for its recent surge in business.)  Another possible explanation is their recent Super Bowl Ad.

Blue or red, the group coupon trend is on the upswing and no matter who takes the title, this is a win-win for everyone involved!

Who do you think will win the battle of the bargains?

The age old question… MAC or PC?!?!  Well, don’t look at me – I’m a PC girl in a MAC world but what I will give Apple is an A for advertising.   I  just found this hilarious commercial on Places to Yoga‘s blog.  I couldn’t get over how funny this was (probably more so since I do yoga myself;-) but either way I think it’s worth sharing!

Another feather for Apple’s cap – no wonder everyone wants to be just like them;-)

Are you a MAC or PC?

Do you ever wonder why you’re thirsty for a Coke after watching American Idol? Or suddenly have a hankering for an Oreo during a Friends rerun? This is the power of product placement; popular shows which draw thousands of viewers promote goods as part of the plot…  Notice as your favorite characters talk on iPhones, drive Fords or email from HP laptops. Coincidence?! I think not…

Also known as embedded marketing, this tactic became popular in the 1980’s. With the rise of DVRs and demise of commercials, marketers rely now more than ever on product placement as a form of creative advertising. In fact, 90% of people with digital video recorders skip TV ads altogether.  Most commonly placed products are automobiles, consumer electronics, computers, and tobacco. The queen of product placement herself, Ms. Carrie Bradshaw of the HBO series Sex and the City, touted almost every one of these categories and single-handedly increased Jimmy Choo shoe sales for the duration of the series.  Although, the series itself, as well as Apple, are rumored to have not accepted payment for placing certain products.

Its effectiveness is often assumed as the quantification methods used to track brand integrations are variable; however, it stands to reason products placed strategically in popular prime time series are likely exposed directly to their target audience.  So next time you turn on the big game, curl up for movie night or tune in to your favorite sitcom – notice what sports drink the players guzzle, what getaway car the villain drives and what cereal the family has for breakfast.  It may surprise you that they all have a brand name.

What are your thoughts on product placement?

Companies today have endless opportunities to gain your business…  Frequent flier miles, reward perks, cash back, coupons, points, fans, friends, followers, you name it!  But what does it actually take to gain your loyalty… And keep it?

I recently asked myself this question when I lost my keys… Amidst the massive amount of key tags to just about every merchant in Southern California!  What I realized was threefold.

First and foremost, some of my favorite retailers don’t even HAVE loyalty programs!  Take Trader Joe’s for example.  I go there about once a week (OK twice but the second time is just for the free fare) and I’m not getting any points or prizes; I am loyal to them because of their low prices and quality food.

Secondly, I will admit – the loyalty programs of several retailers do keep me honest, typically because they offer free product samples.  Take Aveda for instance.  Their prices are a little steep, so I like that I can select my favorites before committing to the cost of the full size item.

Finally, program or not, keeping a loyal customer is a never-ending job.  Those who do it well are customer service oriented and constantly reinventing themselves through social media or new and interesting messaging, like MAC for example.  I recently received a thank you card for making a purchase.  It may not be the “greenest” way to gain my trust but I will admit it did intrigue me…  A thank you card for shopping I was going to do anyway?!  You are welcome MAC!  Not to mention they also have a recycling program in which six containers gets you one free product.  It’s companies like these that will always have a place in my heart… And on my key chain;-)

Where are your loyalties and why?

With the fourth season of “Mad Men” wrapping up recently (and having just jumped on the band wagon myself…) I felt compelled to comment on what can only be described as a television phenomenon. One so dramatic in fact – they’re now designing suits to mirror it! Welcome back to the 1960’s, where drinking and smoking in the office were as dignified as the executives themselves. “Mad Men” is not only defining an era but an industry as well. This AMC drama has captured its audience with intensity, and then leveraged it into the marketplace.

The show seems to be spawning a whole new culture in advertising – even the commercials aired during the show are set in the same time period to keep watchers engaged (another phenomenon in advertising altogether…) But no one seems to be making the mark quite like “Mad Men.” A recent shopping trip revealed the “Mad Men Edition,” a moderately priced suit by Brooks Brothers. The ensemble boasts a sharkskin fabric, 2-button jacket with narrow lapels, hacking pockets and side vents.

With retro hair and make-up making a comeback as well, I can only presume “Mad Men” had something (if not everything) to do with this throwback trend; creating a cult-like following, which marketers have quickly caught on and leveraged to their benefit.

Where else have you seen “Mad Men’s” influence? What other television shows have impacted the marketplace in such a way?

Just 15 years ago, these guys would have gone unnoticed and under appreciated. Their creativity and hard work would never have been past around through tweets and blog posts. If they were lucky, they might have gotten one or two newspapers to notice. But, with the upswing of technology and the ease of access that the general public has to sites like youtube, these guys have become an Internet sensation. Currently, there are over 150,000 views in the last 12 days and the number continues to rise. What impresses me the most is that this was not done to raise money or make them famous, the first screen even tells us that we are free to send it, share it and talk about it. All they want is for people to see what they do, and hopefully enjoy it. So, enjoy it, share it and have a wonderful weekend!

Building a message for your audience takes time and thought. But, in a world so fast paced, your message is often missed in the blur of information transfer. You need to know who you are writing for, what you want them to feel when they read it, and most importantly, if they buy your product.

Let’s take a quick look at the key messaging of the 3 well-known brand rivals:

Which messaging do you find more effective? What about more creative?

And lastly, is the product you prefer to use/drink, the one that’s message you find the best?