Advertising Age - Complete Feed

'V' for Victory: ABC Drama Has Strong Debut With 18-49

jrash@cmithun.com(John Rash) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:09:33 -0500

MINNEAPOLIS (AdAge.com) -- ABC has to hope that its "V" means both victory and peace: It's already accomplished the former, as the new sci-fi series was a winner on Tuesday night with the highest ad-centric adult 18-49 demographic debut of any new show this fall.

Purpose Driven Club Fails to Connect With Members' Money

nives@adage.com(Nat Ives) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:51:43 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Maybe membership clubs aren't the paid content model of the moment after all. Rick Warren's membership club -- which charged $29.99 a year for a quarterly magazine, four spiritual DVDs, four workbooks and access to a social networking site with its partner Reader's Digest Association -- is dropping the fees, abandoning the magazine and going online-only.

Are Family-Friendly Shows a Better Environment for Ads?

bsteinberg@adage.com(Brian Steinberg) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:36 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Could the gore from a scene in "CSI" or the salty language of "Southland" keep an ad for Pampers or a commercial for Coca-Cola from making its point with viewers? According to new research from a consortium of blue-chip advertisers seeking more programs that spur family viewing, the answer is a resounding yes.

Time Inc. Offers Buyouts Ahead of Hundreds of Layoffs

nives@adage.com(Nat Ives) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:12 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Buyout offers kicked off the latest round of major job eliminations today at Time Inc., where cuts are coming to replace growth as the annual expectation.

National Newspapers' New Focus: Local Markets

nives@adage.com(Nat Ives) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:18:13 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- National news outlets' battle to provide local news and win local advertisers is suddenly heating up fast.

IAC's CollegeHumor May Go to Ben Silverman's New Venture

mlearmonth@adage.com(Michael Learmonth) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:57:31 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- IAC is considering throwing CollegeHumor, in addition to cash, into Ben Silverman's nascent branded-entertainment company, Electus.

MSN Gets a Makeover, but Does New Look Matter?

mlearmonth@adage.com(Michael Learmonth) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:38:56 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- MSN is getting its first major redesign in more than a decade in a bid to dust off its late-'90s look, reduce clutter and, as Yahoo did earlier this year, give users the ability to interact with their social networks from its home page. The question remains: Does it matter?

Is the IPhone's Honeymoon Over?

dfrommer@businessinsider.com(Dan Frommer) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:59:01 -0500

For the third year in a row, Apple's iPhone will enter the holiday shopping season as the smartphone to beat. But this year, it actually has some respectable challengers.

The State of Search Marketing: 2009

aklaassen@adage.com(Abbey Klaassen) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- No longer do search-engine marketing advocates have to convince big marketers on the value of search. According to trade group SEMPO, nine out of 10 marketers practice organic search optimization, and 70% use paid search.

Why Search May Not Click for Retailers

aklaassen@adage.com(Abbey Klaassen) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- As retailers get ready for the holiday season, their first instinct might be to throw as much money as they can afford into search. But recent traffic trends may point them otherwise.

Megabrands Index

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Megabrands Top 200 Brands ranked by measured U.S. media spending. Top 200 Megabrands By measured media spending in 2007

Marketing Services Agency Rankings Index

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Rankings of Marketing Services agencies, including top Direct Marketing, Sales Promotion and Interactive agencies.

Media Agency Rankings Index

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Media Specialist Cos. Rankings of the largest media buying and planning companies; latest edition: 2008. Top media specialist cos. in 2007

Updates to Ad Age's Annual 2008

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:57:10 -0500

An index to updates made to Ad Age's Annual 2008 (Dec. 31).

PIB Index page

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

PIB Index page

3 Golden Rules of Brand Management in China

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:38:35 -0500

JWT's China CEO, Tom Doctoroff, offers his three "golden rules" marketers must be sensitive to before landing in mainland China.

The Top 10 Advertising Agencies in Canada

mcreamer@adage.com(Matthew Creamer) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:39:14 -0500

Canada's Marketing magazine, one of Ad Age's international partners, has unveiled its top ten list of ad agencies for 2009. Honorees include creative, media, digital and experiential shops.

OMD Wins Pepsi's Chinese Media Business

mbush@adage.com(Michael Bush) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:56:52 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Omnicom Group's OMD has won media planning and buying duties for PepsiCo's drinks business in China, according to executives close to the matter. The account, which also includes digital, is reported to be worth between $150 million to $225 million.

The View on International Advertising From a Chinese City Without Any

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:01:21 -0500

NANNING, China (AdAge.com) -- Imagine going three days without seeing a McDonald's or a Starbucks. Welcome to Nanning, the capital of Guangxi province, the site of the 16th China International Advertising Festival and, ironically, nearly virgin territory for international advertisers. Nanning residents have little first-hand experience with the retailers and consumer brands that have saturated China's most sophisticated cities.

Tories Try Marketing to Shake Stodgy Image

ehall@adage.com(Emma Hall) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

LONDON (AdAge.com) -- The Tories have been dogged for decades by the memory of Margaret Thatcher, burdened by the image of a party that appeals to older people who live outside of major cities and dislike change. But the current leader, David Cameron, has successfully thrown off this image to present himself as a modern and trustworthy future prime minister. So how have the Tories pulled it off?

Enter: Multicultural Agency of the Year

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ad Age is now welcoming submissions for Multicultural Agency of the Year.

P&G Adapts Its Web Fashion Show for Hispanic Women

lwentz@adage.com(Laurel Wentz) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- In October Procter & Gamble debuted "De Moda," a U.S. Hispanic version of "The Thread," both designed to showcase about half a dozen P&G brands over 26 episodes for "De Moda" and more for "The Thread," which started a year earlier.

Despite Recession, Startup Hispanic Endeavors Grow

lwentz@adage.com(Laurel Wentz) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Despite the tough economy, new U.S. Hispanic ventures keep opening, and established agencies are raiding general-market shops to build up expertise in areas the Hispanic market still lacks, such as digital.

Ad Spend in Spanish-Language Media Falls by 6.3%, Nielsen Says

lwentz@adage.com(Laurel Wentz) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:32:29 -0400

Ad spending in Spanish-language media monitored by Nielsen fell by 6.3% during the 12-month period through June 2009 to $5.5 billion, according to the market-research firm.

The NBA Launches Its First Major Push for Hispanic Audiences

adadgeeditor@adage.com(Rich Thomaselli) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The National Basketball Association today launches a season-long, $7 million to $10 million ad campaign aimed at the growing Hispanic market, which the league said accounts for 15% of its total U.S. fan base of 120 million fans.

CMOs, Regain Control of Your Destiny

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:36:56 -0500

A recent study by Prophet and the Association of National Advertisers revealed findings that point to the need for marketers to start taking back control of the dialogue, and their destiny, within their own organizations.

Frugal Consumers Are MasterCard's Opportunity

bbulik@adage.com(Beth Snyder Bulik) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

YORK, Pa. (AdAge.com) -- For MasterCard CMO Lawrence Flanagan, it's the day-to-day marketing in the ongoing aftermath of the financial meltdown that keeps him busy.

K-C Makes an Upscale Zag as Competition Focuses on Value Plays During Recession

jneff@adage.com(Jack Neff) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- A recession seems like a funny time to move your product mix upscale, but Kimberly-Clark Corp. has been doing just that of late, focusing more on premium and super-premium offerings and brands such as Cottonelle, Viva and Huggies Pure and Natural, while watching distribution of its Scott value brand shrink.

How to Define Your Brand as an Industry Thought Leader

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:52:19 -0400

How to Develop the Right Communications Strategy for a Conversation Economy

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:05:23 -0400

Even if people know there's an opportunity to have a conversation with you -- on Twitter or your blog, for instance -- you can't expect them to engage given all the other demands on their time. You'll need a strategy that both gets them to know you exist and care so much that you exist, they'll become intrigued about conversing with you.

Ikea Begins Creative Review to Integrate General Market With Hispanic

nzmuda@adage.com(Natalie Zmuda) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:20:51 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Swedish furniture retailer Ikea, nearing completion of a media agency review, is now examining its creative roster of U.S. agencies in what it calls a move towards "integration of general market and Hispanic creative."

Panasonic Calls Review for $40 Million Advertising Account

rparekh@adage.com(Rupal Parekh) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:33:48 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Embattled electronics marketer Panasonic is reviewing U.S. ad duties on its estimated $40 million account, currently handled by Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners in New York, executives familiar with the matter said.

Holiday Inn Puts Global Advertising Account Into Review

rparekh@adage.com(Rupal Parekh) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:36:37 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Holiday Inn is conducting a review of its global creative advertising account, and four networks will make final presentations in a bid for the hotel chain's business next month, executives familiar with the matter said. They are: Omnicom Group's DDB; WPP's JWT; Publicis Groupe's Saatchi-Fallon Group; and Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann Erickson.

Kellogg Consolidation Hands Major Brand-Building Work to Burnett

jmullman@adage.com(Jeremy Mullman) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:48:00 -0500

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Kellogg Co. has trimmed the global agency roster on its $1 billion account, consolidating "brand building" under Publicis Groupe's Leo Burnett in North America, Europe and Latin America.

Carlson Marketing Sold to Groupe Aeroplan for $175 Million

jmullman@adage.com(Jeremy Mullman) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:46:29 -0500

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Minneapolis marketing-services giant Carlson Marketing has been sold to Montreal-based Groupe Aeroplan, merging the two top global companies in the loyalty-marketing category.

JUST A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Mon, 26 Nov 2001 00:00:00 -0500

Bubbalu's, a Tejano bar, is built bad-ass: windowless, cinderblock walls, poor lighting. Beach-turquoise blue walls, dogs playing poker on the men's room wall, a Bubbalu's banner lording over the dance floor featuring a beach bum hammocking near some spen...

Boss? Mom? How to Be Successful at Both in This Industry

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:44:45 -0500

Media and marketing firms are under increasing pressure to work smarter, faster and more cheaply. That, in turn, puts added stress on working moms in the high-octane advertising industry, of course. But you can keep it together. Doing so means developing goals that work for both you and your boss -- goals that help you succeed at work and at life.

How to Advance Your Career Without Selling Your Soul

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:29:21 -0400

Throughout my nearly two decades in the marketing industry, I've witnessed many different ways in which people have "moved on up" (apologies to Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson). And I firmly believe that you don't have to kiss ass or sell your soul, no matter the economic conditions, to get ahead. Rather, it almost always comes down to following 11 key principles.

Stop Hiring Based Only on Category Experience

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:29:40 -0400

The best person for a job may not necessarily have brand or category experience, but may have other skills which are far more important to the successful running of the business.

Principles of Change: The Fifth of Nine

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:41:06 -0400

I've interviewed thousands of people going through all types of change -- job loss, divorce, a cancer diagnosis, a baby, a new business -- and I've noticed some very similar patterns, behaviors and attitudes in people who are good at change. I've discovered nine principles, and I'll highlight one of them in each of my columns in the next few months. Here, then, is the next one: Principle 5: People who successfully navigate change know that the quicker they accept a situation, the less painful it will be.

Google Says It's Hiring Again

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:55:18 -0400

There's one bright spot in the beleaguered media and advertising employment scene: Google is hiring again. During its reassuring third-quarter earnings call, CEO Eric Schmidt announced that the worst was over and that it was a time to return to investing in both capital expenditures and people.

The Word 'Direct' Is Dragging Down Response-Based Marketing

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Sometimes a brand identity can become so trashed it's virtually unsalvageable. This is clearly the case with the name "direct marketing."

Number Two No Longer Taboo for Marketers

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:57:22 -0400

It's official: The popularization of poop is a solid movement. And marketers smell an opportunity.

Do 'Teach' and 'Advertising' Belong in the Same Sentence?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Liberal-arts degrees are not only more interesting and personally rewarding in their own right, they are also more supportive of a career in advertising over the long run.

How to Build Better Car Marketing

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:16:07 -0400

I'm not surprised by all the ad accounts going into review in the automotive sector. I predict there will be many more in the next 12 months. Most will blame it on the recession, but I think that's just an excuse. The fact is the business of marketing cars is too often mishandled because most agencies lack a fundamental understanding of how the industry operates.

What Direct Marketing Needs Now: A New Shot of Creativity

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:21:45 -0400

As The DMA dissects the state of direct marketing in San Diego this week, Mat Zucker, the executive creative director of OgilvyOne, offers a solution behind which the industry can rally right now: re-inject creativity. He updates five principles from David Ogilvy to help direct marketers rethink and redirect their business to better connect with consumers.

Marketers Go for Squeeze Play, but the Basic Rules Still Count

rcrain@crain.com(Rance Crain) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game. Baloney, say major marketers who are apparently tired of paying hefty sponsorship fees no matter if their teams win or lose.

Advertising Is Alive and Well in Chicago -- and at U of Illinois

rcrain@crain.com(Rance Crain) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The University of Illinois advertising department celebrated its 50th anniversary last month by hosting a daylong symposium on both the challenges and opportunities facing ad students at the school.

Advice to B-to-B Publishers: Don't Lose Personal Sales Touch

rcrain@crain.com(Rance Crain) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Instead of providing access to their responsive and involved audiences, B-to-B publishers now find themselves being paid on a per-lead basis.

Don't Just Sit There, Innovate Your Way Out of the Downturn

rcrain@crain.com(Rance Crain) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The way out of the recession is not to wait for an uptick. The way out is to create our own uptick. Here are a few examples of what we're doing at Crain Communications.

Marketing Must Take Its Share of Blame for the Economic Crisis

rcrain@crain.com(Rance Crain) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Why are so many of our major industries in trouble, beyond the current economic meltdown? Al Ries and I recently wondered why marketing wasn't being blamed for its share of the problem.

What Will a Successful Media Company Look Like in the Future?

jbloom@adage.com(Jonah Bloom) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Some in media circles seem to be waiting for the return of yesteryear instead of using these turbulent times to make the changes necessary for their media businesses to thrive in the future.

Will.i.am Has Mastered the Art of the Continuous Campaign

jbloom@adage.com(Jonah Bloom) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Will.i.am is my marketer of the year. Most brands are still grappling like first-time makeout artists with the most fundamental shift of the last decade -- from marketer as message-pushing machine to marketer as creators of stuff consumers will actually pull toward them. But the Black Eyed Peas, having mastered that shift, are already showing an understanding of perhaps the second-most important change: from campaign to continuous conversation.

Help Remedies Overhauls OTC, Pushes for Better Health Care

jbloom@adage.com(Jonah Bloom) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Help Remedies could loosely be described as a marketer of over-the-counter drugs (and bandages). But it's also one of those potentially category-changing offerings that tries to solve a problem.

Seven Steps to Help Your Agency Fight Commoditization

jbloom@adage.com(Jonah Bloom) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Based on reader thoughts and some further discussion with industry leaders, here are seven ways to combat commoditization.

Agencies and Media Brands Turning Into Commodities

jbloom@adage.com(Jonah Bloom) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Commoditization may be the biggest threat facing agencies and media companies today -- yet we hear precious little about it, and few can articulate a strategy to combat it.

Upgraded Extensions May Make 'Basic' Version Look Worse

al@ries.com(Al Ries) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

A recent trend in marketing is the downgrading of established brands by upgraded line extensions. Though years of hyperbole have wiped out the meaning of many of the words used in brand names and advertising, there are a number of examples of line extensions that could seriously damage the core brands.

Slowly But Surely, Line Extensions Will Take Your Brand Off Course

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Marketing is like steering a ship. If you don't wait long enough for a marketing effect to run its course, you can draw exactly the wrong conclusion.

GM's Appointment of Lutz Shows No Respect for Marketing

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:05:51 -0400

General Motors' new advertising and marketing czar is Bob Lutz, who until April of this year headed global product development. According to CEO Fritz Henderson: "Bob's responsibilities beyond creative design will include brands, marketing, advertising and communications." Has respect for marketing fallen so low that the most difficult job in the profession (getting GM out of the ditch) can be given to someone with so little experience in marketing?

Advertising Could Do With More of Bernbach's Genius

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:53:15 -0400

"Nobody's Perfect" is the title of Doris Willens' new book on Bill Bernbach and the golden age of advertising. And just to make sure you get the point of the title, the book explores every imperfection she could find in the career of perhaps the most famous person in the history of advertising. Fair enough. Nobody's perfect. But I think she failed to stress the essence of Bernbach's genius which, in my opinion, was his incredible ability to recognize a good idea.

Variable Pricing Is Ultimate Brand-Destruction Machine

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Why do otherwise intelligent people borrow concepts from failing industries and think they will succeed in a different setting?

Life After the Pay Wall: Ignorance Ain't Bliss After All

sdumenco@adage.com(Simon Dumenco) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Imagine, dear reader, you are in the future -- say, 2012 -- and living in a world where news is no longer free ...

Top 10 Lessons to Learn From NBC's Failing Leno Strategy

sdumenco@adage.com(Simon Dumenco) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

With apologies to David "Top 10" Letterman ... here's some lessons you can take away from NBC's Jay Leno experiment.

Twitter, Baby, Tell Me How You REALLY Feel

sdumenco@adage.com(Simon Dumenco) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:52:45 -0400

The folks at Trendrr -- the social-media tracking service -- just introduced something called Twitter sentiment analysis. The idea is that, by mapping certain words against the feelings they are typically meant to convey, you can get a sense of not only how many people are tweeting about a certain subject, but how they generally feel about it. Let's see how the Twitterati feel about Jay Leno.

Citizen Journalism? Um, How About Crowdsourcing Journalism With Actual Journalists?

sdumenco@adage.com(Simon Dumenco) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:26:24 -0400

Mother Jones, the nonprofit magazine of investigative reporting, has been around since 1976, but lately it's been getting plenty of fresh attention. Partly because it's a proven model for nonprofit journalism (the magazine gets support from subscribers, donors, advertisers and foundations) in a moment when old monopoly-driven for-profit business models for journalism, particularly at newspapers, are crumbling. But also because editorially, the magazine has been on a hot streak.

Balloon Boy, Kanye West and Lady Gaga Walk Into a Bar ...

sdumenco@adage.com(Simon Dumenco) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:27:59 -0400

Balloon Boy, Kanye West and Lady Gaga Walk into a bar. Bartender says, "Hey, wait a second -- how old is that kid? You can't bring a kid in here!" Lady Gaga says nothing and just tries to keep a poker face, but you can tell she's pissed that the kid is getting all the attention. Kanye West says, "Yo Bartender, Imma let you finish, but ..." -- but then the bartender, fumbling with his cellphone, says, "Actually, hold that thought, I've gotta get a TwitPic of this!" First, though, he starts to tweet "Balloon Boy, Kanye West and La" -- but before he can finish, I grab the phone out of his hands and smash it to the ground while screaming, "Stop it!! For the love of God, just STOP IT!!"

P&G's Production Move Makes Industry a Worse Place

tiezze@creativity-online.com(Teressa Iezzi) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

So P&G is now going to choose with which production companies its agencies can work in the U.S. Sounds great. What happens now?

Lack of Film Standout at Cannes Shows That Creativity Is Evolving

tiezzi@creativity-online.com(Teressa Iezzi) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The fact is, for now, Cannes still matters; awards still matter. Simply, awards are a marketing tool, for individuals and for companies. Especially now that clients are taking more of an interest in what goes on at Cannes, winning a Lion is business.

Dell's Della Debacle an Example of Wrong Way to Target Women

tiezzi@creativity-online.com(Teressa Iezzi) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Della is worth revisiting for what it represents as a marketing (and social) phenomenon and as an example of what not to do as a brand when you feel you need to speak exclusively to women.

With Virtue, Media Brand Vice Helps Marketers Tap Its Genius

tiezzi@creativity-online.com(Teressa Iezzi) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Vice, chronicler of youth culture, purveyor of the profane, is one of the more unlikely yet most convincing cases of a media brand (a real media brand, and that's an important distinction) turned brand partner.

The Effects of 'Benjamin Button' Will Be Coming to Ads Near You

tiezzi@creativity-online.com(Teressa Iezzi) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Here's what didn't suck about the Oscars: seeing the wizards from Digital Domain accept the visual-effects award for "Benjamin Button." DD's work here provides a glimpse of what's next in feature and commercials image making.

Health-Care-Debate Advertising Runs Risk of Overexposure

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:06:53 -0400

As health-care ad spending nears $100 million and the president makes his rounds on most of the talk shows, is it possible that the American media consumer is on the verge of a health-care overload? Now I know between cable TV, Facebook and a good book (on your Kindle, of course), there are plenty of ways to escape this media onslaught, but it's getting harder to do so and soon may become impossible.

Agency Creative Wants to Teach Congress to Read

kwheaton@adage.com(Ken Wheaton) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:38:43 -0400

The simple mission is to "convince every member of the House and Senate to sign a "ReadtoVote" pledge, agreeing never to vote on any bill before personally reading and understanding every word of it.

Hutchison Camp Uses SEO to Call Rick Perry 'Gay'

kwheaton@adage.com(Ken Wheaton) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:58:19 -0400

Note to politicians: It's hard for people to prove you're behind sleazy brochures stuck under windshields or ads funded by outside groups. It's not so hard to bust your sleazy tactics on your own website. PEOPLE CAN READ YOUR SOURCE CODE!!!

Will a New Harry and Louise Return to Airwaves This Fall?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:00:57 -0400

The parents of modern issue-advocacy advertising, Harry and Louise, could be poised to make yet another comeback in a new campaign promoting a national health-care agenda.

Google Starting to Believe Its Own Political Hype?

mlearmonth@adage.com(Michael Learmonth) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:12:23 -0400

R. Creigh Deeds pulled out a shocking win in Virginia's gubernatorial Democratic primary. Could Google have put him over the top?

One of These Things Is a Lot Like the Other One

jmullman@adage.com(Jeremy Mullman) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:11:10 -0500

The ad features a screen-filling "G" logo, and it features Derek Jeter leaping into the Yankee Stadium stands to make a remarkable catch. A spot for Jeter-endorsed Gatorade of course, right?

Want More Dogs? You're Barking Up the Right Post

kwheaton@adage.com(Ken Wheaton) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:34:42 -0500

The hard-working dogs of advertising took a week off while I traipsed around Ireland last week looking for Leprechauns in the bottom of pints of Guinness and Smithwick's. But they're back this week. The number of entries are trickling to a halt, but that's no reason not to have a gander at the last few adorable pooches that came over the transom. Enjoy the slide show.

Macy's Congratulates the Phillies on Winning the World Series

kwheaton@adage.com(Ken Wheaton) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:05:23 -0500

The Philadelphia Inquirer and Macy's will both be charged with an error for an ad that ran in today's edition of the Inquirer.

Real London Fog Adman Not Happy About 'Mad Men'

kwheaton@adage.com(Ken Wheaton) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:23:50 -0500

London Fog was not a tired, 40-year-old brand at the time, as it was launched in 1954 when it changed from Londontown Clothes. It is also questionable whether a warm, traditional, avuncular Jewish tailor like Israel Myers would ever be seen in the halls of a Sterling Cooper.

Is He Still a Nudist If He's Streaking for Zappos?

kpatel@adage.com(Kunur Patel) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:42:33 -0400

So the World's Fastest Nudist was a marketing stunt. Was this a case of shoddy reporting or lying to the media? Does it matter?

Is Your Agency a Few Phone Calls From Closing Shop?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:55:39 -0500

Four calls from being out of business. That's how a colleague summed up the plight of many smaller agencies. Or the agency business in general. We've seen some fantastic, talented, historic agencies shut their doors this year. Big and small. How can we better prepare ourselves to weather the storm if one or two or three clients pull out?

How You Can Redefine Your Agency in a Single Moment

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:45:10 -0500

Game-changers don't just materialize out of thin air. You can't will them to happen. I suspect they happen like a lot of events in life: You pick a destination and then work your butt off. There's risk too. Losing a key client can be a game-changer. Too much success too quickly has crushed plenty of good agencies. An exciting game-changer for one person can be a game-changing nightmare for someone else.

So U Think U R Such a Professional? Plz!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:22:19 -0400

A memo went out to one of our clients last week that read more like a text message than a professional letter. You know what it looked like: Every third word was abbreviated, as though it was written on the run, from a cell phone. I was appalled, and could only imagine what the client must think: If we are writing to them in such a casual way, what else is being executed casually?

The Little (14-Person) Agency That Could

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:10:08 -0400

The documentary "Art & Copy" recently was screened here for a large audience of advertising professionals who work for small agencies. (That's the only kind we have in Albuquerque.) The audience applauded loudly when the final credits rolled up the screen. They were cheering the revolution of our industry, a revolution sparked by a small agency. A 14-person agency that wanted to do something better than what was being done. That agency was the reason I wanted to enter advertising.

What's the ROI of Putting Your Pants on in the Morning?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:02:28 -0400

Listen to the agency buzz, and we're all masters of measurement and analytics. Every agency worth its salt claims to not only solve its client's business problems but has the data and case studies to back it up. By the same token, CMOs cite producing measurable results as their No. 1 priority. CMOs want results and agencies deliver. Shouldn't everybody be happy? Not so fast.

WSJ Scores With Out-of-Home Digital Screen Strategy

hlevins@adage.com(Hoag Levins) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:33:43 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- In past jobs, Jim Harris has been a proponent of "hyper-local" marketing strategies that takes place in the lobbies of office buildings. So it's no surprise he's made that an anchor of the new Wall Street Journal Office Network. As CEO of that 3-year-old company, he oversees a broadcast network of digital screens in more than 800 upscale office buildings in 15 cities. And this past year, his company has posted a 100% increase in revenue and become a case study in how to boost sales by pairing digital screen ads with in-building product demos.

MasterCard's Priceless Discovery: Apps Really Work

hlevins@adage.com(Hoag Levins) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:17:19 -0500

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- MasterCard was an early mover in the apps space with its ATM Hunter, and now, as the company celebrates the 12th year of its famed "Priceless" ad campaign, it's brought out a new app to match called "Priceless Picks." In this video program we take both apps for a live-action, on-screen test drive and chat with MasterCard Worldwide CMO Larry Flanagan.

DuPont's Social Media Campaign Goes Up in Flames...

hlevins@adage.com(Hoag Levins) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:15:14 -0400

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Fiery race-car crashes, exploding oil refineries, policemen shot in the chest at point-blank range -- these are just some of DuPont's new social-media tools. Fearing that it's losing touch with young professionals who don't read traditional media, the chemical giant developed a social-media strategy anchored in viral video. Digging into its archive, it pulled out some of its most spectacular product test and demonstration footage. And this became the core of a series of three-minute programs hosted by video blogger Amanda Congdon and distributed widely across online video sites.

New Findings: Adolescents and Digital Advertising

hlevins@adage.com(Hoag Levins) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:45:44 -0400

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Do adolescents require special new protections against digital marketing techniques? In her talk at the Children's Advertising Review Unit Conference, Ellen Wartella cited new findings that suggest they might. The regulations for children's' advertising developed in the 1970s are based primarily on television viewing. But today's digital communications have completely changed the marketing environment. Ms. Wartella is a professor of psychology at the University of California and a CARU advisor.

Defend Your Brand Against Negative Blog Posts Better

hlevins@adage.com(Hoag Levins) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:05:58 -0400

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Nielsen executive, book author and Ad Age columnist Pete Blackshaw is astounded by the number of brand managers who still have no coherent strategy for dealing with negative blog posts. The customer service guru was keynote speaker at the Children's Advertising Review Unit Conference. But during the Q&A, audience members seemed more interested in tips about how to deal with negative blog posts -- than children's advertising issues.

Budweiser loses share while its siblings grow

Mon, 22 Nov 1999 00:00:00 -0500

Brewer's dilemma: While Anheuser-Busch's superpremium Michelob Light is growing toward record sales, sister brew Budweiser is on the verge of losing its crown as King of Beers in supermarket aisles. the coup in st. louis is almost a fait accompli. With...

Power 150 FAQ

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:16:28 -0400

All Your Questions Answered

About Power 150

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:46:55 -0400

The Power 150 is a ranking of the top English-language media and marketing blogs in the world, as developed by PR executive and blogger, Todd Andrlik. It's really as simple as that, except that the name isn't strictly accurate: It ranks hundreds of blogs written about all types of media and pretty much every imaginable marketing discipline. To get your blog listed, just submit it through our web form.

What's That Comida Kraft Ad Doing on My Huffington Post?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:37:46 -0500

I like the Huffington Post. I like Epicurious.com. I navigate the web in both Spanish and English depending upon what I'm seeking or what experience I'm looking to have. It's contextual. So I suppose the Spanish-language Comida Kraft ad that popped up on my Huffington Post page was a result of my online behavior. Even when you know you're being cyber-stalked, it's always a little startling when the stalker finds you.

Muse Releases White Paper About Diversity Communications

kwheaton@adage.com(Ken Wheaton) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:48:45 -0500

Jo Muse has just released a white paper titled "The Challenge of Corporate Diversity Communication: Achieving Sustainability in Difficult Times." Muse notes that we're at an intersection in which a horrible economy may start to take its tolls on the few good examples of multicultural communication programs out there.

How Diversity Efforts Can Boost the Economy

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:34:09 -0500

In today's ever-expanding global marketplace, for an advertising agency -- and the industry at large -- to effectively compete and prosper, its ranks must accurately reflect the world to which it caters. But there's an even more salient and basic reason to champion diversity and inclusion: the chance to re-energize the economy by giving a much-needed boost to small businesses.

CNN's 'Latino in America' Leaves Much to Be Desired

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:32:19 -0400

As each segment of CNN's two-part documentary series "Latino in America" unfolded during the Wednesday night premiere, I felt like I was watching a special on immigration presented by Lou Dobbs. A more suitable title would have been, "CNN Presents: Undocumented in America."

Dolphins' Monday Night Fiesta Was Hispanic Done Right

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:06:31 -0400

You can define "sidelines" in the old-school way and just keep letting opportunities to engage with Hispanic consumers go by because of (fill in your favorite Hispanic marketing phobia here) or you can define sidelines the way the Dolphins have and make them the hottest standing-room area in town

Stephen Colbert: Black Eyed Peas Missed Many 'Advertunities' in Latest Video

cmoran@adage.com(Charlie Moran) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:14:53 -0400

In last night's episode of "The Colbert Report," Stephen examined this year's summer jamz, and in the process took issue with the video for the Black Eyed Peas' latest hit, "I Gotta Feeling." He lamented: "Peas, please! You guys are the masters of the mass-market sell-out. You missed so many advertunities!

Taco Bell Steps Up to the Mic ... Again

cmoran@adage.com(Charlie Moran) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:57:21 -0400

What to say about this Taco Bell "music video" for its song "It's All About The Roosevelts"?

A Taylor-Made Complaint for United Airlines

cmoran@adage.com(Charlie Moran) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:06:24 -0400

Halifax musician Dave Carroll has created a viral hit with a video decrying the behavior of United Airlines and its treatment of his Taylor guitar.

Build Your Band and the Brands Will Come

j_daniel@rockrivermusic.com(Jeff Daniel) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:37:51 -0400

There is no music-branding silver bullet that will skyrocket a developing artist to stardom and riches. Take your time and focus on your own career and we will find you. It's often not the answer these artists want to hear, but it's the truth.

Brands Should Be Wired Into Music Discovery

ko@brandsplusmusic.com(Ko Kawashima) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:53:32 -0400

Music fans care about discovery. Connecting people with what they want and what they don't even know they want yet is the name of the game.

Why Digital Agencies Aren't Ready to Lead

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:43:57 -0500

Any conversation about digital marketing these days includes at least one mention that traditional agencies just "don't get it." While this may be correct, what's equally true is that digital agencies are not ready to take the lead.

Facebook's Big Changes: Action Items for Marketers

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:28:08 -0500

Facebook's latest round of updates announced this week will affect everyone: marketers, developers, publishers, consumers and anyone else remotely connected to its site and platform. And some of the changes will especially affect marketers.

Ten Things Social Media Can't Do

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:23:33 -0500

Amid the endless pronouncements about social media -- often shortened to "social" these days by consultants trying to sound like they know what they are talking about -- is the reality that social media is not a solution, or a sure bet.

Why Anyone Can Create a Successful Social Application

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:08:43 -0400

I just finished recognizing 13 highly effective social applications in the Forrester Groundswell Awards. What hit me about this year's winners were that they prove that excellence in social media can come from anywhere.

Judy Consumer's Head Is in the Clouds

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:22:06 -0400

Judy Consumer, in this case, a mom who does freelance sports photography, asked me the other day, "I wonder what all this talk about computing in the clouds is about? I have so much footage that I need to access and I do it today with external drives. Managing these external drives is driving me nuts." That was the third time I had heard that type of question in about two weeks. It was hard not to take notice.

Use What You Know

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:35:34 -0500

What may seem so simple to us may not be for our agencies and clients, and our value-add as employees is how we can leverage skills, such as our knowledge of social-media platforms, in our jobs.

How to Get Others to Go to Bat for Your Personal Brand

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:49:27 -0400

Personal brands don't benefit from brand parity, so you need to manage yours exceptionally. One way to do that is by cultivating personal-brand advocates.

Will the Transparency of Our Lives Damn Us or Legitimize Us?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:43:28 -0400

I feel sorry for everyone entering the workforce who is younger than myself. If I had been able to tweet and stalk people on Facebook in middle school, I'm not sure anyone would want to hire me. I would have left a digital trail wrought with misguided views, ill-informed statements and failed romantic relationships. I'm sure anyone else who has ever grown up would have done the same. So now that hiring managers are Googling as part of the screening process and everyone's life glows hot under the focused lens of their magnifying glass, what are the ramifications?

Why I Think Zach Canfield's the Zen Master of Advertising Recruiting

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:37:31 -0400

It didn't take me long after meeting Zach Canfield to realize he's the Zen Master of advertising recruiting. As talent director at Goodby Silverstein, it's his mission to bring the most talented people in the industry to his firm and he takes it very seriously. After an hour or so of picking his brain for my own personal benefit, I knew I had to share his wisdom with the world.

Love Advertising? Join the Club

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:28:35 -0400

My alma mater's advertising club really was one of the most beneficial things I did in college. I think any college student who's serious about a career in advertising should consider joining or starting an advertising club. Here's why.

Take the Living Communications Challenge

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:09:17 -0500

When it comes to going green, designers can take on a much bigger role than many might think. Zack Shubkagel of Willoughby Design challenges designers to take the Living Communications Challenge.

Catching the Smile Train

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:12:08 -0500

Working for years in advertising, Brian Mullaney opened his own shop and rode the crest of the mid-1990s technology wave. After selling the $100 million shop, though, he had to figure out what to do next. And so he created the Smile Train.

Pass the App -- Feed the Hungry

kegolf@adage.com(Karen Egolf) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:26:17 -0400

Facebook users can feed the hungry while e-feeding their friends with Yum Brands' Food for Food app. For $1, Facebook users can send a virtual gift to a friend, an icon from the menus of Yum Brands' KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, with all proceeds going to the United Nations World Food Programme in support of Yum's World Hunger Relief campaign.

New Effort Pushes Hands-Only CPR

kegolf@adage.com(Karen Egolf) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:23:19 -0400

A different type of life-saving emergency treatment, hands-only CPR, is being promoted in a new PSA campaign from the American Heart Association and the Ad Council. The effort, which was launched this week, encourages bystanders to use this form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation when an adult collapses and is unresponsive.

Rescuing Food Through Humor

kegolf@adage.com(Karen Egolf) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:59:59 -0400

In an effort to draw people's attention to a serious issue, DraftFCB is offering humorous videos to encourage people to rescue food for New York's City Harvest. The agency launched a microsite, Rescue Food, that features animated vignettes created pro bono by top animators to solicit funds and food.