iPad Prediction: Your Newest Kitchen Appliance
Like millions of other geeks, I watched/listened/read along as Steve Jobs did his best Billy Mays impression introducing the Apple iPad. Positioned as the new mobile device that’s “between” the iPhone and laptops, the iPad is basically a giant iPod Touch. It looks gorgeous and is probably a joy to hold — which you’d expect from Apple. I get it.
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PDF FTC Guidelines on Endorsements & Testimonials
I’m pleased to share the following guest post by Ellie Hempleman, Marketing/Communications Specialist @ Park National Bank, on FTC updates that affect advertiser and blogger disclosure. Special thanks to Central Ohio PRSA for this great educational luncheon.
December 1, 2009 marked the day the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented its new “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The guides address endorsements by consumers, experts, organizations, and celebrities, plus the disclosure of important connections between advertisers and endorsers. The FTC spent two years making these revisions, so it’s safe to say they’ll be more vigilant about cracking down on those who fail to comply.
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Augmented Reality: When Real Life Isn’t Enough
OK everybody, hunker down for the next wave of technical wizardry known as “augmented reality” or AR for short. Bantered about by engineers and geeks for nearly two-decades, AR is finally going mainstream thanks to smartphones (such as the iPhone and Droid) as well as experimental, mainstream marketers.
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Social Media Consultation: Because Even Tiger Woods Has a Swing Coach
Several years ago, my friend started a distance running program that required membership dues. Innocent enough, right? To the contrary, Columbus area running message boards were littered with scathing posts about how exercise should be free and that charging for advice on running was ridiculous. To hardcore distance runners, the notion of a pay-to-participate running program was insulting to the established running community. They simply turned up their noses, made fun of the new program and went on their merry way.
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Your Social Media Marketing Linch Pin: Branding
Ever watch your grandmother sort through her (postal) mail? If your granny is anything like mine, she carefully inspects and opens piece after piece. You just want to scream, “Just scan and throw it out – it’s all junk!” Having grown up in the era of bulk postage rates, we’ve developed a ninja-fast ability to discern what’s real and what’s not when it comes to the daily mail haul. Why? To preserve our mental health. We’re overloaded with marketing messages every day on the radio, television, billboards and of course, our mailbox. If we gave every offer a neighborly, 1900’s-like consideration, we’d never make it through our day. It’s too much and most of it’s crap.
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