My 2 Cents

New Blog

2008-01-24T21:22:00.000-05:00

No more posting at My 2 Cents! Check out The Media Artist for all my musings, rantings and observations.

Megan McCain's Blog is Genius

2008-01-24T08:32:00.000-05:00

So before I read this blog, I had no opinion of John McCain. None. I am the most apathetic person when it comes to politics. However, after reading one post, I already felt like I know John McCain - the dad. And since I have a great relationship with my dad, I kinda had good feelings about John McCain. Hmm...could this be intentional? Of course! McCain's campaign people are genius! Having his daughter blogging about life on the campaign trail is intriguing. Has this ever happened before? Not that I recall...

Oh, and the professional photographer and video person help too. That's one well produced blog, for sure! Check it out here: Megan McCain's blog, McCain Blogette.

Oh so clever advertisers have "Jumper" jumping into another commercial

2008-01-16T17:01:00.001-05:00

Why are they messing with our heads? At first I thought, "Now that's interesting." and then I got bored. It's way too lengthy at a minute and a half. Cool idea, but they lost me.

Psych is back!

2008-01-12T18:06:00.000-05:00

I have to share my sheer happiness that Psych is back airing new episodes. With this writers strike promoting the spread of reality television (ugh), I personally thank execs at USA for giving me television shows I'm not embarrassed to admit to watching (unlike VH1's Rock of Love...I would never watch that crap...ever...I swear).

The blog is changing

2007-12-21T13:20:00.000-05:00

Everything else changes, so why not this blog? Plus I'm getting kinda sick of the name and colors. So be on the lookout - a new blog is coming!

Electronic Tearsheets - WTF?

2007-12-18T13:53:00.000-05:00

Just a quick rant about electronic tearsheets. In case you don't know what I'm talking about, here's the deal. When you buy advertising in a print vehicle, it is common for us media buyers to require proof that it ran correctly. This means that the magazine or newspaper has to physically tear out a copy of the ad and send it to us (hence the name 'tearsheet').

I don't mean to pick on my favorite newspaper ever, but the Savannah Morning News has decided that electronic tearsheets are an acceptable substitute for the real thing. They think that they can just sent me a pdf of their newspapers layout and that I should have faith that my ad ran correctly. This is such bullshit. Seriously. SMN, great way to reduce the number of makegoods!

Ok, breathe. I'm done now. Just had to use my blog to publicly vent.

It's here again...Christmas Party Pics

2007-12-11T11:14:00.001-05:00

Once again, Kidd Group has hosted an unbelievable soirée for it's talented staff (props to us). I personally believe that the health of an organization is reflected in how cool their holiday party is (like many of my beliefs, this is not rooted in any sort of factual information). This years theme was "A Red Carpet Affair" and I think the pictures really speak for themselves...

Facebook Screws Up Again

2007-12-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

Will my beloved time-killer ever learn? First news feeds, then the Beacon ad system. Zuckerberg, here's a bit of advice: this is a social network. It belongs to its members. Don't violate their privacy!

I'm back...

2007-11-15T07:56:00.000-05:00

Just got back from a fun weekend in New York - and now I'm exhausted! We did a lot of partying, shopping, eating, walking and saw some really interesting sites. Also got to visit a few friends while there (shouts to Zahra, Emily, Nydia and Kevin!). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get up there in time for AdTech, but who wants to think about work when on vacation? Well, I guess I did think about it a little...(loving the view from my plane seat...who would've thought to put a URL in that spot? Overzealous marketer!).

And a few more photos...I just can't help myself!

(Beertopia at the Village PourHouse)

(Museum of Sex...which was pretty much terrible...don't recommend even though we had a good laugh at the signage).
(Emily and myself at Rosa Mexicana)

Campaign to Target Those That Create Campaigns to Target...

2007-11-07T14:02:00.000-05:00

Weird, yes. But very cool. I love seeing campaigns targeting media planners and buyers (and directors - I've been promoted! sweet!). This one from USAToday has been running in the past few issues of Advertising Age. I've seen three in the series so far and I came across one in an Ad Age e-newsletter. I'll scan in the others next week when I get back from my annual trip to NYC (gotta get some big city time in).

I just love it. That's so funny and so dead on - especially the antacid. Definitely had a few late nights fighting with Excel and some Tums would have come in handy. As far as the Media Lounge thing they are promoting...um...I don't really get what it is, to be honest. And I was so excited to learn since the ads were so insightful. Darn.

Review: Historic Photos of Tallahassee by Andrew Edel

2007-10-28T21:19:00.000-04:00

I was recently sent a book for review on this blog, which was a first that I was really excited about. When I read the title I was even more excited because though I've never alluded to the fact that I'm kind of a history buff, my family and I have this weird fascination with anything ancient. For mom, it's cemeteries. Dad loves war monuments. Sis and I both go for historic sites.

The book is titled, "Historic Photos of Tallahassee" by Andrew Edel and is obviously a collection of old photos of the city I'm currently a resident. Now, I'm no photography expert by any means, but these pictures were pretty cool. Mostly because a lot of the structures are still standing today; it was fun to see what Monroe Street and the Wescott Building looked like back in the day. And who doesn't love old-timey photos of unsmiling families and politicos of the day? But while the unique photos give this book coffee-table-worthy status, it's the captions on the photos that prove an extra 3o words can really say a lot more than the thousand from the picture. I was impressed by the thorough research and appreciate the attention to detail.

Overall, Historic Photos of Tallahassee was enjoyable and surprisingly informative. If you are a Tallahassee native or just love history, I would recommend picking this up. Or if you're just looking for a neat book for your coffee table or guest room, this would be a great option.

You Want to Work in Advertising?!

2007-10-18T16:11:00.001-04:00

This is pretty awesome.

Hooters Magazine

2007-10-11T13:03:00.000-04:00

I was doing some research on Atlanta magazines and came across Hooters Magazine. Yes folks, it exists. Just thought I'd share.

Hooters Magazine

Check this out

2007-10-09T12:07:00.000-04:00

http://bravia.sony.eu/bravia.html

The spots on this site are just so cool. Wish I could have been in the city when it was being shot.

Scored some tickets...

2007-10-09T09:01:00.000-04:00

Last night my friend Ashley and I headed out to FSU to see Marcus Roberts in concert. Mr. Roberts is a legendary jazz pianist who also happens to be blind, so it was pretty inspiring to hear him play. And of course it was good to get a little culture! So thanks to my rep for the ticket hook up...

PR Apprentice, Florida State Victory and a Weekend in Jax

2007-10-08T08:34:00.000-04:00

Check out www.PRApprentice.com for our PR team's intern competition.

Highlights from this weekend:

My sister and her friend Kim completed their first half marathon. Pretty impressive, huh?

Florida State beat NC State this weekend. 4th win in a row for the Noles.

University of Florida lost to LSU (::devilish grin::). 2nd loss in a row for the Gators.

I got to have a weekend out of Tally and visit a friend in Jacksonville.

So apologies for being a less than stellar blogger... :)

PR Apprentice

2007-09-25T16:47:00.000-04:00

Our PR team is holding this amazing competition this spring for their interns. The prize? A job with Kidd PR! How sweet is that?

The site should go live in the next day or so...I'll post a link. It's hilarious!

Sprucing Up House

2007-09-25T12:12:00.000-04:00

Time for a Kidd Group update. We've been discussing for the past year and working for the past couple months on how we are going to promote our agency. Of course, while discussing how we will promote the agency, we came across some internal stuff that needed some changing. Some processes that we wanted to fine-tune before we shared them with the world. Kind of like re-decorating an already nice house for company.

Basically, we wanted to be sure that everything we were saying we believed ourselves. Which is what we usually have our clients do. We call it a "Brand Discovery Session." What a cool process. We've hashed-out answers to questions like "why do we do that?" and "how can we do this better?" and probably my favorite part so far, "who is Kidd Group?" It's like being a teenager all over but without braces.

I can't tell you what we've discovered - that's top secret for now - but I can say that I'm excited to promote this agency. More to come. But in the interim, here's a link to a great blog for an even greater agency, Plaid, who has been doing just what I've been talking about. Pretty sweet stuff they have going on and I love that they love their new brand.

Personality Tests

2007-09-23T19:55:00.000-04:00

I think it's common knowledge that personality tests typically tell you things about yourself that you already know. I just took the Kiersey tests (available here) as part of an assignment for an Organizational Communication course I'm taking this semester. There's a free mini test you can take and it told me I was a "guardian." The profile definitely fits me. I'm interested in seeing how my professor will relate this to the workplace. I'm sure there is link between certain personality types and how they handle responsibility...

Facebook Apps Multiply and Bug the Crap Out of People

2007-09-14T22:12:00.000-04:00

My sister and I were talking about Facebook last night and she gave me this awesome quote:

"The other day someone sent me a beer on Facebook. What the hell? A virtual beer? I'd like to send them a virtual kick in the ass."

WCTV Preview Party

2007-09-14T12:21:00.000-04:00

Susan (new assistant media buyer) and I went to WCTV's (local CBS affiliate) Fall 07 preview party this past Tuesday night. It was definitely fun and entertaining to see what is up-coming for the new season. In the past, I haven't always been as aware of all the new programming as I have this season. So I'll be posting some predictions for the new season this weekend. I bet the 5 of you that read this blog are waiting with bated breath!!!

Oh, click the link to see pics of me and Susan posing with some of the local news anchors at the party. I like that they refer to us as "fans." The reality is that I watch very little local news...unless Mr. Beyer from WTXL is on...

VMAs

2007-09-09T21:10:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to say that Sara Silverman's relentless insulting of Britney Spears at this years VMAs was perfect as Brit's performance was pretty terrible. Real strippers are more inspired...

Equal Airtime for Politicians Sucks

2007-08-31T17:11:00.000-04:00

Apparently NBC will not be re-running episodes of Law and Order co-staring Fred Thompson b/c then they would have to offer all other political candidates equal airtime. Unfortunately for TNT and USA, Law and Order pulls some of their highest ratings and they can't just not run it.

This whole equal air time thing is such crap. In fact, all political advertising is crap as well. Besides, Fred Thompson's portrayal of District Attorney Arthur Branch is the perfect advertisement - a government man who handles his power and influence in a wise and discerning manner. As a fan of the show, I could easily picture Thompson delivering his state of the union address the same way he delivers his lines on Law and Order. No advertisement can match that, in my opinion.

I think it's time to do away with these laws...I understand why they are there, but it makes my job that much more difficult during election years. Besides, we're in the information age, people! You don't need cash to get your message out anymore...

Good Morning

2007-08-22T21:16:00.000-04:00

Who watches the morning news? Anyone under 25? Yea, I didn't think so. Personally, I'm just trying to get in one more hit on the snooze button. However, I watched the morning news yesterday due to a restless night and boy I'm glad I did. Haven't had a crush on a TV personality since middle school, but Tallahassee's ABC affiliate has one cute morning news anchor. I guess I'll have to help those ratings out and watch some AM news! Enjoy, ladies :)

Dell Commercial Song is Awesome

2007-08-11T20:43:00.000-04:00

I came across the new Dell Inspiron laptop commercial today. The one with all the colors. Well, the song in that commercial is absolutely perfect and thanks to Yahoo! Answers, I can tell you the band is Flaming Lips and the song is called, "The Wand." I actually really like the commercial but I think if I told any ad friends they would just mock me (apparently we're only supposed to like Apple advertising). Adrants has already proclaimed their disapproval. Oh well. I like it, I think it's cool that they are finally offering colors and I wish my Inspiron 6000 was red.

ps Yea I know the 6000 isn't that current...got it at the start of grad school...

Since when is TP a USP?

2007-08-07T18:28:00.000-04:00

Today I heard - quite possibly - the worst radio commercial. Of course, nothing beats car spots but as far as thought-out, properly produced commercials go this one takes the cake.

Poor Paul's Pourhouse, a Tallahassee watering-hole exclusively reserved for people missing incisors, is the proud advertiser. The spot touts a new gimmick to lure drinkers to this fine establishment. Charmin toilet paper will now be stocked in the ladies room on Tuesday night (the weekly ladies night). Yes, only Tuesday night. Any other night of the week you can expect to simply 'shake.'

If that promotion wasn't weird enough (yea, I get that "Penny Pitchers" was already taken, but toilet paper? Seriously?), the rational is that - and I quote - "a dry customer is a happy customer." Ugh. They just lost me as a customer (and they need more of me - what with my teeth and all!). But hey, at least Charmin is getting some free publicity...

If this isn't Charmin, I'm outta here.

Flexing my copywriting muscles

2007-07-31T07:49:00.000-04:00

So I'll probably never be a copywriter, but when my fellow advertising obsessed friend Heather told me of a just-plain-bad birthday gift she recently received, it reminded me of those wonderful Budweiser radio spots and I had to write one for her. So here ya go Heather:

Bud Light Presents: Real American Heroes
(Real American Heroes)
Today we salute you, Mr. Crappy Birthday Gift Giver.
(Mr. Crappy Birthday Gift Giver)
Every year, you're gift is the one we dread: inspirational message pillows, self-help books and that singing fish wall plaque.
(that fish never shuts up)
Leaving aside all common courtesy and taste, your reckless purchases embarrass and force us to lie to your face.
(“Thank you – I love it!”)
No amount of fancy wrapping can hide that re-gift, used gift card or homemade ash tray.
(Put down that glue gun!)
So crack open an ice-cold Bud Light, O King of the $5 DVD bin. Cause when the giving gets tough, you give up.
(Mr. Crappy Birthday Gift Giver...)

Sonic Commercials

2007-07-28T10:42:00.000-04:00

I never knew about Sonic until I moved out of South Florida. I think it's really weird to drive thru and then just sit in your car and eat. Not my dining style, but I LOVE their commercials - especially the ones featuring the couple.

and here are the Sonic guys responding to original commercials posted to YouTube (you know your spots are good when people copy 'em - "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"). I think this is a genius move by Sonic - way to embrace online video. And it fits the characters and feel of the campaign so perfectly.

Music videos from around the world

2007-07-20T07:54:00.000-04:00

My sister and I have found a new YouTube obsession: weird music videos from other countries. A lovely mash up of choreographed dance and cliche music video standards that apparently transcend culture and time (ie singing in pouring rain). Here are two favorites:

I'm kinda glad I don't know what they are saying. More to be posted if found worthy :)

Ignited Creates New Media Dictionary

2007-07-16T08:20:00.001-04:00

Not going to get into the details of how I stumbled upon this (let's just say it involved a Google search for "Advertising Rockstar"). But this is a really great idea! What a good way to promote your agency.

Ignited New Media Dictionary

Sprint Tells Customers to Take a Hike (seriously)

2007-07-10T13:02:00.000-04:00

Keep it up Sprint, and you may have no more customers left to fire.

Read the story here.

this is one crazy house

2007-07-10T08:12:00.000-04:00

Came across this from Brandflakes for Breakfast and then followed the links back to the original post. Apparently a bunch of artists saw a house that was scheduled to be demolished and decided to give us a little design treat! Personally, I love the photos of the people pretending to be sucked into the tunnel.

This job comes with benefits

2007-07-02T10:20:00.001-04:00

So any new media buyer can expect a few things. Craziness. Sucking up. Having to be a bitch. Spending all day on the phone. Scrambling. Math. Free lunch (sweet). Station swag (hello American Idol umbrella). And my favorite so far - pilot DVDs. Oh yes, Michelle got the hook up this year from the CW and Fox. They sent me this coming season's pilots - which is so much cooler than a free lunch!

Unfortunately, not liking the stuff coming from Fox. Sorry guys, I love your network but I'll just hold out for new episodes of my old fave, Prison Break.

The real surprise was the CW. Their stuff looked first rate and there are 2 shows in particular that are going to completely rock. The first is called "Reaper." This show is about this guy who's parents sold his soul to the devil and now he is basically a bounty hunter for Satan. Of course, this is a comedy and the Devil is hilarious. Also, the main character has a best friend/sidekick that I find ridiculously amusing in the same way my guy friends find doing keg stands and 2-story funnels.

The other show I see having a bright future is Gossip Girl. This one is pretty much Cruel Intentions: NYC. Antics of rich kids in the east side are reported on the blog, Gossip Girl, and the blogger becomes the fly-on-the-wall narrator. I have heard that some of the characters are off (the show is inspired by a book series of the same name), but not being a reader of the series, I like it a lot. It's neat to see a show that incorporates teens using technology in a very sophisticated way. When I was a teen (which wasn't that long ago) we weren't that wired. Anyway, they've got my eyeballs.

Before and After

2007-06-28T07:58:00.000-04:00

Before the paint job:

After the paint job and before cleaning:

painting my house

2007-06-22T10:44:00.000-04:00

is really not exciting...but I do love choosing colors! There are so many options, it almost gets overwhelming. I chose a bright gold-ish yellow for the living room, kitchen and master bedroom...light yellow to accent the kitchen and halls. Browns and reds for the bathrooms (which have yet to be painted). Next stop: new furniture!

Bad Blogger

2007-06-11T08:16:00.000-04:00

I've been bad and haven't updated in forever...but I have a good excuse! I just bought my first home last week and I've been busy painting and cleaning :) Sorry for the lack of posts, but it may be a while until I slow down and make some time for one. In the meantime, browse through my links and check out some good bloggers that are actually posting regularly.

Prediction and Media Planning

2007-05-31T08:45:00.000-04:00

I had an interesting conversation about 2 weeks ago with my favorite cable rep, Pat. He pulled some rankers of the top cable shows from the past year so we could cherry-pick some good programs for a client of mine. Typically, I don't do this so much for cable b/c the individual ratings are so much lower and I tend to buy based on network rather than program (which is the opposite for broadcast TV).

We got to talking about shows that were doing exceptionally well - Psych (which I knew was gonna rock), The Colbert Report and Beauty and the Geek, for example. And of course, the issue of ratings - and how reliable they are - came up. Both of us questioned how programs like TLC's What Not To Wear and National Geographic's Dog Whisperer had low rank among the ratings. We know they have an audience. It's true. They are out there. And these are the shows that I want to buy b/c I think they will do well. But how do media planners and buyers present that to a client? Besides telling them, "There's a ton of buzz about this program. I think we should get in b/c the rate is low. But technically, it is inefficient b/c the rating is so low and it pushes up the CPP?" I've found that some clients either love this way of planning - or - they just want to see efficient buys with the lowest CPP and programming that is familiar to them.

"Which TV shows will she buy?" wonders hottie James Roday

I know national advertisers get to play in the up-fronts and that involves prediction and confidence, but what about all the rest of us?

My point is that I was never taught to use prediction in planning for television. It's always a historical thing. Look at past ratings. Don't let the reps give you estimates. But it's something I have come to enjoy. It's fun to read Television Week and learn about new programs or to channel surf on Saturday afternoon and find an awesome new show on some random network. It's like digging for gold and finding it. Lately, I've been watching an incredible amount of TV - especially cable and I love feeling knowledgeable about it. It can really give an edge during negotiations.

I know, I know. I'm not supposed to love TV. I'm supposed to love YouTube and Facebook and Twitter and I'm supposed to have TiVo. Next thing you know, I'll start reading newspapers (gasp!). But you know, I am a fan of TV and even though the way we consume is starting to change, I don't think it's going anywhere. And I really hope there is a shift to more prediction-based buys on the local level.

I'm no housewife...

2007-05-24T16:25:00.000-04:00

but this wine is so cool! I want! Oh, read the back label below too :)

Mad Housewife Wine

Breaking Up with Advertising

2007-05-17T08:06:00.001-04:00

I love this!

Miami Road Rage? No Way!

2007-05-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

Had a good laugh about this article on CNN.com this morning. Miami is my hometown and I always insist that my driving is so good for a reason - I had crazies all around me! I feared for my life! But seriously, this is year 2 that Miami has been awarded the title of "worst road rage" and if you've ever had the pleasure of driving through, you'd know the title is well deserved. I can't remember which comedian said it, but it's one of my favorite jokes: "drivers in Miami are simply following the driving laws of the country they are from."

So remember to buckle up. And not just for safety, but also because cops are out ticketing unbuckled motorists (sorry, shameless client plug).

do you write good?

2007-05-14T16:47:00.000-04:00

If so, we want you! We're looking for a few freelance copywriters that can pick up the slack over here. If you can write well and creatively, email me at mmarts at kidd dot com.

Nielsen Rant Cont.

2007-05-11T11:47:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I found out from my Nielsen rep that they don't always know which markets they will include for African American and Hispanic ratings. This is because it all depends on how many survey participants they secure for each market. Some markets are givens for certain demos (ex. Miami for Hispanic ratings) but some aren't. I understand this, but what a pain. Definitely makes it difficult to plan campaigns targeting minority audiences.

You know, I'm so over trying to plan using GRPs and base demos and projected ratings. It's such a stupid system. I end up having to make all these beautiful media plans with perfect GRP distribution and wonderful placement and great rotation. Then the post comes along and look, this show didn't do as well. Or that show did way better. Sometimes I wonder what the point is to all the planning? It's all going to be changed anyway.

But I don't know how to improve it and it seems that's all we've got. BLAH!

Mommy Slogans

2007-05-10T07:49:00.000-04:00

My Mental Floss email update came with this fun little game:

Can you identify these 5 mom-related advertising slogans?

1. Choosy moms choose...
2. It's not nice to fool Mother Nature.
3. Mama mia, that's a spicy meatball!
4. Kid-tested, mother approved.
5. Recommended by Dr. Mom.

My answers -
1. Jif
2. ?
3. ?
4. Kix
5. Robitussin

The actual answers:
1. Jif
2. Chiffon Margarine
3. Alka Seltzer
4. Kix
5. Robitussin

Well, I'm 3 for 5! Yay for moms! :)

Very Onion-esque

2007-05-09T12:16:00.000-04:00

Just got this press release from our PR team:

NEWS

(Tallahassee, FL) Representatives from Kidd PR announce today that the have launched the first, “Soap Buffet” in the United States. This buffet features a variety of soap options to visitors, clients and employees alike.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to attract the very best talent,” said Tom Derzypolski, Managing Director of Kidd PR. “A comprehensive study by Rodriguez Group showed that the number one frustration among employees is lack of choice when it comes to hand soap in the restroom. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure out people are satisfied.”

Since the launch, sick-days due to cold and flu have decreased 72% saving the company nearly $52,000 in the first six months alone. In addition, employee insurance expenses have decreased 47% resulting in lower healthcare costs for the organization.

“With the additional choice and substantial savings this may be the most incredible benefit anyone has ever thought of,” said Kelly Robertson, mail room clerk. “It’s wonderful working for an innovator like Jerry Kidd. He is clearly committed to the well-being of his employees.”

Nielsen Rant

2007-05-09T10:28:00.000-04:00

So I'm doing some planning for a multi-market campaign and our agency doesn't subscribe to the Nielsen data for some of those markets. All I need to know is whether or not those markets measure African American and Hispanic audiences. Is this info anywhere on their site? NO! Does Arbirton list this info? YES! In fact, Arbitron has tons of free reports to help plan media campaigns. Nielsen has nothing like that. You have to pay to get a zip code report or a DMA map. That is ridiculous! Way to make it that much harder for me. It's not like that info is worth money anyway - at least not in the same way the actual ratings determine how ad dollars are spent. I'm just so frustrated that I had to vent. And now I have to call them and find out. Which means I'll probably be on the phone for 30 min asking for something that should be really easy to figure out.

If anyone has a resource that can help me with this, please send it my way. Thanks!

out of blog reply

2007-05-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

No posts for a little bit. I'm taking a breather and hitting the beach for a long weekend. Craziness will resume once I get back. In the meantime - read some old posts ;)

Facebook evolves into mourning community - Features

2007-04-25T08:48:00.000-04:00

Facebook evolves into mourning community - Features: "In a matter of hours, groups sprung up on the social networking site, denouncing the shootings, offering condolences and posting names of the dead and wounded. "

Sounds like a post of mine from a few days ago. I just think this is such an interesting topic - and it is a shame that it took such a tragedy for Facebook to evolve from a time-killer to a legit information outlet and means for communication. Advertisers, take note.

I will run miles for beer

2007-04-23T14:41:00.000-04:00

It's true - as referenced in this picture. The Palace Saloon 5K is the best race in the whole world.

Candlelit vigil at FSU

2007-04-19T16:55:00.000-04:00

This is an amazing photo of FSU students gathering on Landis green to support Virginia Tech.

Grief on Facebook

2007-04-19T09:09:00.000-04:00

As I obsessively checked my facebook on Monday afternoon, I noticed I had been invited to a new group: God Be With Va Tech (FSU Chapter). Later that night I was invited to be a part of a candle-lit vigil on our campus's main green the following night. Thousands of students have joined similar groups on facebook and have organized vigils all over the country. And all of this occurred the same day the shootings took place.
I really hope some vigilant grad student (which will not be me, sorry guys) does a study on this. I think it is incredible that so many people can come together so quickly and so decisively through the web. This is the kind of stuff that makes me believe that social networks like facebook have a long future ahead of them.

Tighter Gun Control

2007-04-17T16:57:00.000-04:00

Not usually a very political person...but recent events make me want to voice my opinion. Guns are used for killing. There is no other reason. If guns weren't so easy to get a hold of, a lot of people would probably still be alive today. I think it's time for our country to realize that there is possible causation between our lax gun laws and our murder rate. We are a civilized country that no longer needs arms to protect ourselves. This isn't a personal freedom thing. Tell that to the families of those murdered at Virginia Tech.

FSU Ad Team rules

2007-04-16T13:40:00.000-04:00

Quick brag post for my alma mater! FSU's Ad Team (Arrowhead Advertising) took home first place in the state and will represent Florida at the National Student Advertising Competition! 2 of our former interns were part of the winning team and we're so proud of them :) Go Ilyas and Jessica!

Boy I miss my days of NSAC meetings and late night scrambles! Good luck to FSU at national competition :)

Photo of the Yahoo! Clique at competition YEARS ago - I'm the one in the middle ;) Hopefully this years team will be a little more focused...

Newspaper Readership Increasing?

2007-04-16T08:23:00.000-04:00

I'm skeptical. But according to a study from NAD (Newspaper Audience Data), newspaper circulation is on the rise as over 1,000 newspapers now reach 100 million readers. Here is my favorite quote from the release:
“…newspapers are succeeding in driving new innovations and growing their audiences in both size and value… no better time to launch our 2007 newspaper value campaign than the very day we provide advertisers with audience data spanning the medium’s full portfolio of print and digital products.”

Riiight. I did a little informal survey of my office to see just how many people read the hard copy of the newspaper and/or the online version. The results: 42% read online versions and 21% read the hard copy. Only one person read both! This is nowhere near the "65.8% of adults 18-34 that read the newspaper over the course of the week." And I live in Tallahassee, which isn't a top 50 metro like those cited in the study, but then don't smaller papers usually have a more loyal following?

My thoughts are that the hard copy is NOT driving the online versions, but actually replacing them. Also, many people in my office stated that the online newspaper is just one of many news sources in addition to BBC online, Reuters, CNN and MSN. With the addition of people relying on RSS, I think it's only a matter of time before newspapers become a thing of the past.

Good Quote...

2007-04-12T08:58:00.000-04:00

Allison from PR sent this quote out today:

“Green marketing is about making (breakthrough) green stuff seem normal, not about making normal stuff seem green.” - John Grant

I love this quote b/c it 'hit the nail on the head' about the green movement. I think it's important for our clients to realize (ie - for us to inform our clients) that green initiatives should be taken seriously and not just something to use for publicity.

I read an article today (also provided by Allison - she's so on top of things) where Danny Seo, author of Simply Green says, "...For a long time I think people have been saying you gotta go green because it's good for you, because it's good for the planet. But no one wants to do that for that reason alone. You have to make it affordable and stylish and exciting, because at the end of the day, that's what good marketing is."

Above is a wallpaper print from Mod Green Pod, a green home decor company located in Boston. Perfect example of green products that look stylish and modern.

Make green the new "it" thing would be really cool. I see Target-esque TV spots showing hip, enviro-friendly products. And simple, clean packaging. And interesting on-the-street product demonstrations. I think the possibilities are endless!

Kidd PR wins lots of awards!

2007-04-06T08:18:00.000-04:00

So our PR crew cleaned up at this year's FRPA Image awards. They took home a total of 6 awards including the grand-daddy of image awards: the Grand All Image award! Congratulations PR - you guys are really making a name for yourselves :)

Ad-ology, you complete me.

2007-04-05T09:27:00.000-04:00

Our agency has been an Ad-ology subscriber for a while now, but I always forget to use it. Then I remember it's there, use it, and then think, "gosh, I love Ad-ology. I should use this more." So I'm resolving to turn to Ad-ology a little more often. If you're not familiar with the service, Ad-ology is an agency tool that compiles all kinds of research into reports that can be used by advertising agencies. It reports industry spending levels, cross-references census data, reports agency news, etc. A lot of the info is available from other sources (ex - census website), but Ad-ology puts it together so well. Great for pitches, media plans, new clients, or even just as a refresher.

Ad-ology

more Christmas party...

2007-03-29T11:20:00.000-04:00

Yea it just never ends. This pic just surfaced and sums up the night nicely. Don't you wanna work for us now?

RV Conventions Rock

2007-03-26T17:59:00.000-04:00

We got a new client - an RV resort (yes, they do exist) - and last week I actually went to an RV Convention out in Perry, GA to research owners of RVs. Got to see some tricked-out motor coaches (tiled floors, stainless steel appliances, flat screen TVs, the works) and chat up some RVers (is that even a word?). It was a lot of fun as I was at least 30 years younger than any participant and because enthusiast events are always so bizarre to outsiders. I pretty much just approached people at random and tried to gather as much info as possible. Plus I got to meet with the reps associated with the industry group that put on the event, so that was cool to meet face to face.

Other than the super cool field trip, busy as always and trying to keep up with lots of work stuff. And speaking of work stuff, check out Multiplotter , an amazing Google maps tool. I used it to plot one of our clients multiple locations and then plot corresponding billboards we are proposing for placement. Now our client can see how close the boards are in relation to the bank. Amazing!

the truth in ad sales

2007-03-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

My favorite part is when the media buyer says he's had the proposal on his desk for 3 weeks but hasn't looked at it. And the meeting is tomorrow. That really does happen a lot - except I feel really bad about it and promise to do better next time!

not your average baby book

2007-03-04T19:42:00.000-05:00

I love these 'baby books.' Makes me want a drink right now...

this actually rings true...

2007-03-01T08:59:00.000-05:00

Ad-Agency Print Buyer Can't Believe They Want To Add A Perf This Late In The Game

Wow. The story of my life. Who hasn't been through something just like this - I don't know - this past week?! I love fake news when there is some truth to it!

It's Not Easy Being Green

2007-02-28T10:20:00.000-05:00

A trend my agency has been talking a lot about recently is the proliferation of "green" businesses and practices. The Oscars went green, homebuilders find that green houses sell for more $, hybrid cars are gaining in popularity. You can even get tax breaks from making your home energy efficient! And the cool thing is that it's not just some hippie fad, but a time-consuming, expensive endeavor that many businesses and consumers are finding worthwhile. It's definitely something to consider for any ad clients. How do we spin this? How do we use this green concept to establish goodwill among consumers? How does "going green" make people feel?

Bragging...

2007-02-28T08:07:00.000-05:00

just a blatant brag pic...

sadly, UF commercial hits the mark

2007-02-25T21:15:00.000-05:00

Even though I hate the Gators (like any good Seminole) I can't help but like their TV spot that annoyingly just showed up in the Tally market.

I'll cry if UM starts producing quality advertising (don't worry - the last spot I saw featured Gloria Estefan).

Awards, Celebrations and Wine in a Cube

2007-02-19T18:18:00.000-05:00

First, thank you Heather for bringing the cube of wine this past weekend. Target continues to make products I never even knew I wanted.

Second, this weekend was a blast because my younger sister can now drink legally in public. Go Trish!

Third, Addy Awards were this past Friday. We rocked. 10 Addys. 2 Gold and 8 Silver. I was on the Addy Committee, so I got to check-in all the attendees and see who was who, which was very interesting. If you ever get the opportunity to do a job like that, do it!

I realize this post probably doesn't constitute a real, true blog post. I'll get something useful up here soon!

Catching up on my Reading

2007-02-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

Lots of good books have come my way as of late. Almost done reading Pour Your Heart Into it by Howard Shultz, CEO of Starbucks. The book is all about how Howard lead Starbucks to glory. I love the book. Probably because I love the coffee. It gets a little "look how great we are," but I've enjoyed it. I have now become an official Starbucks know-it-all ("um, actually the name comes from a character in Moby Dick...Starbucks only roasts their beans dark...frappuchino was the name of a drink made by a company Starbucks bought out").

Also reading the Ten Faces of Innovation, by Tom Kelly. This book is about the different personality types used by companies to get rid of the devils advocate in the workplace. Ten Faces comes from IDEO, quite possibly the coolest company ever. I bought a couple extra copies of the book to send to cool people I meet along the way. *A bit of advice I've taken to heart - give useful/relevant books as gifts. People love getting them and it can help them along in their career. I think this is especially important for advertising/communications professionals. Also send handwritten thank you cards.

Lastly, my sis bought me an oldie but goodie, Boogers are my Beat, by Dave Barry. A little Miami nostalgia. If you're from the 305 (or M-I-A), you'll fall over laughing at his collection of old Herald columns. If you're not a native, you'll still fall over. Makes me homesick. Almost.

So fresh and so...

2007-02-07T09:43:00.000-05:00

Cleaning day at the agency is so much fun for me. I accumulate such an incredible amount of crap, that's it's actually very liberating to have a day dedicated to getting rid of it. Who says cleaning has to be a chore?

My wreck of a desk...

Our agency director...

Bye Bye old Macs...

They ripped us off!

2007-01-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

Arg! The December OMMA Magazine features nuru | ant farm's christmas party...which is suspiciously similar to Capt'n Kidd and Crew's christmas party. Apparently, they had eye patches and labels with pirate names. They also made a special logo for the event. And a treasure chest. Hmmm sounds familiar. Maybe because we did the SAME THING! But - did they have a themed drink with a sword-speared gummy eye garnish? Or maybe logo etched beer steins and knives for the employees? I think not. Oh yea, and pirate map invites were considered, but we put our invites into glass bottles and stamped them with wax. Plus I think the above picture looks way more fun than any showed in the mag.

Applied Arts

2007-01-23T15:26:00.000-05:00

Good design also happens in Canada. Peruse these when you get a chance - there's some really cool stuff. Applied Arts Awards - Canada

Become an M&M

2007-01-22T10:55:00.000-05:00

One of my friends in elementary school used to call me M&M b/c those are my initials. In case you were wondering what I look like, this is a pretty realistic animation. My dog actually isn't a pug, but there were no jack russell terriers to choose from. Enjoy.

Become an M&M

It's the music

2007-01-21T11:03:00.000-05:00

I love this spot. I tell my roommates how much I love it every time it runs (which is quite often). I'm pretty sure they are really sick of hearing about it ("Uh. We know you like it. You say it every time. And you like the new Target ad. And you hate the Dove campaign."). The spot just makes me laugh and the music is perfect. Yay for unbelievable commercials.

Larry Dobrow Rocks

2007-01-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post because I'm so happy my spam-blocker actually worked and didn't block this week's MediaPost Magazine Rack. Larry Dobrow is a contributing writer and does a fantastic (read: humorous) review of American Photo. I did some stalking and learned he also writes sports commentary. Really random. If you are interested in media, read MediaPost - their stuff is first-rate.

(This is a photo of Larry Dobrow so you can put a picture to the writing. Go Larry!)

The company you keep...

2007-01-15T10:39:00.000-05:00

..determines what you buy. Check out this study about how social network connections can predict purchasing patterns. It's a really interesting idea and can help refine target marketing if harnessed by MySpace, Facebook or other social networks. It makes sense that people with common interests would also tend to buy the same stuff. The study was not able to prove whether these people actually discussed the products or if they were more likely to buy simply because they were similar to each other. I think it just furthers the argument for word of mouth type efforts.

Thank You USA

2007-01-14T14:50:00.000-05:00

No, not the country - the network. Thank you for marathon-ing this summer's Pysch, which is coming back next week with new episodes. Here's a little taste for those who have not watched this excellent show. Hopefully I'll get to buy a few episodes for our clients ;) Oh, and while I'm at it, thanks for marathon-ing Law and Order SVU approximately every 2 weekends. I get nothing done around the house.

Addy Awards

2007-01-11T08:35:00.000-05:00

They aren't the One Show or Cannes...but it's all we got! And we've entered a ton of cool stuff this year. In fact, that's all I did yesterday. Now, I realize that agencies devote entire teams and weeks to enter award contests and some people think that's a waste of time and money. I've read all about how these awards are silly and expensive and how bad it is to reward creative that may or may not make products sell, blah blah blah. I can understand these concerns, but here is my list of "why you should enter creative into competition:"

1. To make the agency feel good.
This is important. There is nothing wrong with applauding creativity and it may even inspire the creative team to continue putting out great stuff. Morale boosters help especially when an agency has lost accounts or is feeling less than stellar.

2. To show clients that the work is good.
Probably the best reason to enter work. Also the least self-absorbed. This will ensure that your clients appreciate your work. It is simple added-value.

3. To make the clients feel good.
Happy clients are good clients. Now they can brag to their industry frenemies about how great their advertising is. And how great their agency is. Word of mouth is very powerful.

4. To show prospective clients the work is good.
Everyone wants to be "award-winning." An agency with a reputation for quality work will be hired over one without. For example, The Zimmerman Agency is the largest agency in my city. And big surprise, they always enter a TON of stuff in local competition.

5. To get inspired.
Surrounding yourself with creativity is likely to spark some. That should be reason enough.

This local spot went all the way to national ADDY competition!

non-traditional media at its best

2007-01-04T09:44:00.000-05:00

This is so delicious!

spoof

2007-01-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

job opening

2006-12-27T08:02:00.000-05:00

We have an assistant media buyer position open at my agency. This place rocks - and you'd get to work with me - so if interested, please email: mem02h at yahoo.com

You are an adult when...

2006-12-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

you send Christmas cards. I sent some out this year and I'm really proud of myself. Most of them were for reps, but it's the thought that counts. Anyway, I thought about buying some dorky Christmas stamps, but when I saw these at the post office, I couldn't help myself. They are educational (who knew we had the largest cliff dwelling?) and I think the sub-head, "Land of Superlatives" is hilarious.

folding bike

2006-12-20T15:26:00.000-05:00

I've seen these before, but this one is so colorful and I love how it stands on one pedal when it's folded.

recommendations

2006-12-19T19:23:00.000-05:00

Time to be one of those people that recommends things.

1.Go visit the Mental Floss Magazine blog. I love the writing style:

"Complex proteins that float freely through the bloodstream of almost every animal, antibodies recognize, and clamp onto, anything that isn’t supposed to be inside the body–sort of like a tiny, biological car boot."

Has that Forest Gump's mama feel to it, but funny.

2. Clearification is a website promoting Windows Vista. I don't really know what Windows Vista is, and I still don't know even after visiting the site. However, Demetri Martin's ramblings are genius. And I kinda like Windows for actually publishing the site. It's very un-Microsoft of them. Adrants picked this one up a few weeks ago, but I'm proud to have heard of it before them. Ha.

changes

2006-12-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

Things have been overwhelming lately...but in a good way. Lots of work happening and some interesting developments. I just finished a course at FSU called Account Planning, taught by Felipe Korzenny (who is so interesting and a pioneer in Hispanic marketing in the US). He forced us to engage other account planners and to actually perform some of the duties of an account planner (on a small scale). It's the first class in my program that I've actually enjoyed and that has really influenced me.

The big development, however, is my job. I'm in the process of re-writing my job description and kind of morphing my position into the dream job. It's really exciting. I'm going to attempt to create a media planner/account planner position at my agency. I can't really see having one without the other. To me, studying how people consume media is so incredibly important to the advertising industry right now. The media world is so...fickle. Well, maybe that's not the right word. Anyway, the creative may be on target but if no one sees it, then what's the point?

I'm hoping this change won't be too painful. I think I read that Bill Bernbach once said that good agencies already do account planning, it's just not an official position.

Any advice is welcome...

p-arggh-ty

2006-12-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

The Christmas party rocked. It was so much fun. We did a pirate theme (Kidd Group...famous pirate William Kidd...eye logo...eye patch...the parallels are infinite). Employee gifts included logo beer steins and knives. Everyone had a pirate name. We even did a signature drink. I will post more pics as they become available. Nothing too scandalous.

Christmas Party

2006-12-12T14:12:00.000-05:00

All I can say is this: the Kidd Group Christmas party is this Friday. Photos to come soon.

been a while

2006-12-06T07:19:00.000-05:00

I feel really bad for not posting anything for over 2 weeks! And I just told someone about how I usually post 2x a week. Sorry for turning into a big fat liar. But honestly, the past three weeks have been completely insane - throw in Thanksgiving and I really haven't had the time to write at all. The funny thing is that while I was feeling bad for not writing, I ended up coming across tons of things that I wanted to write about! Now I've forgotten it all. I've decided to coin a term: blogger remorse.

Blogger Remorse: the feeling of sadness and regret felt by bloggers that forget their great observation/idea for a post.

Even though I've forgotten most of the post topics I had in mind over my absence, one thing did stick. It's an ad I saw for Purell hand sanitizer. I highly doubt anyone else in the entire world will write about this spot (other than the people that worked on it) but I thought the approach was really on target.

The spot shows a dingy, germy world - the kind I would imagine that paranoid users of hand sanitizers see. However, it turns out that the users actually see a bright, clean world through the Purell bottle. It's kind of like rose-tinted lenses, but reversed. The Purell user becomes the optimist in this spot - not the pessimistic, wimpy, "ooh-I'm-so-afraid-of-germs-I-use-my-elbow-to-open-the-bathroom-door" consumer. And creatively, I thought the execution was cool - not necessarily the most original (much like a contact solution commercial), but I liked it.

second life = you have no life

2006-11-17T08:21:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's just me, but is anyone else getting a little tired of hearing about Second Life? I honestly can't believe how many news stories I've read about agencies opening up virtual shop or marketers placing ads in the game. Is there really such an abundance of free time floating around in Big Agency World where they actually have the resources to open up a virtual office and then interact with others doing the same?

Consumer Reviews

2006-11-16T13:17:00.000-05:00

I've begun to notice that for just about any product or service, there is a review of some sort available somewhere online. For example, if I were buying a new electronic device - let's say a digital camera - 2 years ago I would have gone to the store, found the cameras in my price range and then pick the coolest looking one of the bunch. Well, I recently bought a new camera (Casio Exilim - so great!) and that is not at all how the process went.

First, I checked out CNET and read reviews for all the cameras in my price range (under $250 - I'm no professional) and then tried to decide which flaw I could live with. Purple-ish haze at night? I'm cool with it. Camera shake with low shutter speed? Not so much.

After that, I went to store websites to see which place had the best deals. It was there where the real reviews came into play. Consumer reviews, otherwise known as word of mouth, were offered. This is where I learned that the Casio was a cool little camera that shot the best photos for the money.

Now, I would expect an expensive electronic to have a review available. But what about a coffee maker? A new recipe? A professor? Check out Target's website to read reviews about different appliances. Go to allrecipes.com to read reviews of user submitted recipes. Before choosing a college course, check out ratemyprofessor.com to see if the teach will be inspiring or sleep-inducing.

I realized that advertising played no role in my decision to purchase the camera. I think there may be an opportunity here for advertisers. If people are saying good things about your product, how can that be highlighted in the advertising? Beyond testimonials, how can we use advertising to harness all the good word of mouth? Or is this a PR thing?

I Heart NY

2006-11-15T17:10:00.001-05:00

Been a while since my last post because I went to NYC this past weekend. My roomie, sis and I decided to celebrate our birthdays in the big city!

So we jetted on over Friday morning ridiculously early and proceeded to shop all day and then began the drinking around 3:30pm. Being the ad buff I am, I loved checking out all the crazy wallscapes and unique billboards. See the obligatory looking-out-the-tour-bus-window pic of an awesome digital board. Tough to see, but I'm sure you get the point. (also loving my new Casio Exilim camera - it's red!)

I also got to visit a few friends including one of only 2 media buyer buddies! He just started a new job (insert big name agency here) and now he gets to buy for some exciting clients. Feeling a little green. Just a little!

Also checked out the Met, saw Rent (and met the guy who played Mark), tooled around in Central Park, and almost got sold into white slavery in Chinatown while hunting for good, fake Prada. We ate a lot, drank a lot, and walked everywhere! It's always nice to get out of your everyday life if even for just one weekend :)

Invention of the Year

2006-11-08T10:02:00.000-05:00

Time Magazine has named YouTube "Invention of the Year." Reasoning is that the site has changed the way people use the web. Sorry, but as much as I love watching the incredible effects of mixing coke and mentos, I'm going to believe that at some point this year there was some wonderful medical breakthrough that is far more important than the site I use to kill time.

If I were a guy, I'd wear Dockers

2006-11-02T08:22:00.000-05:00

My roomie and I have seen this spot for Dockers like, a thousand times and it never gets old. We've determined that the man in this commercial is absolutely perfect. If we saw him, we'd want to meet him. If we met him, we'd want to date him. If we dated him, we'd want to marry him. Seriously, he makes even the pleated pants look good. The only bad part is that there is a kid and they are dressed alike. But I think many women would find that endearing. Basically, Dockers rocks and every guy should want to buy them...

another glass of red wine

2006-11-02T08:15:00.000-05:00

A new study shows that obese mice injected with red wine extract are just as healthy as their leaner counterparts. What does this mean? It means that I will learn to love red wine and will continue to put ranch dressing on everything.

cool agency

2006-11-01T09:15:00.000-05:00

Check out the blog for 3 Advertising. I really like it - I feel like they communicate the personality of the agency really well. Slightly sarcastic, blunt and well spoken.

Halloween

2006-10-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I think it's a lot of fun pretending to be something/someone you are not - if only for one night.

(pic of me and Tinkerbell)

The best part however, was definitely Dog-O-Ween. Dog-o-Ween is an annual event in Tallahassee where dog owners bring their pups out for a big costume contest. I've never been a big fan of community events, but my sister bought Tyler a costume, so we had to go. Apparently there were about 175 dogs entered in the actual contest. We just went to be a part of the festivities - Tyler isn't that competitive ;) Check out these pics - some owners really go all out!

iCarve

2006-10-22T19:58:00.000-04:00

Check out our pumpkin:

Dog Tired

2006-10-19T08:03:00.000-04:00

Been a little hectic lately. I'll have a real post soon :)

I just read a stat that said nearly 60% of dog owners allow their pooch to sleep with them on the bed. I don't think the bed is any place for a dog:

Tyler doesn't believe in sleeping on the bed. He would prefer to be in the bed.

Email Queen

2006-10-09T16:56:00.000-04:00

According to a report from the IT director at my agency, I have seen over 7,200 emails since January! Isn't that amazing? It makes me wonder how many phone calls I've taken and how many people I've actually met with face to face. While email is definitely my preferred method of contact at work, I barely use my personal email account. I would much prefer to pick up the phone and call my friends or family (good advice for media buyers/planners: get everything written in an email and file in an organized fashion. It's saved my butt on more than one occasion).

My tendency to use email for certain types of communication reminded me of a paper I wrote for class this past summer. In the paper I predicted that social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook will decline in popularity. I believe this is because the novelty of these sites quickly wears out and its members - the young, fickle teens and 20-somethings - are always on the hunt for something more cutting edge and "off the radar." From my personal experience, MySpace was a lot of fun initially. I enjoyed seeking out my friends and viewing their profiles. It was even fun when random people requested my "friendship." At least, it was fun at first.

Forbes.com has an article about this exact topic. The article discusses how MySpace's inital user base is declining and an older demographic is taking over. It seems that current users are becoming jaded with online communication and seek something more meaningful. Gabe Henderson is quoted saying,

"The superficial emptiness clouded the excitement I had once felt. It seems we have lost, to some degree, that special depth that true friendship entails."

The timing of this article really hit home because I cancelled my MySpace account this past weekend. My profile became stagnant. I had nothing to add to it and got tired of random, sleazy guys sending me messages. No one ever contacted me for networking or to discuss shared interests. Even my *real* friends didn't use the site to contact me or send me anything truly worthwhile.

I think that while it's good to be wired and to be able to interact in more than one way, it's better to excel in the face to face and to supplement that with online communication. Until these social networking sites offer something of true value and not just a time killer, I think that each one will flourish and then fail. Any thoughts?

Starbucks Can Do No Wrong

2006-10-06T09:43:00.000-04:00

Even though I resent paying ridiculously high prices for one of the cheapest commodities on the planet, I've solidified my belief that Starbucks is one of the coolest companies ever. How genius is their business model?
They have made it cool, mainstream, and upscale to drink coffee at any time of day and pay a premium for it. They also manage to sell a drink with approximately 20,000 calories (actually, the grande mocha frap has about 300 - but that's still a lot!) to diet-driven consumers. They offer for purchase delicious food, coffee mugs, travel cups, coffee makers, expresso machines, and the actual coffee itself in all their stores, as well as specially created music CDs of both well-known and unknown artists. Their coffeehouses are smartly outfitted with near-funky decor and appeal to pre-teens as well as their parents. Now they are getting involved with social networking site, gather.com to promote their book club.

I couldn't think of anything better for Starbucks than a book club! There have been plenty of times I've stopped in for a coffee - alone - but armed with a good book to keep me company. There are some things that are socially acceptable to do alone: grocery shop, drive, pick up some take-out. But then there are things like dining out and seeing a movie that ya just gotta have a tag-along.

Here's where the genius behind the book club comes into play. With a book in tow, there is nothing wrong with going into a Starbucks all by your lonesome to feed your caffeine addiction. Forget reading material? Hate reading the newspapers currently available in Starbucks? Well, if the books are offered for sale, then you've got something to hide behind and keep you entertained. Plus, book readers are typically higher educated (you have to be literate to read and enjoy it) and are viewed as more intelligent and/or wordly. It seems to be a good marriage of product and lifestyle. I don't know if this thought went into any of their planning, but I like to think the conversation was had. Props to Starbucks!

Great Article

2006-10-05T07:54:00.000-04:00

Check out this week's letter from the editor at Media magazine. Joe Mandese talks about new media and the fundamental shift from analog to digital technologies. The part I love is that he points out the disappearance of chalkboards from American schools and their "whiteboard" replacements (digital boards, marker boards). He makes the point that the "death of a medium" doesn't happen that often. Usually, when new technology emerges it does not mean that the old technologies are doomed.

It reminds me of a class I took in my undergrad days. It was a total yawn, and I don't even remember the name of the course, but I do remember this one class where we discussed the emergence of online magazines, newspapers and digital books. The class erupted into a huge debate: would print as a medium be replaced? Though it may sound a little cliche, my classmates talked about how they loved the smell of an old book and the fact they could read a magazine in the bath tub without being electrocuted. I didn't really expect that level of passion. I guess even party-hard Florida State students like tangible media...

Anyway, interesting article and a good mag issue overall. Read more here.

Tutorial Site

2006-10-03T21:21:00.000-04:00

Check out this site I recently found while searching for Dreamweaver tutorials: www.learnthat.com. It contains a really great 60+ page Dreamweaver tutorial.

Which leads me to the fact that I've been busy putting together a website for myself (I'm pretty full of myself. First a blog, now a website. I like to think people are more interested in me that they actually are.) Learned how to use Dreamweaver about 3 years ago as an undergrad, but kinda forgot...so I wanted to re-learn and the tutorials are good teachers. There are even little "movies" that show you how to use the software.

GTAF Luncheon

2006-09-28T08:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Jessica, Ashley and I attended the GTAF business development panel/luncheon. It was at the University Center, which is always nice. There were three panelist; Dale Brill, the head honcho from VisitFlorida, whom we've all heard speak about 500 times (but he's super entertaining and always has good stuff to say), Rob Cherof, the Executive VP of BBDO Atlanta, and Mark Raciappa, a business coach from Action International. Dale and Rob had some great tips to offer up about selecting new business, making pitches, and how to not get new business. Didn't think Mark's comments were as applicable, but he was a good speaker as well. Some highlights from the lunch:

1. On how to get new business -
"Find out what their pain is and show how you can alleviate it," Dale Brill
I thought this was the best piece of advice. A lot of new business pitches can get carried away with showing cool creative and trying to dazzle the client. All they need is reassurance that you know where it hurts and you have a pack of Band-Aids.

2. On how much to spend on new business -
"Spend as much as it takes to win. But don't spend stupid money," Rob Cherof
He explained that each pitch needs to be evaluated and if it's a good fit for the business, spend whatever you need to in order to get the client. Coming in second gets you nothing. Of course, he also stressed that spending more than the actual contract would be worth is a bad idea (obviously, but again, it's easy to get carried away).
On that same note, Rob also discussed that winning new business is a major morale booster. Every agency goes through a period of time when they don't win much new business - or - they keep losing it, which really sucks and is depressing. This is when it becomes tempting to go after anything. Don't do that! There is not only a financial cost for pursuing new business, but also an energy cost. Continuing to lose will bring the agency down even more.

3. On what to bring to the pitch -
Bringing full creative/plans is bad! We all know this, but lots of government clients expect to see their problem solved. I know that when you submit media plans for government clients, they expect a fully negotiated plan (which is the worst situation ever! It's very difficult to negotiate with stations for lower rates when you don't have the client!). Rob said that "insights need to be brought to the table." I really liked this because I've been taking an account planning course that is all about consumer insights. I also spoke with an account planner and he was all about insights. Everyone loves insights!

4. Lastly, my favorite quote of the day was from Rob Cherof and is relevant due to recent ad industry complaining - "I hate RFPs. Everyone can dress up once. It's easy to rent a tux." haha we all hate RFPs - they are definitely no fun (especially media buying ones!).

Oh, and the lunch next month will feature our city's big agency; The Zimmerman Agency. They will talk about how to become a national agency.