brown eyed girl: a look around

I first heard about this on Facebook. Go figure!

The simple reality of the situation is Old Spice's "Smell like a man, man" campaign has been hugely successful due to the growing audiences found through social media.

For me, I saw a friend's status with a link and next thing I knew, I was on YouTube watching not just the video she had linked, but all of the videos from the campaign. WOW! They totally reeled me in and I didn't even realize it was happening! About 15 minutes later and every video on YouTube that had been posted from the campaign, I paused and realized how effective Old Spice's marketing strategy was. All of the videos were short, clever, made me laugh and left me wanting more. If that wasn't enough, even though the product is made for men, the messaging was aimed at the ladies. Genius! By making ladies want their man to smell like a man, their man in turn wants to smell like a man. Again, nice strategy!

In short, the "Smell like a man, man" campaign has been widely received and people are loving it! Check out Mashable for some serious numbers on the success of the viral videos that are a part of this campaign! I have a feeling that this strategy may catch on!

Have you ever seen a commercial or print ad featuring beautiful food only to venture out into the world to be disappointed by the real thing? Have you wondered how the ice cream in commercials doesn't melt or how the pizza pulls apart so perfectly?

If you have, I have the answers. Well...maybe not all of them, but most of them.

It was a harsh reality in one of my many graphic design classes at Arkansas State University when I learned that food advertising is often smoke and mirrors and rarely edible. Our professor gave us a crash course on shortening, eye droppers, drills and the careful orchestration that goes into commercials and ad campaigns when food is involved. After a few hours of seeing the intense and elaborate ordeal that is food preparation for photographic and video purposes, I have a whole new perspective on things.

The shock eventually wore off and I've learned to deal with the reality of how things are done...until last week when I saw Domino's new commercial outing the tricks of the trade. If you haven't seen it, I'm attaching it below. Seriously, check it out. It involves a drill, a pizza and what is commonly referred to as a "cheese pull."


Domino's has decided that they are so proud of their product that they don't need to doctor it up to sell customers on it. Their new campaign is pretty basic. What you see is what you get. Domino's is asking customers to take their own pictures and post them online with an incentive to win prizes for the best pizza pics. Check it out!

For me, this campaign is refreshing and honest! Two of my favorite qualities.

What do you think? Are you shocked and amazed at the preparation that goes into making food look picture perfect? Are you excited about Domino's "all natural" advertising approach? Do you think that the trend will catch on?

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is in full swing, and so is Nike's "Write the Future" campaign. I saw this commercial a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. It's smart, innovative and beautifully put together. Even though they're not an official sponsor of the World Cup, Nike has received a great deal of positive brand buzz through its "Write the Future" campaign, regarded by some as "ambush-marketing" at its best. Content is key and placement is everything! Even if you're not a fan of soccer, or dare I say football, it's easy to recognize a great piece of advertising!

Check out the "Write the Future" commercial below.

There's a new M&M in town, and it's salty, sweet and about to blow your mind! That's right, meet the pretzel M&M. It's a pretzel nugget covered in chocolate and topped off with a thin candy shell.

Mars Chocolate North America has brought back Orange, the lovable M&M character that was previously seen advertising crispy M&M's, in a marketing campaign featuring an array of communication outlets including Facebook, television and movie commercials, and of course, print outlets. According to Carole Walker, vice president for Mars’s integrated marketing communications group, the promotion “is our biggest launch in a decade in both dollars and reach.” For more on the new pretzel M&M campaign, check out this article from The New York Times.

A good tagline catches you off guard and quite often sticks with you. One such is the pork industry's "The Other White Meat." I remember the commercials and normally spout off the famous tagline in the kitchen whenever I'm making a pork tenderloin. "The Other White Meat" is smart, simple and has lasted for 23 years. Now, it appears that it's time for a change.

The slogan was brought about to help make pork a mealtime favorite like chicken and beef. It appears that it's done its job. Though "The Other White Meat" won't be completely dropped, it will no longer be the focal point of advertising. A new branding campaign is currently scheduled to launch in March 2011. I'm curious and excited for the new campaign and hope that it has staying power. For more information, check out this article from The Associated Press.

In the world of advertising, new ground is always being broken and limits are always being pushed. Generally with print campaigns you can see it and touch it, but with new technologies, now you can smell it. I know what you're thinking...scratch and sniff has been around the block for some time and this is nothing new to you. But, have you ever smelled something awesome coming from a billboard? Well, if not, it's here and it's incredible!

Recently, a one-of-a-kind scented billboard for Bloom, a division of Food Lion, popped up along Highway 150 in Mooresville, North Carolina. The billboard features a huge piece of steak and a french fry on a gigantic fork and has a collection of high-powered fans set to blow air over cartridges filled with barbeque-scented oil. I haven't personally smelled the air surrounding this masterpiece, but as a carnivore, I can only image that it's delightful. On the flip side though, if you're a vegetarian, you may want to hold your nose.



What do you think? Is adding scent to a billboard a genius advertising move, or would you rather keep the experience to a visual one?

Over the long weekend, my husband and I decided to venture to our favorite home improvement store. With absolute intentions to only look around, we walked in and headed for the tile section. We quickly realized that they had the perfect tile in stock and on sale to make our master bedroom the perfect retreat. The down side, a substantial amount of the tile had broken edges due to a rough transport to the store. Slightly bummed for a minute, we realized that we could create a diagonal pattern and use the chipped tiles for cuts around the perimeter of the room. With a plan of action, it was negotiation time, and we put our game faces on to make a deal on the damaged merchandise.

When we approached the owner with an inquiry on a possible discount, to our surprise, we were offered the chipped tiles for free. The owner had seen us in her shop at least a few times a month for the past few years and basically told us that since we've been great customers, she'd be happy to help us out. With this, we thanked her, made our purchase, and headed home. On the way, we both realized just how often we had been to her store and what a big deal it was that she gave us all of the slightly chipped tile on the house. It was a huge savings for us, as all of the pieces were usable if we cut them, and on her end an excellent source of word-of-mouth advertising. We will recommend her store to everyone we know who has a home improvement project.

The point of this story isn't that we got an awesome deal on tile and several boxes thrown in for free, though that did make our day. It's that knowing your customers and using business strategies to market yourself and your business to customers who are frequent users of your products and services will truly benefit you. In all honesty, she could have thrown the damaged product away or charged us a portion of the cost. As we were loyal customers, though, she felt the need to do a little more.

Imagine if every business did a little more to amp up their customer satisfaction ratings. Word-of-mouth advertising and user experience are driving the market these days on what people are buying. So, do a little extra and go the long haul to make sure customers and clients are happy, and I'm sure they'll do the same for you when it comes to a recommendation in the future.

It's a rare occasion for a football, baseball or basketball game to be viewed in the Mannering house, but if a hockey game is on...we're probably watching it. If you happen to be a fan, you're probably up to speed on the NHL's "History Will Be Made" campaign that has been a part of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But if not, I'll fill you in.

The campaign focuses on remembering hockey heroes of the past, and the possibilities of what the future may bring. Featuring some of the greatest moments in the history of the NHL playoffs, these commercials leave fans with a simple question: “What if this didn’t happen?” Whether it's Bobby Orr’s flying goal, Mark Messier raising the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers or Wayne Gretzky earning the nickname "The Great One," you can't help but feel the passion of the game. Hockey is what it is today due to the players, the historic moments and the love of the sport by loyal fans. All of these factors have affected and shaped the game, and this campaign has captured that.

So in short, nice job, NHL! This campaign is raw and emotional, and even though I'd be on the edge of my seat for the playoffs and the finals regardless, if I weren't a fan, I think it would make me want to watch!

Recently Ronald McDonald has been in the news. It seems that a few groups of people are pointing their fingers and calling for his retirement. When I first heard about this, I was a little shocked. In all honesty, clowns in general terrify me, but not Ronald McDonald! He's a household name that brings most people a smile, and even I have nothing but love for this particular clown.

So why are people suddenly wanting this lovable, iconic character to disappear? With concerns about children's diets these days, it seems that some people think that Ronald is sending the wrong message to children. One such group, Corporate Accountability International, feels that characters like Ronald McDonald are marketing unhealthy eating habits to children and that parents shouldn't have to guard their children against junk food branding and messaging.

I respectfully have to disagree. I grew up with McDonald's and turned out just fine. My parents allowed the occasional Happy Meal on weekends, but it wasn't an everyday thing. And, Ronald McDonald was not at the door with a sinister grin and a platter full of cheeseburgers trying to lure my brother and me into a trance. Parents need to monitor their kids' diets and take some responsibility. It's not the responsibility of a company or a clown.

If you take a look at McDonald's today, they have expanded their menu with healthier options for adults and children and still offer some of the oldies if you're in the mood. Choices are available. In addition, McDonald's strives to be socially responsible and charitable to the world around them.

So, look at the facts and don't blame the clown. I don't think it's his fault. What do you think?

Looking for that perfect getaway? Do you crave creative surroundings? Are you in the mood for a very specific shade of PANTONE^® 238 C Pink? Or maybe PANTONE^® 1215 C Yellow? If you are, I've got the place for you!

Check out the PANTONE HOTEL^TM. Designed by Michel Penneman and Oliver Hannaert, this unique hotel located in Brussels showcases guest rooms with an array of colors with very distinctive hues. An added bonus...guest rooms feature unique photography by esteemed Belgian photographer Victor Levy. After taking in your room, enjoy the amenities and unwind with a cocktail. A few options available include: Pink Champagne PANTONE 12-1107, Lemon Drop PANTONE 12-0736 or Daiquiri Green 12-0435.

I don't have any current plans to adventure to Brussels, but when and if I do, I know where I'm staying!

If you're craving fast food...where do you go? And when you head there, are you thinking about calories?

Personally, if I'm heading there, I try not to think about it. And if I'm feeling the need for a double cheeseburger, I'm probably going to go for it. However, I will admit that I have started driving toward Burger King and ended up at Subway because somewhere in transit I decided that a chicken sandwich on wheat bread with veggies might be better for me. The reason...I blame Jared! Subway's commercials featuring Jared and several others who lost weight eating sub sandwiches stuck with me. Subway's marketing has made them my go-to healthy fast food chain.

Recently, Taco Bell has taken the same approach. I saw a commercial a few weeks ago featuring a woman named Christine who has lost 54 pounds by dining on "Fresco" items from the Taco Bell menu. This intrigued me, but if you think about it, it could be done. It all depends on what you're ordering. The commerical's leading lady does proclaim that "These results aren't typical, but for me, they are fantastic." 

It may be too early to tell if Taco Bell will receive the same response as Subway, but either way, I think it's smart marketing. Lots of people are leaning toward the lighter side these days, so it's definitely nice to have options.

The 1980's have made a comeback! Look around. Signs are everywhere. Bold geometric prints, shades of hot pink, acid yellow and turquoise, high contrast imagery mixed with distressed text and fun messaging with a quirky edge.

As a child of the 80's, I grew up with the unforgetable trends and am enjoying seeing them make a comeback on the streets. I feel like the updated trends started with fashion, taking a retro concept like the legging and reinterpreting it into a more contemporary look. Now, I'm seeing interesting ads with a fresh graphics and bold color combinations. Movies and video games are taking icons like the Transformers, Ghostbusters and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and creating fans from a younger generation. By taking a fresh approach, people of all ages are able to enjoy a new spin on an old favorite.

Though I would happily love for the contemporary revival of the 80's to stick around, with ever changing trends, I'm sure it will only last so long. In the meantime, pull out those leg warmers, put on your favorite Micheal Jackson song, sit back and enjoy every minute of it!

With the Holidays rapidly approaching, I've started to notice a trend in the purchases of friends and family. Though several people are drawn to products and services through advertising campaigns and interesting packaging, it seems that word of mouth advertising is having a very strong pull these days. As people are watching their pennies, they aren't taking chances on quality or experience.

I generally find myself drawn to a product or service from stumbling across a beautiful ad or a smart TV commercial, but have found myself reading customer reviews or asking friends opinions before taking the plunge and spending. It seems that a nice mix of traditional advertising and great user experiences is driving success in businesses. If you see a great ad, become intrigued and then have a friend tell you that they love the product or service, you're more likely to go through with your purchase. In contrast, when you hear about people's negative experiences, you may be less likely to make a purchase, unless the advertising and product has enough of an effect on you that it pushes you in a direction where you're willing to take a risk.

As I look around, hear and read customer's experiences, I can see that we are all walking advertisements for the products and services that we love. With this in mind, user experience is becoming more important every day. The internet, social networking sites and a conversation with friends, family or co-workers is providing that extra push toward products and services that we choose to use. We're constantly asked "Would you recommend this product or service to a friend?" If the answer is "yes" then you have become an asset to their company. If the answer is "no" the company often wants to know what they can do to change your mind.

What drives the purchases that you make? Is it that great ad that you saw in your favorite magazine, that smart commercial that you saw on TV? Or, was it based on a recommendation from someone you trust?

Sustainability has become an important part of several of our lives. We've learned the importance of recycling, reusing and conserving our resources. With this in mind, I recently started doing a bit of research on sustainable design practices and techniques that can aid in helping us design smarter and help out the environment.

Small steps such as adjusting a pocket folder to save on paper, using eco-friendly inks for printing, or making that huge print campaign into an electronic masterpiece are a few examples. To take it a step further, consider having your message mowed into a field of grass, use a custom stencil and a pressure washer to clean your message into a dirty street or concrete wall, or use some strategically placed moss on an unexpected surface to attract curious people to read your message. When I first stumbled upon a few of these images, I was floored. It's smart design at it's best. View some innovative solutions using natural media from CURB.

With natural media solutions being utilized and sustainable practices on the rise, I have a feeling that this type of adverting may start popping up everywhere!

A good commercial is thoughtful, timeless and by my standards...pure genius. They are often complex and sometimes overdone, but the ones that really capture my attention are the ones that pull at your heart strings and remind you of the good old times and the basic joys in life.

What makes you smile? A cold ice cream cone on a hot summer day, playing a game of basketball with your friends, enjoying an afternoon barbequing with family or staying in and watching a movie. These simple pleasures are always there, but in tough economic times, commercials, ads and marketing materials often remind us that the best things in life are still within reach and often nudge us toward their product to help make those simple moments even better.

I feel like everytime I turn on the television, I see a commercial that is going back to basics and letting me know that simple pleasures are important and that their product will be a good decision on quality and price. Allstate, GM, Target and Wal-Mart are just a few of the companies taking advantage of this marketing strategy. By marketing to the consumer to protect what's important, simplify and reinvent, and make purchases that give you what you need with peace of mind it makes us all have a little bit more ease about making that purchase.

How do you feel about the commercials you've been seeing lately? What would you like to see? Do you feel that you're more likely to make a purchase due to the messages that you get from a commercial, or is it another influence?

A decline in the quality of customer service has become evident over the last decade in several diverse industries. Whether it's a wireless company, local utility provider, a bank, grocery store, or any other array of service industries, the customer service in many cases has become slower, less efficient and often frustrating. 

I have personally had multiple experiences in the past year. I've been put on hold, had technicians miss appointments, received shipments with incorrect items in them, and been ignored in the check out line. At first, I thought it might just be an unpleasant coincidence, but with a little research, I've discovered that it is actually a recent trend all over the United States. It seems that the "customer is always right" mentality has gone out of the window and several workers feel that assisting customers while they're at work is an inconvenience. Generally, if someone does choose to assist, the answer is often generated from a script with little or no emotion. Every now and then, however, when someone is truly genuine and helpful, I find myself thanking them for doing their job. I miss the experience of customer service. Person to person...polite and rewarding experiences that you tell your friends about that encourage them to be a consumer.

As a child, my parents always taught me to do my best, even when no one was watching. That lesson has always stayed with me and is still a key factor in my life today. I think that it's always a good idea to your best and take pride in what you're doing regardless of how large or small the task is. I feel that if more businesses marketed themselves as excellent customer service providers and stayed true to their promises, they would see an incredible response from the consumer.

What do you think? Do you think that the recent decline in customer service is due to the current economic situation, poor training or individual drive? How do you feel that this issue could be bettered?