The Blah-g!

Sound Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Do you have a theme song?

You know, that song that plays when you walk into a room?

Oh, what? You mean that's just in my head?

Sometimes it's a "Baggage Claim" by Miranda Lambert kind of day. Others it's the "Bad Company" cover by Five Finger Death Punch. I guess the difference between those two days really rides on the shoes I am wearing that day.

I also have a soundtrack for my life. It starts with the earliest songs I remember hearing on the radio.

"Help Me Rhonda" comes to mind. My mom used to listed to KISN radio.

It plays through the country of the early 90s, like Reba, George Strait, and Alan Jackson.

And then, my 7th grade band teacher introduced me to Alice in Chains Unplugged. My life was forever changed. Now, when I hear songs from that album I am taken back in time to what life felt like back then.

Awkward, awkward, and more awkward.

Sound conjures up the feelings of life.

Sound is such a powerful tool that we can harness to get people's attention. Those of us that work hard to make an impact on the people we want to attract often forget this point. I heard a promo the other day on Sirius XM* Lithium, the 90s alternative station, that really stood out to me and fairly represents what I am discussing.

"Lithium. {cue the dial-up internet connection sound here}The music you used to listen to while you waited. And waited. And waited."

You remember that, don't you? You also remember that sound...the noise the connection made while you waited in anticipation to sign in to your AOL chat room?

Did it take you back to how you felt, fingers drumming the desk while you waited? Were you listening to Nirvana or The Spice Girls?

Sound can allow you the opportunity to relate to people's emotions.

How about the specific cry that a newborn baby makes? If you're a parent, you know exactly what I mean.

Apply the sound principle to your marketing, and see what happens.

*"Jennifer, this is utter blasphemy. You work in terrestrial radio and subscribe to satellite?" Yes, naysayer, I do. Here's why: I choose to know my "enemy" better than myself. And I like it. Get over it.

Rebranding: New and Improved! (Without Burnt Hair and Sizzle)

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:34:00 +0000

As you can see, I have re-branded my blog. Fresh new name, snazzy new background, the whole nine yards.

Better yet, no red-hot iron cattle brand necessary. Which is good. I wasn't looking forward to the burning sensation.

Why did I choose "The Blah-g" as my new blog title? I thought it was slightly more appealing than my "Marketing with Jennifer" title of the past (boooor-ing!). I feel like in the past I tried really hard to focus my blog efforts on all things marketing related, and it almost seemed a little too contrived.

I like to post about stuff. Some things happen to be related to marketing. Many things are outlandish that I think are funny.

Disclaimer: For the record, many things I think are funny may not be. I have been known to laugh at my own jokes when crickets chirp in the background, and often at the expense of my own perceived sanity. The fact that I have the sense enough to share them with the general public is both me laughing at my own joke and a direct reflection of my sanity or lack there of. I may as well snort after my loud gaffaw.

You see, John Q. Public, I am in the business of creativity. Some of my biggest "A-HA!" moments have come to me in the most absurd times.

For example, absurd times include in the shower, at the DMV, and, remarkably, while vacuuming.

To me, the business of creativity is giving the mundane the opportunity for exciting mutiny. It's about allowing room for the boring stuff of life to wear a glittery coat. It means allowing the geeky "laughs at my own jokes" girl the chance to take things to the next level. Blase to bling. "Blah" to "Blah-g."

Boom. There you have it.

Wear your glittery coat well, my friend.

Where Have I Been All Your Life?!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:40:00 +0000

I know...where have I been? I realize it's been a long time since I last posted (ahem...September). Gee, I sound like I am sitting in a confessional booth. Let's just say for the record that I have my reasons for my absence from the blog-o-sphere.

Ta-Da! Look what I made!

While I love love love all three of my readers, I am not sorry for the reason of my distraction. I have hereby entered the realm of mommyhood, and it is a vortex that one does not emerge from. But it's a wonderful, tiring, and often ridiculous realm where you plant your roots and not even a tornado of Wizard of Oz porportions can rip them out. So here I sit, cracking my knuckles, warming up to this blog idea again.

So let's light a fire, and I hope you brought your marshmellows, boy (and girl!) scouts!

~Jennifer

Long Time, No Talk!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:50:00 +0000

I have certainly been on hiatus from my blog for a good long time. But more on that to come later.

I was watching TV last night and LOL'ed at this ad. The message (though 100% silly and exaggerated) is completely true.

Stay tuned...I will post more about my hiatus and what's to come soon!

Kindest,

Jennifer

The New Low of Pop Music?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:51:00 +0000

"I wrote a song about dental floss but did anyone's teeth get any cleaner?"
~Frank Zappa
(Response to Tipper Gore's supposition that music incites people toward certain behaviors)

Well, some parts are a bit...creepy

I have to say I feel bad for poor Rebecca Black. One second she's an innocent young teenage girl chasing dreams of pop stardom and the next she's the ridicule of the web-o-sphere.

I guess the song is fairly awful. And...so is the video to boot. Then again, it depends on how you look at it.

Rolling Stone has an interesting perspective, and it could just make sense. If Rebecca Black were to run with the viewpoint in the article, do you think she could turn it around?

Maybe she won't have to "turn it around." Apparently she's also now on the iTunes Top 100 list.

A co-worker aptly summarized the iTunes fact. "I would buy the song to play over and over again on Friday and annoy the hell out of my roommates." Fair point indeed.

With that, she's making a lot more money (or soon will be) than most of us combined. But she'll always be known as "that girl with the worst song ever."

So, is the song really all that stupid? I think not.

~J

I could just die...

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:32:00 +0000

"They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad that I'm going to miss mine by just a few days."
~Garrison Keillor

You could just drop dead after winning!

This article, found via MSN.com this afternoon, details a very interesting radio contest in Germany.

Apparently, radio hosts held a contest where the person with the best epitaph wins a complete funeral, death insurance, or a lovely grave marker.

The idea? "Raise awareness of this difficult topic amongst young people."

May the best epitaph win.

~J

The Internets and Girl Scout Cookies: A Match Made in Samoa Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:56:00 +0000

"Are they made from real Girl Scouts?"
~Wednesday on the Addams Family

A far cry from the cookie sales of yesteryear...

This great article from Advertising Age discusses how Girl Scouts are more enterprising than ever. They're turning to digital technology to promote their wares.

If you are a slow adapter to digital technology, take note: The Internets aren't going anywhere. When Al Gore invented the internet...(ahem)....when the internet came into everyday life it could have been mistaken for a fad. Except fads, like Zubaz and Crystal Pepsi, go away.

Adapt...or perish. (Read that last line in an super-villan bad-guy voice and you'll get the full effect)

If Girl Scouts are making strides and selling cookies with digital technology, what could you be doing for your business?

Aside from buying cookies, ok? Yeesh.

Check out this video about the social media revolution that has already taken place. Convinced yet?

My real point here is that these girls get it. If your business isn't doing something in the digital realm (radio streaming spots, banner ads, Facebook pages, etc) you are falling behind. I'll spare you the R. Lee Ermey-style of bantering, but you're falling behind a bunch of little girls.

And now, just because, here's a video of a kitten riding a turtle to the tune of Ridin' Dirty by Chamillionaire. Evidence of The Internets and social media at work. And it's the best 25 seconds of your life, I promise.

The "Groove" Mentality: Not So Groovy?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:37:00 +0000

"Advertising, like almost every profession, suffers from a groove mentality. We tend to listen only to ourselves, to see things only in familiar frames of reference. To grow, to be more effective, it is important to stop and ask 'Why am I doing what I am doing?'"

~Tony Schwartz, author of The Responsive Chord

As an advertiser, or prospective first-time advertiser, I think this quote is the sum of what the advertising equation aims to solve.

It is important to remember is the "why" of your advertising campaign.

With the advertising endeavors you take, how will you reach your "why?" Will you aim to do something that will make you stand out from the rest?

I find a lot of great information from Roy Williams' weekly e-newsletter, and today's post came as a result of what The Wizzo had to say in today's newsletter. Subscribe here and every Monday you'll be treated to advertising bliss.

Super Bowl...or Super Flop?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:48:00 +0000

"I'd run over Russ Grimm's mother to win the Superbowl, too."
~Raiders LB Matt Millen, Superbowl XVIII
(After hearing that Redskins OG Russ Grimm had said that he would run over his own mother to win the Superbowl)
Or...is Stupor-Bowl more fitting?

I watched the Superbowl on Sunday. I was unimpressed by everything but the game itself.

This comes as a shock to me, as I am the eternal optimist. I find something to like in everything, but for the second year in a row I was disenchanted by the joke that the Superbowl has become.

I have to give props that they chose a more relevant half-time act in the Black Eyed Peas, though I thought the performance by the Top-40 chart-busting group was completely lackluster. Note to Fergie: your voice is certainly not Ferga-licious live.

I guess we are starting to forget about the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" now that a current artist was featured.

Last year, a certain Snickers commercial is what I would whole-heartedly consider a success. It brought a gem like Betty White back into the fold, and America fell in love with her again (hello SNL!). This year's attempt, starring Roseanne Barr, was only ok. The best part was that she was knocked over by a log (IMHO). But...who was the other guy? I wasn't sure--I had never seen the guy before. A quick Google search yielded that it was Richard Lewis, a comedian that starred in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Am I alone on this? Was anyone else wondering who the guy was? Perhaps that was the point.

I understand the power of the Superbowl. Are we trying to resurrect careers for people that are unknowns or, at best, C-List actors?

My final thought is that if these marketers are going to spend millions of dollars on ads to air during what was the most-watched televised event in history, I figure they could come up with something far more clever.

For the record, I did like something on the marketing front. And the game itself was a good one, too. I wouldn't want to you think I lost all my optimism.

For your viewing pleasure, this is my favorite Superbowl commercial of all time.

Now that's what I call a bonafide first-class Superbowl ad.

~J

Compact Cars and Mannequins=Mutual Exclusivity

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:34:00 +0000

"You're travelling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of the imagination. That's the signpost up ahead--your next stop, The Twilight Zone."
~Intro to Season Two of The Twilight Zone, airing 1960-61

I remember....

When I was a kid my mom and I used to watch old episodes of The Twilight Zone together. I vividly remember one episode where the mannequins in the department store came to life at night after all the "living" people left for the day. For many years as a child I was terrified of mannequins. I could only imagine the debauchery they were up to after-hours, which could include leaving the confines of the department store to look in my bedroom window at night.

What if I were a mannequin like Marsha White? Who would take care of my horse?!

I suppose you could say I had an active imagination.

This memory came to me whilst logging on to YouTube this afternoon. I saw a campaign called "Compact Conspiracy" and had to check it out.

It was really pretty funny.

They made the entire campaign look as though there were a huge conspiracy theory surrounding compact cars. The only thing I missed were instructions to make your tin foil hat to prevent the compact car makers from hearing your thoughts.

The site was designed to look like a Blogger account or other basic blog site, including out-of-date graphics that fit well with the theme. If you've ever had the opportunity to look at hare-brained websites with lots of flashy, glitzy, seizure-inducing graphics ala MySpace, you'll immediately recognize what I mean. You know, MySpace. That other social networking site nobody uses anymore.

Check out the conspiracy for yourself here.

Turns out, it's a campaign to promote the new 2011 Hyundai Elantra. It took me a minute to figure out what on Earth was being promoted. The site did a great job of sucking me in to it's loopy content.

Another great attribute of this campaign is that Hyundai used YouTube to promote the unveiling on 2/6/11.

Love this idea. Here's to being creative, people!

Just for fun, here it is...

Skin in the Game

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:35:00 +0000

"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."

~Mark Twain

They've done it again...

No doubt you're familiar (at least somewhat) with MTV.

Music Television. Or is it?

The network's deviation from music-based shows to programming more pop-culture in nature has no doubt garnered them a reputation for pushing the envelope.

Skins, MTV's most recent "based-in-reality" show, certainly has folks up in arms. The show is about the lives of teenagers and how they deal with complex issues such as sex, drugs, and explicit language (and maybe even some rock n' roll for added flavor).

Oh yeah...the teenagers portrayed on the show are actually played by real teenagers (read: under the age of 18), calling into question moral and legal issues with using actors under the age of legal consent acting in mature adult situations.

Under pressure from The Parents Television Council, marketers such as Subway and Schick have pulled commercials set to air during the Skins time slot, and have taken the step to have the show added to their list of "controversial" programs they prefer to not be aligned with (along with personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and Randi Rhodes in the radio world).

I get it--the actors in the show are under the age of 18 and are shown in risque situations. I suppose I would even ask the question to make certain that the demo being targeted was the 18+ crowd, which I hope would be able to somewhat handle the mature content of the show. Perhaps the television show is airing too early (10pm) for the kind of content it contains, even in cable television.

But does that mean advertisers really need to remove themselves from this time slot?

From a PR standpoint it does make sense. The last thing any business needs is a boycott order from a watchdog organization that will be widely publicized and scrutinized for years to come. Let's face it--I wouldn't want to tick off a bunch of moms that decide the after-game-after-school-Friday-night-fast-food-frenzy.

From an advertising standpoint I have always been of the church of thought that even people/programming you may not like can bring you money. However, a large company like Taco Bell isn't in need of "gaining" business in the same sense that a local boutique might be.

My final conclusion: For the PR skin that these companies have in the game, Skins just doesn't make a whole lotta sense.

Them's Fightin' Words!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:52:00 +0000

That's QUITE the accusation...

Ok, I am back to the subject of Ted Williams. I know--another post to add to the pile of stories and posts in the past couple days.

What prompted yet another post about this story? This article on the Radio & Television Business Report website.

The author is accusing the mainstream mediums and media strategists of being unable to create fully integrated success stories.

And I agree...to a point. Yes, success indeed comes from a full integration of numerous mediums to create buzz about a specific topic. In this case, it created enough buzz to net the star of the video a new lease on life.

Larger companies and media strategists that place business in multiple mediums have a lot to learn from this story. But what does this mean to smaller-scale local advertisers that have a *much* smaller marketing budget than these large companies?

It means there is a take-away lesson about how the integration of media works when properly executed. However, with a limited budget the best success comes when one sticks with one medium and REALLY makes the charge to do it the right way. That means investing properly in time and money.

Diluted messages won't get you anywhere. So pick one strategy to start with, and do it well. Then someday choose another medium to add once success can really be measured. Just make sure you do it equally as well.

Happy Friday and happy strategizing!

~J

The Importance of Being Viral

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Somebody once said I had a face for radio and a voice for newspapers.
~Jerry Springer

This is an amazing story for so many reasons.

I first caught wind of this video yesterday afternoon when my manager emailed the link.

"This is well worth your time."

So I watched it. This morning the video and the story were all over the major news outlets.

When I watched this yesterday at about 4:30 this video had about 140,000 hits. As of this morning the number tops 4 million.

One simply cannot argue the power of viral videos and other social media. It can't hurt that it gives such a wonderful, positive light to good ole radio at the same time.

~J

The New Living Dead of Marketing Land

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:18:00 +0000

From age to age, nothing changes, and yet everything...is completely different.
~Aldous Huxley

The Living Dead....at least in marketing-land

Yesterday a colleague emailed me a link to an interesting article on CNNMoney.com titled Killing the Myth of the 18-49 Demo. The Author, Michael Schulder, made an interesting point. Turning 50 means the death of your "marketing desirability."

Ok, so maybe that's not exactly a bona fide academic concept, but really makes sense. If you were to believe what marketers were subliminally saying, businesses shouldn't care about earning the business of those over the age of 49. Heck, even the beloved 25-54 demo means that once you turn 55 you probably won't spend another red cent.

Puhleese.

Schulder's article corresponds nicely with a front page article from The Oregonian on New Year's Day. In case you haven't noticed, we have officially entered the age of the baby boomers turning 65 and officially entering into senior citizen status.

Need more figures?

- There are currently 79 million baby boomers in the US, accounting for 26% of the total population.*
- The boomer years span from 1946-1964. That means the youngest boomers are turning a mere 47 years of age.
- Senior Journal states that boomers will be spending upwards of $2.45 trillion by 2015.

As a business, would you be willing to wash your hands of the huge amounts of dollars that these people, many of which are not even close to senior citizen status, just because they fall outside the atypical "money and population demographic?"

It is an appropriate time to start reevaluating what we consider to be the "money maker" in demographics. Perhaps that bejeweled 25-54 target isn't broad enough. So, if you want a piece of that $2.45 trillion pie, it's time to broaden your horizons.

~J

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:18:00 +0000

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~Nelson Mandela

This is probably one of the longest quotes I have used to preface a blog post, but I find Nelson Mandela's words to be very powerful and befitting for the entry into a new year.

I have this paragraph taped to the corner of my monitor so I can see it every day. I like to think it will serve as a constant reminder to be my best each and every day without compromise.

With that in mind, I dare not call this my "New Year's You-Know-What." We all know what happens to those.

Here's to a positive, enlightened, and liberating 2011.

Thanks for being my readers, and I look forward to the journey with you!

Make your contribution to holiday awkwardness!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:51:00 +0000

"Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas."
~Johnny Carson

Just in time for Christmas, I wanted to share a personal favorites list with all five of you. It's my...

Top 10 Greatest White Elephant Gifts of ALL TIME!

These are an accumulation of things that I have received, given, and seen that would make an amazingly fantastic white elephant gift. Here goes--in no particular order.

1. The Slap Chop Anything starring that Vince guy has to be good. This has even more of the awful factor since TruTV's "The Smoking Gun" widely publicized his "Slap Chop Bust."

2. The Better Marriage Blanket This has to be one of the most ridiculous inventions. Ever. If Billy Mays were still around (rest his merry soul) I would love to see him pitch this item. Yesterday being my official five-and-a-half year wedding anniversary I thought the (ahem) problem this blanket solves was just a part of life, but now that there's an easy solution my life will instantly improve. By the way--this also makes a great anniversary or wedding gift. After all, you owe it to your marriage.

3. Scratch-Its I have a hard time finding something bad about this gift idea. Who doesn't love scratching that weird metallic junk off a wax-coated paper? And, what other gift could offer the promise of gaining more than the actual invested white elephant spending limit? The only part that really bites is the gifter guilt that comes when the eventual recipient wins a boatload of money. Burn.
4. The Shake Weight Uhhh....I know where your mind goes when you see this commercial. The sad part is that the inventor probably had the most innocent of intentions when this was thought up. But come on--you mean to tell me the company producing this marketing piece didn't have your lascivious thoughts in mind when the spot was produced?

5. Sobakawa Pillow I have indeed used one of these. If you want the recipient of your gift to have many nights of unrestful sleep, by all means give that gift. How can a pillow filled with buckwheat be comfortable? Hardly.

6. Pajama Jeans Conan O'Brien recently exposed the trend of jeggings to the world. So why not give the lady in the white elephant pool the comfort of jeans and pajamas combined?

7. One-off Box of Candy Confections consumed during the holidays mean the creation of many a New Year's resolution to lose weight. A good way to deter anyone from eating delicious chocolates and gaining the Christmas weight? The gritty price point chocolate assortment that even the kids won't eat. Now there's a white elephant gift that keeps on giving (or not).

8. Anything Sports-Related Not everyone shares your affinity for the Jugville Juggernauts, but you can still give the collectable tin filled with three different types of stale popcorn that never gets eaten! That's something anyone could love, sports aside.

9. Holiday Towels I do like to decorate my home for the holidays, and everyone needs towels. Why not give holiday-themed towels that probably won't be used in time for this year's season? The recipient will then think of you next year when they break out the holiday goods--and dry their hands.

10. Anything Requiring Work I will admit that I had a hard time being creative for my last white elephant exchange. I wandered around Target for a long time before it dawned on me. One statement to preface what the gift was (and was the note tied to the gift bag): "Ladies: This is for him to use and for you to enjoy."

That person received $10 worth of cleaning supplies.

Merry Christmas to all, and here's to a wonderful New Year!

~J

Nary a finer invention to be found...

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:02:00 +0000

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you the wheel was a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
~Dave Barry

Shucks! You mean I cannot add this to my holiday shopping list?

Here is a new invention from Heinz that is sure to fire up masses of consumers. Take a look:

Though not available (yet) to the public, this could revolutionize office lunch-making as we know it. No more shared microwave with who-knows-what growing inside? Check.

So that's how you get from Japan to the US?!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:21:00 +0000

Google Maps: you have effectively made my day.

Thank you to an old friend who originally hails from Japan for sharing this.

(Click the image to enhance bigness)

Happy Friday, everyone!

Keep on keeping on,

A Dog and a Chevy...What Else Could You POSSIBLY Need?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:39:00 +0000

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
~Ben Williams

This is a toughie for me...

You see, my husband is a bona fide Ford guy. His family members drive nothing but Fords, he works for a Ford dealership, and hence I drive a Ford Fusion.

All five of my blog readers will gladly attest to the fact that I love dogs. I love my dog far more than I love my Ford. It is, after all, a pretty nice ride. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband too.

Because of all this familial stuff, I find myself caught in a dilemma. You see, a Chevrolet ad I saw this afternoon has me reconsidering my inherted Ford affection. And it all has to do with dogs.

The video below is one of Chevrolet's latest ads to debut tonight. I love everything about it. Check it out: Chevrolet CRD Dogs and Pickups

The Hank Williams, Sr. soundtrack is great. The vintage footage is priceless. Chevrolet nails it right on the head by including the trusted sidekick found in many an American truck: the family dog.

This smart ad comes to us courtesy of Goodby, Silverstein, and Partners. Chevrolet has done a great job of branding themselves as all-American like apple pie and baseball. What's more American than the canine buddy?

Americans spend billions of dollars a year on goods and services for their pets, so it's fairly obvious we have a soft spot for our four-legged buddies. Dogs especially have become a mainstay of the American family, and Chevrolet really capitalizes on this peice of Americana.

Nicely done, Chevrolet. You have taken a piece of the Ford pie outta my heart.

Speaking of canine sidekicks....

Yeah. He really likes the sunroof. :)

To Infinity....and Beyond! In an Earth-orbiting space hotel!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:42:00 +0000

"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!"
~Larry Niven, quoted by Arthur Clark at Space.com, 2001

A monkey in space, a man on the moon, and now...

That's right, everyone. Soon you will have the chance to partake in the thrill that is space flight. No longer can we say that space exploration will be limited to NASA or government programs from around the world. At this point it's pretty obvious the private sector is the only conceivable way to fund this idea, and that is just the case.

Enter Virgin Galactic, one of the many business branches started by one of my heroes, Sir Richard Branson.

In many ways I genuinely liken Sir Richard to a modern-day Howard Hughes, sans psychological meltdowns (that I am aware of, at least).

Last night on National Geographic I watched an incredible show on the test flight of the VSS Enterprise.

At this point, it will cost you about what many average Americans might spend on a modest home to fly the great galactic airline. Sir Richard is already talking big about building space hotels that orbit the Earth.

For now I figure that the elite and a select few world dignitaries are on the first list. If you are interested in learning how to book your flight with Virgin Galactic you can do so here.

I like how they have a comments section where you can note what you'd like to discuss about your flight. I would ask about the in-flight snack and beverage service. Do they serve peanuts or pretzels?

I am excited to see where their future marketing efforts take them, especially after the opening of the world's very first space port in New Mexico.

Stay tuned. This is going to be really, really cool.

If Bears Driving Dump Trucks Could Speak, What Would They Say?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:01:00 +0000

"You're only given a spark of madness. That's why you mustn't lose it."
~Robin Williams

If you haven't heard of this guy....

...you will. Not just because of what I am writing, but I think his tipping point is about...NOW.

I first came across Matthew Inman about six months ago when I stumbled upon his website, The Oatmeal. Considering my oft-wacky sense of humor, I immediately loved everything I found on his site.

Oh, and regarding the title of this post: Matthew has a comic that references bears driving dump trucks. It's really quite hilarious and I encourage you to find it and laugh as well.

Aside from that, the guy is a genius. Watch this video to find out why.

Matthew does something very, very well, and that is use the power of titling web posts and pages to draw viewers. It's akin to writing really amazing ad copy in that it has to capture the imagination and attention of any possible consumer of media. He does it in a wacky way, much like ad innovators like Wieden+Kennedy do with many of their campaigns (including the Old Spice guy, a personal favorite as you all are aware).

He also has a knack of finding commonality at which silly comics can poke fun.

Matthew Inman, you are my hero. Kudos, and I look forward to seeing a lot more of what you do in the future.

~J

Cars: Sans Disney/Pixar Animation. And now with more destructive power!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:39:00 +0000

"Here in my car, I feel safest of all. I can lock all my doors. It's the only way to live. In cars."
~Gary Numan

There could be a whole sociological report regarding the things we Americans do in our cars.

As a matter of fact, Kelley Styring, a local winery maven and market researcher, took a road trip across the US investigating the things people carry in their cars. The book is titled In Your Car: Roadtrip through the American Automobile. The stuff she found is evidence to what Americans do in their vehicles.

She was also on Adam Carolla's Carcast this summer. Good stuff! But note that some language later in the show may not be work appropriate.

Back to what people do in their cars. I am certain you have seen some strange things.

Car makers have been quite good at adapting their product to meet the needs of the American consumer. Think about it: how long do you typically spend in the car on a given day or week? Hours? That's why you find things like cupholders and vanity mirrors in modern vehicles.

We are a massive multi-tasking society, as we are a nation of the "get there and get it done yesterday" mentality.

Car makers' motives for designing vehicles stem from these facts.

But Oh. My. Gosh. People do some weird stuff while driving.

I once saw a man driving down I-5 north outside of Woodburn playing a piccolo trumpet with the music score on the steering wheel.

Many women decide to put on their makeup in the car. I cannot imagine anything more dangerous than Lashtastic in the eyeball as traffic comes to a halt in the Terwilliger curves.

Finally, one that really spoke to me was the individual that used the time to set their hairdo with hairspray. Whilst a cigarette dangled precariously from the hand on the steering wheel.

I am sure those are things that car makers will not design around to make vehicles more driveable.

~J

Advertising Success Story!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:36:00 +0000

"Virtue is not knowing but doing."
Japanese Proverb

Extolling the value of radio advertising!

A tremendous thank-you is in order for my friends at Tri County Temp Control. Not only do I appreciate their continued presence on KEX but also their relationship and willingness to contribute to my personal success story.

Barry Robinson is the Sales and Service Manager at Tri County Temp Control. In this video he discusses advertising on radio, results with KEX, and also working with me.

Since he deals with customers that call in every day, he has a good idea of where people have heard about Tri County Temp Control.

And...if you (or someone you know) are in need of a heating and/or cooling system or system service this is the company to call. Check out their website for more information!

~J

Without speech on this one...

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:20:00 +0000

Need I say more??

Have a wonderful day, everyone! Happy back-to-school and unofficial entry into fall.

~J

Drive-By Voters Pamphlet

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Schurter) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:59:00 +0000

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

If only McDonalds ran political campaigns...

Ever wonder who to vote for? Fear not, for the latest of trends in political advertising is the...

Drive-By Voters Pamphlet!

Make a decision in as little as five seconds or less! Takes the agony and indecision out of making your candidate selection, especially since you need to think quick or crash into the car in front of you!

As candidates jockey for the largest signs and best positions, voters win!

****

Ahem. Moving right along.

This is a photo of the not-so-green-anymore space near the Main Street exit off I-5 in Vancouver. I was rather, ah, compelled enough by the signage appearing en masse to take a photograph.

It's all in a day's work here, people.