mobile phones more important than wallets
More than one-third of workers would choose their mobile phone over their wallet, keys, laptop or digital music player. Thankfully, pants and shoes are still important.
Labels: mobile, technology, trends
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
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stuff you can't do on an iphone
To showcase what you might be able to do with the new Motorola Z10 phone, agency Cake has produced a campaign that features a marriage proposal. A proposal shot and edited on the phone.
Oh yeah - the agency says that she said yes. I would assume that she called him to say yes, using a Motorola Z10.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:55 AM
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verizon clueless?
Apparently Verizon is including text ads on all of the photos uploaded to services like Flickr, from any of their cellphones. I really hope this isn't true. Really hoping that one of the largest cell phone providers isn't that out of touch with what's important to their users, to the industry and social media.
I couldn't find examples in a quick search on Flickr, so I opted to include a photo of Rob, enjoying BBQ, instead. I think it's just as appropriate.
Labels: mobile, photography, social media
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:10 AM
1 comments
we're running out of space
Another post of brilliance from Ben at Thought Gadgets. Lots of wondering about the pending challenge of an ad crunch. People are ignoring ads on social media sites, and mobile devices don't have room. Some interesting points that will be fun to watch play out in the very near future.
Labels: google, mobile, social media
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:11 AM
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people are really using iphones
Google sees 50 times more searches from the iPhone than any other mobile handset.
“We thought it was a mistake and made our engineers check the logs again,” says Vic Gundotra, head of Google’s mobile operations. (Yeah, like Google can make mistakes.)
This is an important trend. Not that you aren't already sick of hearing how 'mobile is the future.' But here's tangible evidence that users are actually using. As the Financial Times points out, when other manufacturers make the internet as easy as Apple, this will be huge. Internet. Maybe this thing is catching on.
Labels: apple, iphone, mobile, trends
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
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where is your old cellphone?
Inhabitant points to a cool piece titled The Secret Life of Cellphones. The video showcases the fact that most people don't know they can recycle their phones. Many keep them, many toss them in the garbage.
There's a massive opportunity here for a cell brand. Most brands have a recycle box tucked away in the back corner of their retail stores, out of view from their customers.
What about a brand campaign that encourages consumers to recycle? Wouldn't that be a unique way to drive traffic to their stores? And encourage people from competing brands to come into their stores and recycle? All while sending a "we care about the world and environment" brand message. Hello?
Labels: adindustry, branding, mobile
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
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text yourself an email reminder
Ever find yourself in a situation thinking "I should check that out" and then totally forgetting by the time you're in front of a computer? (Another reason to have internet with you, all the time, everywhere.)
With Kwiry, you can text yourself a message, and the Kwiry bots will email the message to you. The site is down this morning (not a good sign), but the service sounds interesting. I'm wondering what kind of mashups and integration can be done with other services and online promotions. From bub.blicio.us
Labels: mobile, technology, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
1 comments
spot produced on a samsung G800
Gotta love stop motion. And this spot totally rocks. Not just because the animation was cool - but because the whole thing was shot, and uploaded on a Samsung phone. That's the way to inspire a purchase - by showing real benefits and fun uses for the product. Sweet. From Creativity Online.
Labels: ads, illustration, mobile, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:24 AM
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obama's mighty marketing
Check out this post detailing some Obama marketing techniques. From fundraising tactics, innovative list building, and the world's largest phone bank, this is a marketing team that's spot on. There's not a brand that couldn't learn something here.
Sooo many impressive tactics - but my fave is getting people while they're at an event to call four friends. Think about that...you're at an event - so you're already pre-disposed to the brand. Because all of the people around you are doing it, you're more likely to participate in something you wouldn't normally do. Because you're at an exciting event, you have a speaking point to begin discussions with your friends. Brilliant.
The same technique could work for most non-profit live events, and even some consumer brands. Why are we learning marketing from a politician?
Thanks Eliza!
Labels: marketing, mobile, politics, streetteams, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:40 AM
1 comments
you are the future of media distribution.
Duh. In case you didn't already know, consumer generated/distributed media is a really big deal.
A new study from Nokia claims that by 2012, a quarter of all entertainment will be created, edited and shared within peer groups rather than coming out of traditional media groups.
In an attempt to coin a new buzz word (cuz we need more of those,) Mark Selby, Vice President, Multimedia for Nokia says that a quarter of media will be ‘Circular’: "The trends we are seeing show us that people will have a genuine desire not only to create and share their own content, but also to remix it, mash it up and pass it on within their peer groups - a form of collaborative social
media.”
From Micro Persuasion.
Labels: mobile, social media, trends, tv, video, viral, youthmarketing, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
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teens: IM is easier than speaking
This is nothing new to you, if you read Brand Flakes on a regular basis - but if you're putting together a presentation for your board on how to connect with teens, here's some great fodder for your PowerPoint. (Or, be old-school, and email the links to your boss.)
First, Wired News reports from the Associated Press story. And then The Slate has an excellent write up too.
Expect to see Matt Lauer and the Today Show doing a special report on this subject, in a few weeks. And acting all amazed, like they've just discovered some new cult that kids are participating in.
"Next, on Today. Are teens abandoning email!? Find out how teens are communicating on the internet. When we return...this new teen trend may take you by surprise..."
Matt Lauer: So, you're telling me that you really don't check email at all??
Teen: Uh....dude, what's up with your hair?
Labels: facebook, mobile, technology, trends, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
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good campaigns never end
Orange just launched a new campaign to promote their unlimited text plan. The spot is cute - but what's more awesome is how they tied the campaign site to the concept. Nice.
Labels: ads, branding, mobile, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
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tmobile now owns magenta
Please stop using it now. You are welcome to use it if you're not in a competing business. Just not phones, communication devices, email, communications, internet, content creation, media, media delivery and stuff like that.
Labels: branding, design, mobile
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
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when razr phones attack
Silly outdoor for Razr, that's making the rounds this morning. Not sure what it says, other than watch out for giant flying cell phones. Or, if you own a giant cell phone, don't throw it out your window while driving. Or, the new Razr's are so big, they don't fit in your car.
Labels: automotive, mobile, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:50 AM
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firebrand is advertising tv
Nearly all of us have said at one time or another that there should be a channel devoted entirely to advertising. Firebrand just announced something even better.
A destination devoted entirely to commercials. Ads. All in one place. Well, actually - more than one place. They'll also have FireBrand on TV, on mobile and on-demand. Commercials wherever, and whenever.
Will there be enough content? One of the founders John Lack says "when we started MTV, we only had 26 videos." (And they didn't have the cavemen, either.)
They're arranging the whole thing around a really well designed dashboard, that allows users to explore and watch and get details and offers from the brands they're interacting with. Like watching a trailer, and getting a coupon for a discount to the show.
There's a pretty massive campaign set to promote the launch on October 22. See a lot of it on their YouTube channel.
I'm lovin' the concept. Can't wait to see the beta. I have a feeling that we'll all be spending loads of time there. Watching ads. Heh.
Labels: adindustry, ads, mobile, pop culture, tv
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:09 AM
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a lesson for every consumer promotion
Church of the Customer posts the photo above, and asks "what's wrong?" (And the answer isn't the grey sky, or a lack of a healthy crowd.)
There's a lesson here for every branding person who's ever produced a consumer promotion.
Think about how consumers save, share and remember. If I was attending this event, how would I likely remember it? How would I share it with my buddy across the country? My cell phone camera, of course.
And so, here's what's wrong: There's nothing to tell you that this festival is in Austin, Texas. Nothing about the band name. No url to visit. Someone enjoying this experience snapped a cell phone photo to share with friends - and opportunities were lost.
What about your next promotion? Or billboard? Or event? Can users gain anything from a cell phone pic that's been posted to Facebook?
Awesome advice.
Labels: branding, marketing, mobile, outdoor, streetteams, viral, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
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how to compete with the iphone
Saw this on BoingBoing yesterday, and thought it was a smart strategy. Don't get me wrong - I still believe in the power and magic of the almighty iPhone - I just think that a lot of competitors lost their vision for marketing when the iPhone arrived. Rather than play on their own product/service strengths, they tried to attack with half-hearted truths.
HP is being smart, with their iPaq. They've realized that the iPhone (for now) doesn't record audio. (or video.) And they've sponsored an audio blog post on one of the most famous blogs in all of the land. That's an excellent way to demo your product's unique features, AND get a product endorsement. Nice marketing.
Labels: ads, blogging, iphone, marketing, mobile
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:04 AM
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japanese publishers outlaw teenagers talking about their product
The latest Japanese girlie trend: sending cell phone snapshots of magazine spreads to their friends, to show cool fashions and haircuts.
Instead of seeing this as buzz or credibility building, publishers have moved to outlaw the practice. Sending Japanese school girls to jail?
"What are you in for?"
"Snapping a cell phone pic of Glamour."
Labels: mobile, trends, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
0 comments
all of your numbers in one sweet place. under google.
I posted about Grand Central months ago. This cool new service allows you to consolidate all of your phone numbers together in one place. The only problem was that they only had numbers in obscure places available. (Not that there's anything wrong with Oklahoma. I'm just not looking for an Oklahoma area code.)
Anyway - good news. Google just bought Grand Central. Which probably means they'll have loads of area codes coming. Hell, with Google money, they could stop people in the streets and pay cash for their area codes. Or buy entire cities area codes. Or buy iphones for everyone. (Sorry, couldn't have a post about phone numbers, and not mention the ever-lovable iphone.)
Labels: google, mobile, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
1 comments
obama dude gets branding and design
Or has a crack crew who gets it. Two recent points of interest about the Obama campaign, both pointing to smart marketing.
First, NOTCOT points to Obama's sweet button designs. Putting all politics aside, these buttons are hot. Love how they put the 008 on his shoulder. And even the way they've positioned 008, making it unique. 08 is soooo 07. Everyone's doing 008.
And next, we discover that Obama has ringtones. No opinion on politics - but this campaign certainly gets branding. And design. Nice job.
Labels: branding, design, mobile, politics, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
0 comments
levis launches mobile phone. will anyone notice?
Great timing. Let's launch something totally out of category during the same period that the Jesus Phone will be hitting the streets.
"In tune with its young consumers, the Levis brand is adding a fashionable, steel mobile phone to its range of lifestyle accessories." Right. In tune.
This is not the Prada phone. This is the Levis phone. It comes with a chain. (Although, I have to admit, I wish the iPhone was going to be steel.)
I'd love to know how things like this get approved. I'd also love to spend half of the development budget for this failure of a phone on branding. To sell jeans.
Labels: fashion, mobile, technology, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
1 comments
silent krumpers krump for motorola
The Viral Factory and Cake just launched a campaign for Motorola featuring the Wirebreakers - a fictional dance crew put together to promote Motorola's wireless headphones.
I laughed at the tip toe through the driving range. It may be just funny enough to prompt user generated versions, which would make the campaign an awesome success. I like the idea of public unsuspecting dance offs. Or krump offs. The world needs more of those. (Am I allowed to say krump? Because it feels silly.)
Labels: ads, mobile, video, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
0 comments
iphone to open up marketing opportunities galore
I've been real careful not to jump on the iPhone hype and rumor bandwagon.
But there's a post over at Gigaom that is interesting. Five ways that the iPhone will change the wireless biz. If they're correct, this has tremendous impact for our industry. Limitless possibilities.
Nobody argues that mobile is the massive opportunity for marketers. But the existing carriers have created roadblocks (or walled gardens, as the post refers to them) around content, and around the things consumers really want to use. Once these doors are opened, everything changes. Promotional opportunities galore. Content creation free-for-all.
People are already creating 3rd party applications for the new Jesus phone. What a massively cool opportunity for branded applications, content and entertainment.
16 days, if you're counting.
Labels: adindustry, marketing, mobile, pop culture, technology, trends, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
1 comments
24 days until the iphone is here
Which means 24 days of fandom, hype, pre-celebration and rumors. Check out the spec spot that Ryan Landels created for it, using classic 2001 footage. From Adrants.
Labels: ads, apple, mobile, pop culture, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
0 comments
irina visits brickhouse
Yahoo has officially launched Brickhouse, their indie division tasked with creating cool stuff for the early adopters (how big companies do small.) This is the same group that's developed the tremendously successful Yahoo Pipes.
Irina Slutsky gets invited to the opening party, and reports from the Brickhouse about some of the new cool Yahoo tools. (Video link wasn't working this morning, so try later)
Labels: blogging, mobile, social media, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
solo walkie connects bus shelters
There's a wonderful profile on ReThink in the new Communication Arts. One of the many brilliant pieces profiled is a campaign for Solo. The outdoor campaign features bus shelters with larger than life phones. Each phone contained an actual walkie talkie, that users could push and communicate. With other bus shelters. Sooo cool.
Although I have to admit that I wish the walkie feature on cell phones would just die, already.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
0 comments
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