A new blog called The Toad Stool offers the unique insights of Tangerine Toad, a NYC-based copywriter and self-described "Student of the Absurd." In this post, Toad talks about Gino Bona, the dude who's written the Joe Pytka-directed NFL spot, and why some creatives get stuck at the Big Dumb Agencies: At the ToadStool, we've long believed that luck and a degree from Portfolio Center were often the only things that …
Microsoft’s Different Drummer
The New York Times explores Microsoft's attempt to "go viral" with its new operating system, Vista. Marketers are turning to unusual, often little-known personalities who offer the kind of novelty and freshness that young people might blog about, link to and comment on in chats: in other words, make viral on the Internet. Demetri Martin is not exactly a household name. And that’s exactly the point, said Tommy Means, …
Block The Baseline
The New York Times points out another case of ad creep. At more than 40 colleges around the country, basket stanchion support arms are being used as messaging platforms. The signs, one at each end of the court, are perpendicular to the backboards; they bear the words “State Farm” and the familiar red-and-white logo of State Farm Insurance. State Farm made the deal — for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 basketball seasons — …
The Perils Of Microtargeting
I love a good analogy. And in describing the current desire of marketers to precisely target messages at specific consumers, Teressa Iezzi, writing in Ad Age, comes up with a good one: I heard a media expert say this on a panel a while back: "If I'm a dog-food maker I am now able to send my commercial messages only to dog owners." In the mainstream media, it's the Fox News effect -- with more media outlets trying to …
Watching The River Flow
David Armano, Creative VP at Digitas/Chicago is looking for help. If you have the goods (plus a warm coat, hat, mittens and scarf) you could be on your way. …
Chef Dan Cookin’ Up Innovative Menus at Hamburger U
Years ago, McDonald's relied on creative franchisees to concoct new items in the back of their kitchens. Restaurant owners invented the Big Mac, the Egg McMuffin and other favorites. Those days are long gone. Today a chef trained at Culinary Institute of America devises new menu items for the quick serve giant. The Wall Street Journal (paid sub. req.) has the story. Mr. Coudreaut borrowed edamame, a type of soybean …
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Are Attention Spans Increasing?
Consumers (i.e., us) are so good at multitasking that they now prefer to consume multiple media types simultaneously. The fact that we’re listening to NPR while shopping on Ebay while watching 24 is no newsflash. But the implications of this behavior are profound for marketers who now must reconsider fundamental measurements of time. To set up their handy little chart, eMarketer quotes a 2006 study by Yahoo and OMD …
Here We Go Again
While we probably ought to be more interested in upcoming Super Bowl spots, this political ad caught our eye. Stop Hillary Public Action Committee is working to halt the New York Senator's path back to the White House. In the video above the PAC catches Iowa Democrats on camera expressing their doubts about her candidacy. [via Adfreak] …