Once the darling of the coffee snob world, Starbucks has taken afew hits of late. But will instant coffee save or sink the brand? I had the opportunity to try the new Starbucks instant coffee at a conference last week. Initially my early morning colleagues and I were a little confused at the apparent offering of 'hot water' at the coffee stand. Low light, a pre-coffee … [Read more...]
Will ‘sponsored conversations’ work in the blogosphere?
For anyone with a traditional editorial or media background the idea of accepting compensation to write about a company or product is a controversial area. And if the arrangement is not disclosed, it's down right dishonest. So why is the game now changing? Let's just say it's being modified. According the Forrester Research, 50% more people are reading blogs than they … [Read more...]
Another April fools for Lululemon?
Do you remember the April 1, 2008 Lululemon joke ad for the mansy? (a high cut mens yoga one piece of dubious design origin). Will Lululemon be up to their antics again this year? Listen to a 5 minute Marketing podcast commentary on last years ad below and tell us what you think. lululemon Here's a little visual review to put it in context: … [Read more...]
New branded video search links integrate digital and traditional media
Brands and agencies including Pepsi, Home Depot, Victoria's Secret and Pedigree have tested new rich media search ads on Yahoo in the US; a UK roll-out is now in the works. No word on Canada, but definitely an approach to watch. Yahoo has added images and videos to search results advertising with its 'Rich Ads in Search' offering. Along with sponsored results, … [Read more...]
Let the marketing games begin!
With officially less than 365 days to go, people in Vancouver and the rest of Canada are starting to feel a little pre-Olympic buzz. And with the buzz, the MARKETING games have begun. Petro-Canada’s recent Olympic glassware promotion is a great example of how integrating online and traditional media can reap huge success. With a nod to the past, the 30 second TV … [Read more...]
