Cohn and Wolfe Blog Posts

4 Things Your Brand Needs to Know About Online Video Right Now

Francesco Paciocco — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:01:00 +0000

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then perhaps a video is worth a thousand times more. There’s no doubt that online video has become an essential tool for marketers. From website intros to product tutorials, and from live streaming events to episodic entertainment, brands have made video a central part of their digital marketing strategy.

Brain Blink: “Annual Report” Meets “Madame Butterfly”

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:16:47 +0000

As part of Bang & Olufsen’s renewed effort to highlight the brand’s quality, innovation and design characteristics, the company turned its annual report into an operatic extravaganza.

Brain Blink: Book Smart

Jeremy Baka — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:03:26 +0000

Seth Godin is the author of 11 books, including such hits as “Purple Cow” and “The Dip.” In a recent publishing challenge, Godin asked 70 innovative thinkers to come up with a 10- to 200-word essay or picture about “a big idea that matters now.” Godin turned the submissions into a free downloadable e-book packed with quick thoughts, fresh ideas and intriguing perspectives.

Brain Blink: The Ugly Secret About Brainstorms

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:10:09 +0000

A study at the Wharton School, considered one of the world's preeminent business schools, reveals that group brainstorms may not be the best way to come up with ideas. Instead, researchers say, a hybrid brainstorm where people are first given time to think on their own before sharing ideas with a group resulted in more, and better, ideas.

Pointing a finger—at a solution

Eric Litchfield — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:12:51 +0000

Much of the conversation in the communications industry around BP and the disaster in the Gulf has been fixed on the PR missteps the company, and its CEO, has made to make a tragic situation even worse. And while the list is long, and the response one that will be studied for decades to come, I’m sure everyone in the business would much prefer discussing a solution to the crisis. So with that in mind, I bring to you entrepreneurial mycologist, Paul Stamets.

Sustainability Means Many Things to Many People

Tony Obregon — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:48:32 +0000

It’s amazing how one’s perspective can change in just a few days. For me, it happened last week at the Sustainable Brands 2010 conference. The four-day conference attracted more than 700 business leaders, innovators, and mavericks committed to learning, developing, refining and implementing sustainable strategies in one way or another. Hearing about the many ways people are approaching sustainability expanded my view and validated its value as a business objective for companies.

What’s So Funny About Sustainability?

Eric Litchfield — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:24:53 +0000

At the end of a networking event last night at the Sustainable Brands conference, Annie Longsworth, Head of Cohn & Wolfe’s Sustainability Practice, held up a Flip camera and with a wry smile asked: “What’s funny about sustainability?” I wasn’t sure if it was the pressure of being filmed or if there just isn’t anything funny about it, but for a few uncomfortable seconds, I was stumped.

Social Media in a Regulated Environment – Panel Insights

Chad Latz — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:51:59 +0000

Last month I had the pleasure of moderating a panel called “Something Regulated” hosted by Digital Somethings, Business Development Institute, and Pfizer. The panel consisted of a dynamic group of communicators responsible for driving social media in their organizations.

Social Media in a Regulated Environment – A Meeting of the Minds

Chad Latz — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:18:11 +0000

Whether on the agency or client side we all endeavor to honor best practices in social media… to offer something of value to our online stakeholders that encourages sharing, doesn't intrude on the community, and ultimately, helps build our [client’s] brands.

Social Behavior vs. Social Media

Chad Latz — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:54:56 +0000

It’s easy to forget that the term “social” is as much intended to describe behavior as it is a reference to the media or platform. In the May issue of PRWeek, I had the pleasure of sharing my perspective on the best way to incorporate offline experiences into a social media strategy to encourage engagement. As I was thinking it over, perhaps the real question was “How can social media create engagement in a way that produces offline behavior?”

Promoted Tweets – Essential for Marketers?

Chad Latz — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:30:48 +0000

Much has been written about the roll-out of ‘Promoted Tweets,’ Twitter’s new advertising feature. Many are discussing the business model and debating if/how advertising will impact the platform’s user experience. I had the pleasure attending the debut of Promoted Tweets by Dick Costolo, COO of Twitter at the AdAge Digital Conference 2010.

Americans Get Hockey Fever; Unfortunately, It Likely Won’t Last Through Spring

Steve Bonsignore — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:17:23 +0000

It’s hard to argue that, for the better part of a week, America got its worst case of hockey fever in…well, maybe forever. While the relative influence the blogosphere and social media played in the rampant spread of hockey fever is difficult to definitively gauge, those channels undoubtedly served as testament to the afflicted. ‘USA! USA!’ bellowed out across blog comments sections, ‘gold medal game’ and ‘USA Hockey’ hash tags torched Twitter and TV sets tuned in at record numbers.

As Social Media Expands, Don’t Forget Where the Audience Is

Mike Manning — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:00:10 +0000

It’s getting difficult to stay on top of all the new social networking and digital communications platforms available today: Google Buzz, Foursquare, Posterous and Google Wave are seeking to match the more established communities like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It wasn’t always like this; new media channels didn’t just sprout up every week. To say it’s changed the daily activities of PR professionals over the past ten years is a drastic understatement.

How to Select Media-Friendly Spokespeople

Nicole Baldino — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:08:14 +0000

The success of a brand-supportive awareness/educational campaign can often lie in the spokesperson. An awareness campaign without hard, unique news will require a strong spokesperson who is not only recognizable but who can offer usable tips/messages that can tie in to the campaign as well as topical news. Here are some tips for choosing doctors and celebrities as spokespeople for upcoming campaigns.

Thinking About Value

Annie Longsworth — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:34:42 +0000

Last Friday, during my first weekend residency at the Presidio Graduate School’s executive MBA program, I went for a walk with Peter Warshall. We walked in a small group through the Presidio, stopping every few minutes to look at the land, the trees, the animals. We started in a spot I have passed literally hundreds of times – an intersection near my former gym, down from my (green) dry cleaner and on the way to the swimming pool where my kids have lessons every Saturday afternoon.

Looking Through the Media Lens: Landscape and Trends in 2009

Nicole Baldino — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:40:29 +0000

From H1N1 to Healthcare Reform, PR experts from other niche categories found it challenging to land placements. With digital news becoming more valuable, those in the industry needed to redefine and redesign campaigns to reach digital influencers. Understanding this landscape, here are a few trends PR professionals should be aware of, and a brief explanation of how they can be part of these trends in 2010.

Can New FTC Regs Protect PR’s Stake in Digital Media?

James J. Wells — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:54:15 +0000

My colleague Katherine Axt and I attended last week’s PRSA New York seminar, “Regulatory Scrutiny of Social Media: The Impact on PR Communicators in 2010 and Beyond“ where New York Attorney Michael Lasky walked us through the FTC’s updated guidelines concerning online Endorsements and Testimonials.

How PR Pros Can Reach New Health Director at Women’s Health

Nicole Baldino — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:55:58 +0000

Women's Health (circ: 1.5 million) is a women’s consumer health magazine that covers health, fitness, nutrition, sex & relationships, beauty, fashion and other general lifestyle topics. The demographic is women in their 20s and 30s. The magazine runs on a four-six month lead time, so any short-lead news hooks will not be applicable. However, their “Scoop” page can be held for the last minute for any new treatments, surveys or quick briefs that apply.

The power of a 'thank you' note

Steve Bonsignore — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:19:35 +0000

Sadly, extended middle fingers, temper tantrums and mindless Twitter taunts are becoming more and more “par for the course” with today’s professional athletes. It’s against this dreary backdrop that last week’s communication from Roy Halladay to the fans of Toronto stands in blinding contrast.

Catching up with The Consumerist

Francesco Paciocco — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:32:17 +0000

This past Wednesday, myself along with my Cohn & Wolfe Digital peers Jim Wells and Katie Greene, had the chance to attend The Consumerist’s first meetup at Botanica Bar. For those not familiar with The Consumerist, it’s a highly influential blog with more than half a million unique monthly visitors known for its witty and brutally honest commentary on consumer issues and activism.

Growing brands in the green market

Eric Litchfield — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:33:29 +0000

Despite all the attention being paid to economic concerns, healthcare reform, diplomatic stand-offs and everything else going on in the world, the environmental movement and efforts to combat climate change remain a priority with governments and people around the world. And sustainability remains a driving force in business, too, as many consumers remain devoted to green products and brands that commit to sustainable business practices.

Stream 09 Discussion: Crowdsourcing Creativity

Andrew Foote — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:02:35 +0000

I just wrapped up a trip to Greece for Stream 09. If you haven’t heard of Stream, it is WPP’s annual unconference focused on technology, innovation, and the future of digital marketing. The level of digital knowledge among attendees was one of the most impressive aspects of the event. Stream gathered 300 marketers, agency reps, technologists and venture capitalists from across the globe, all of whom contributed fascinating perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of marketing in the digital age.

Ideas for all; iPhones for some

Jessica Lokaj — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:36:15 +0000

While brainstorms are certainly a fun part of the PR profession, (oh the games, we play!) we can all relate to feeling a little creatively stumped from time to time. But don’t fret! Good ideas do exist outside the walls of a PR agency (gasp!) and there are a lot of ways to get them, including crowdsourcing.

How Pharma Can Overcome FDA's Social Media Challenge

James J. Wells — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:08:43 +0000

Speaking at last week’s Social Communications & Healthcare Conference (#BDI), Pfizer VP/Worldwide Comunications Ray Kerins said that Pfizer wants to have online conversations with its consumers. However, he thinks it is unfair to ask company employees to risk their job implementing a social media program that the FDA might later deem a violation, despite its refusal to issue guidance in this area. Nevertheless, the company just two weeks ago launched its corporate Twitter page (@Pfizer_News) and is starting to proactively communicate with its audience in real-time.

"Starbury TV": A PR Slam Dunk

Steve Bonsignore — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:01:10 +0000

I sat at my desk this past Friday and marveled as Stephon “Starbury” Marbury approached the double-digit mark. I’m not talking about points, rebounds or assists. I’m talking about hours. As in hours of all-access, unedited, filter-free Starbury coming to hundreds of thousands via live streaming video. Welcome to the “new world,” non-digital believers exit stage right. A soon-to-be-retired NBA point guard was giving a lesson in modern-day publicity, and everyone I know was tuning in to bear witness.

Book Review: The Truth about Green Business, by Gil Friend

Annie Longsworth — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:56:29 +0000

With his new book "The Truth about Green Business," Gil Friend, CEO of Natural Logic, has given us an invaluable gift – mainline access to his brain, which has been processing and storing sustainability and green business strategies for the last three decades or so.

Applying “Porch Rules” to Marketing

Andrew Foote — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:13:22 +0000

If you live in NYC, you may have heard that Southwest Airlines recently opened Southwest Porch – a pop-up outdoor lounge located on the southwest corner of Bryant Park.

I stopped by after work yesterday and was impressed. The theme is clearly relaxation and the layout includes porch swings, Adirondack chairs and a selection of great food and Southwest Summer ale.

What’s the right social media channel for specific patient groups?

James J. Wells — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:33:10 +0000

Nothing has had a greater impact on my view of social media more than the book Groundswell, specifically its Social Technographic Profile, a research tool helping brands to identify how its customers use social media technologies. So I became intrigued when I heard that imc² adapted Forrester’s technographic profile tool for healthcare.

Shaq to Cleveland opens up marketing playbook for Cavs

Steve Bonsignore — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:26:08 +0000

The Phoenix Suns never achieved what they’d envisioned when the franchise traded for Shaquille O’Neal two seasons ago. They accomplished so much more. Sure, the Suns never made it to the NBA Finals (or the conference finals for that matter) during Shaq’s brief two-year stint in Phoenix, but that doesn’t mean his absence won’t be immensely felt within the organization. Shaq was an undeniable force in the valley of the Sun – a 300-plus pound marketing machine.

Reaching consumers online before they get in line at the grocery store

Theresa Bertrand — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:01:17 +0000

The recession affects every aspect of our lives, and in response consumers are cutting back, doing away with, and trading down across the board. Although consumers are eating at home more, CPG manufacturers can’t afford to sit idle. Food prices are increasing at their fastest rate in 17 years, and private and store label products are tempting consumers with lower prices and flashier packaging.

Bing vs. Google – A comparison for PR professionals

Francesco Paciocco — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:05:48 +0000

After reading a New York Post article on the emerging rivalry between Google and Bing, I’m glad to say my interest in Bing has certainly grown. The two have been fiercely pitted against one another to determine which engine is the most sophisticated, the most user-friendly, and most viable in today’s ever-changing sea of online content. In addition, bloggers have taken to comparing Google, Bing, and Yahoo search results using Blind Search, a nifty tool that allows you to gauge the effectiveness of each search engine’s results, asking you to choose the results you prefer, then revealing the search engine used.

Good employee communications will make the EFCA a non-issue for companies

Jim Martinez — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:19:37 +0000

The impending passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) means companies have just a few months left to make the case against union organization. If EFCA becomes law, companies will likely lose their ability to campaign against union organizing efforts – something that’s now possible in the weeks leading up to a formal union vote. Such votes would effectively be optional under EFCA.

Digital Exploratorium in Geneva

Andrew Foote — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:07:44 +0000

On Wednesday, June 24th, my colleague Rachelle Spero will be presenting a “Digital Exploratorium” in Geneva. The focus is on conversational marketing and how brands can: effectively build a listening infrastructure; identify market influencers and join the conversation; create engaging content and experiences, and much more.

Warm and fuzzy ads won’t work for banks; dialogue will

Jim Martinez — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:50:17 +0000

A June 9 article in The New York Times suggests that banks and other financial institutions are betting they can reconnect with consumers by launching warm and fuzzy advertising campaigns. Their theory is that consumers are ready to “move on.”

Still plenty of hope for green brands (despite recession)

Eric Litchfield — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:56:42 +0000

I’ve been in Monterey, California this week at the Sustainable Brands ’09 conference, a fascinating and inspiring event that showcases the many people and companies pointing the way towards a greener, more sustainable, way of life for humanity.

Does it feel like the world is fraught with crises?

Jim Martinez — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:51:57 +0000

Swine Flu. Financial meltdown. Bankruptcy. Banks failing the government’s stress test. Excessive executive compensation. The nature of crisis hasn’t changed, but the way crises emerge has. And the way we counsel clients has, too. Bottom line: companies must aggressively anticipate problems before they draw public attention.

Technology for the Turnaround

Katie Greene — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:44:28 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending Technology for the Turnaround at my alma mater which brought together more than 170 digital media professionals and enthusiasts from around the country to discuss the future of the industry in education and beyond. The day-long event was put together by The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and the New Media Institute. The goal of the event was to generate new ideas and insights for students, educators and professionals about this evolving industry we call Digital Media.

Turning the arc to an arrow

Rachelle Spero — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:57:53 +0000

Because of recent FDA and FTC rulings, now more than ever, understanding of the legal landscape is the overriding paradigm in digital communications. It’s where every program in every discipline must begin. Innovation will remain within reach, but simply (and perhaps bluntly) put, advertisers and marketers may have to start earning media the way public relations has earned it for years.

Don’t be green with embarrassment: tips for an earth- and media-friendly campaign

Jessica Lokaj — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:44:32 +0000

With sustainability a growing priority for humanity, companies everywhere are taking their own steps in the green direction. And what’s more, the media hunger has never been stronger for eco-solutions increasing the opportunity to get your message out to open and well-informed ears. This year, as we wind down from our Earth Day high, PR professionals would be wise to remember some key learnings from both the successes and failures of this season’s campaigns, and most importantly, this bit of advice: think green every step of the way.

Glass half full: a sustainability lesson from Saul the waiter

Annie Longsworth — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:30:23 +0000

One of the highlights from last week’s Fortune Brainstorm Green was during a morning breakout session titled “The Business of Water,” which was led by Jib Ellison of Blu Skye Consulting. While the panel participants were qualified and interesting, it’s almost impossible to have that big of a conversation in just an hour unless it has a defined focus.

Commenting communities: welcome to the playground

Lindsey Boyle — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:03:18 +0000

In a digital world where blogs are proliferating with a speed matched only by the growth of social networks, it should come as no surprise that the two entities are breeding a hybrid beast of interpersonal communication.

Staying ahead of the game: athletes showing sports marketers the way?

Brandan Orsatti — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:12:50 +0000

The world of sports, sports media and sports marketing are bigger now than they’ve ever been. The range and reach of digital media, branded play-by-play updates available directly on your cell phone and the recent emergence of Twitter have allowed brands – especially sports entities – and media to connect with consumers through new channels. And as the industry continues to grow (and sponsors continue spending millions in athlete endorsements), companies can utilize new mediums to maximize their marketing investments and further build brand affinity.

Five reasons to try CoTweet - a Twitter tool for business

Brooke Hovey — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:58:16 +0000

Over the past few months, we’ve spent a lot of time talking to companies about Twitter. Even our most skeptical clients find it tough to ignore given its phenomenal growth – a 1,382% year-over-year increase in unique visitors from February 2008 to February 2009, according to Nielsen Online and a significant spike after Oprah’s first tweet last Friday. How do we manage it all? Who is the right person to twitter? Enter CoTweet.

Creative detour

Jeremy Baka — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:30:28 +0000

During a detour around a traffic accident this weekend I discovered the problem with creativity. The guy in front of me decided that rather than crawling along on the main thoroughfare, he would zip down a side street. I watched as his car disappeared down the winding road. In an instant, I was faced with a quandary: to follow or not to follow.

Domino’s online crisis report card

Andrew Foote — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:14:57 +0000

Much has been written about the Domino’s Pizza PR fiasco that erupted earlier this week.

Given the hideousness of the videos and velocity with which they spread, Domino’s Corporate Communications team deserves a B+ for how they handled it.

Worship at the temple of ideas

Steve Bonsignore — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:58:00 +0000

At times, we use the terms “media agnosticism,” “cross-channel creative” or “non-traditional” to convey the notion that ideas brought to the table by public relations need not be “standard” PR tactics. The concept is a good one and warrants repeating – particularly today. These catch phrases serve to articulate an even simpler truth – ideas rule.

Cloud proficiency: a new standard of workforce literacy

Bryan Pope — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:57:34 +0000

How often do you see this category on periodic performance reviews: “Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel?” Many organizations still cite the MS Office triumvirate as the pillars of proficiency, but as cloud computing continues to grow, shouldn’t we start expanding the ways we measure tech literacy?

Who is responsible for content protection? A digital bill of rights for head-bangers, geniuses and spring breakers

Greg Dvorken — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:15:31 +0000

There is a concern among content creators that the Internet does not have a safety net to protect their assets. By content creators, I’m talking about artists of all flavors - from Metallica protecting their extensive library of head-banging genius, to Bill Gates protecting his latest version of Windows, to a college kid’s first keg stand photos.

Diagnosing digital

Rachelle Spero — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:33:05 +0000

There are many point-of-views (POV) on how pharmaceutical companies are engaging in digital and social media activities. One topic that is not discussed as frequently is how and where pharmaceutical companies should start when it comes to implementing a company-wide digital strategy that includes standard operating procedures and policies.

Big bill for a green revolution

Geoff Beattie — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:17:21 +0000

Reducing greenhouse gases and tackling global warming is a massive problem for society at large, and there a will be a big societal price tag for fixing it. Achieving that in a severe recession must be one of the thorniest issues on the government agenda for the rest of this decade and beyond.

Digital PR trends & hot topics in 2009

Andrew Foote — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:51:09 +0000

It was a breakout year for digital PR in 2008. Marketers, politicians, publishers and agencies delivered strong integrated communications programs with a heavy social media focus. The digital transformation of PR continues to accelerate as more audiences use the web as their primary news source. Here’s a quick look at the developments, trends, and the types of programs we are discussing with our clients this year.

Welcome to social gaming: bring your wands, golden hammers and frag skills

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:58:39 +0000

Gaming became socially interactive long before Nintendo introduced the Wii (think Oregon Trail in school and Q-Zar at the arcade), but it wasn’t until the Wii that gamers of all ages, including the AARP crowd, started to believe that they could spend time with the younger versions of themselves and play.

All the rage

Anna Loftin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:50:15 +0000

Technologies change and social media evolves as a primary enabler – from microphone recordings to Twitter banter – but the message stays the same: don’t say things you can’t stand by at every moment. Just look at these examples as our not-so-gentle reminders.

Social media for a cause: charity: water

Katie Greene — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:41:46 +0000

It's pretty incredible how social media has the power to inspire social change by uniting and mobilizing people all over the world. Without tools like Facebook and Twitter, events just simply aren't as successful, and frequently these tools help generate enough buzz to make the evening news. Case in point – Twestival.

White House blog marks huge shift in presidential communications

Tony Obregon — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:51:50 +0000

Coming off the heels of the most successful digital campaign in political history, President Barack Obama and his team are continuing their online communications with the launch of the official White House Blog. Macon Phillips, Director of New Media for the Obama administration, wrote the inaugural post on January 20 that emphasized communication, transparency and participation as the three guiding principles and priorities for all online media efforts from the team moving forward.

Future of corporate web video is live

Andrew Foote — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:31:45 +0000

Have you noticed that the web is looking a lot like TV lately? Networks, portals, and the major content sites are all serving up high-quality, full screen video of news, episodic content, and sporting events. CNN.com's broadcast of the inauguration was the best example I've seen of where web video is heading – live, interactive (featured Facebook integration), and flawless.

How social media-friendly are the major health sites?

Mike Presson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:52:19 +0000

Being social media friendly is not simply about creating content that will interest a user, but rather using the content as a catalyst for user interaction. Sites like WebMD and MayoClinic will continue to draw users because of their credibility. However, will they continue to evolve as top health destinations that are social media friendly?

The PR battle over ‘local jobs’

Geoff Beattie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:25:16 +0000

It’s been widely reported that the UK is being hit by a series of unofficial strikes over the issue of employers using ‘foreign’ workers from other parts of the European Union, rather than from Britain itself. As the recession deepens, we are likely to see more of this kind of thing.

From "Greedy" to Great

Matt Wolfrom — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:10:42 +0000

Over the past few weeks, Americans have been shaken by an onslaught of bad news. What the market foreshadowed last quarter is now being realized in the paper every morning. Earnings are down or non-existent, GDP contracted by nearly 4%, and layoffs seem to be a daily occurrence.

Hmmm... What to buy for $825 billion?

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:57:26 +0000

Eight-hundred and twenty-five billion dollars ... (Place your right pinky finger to the side of your lip when you say that.) Lay 825 billion one-dollar bills end-to-end and they would stretch to the moon and back … and to the moon again … and halfway back. Forget black holes, these babies are green, complements of the U.S. Treasury.

When in doubt, rock out!

Chris Knight — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:42:12 +0000

As the old saying goes, “Rock ‘n’ Roll will save you.” In a somewhat commoditized market such as flash memory, it’s important to stand out from the crowd and build programs that drive brand loyalty based on human emotions – to connect a company’s branded products to a positive consumer experience.

Climate change issue not going away in recession

Geoff Beattie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:16:56 +0000

President Obama’s announcement yesterday is the clearest indication yet that climate change will have more influence than ever before on national and international public policy in 2009. There was speculation, much of it around the European Summit in December, that tackling global warming would have to take a back seat to pulling the world out of a deep recession. Instead, Obama has presented the issue and the need for a ‘new energy economy’ as a massive opportunity for the United States, rather than a cost.

ProfNet vs. HARO….vs. Twitter?

Mike Manning — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:18:59 +0000

For as long as many PR professionals can remember, ProfNet was their sole source of journalist requests for interviews and other information for their stories. No PR workday was complete without scanning several ProfNet emails each day, searching for requests relevant to their client. Things have changed.

The New Frugality

Michael O’Brien — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:16:15 +0000

It should surprise no one that the economic events of the last 6 months have many consumers tightening their belts and consuming less. The Business Week cover story called “The New Frugality” chronicles how some consumers have taken substantive steps to adopt values that focus on considered consumption, self-recycling and creating strategies that stretch their discretionary income as far as humanly possible. It’s a lifestyle counterpoint to the notion that the winners have the most toys.

Welcome to Wolfe Tracking

Geoff Beattie — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:16:12 +0000

Welcome to Wolfe Tracking, Cohn & Wolfe’s single, all-agency blog featuring observations, insights and ideas from a team of communications professionals across each practice and region in our global network. Like the wolf, the truth is elusive. But every one of our more than 25 bloggers is in dogged pursuit—and we are eager to share our experiences surveying this new media wilderness.

7th Grade

Jeremy Baka — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:11:45 +0000

We are raising a nation of wimps. Political correctness, combined with overprotective parents, is metaphorically castrating young boys all across America. To illustrate the point, I thought back about my first week in 7th grade at Madison Junior High School...

Halloween Musings

Jeremy Baka — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:25:43 +0000

It’s 11:30 p.m. and something’s bothering me again: Halloween. I hate it. But those of you who have been following my blog brilliance the last few years know that by now. It’s a different riff this time, though.

You Must Surely Know What Android Is, Right?

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:56:33 +0000

If you’re the type of person who is immersed in tech culture news, then I’m sure you’ve at least heard about Android. But for the rest of the planet who may not visit Gizmodo...

The Most Common Phrases During A PR Pitch and Their Real Meanings

Jeremy Baka — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:42:12 +0000

Myth	Real Meaning
“If the idea is good enough we’ll find the money.”	“We have no budget.”
“You placed second.”	“You lost.”
“We’re looking for really BIG ideas.”	“We want to see all the cool stuff we could be doing if we didn’t have a legal department.”
“We plan to make a decision next week.”	“We’ve seen so many agencies we’re confused.”
“We only let the incumbent agency pitch out of courtesy.”	“We’re pretty happy with our existing agency, but want to make sure we’re not missing anything.”
“Our last agency wasn’t really a fit.”	“We’re not easy to work for.”
“We don’t expect you to work for free.”	“We have no budget.”
“What we’re looking for is a partner.”	“We’re looking for someone who works weekends so we don’t have to.”
“You’re the experts.”	“We’re the experts.”
“We’re not looking for ‘yes people.’”	“We’re looking for people who won’t say ‘no.’”
“I’m the final decision-maker.”	“I WANT to be the final decision-maker.”
“We know we’re not as big as your other clients.”	“We have no budget.”
“It’s just a chemistry meeting, we’re not expecting ideas.”	“We want your recommendations without having to put together an RFP.”
“I think we’re all on the same page.”	“You agree with me.”
“This is an account that could grow.”	“We have no budget.”
“You were really creative, but we needed more detail on the strategy.”	“I liked it, but the decision-maker wanted more strategy.”
“You were really strategic, but we needed more detail on the creative.”	“I liked it, but the decision-maker wanted more creative.”
“We’ll review the leave behind.”	“I’ve already made my decision.”
“The budgets aren’t as big, but PR is as important to us as advertising.”	“We have no budget.”

Clichedonism

Jeremy Baka — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:20:10 +0000

Using clichés makes writing boring, deadly and creatively dull. And there is a ton of “clichedonism” in our business. Far be it from me to point out any specific examples, however, because, you know, what goes around comes around.

Democrats Leading Comfortably in Online Politics

Mike Manning — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:37:10 +0000

This week the news you can’t avoid is the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where Barack Obama and Joe Biden will formally accept their party’s nomination for president. The arenas they’re speaking in are filled with screaming delegates, but the real momentum behind their campaign is hidden from view: their online supporters.

Expertly Done

Marc Levy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:45:02 +0000

Prepare for a butchering of this quote: "An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less. " Or something.

Here’s the current bug up my *&^: To be creative, is it important to be an expert in the subject matter? We just got out of a great new biz pitch. The team was great, the deck was solid, and we were good in the room – rapport, engagement... the whole schpeil.

Old Games Bring New Consumption Habits

Zach Siegel — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:58:00 +0000

A few weeks ago my good friend Greg wrote about NBC’s plans to broadcast virtually the entire 2008 Summer Olympics. His gripe – no one wants to watch each and every event, most of which are sports that seem to only exist during Olympics season. Instead, consumers just want to see the crème de la crop – those truly special moments in

German Zeitgeist – Bionadisation of society

Matthias Adel — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:55:49 +0000

Eco is hip, sexy and popular. There is no other expression that describes this massive German trend better than the headline that appeared in the leading German Sunday paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung: “Die Bionadisierung der Gesellschaft” or in English “The bionadisation of society”. We love both, the headline and the organic soda Bionade. Why? Bionadisation of the society doesn’t describe a success story of lemonade only.

Targeted Advertising: Nerve-racking or Marvelous?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:29:19 +0000

Internet privacy is a topic that makes most of us sit up tall and listen. Most people could never imagine having their identity stolen and the repercussions that it can burden you with both financially and socially. But what if targeted advertising is all about making the ads we see online, on the TV and on your mobile phone more bearable and possibly even enjoyable?

The Bionade story part 2 / From eco-hippie to hip eco

Marion ten Haaf — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:25:44 +0000

Following the success story of the organic soda Bionade, the favourite drink of German Lohas, more lessons will be learned in the close future. As Bionade plans to expand not only in Europe but also in the US and Asia, it will be an interesting business case to follow: According to a leading political magazine, Spiegel, “perhaps Bionade will be the first German company to prove that organic doesn’t necessarily mean small”. However, the company is self-confident. It announced to increase the price by 20 % per bottle.

Impatience

Jeremy Baka — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:55:45 +0000

There is a plague spreading in marketing and PR departments across the country. It's the communications version of the flesh-eating virus, eating away at campaigns, killing programs and stunting sales. It lies there quietly suckling from the unwitting marketing host’s healthy budgets, consuming millions of marketing dollars in every bite. Ironically, like doctors turned mad scientists, the perpetrators behind this unchecked PR plague are the very marketing executives who helped design, approve and launch them. The disease is impatience. I’ve watched as impatience killed programs anywhere between one to eight months after launch. I’ve even seen a client kill a multimillion dollar program two weeks before a launch, flushing $150,000 down the PR pipes. One January, we pitched this cool campaign to a client who loved the idea and immediately funded it. We started work immediately and launched the program in June the same year. In October, the client was already getting cold feet as the all-too-familiar grumbling began. “We’re really not seeing the results for all the money we’re spending. We’ll give it a couple more months, but people aren’t very happy right now.” In December, just six months after launch, we were instructed that if we did not generate a significant amount of coverage, the funding would be pulled. Six months – that’s like enrolling your kid in first grade and pulling him six months later because he can’t divide. (If “Got Milk” had been pulled after six months, would you remember it now?) Fortunately, in this case we generated enough hits to give the program some breathing room and it became the most successful PR program in the brand’s history, runny for 10+ years, generating millions of non-advertising-supported revenue and serving as a clear differentiator for the company. Too many clients view PR like advertising: You design the ad, produce it and place it. Taa Daaaaaaa! NOT. PR requires timing, persistence, constant adjustment and mirroring the interest of reporters and current news trends. I mean, c’mon, man, Chef Emeril doesn’t just throw his Pasta Primavera in the oven; come back a few hours later and Voila! He sticks around to throw in some carrots and asparagus, adds a tablespoon of salt, lets it marinate over a medium-high heat, melts some butter, adds a touch of olive oil, throws in a pinch of garlic and fresh tomatoes … Damn, I’m hungry.

Olympics Coverage: Making What’s Old New Again… With a Twist

Greg Dvorken — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:46:59 +0000

Dear NBC, The Summer Olympics is one of the most interesting events I've ever witnessed. I actually attended the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal (Bruce Jenner, Nadia Comenici, Sugar Ray Leonard), and was filled with pride and calories during the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, consuming all of that free McDonald's after the Eastern Bloc countries and Soviet Union boycotted. Over the past few Olympiads I feel the games on TV have lost their luster. Or maybe it's something else. I loved ABC Sports' continuity. Jim McKay hosted 12 Olympics. I loved how ABC would sift through the 33 different sports and treat me to the best of the best competition every day, mainly because they only had several hours per day to program the Olympics. CBS actually paid $50,000 for the first televised Olympics in 1960. Several years later, ABC paid nearly $600,000 for the rights to broadcast the 1964 Innsbruck winter games. Fast forward 24 years to 1988 and you saw ABC pay $309 million for the 1988 Calgary games. More recently, NBC paid $3.5 billion for three games from 2000 to 2008. But ABC helped me enjoy the Olympics, and here's why. It's true, there was an 800% jump in coverage hours between 1960 and 1992 (link below) and that rise continues, but who has time to even TiVO an average of 27 hours of Olympic coverage each day during the magical two weeks? The Solution Here's what you should do, very simply: Go back to the old ABC model, focusing on only a few hours of the best coverage each day to "broad"cast. Make the rest of the content available via Pay-per-View over the Web, and make whatever you program -- both broadcasts and Web-based narrowcasts -- INTERACTIVE. I'll watch a 10 second clip of the gold-medal winning syncronized swimming team, but there's no reason to burn the ever-widening digital broadband pipe with live coverage that only 12 people (on a good day) would watch in its entirety, even if you have the pipe to do it. Use the extra bandwidth to provide me with the crazy interactive services you've been promising since the mid-1990s. Show me the best competitions again, like you did during my youth, but modernize my experience. Add in interactive stats that I can pull down in a separate window on my TV screen. Let me order a pizza automatically while watching the Pizza Hut ad. And PLEASE let me connect with other freaks that enjoy the Steeplechase as much as I do. Please use the technology that the brilliant engineers have worked so hard to provide you by maximizing your bandwidth (less broadcast is more), using interactivity and putting the Internet to good use (narrowcast to the archery freaks)! There's no need to broadcast the preliminary Hungary/Lithuania Badminton match, even if it's on a cable channel. Nobody's watching. Thanks! Greg Good source: http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/O/htmlO/olympicsand/olympicsand.htm

Tony Juniper picks his leading ‘green brands’

Geoff Beattie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:59:08 +0000

The retiring Friends of the Earth Executive Director in the UK spoke to Cohn & Wolfe about which companies he believes deserves credit for environmental initiatives, and about some of the bigger trends in the environmental movement. Tony spoke at the London launch of our Landor/Cohn & Wolfe 'Green Brands' study 2008 last week, and captivated a room full of leading marketers with his trenchant and forthright views on these issues. Whatever he does next, I hope Tony continues his brilliant campaigning. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrTk1nnP4Lk[/youtube]

Tony Juniper video interview part one

Geoff Beattie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:40:06 +0000

One of the UK's leading environmental campaigners, Tony Juniper, who is just about to stand down as Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, talks to Cohn & Wolfe's Geoff Beattie about the results of the Landor/CW 'Green Brands' study 2008. In this clip, Tony analyses the finding that British people seem to be less worried about 'climate change' and more concerned about personal environmental issues like recycling. Tony was one of our speakers at a 'Green Brands 2008' event, which took place in London last week. He joined Ian Wood, European Strategy Director at Landor, and Geoff Beattie to debate the main issues highlighted by the study, in front of an audience which included representatives from many of the UK's leading brands. Watch out for more from our exclusive interview in the days ahead. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LZdtmLF_ns[/youtube]

A Week for Geeks

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:55:52 +0000

Technology gurus, SEO masters and connected consumers united last week in New York for Internet Week: http://www.internetweekny.com/. Did your heart skip a beat and mouse hurry to the hyperlink? If so, then you don’t need to be introduced or coaxed into understanding why this event, for most, Web 2.0 movers and shakers, is a great thing. Technology gurus, SEO masters and connected consumers united last week in New York for Internet Week: http://www.internetweekny.com/. Did your heart skip a beat and mouse hurry to the hyperlink? If so, then you don’t need to be introduced or coaxed into understanding why this event, for most, Web 2.0 movers and shakers, is a great thing. Last year, the Industrial and Technology Assistance Corp., a Manhattan-based nonprofit economic development organization, commissioned a report that found the city employed 165,000 high-tech workers – not to mention the countless PR and marketing folks that support and promote the companies where these high-tech workers are employed. In response to this report and the common knowledge about the growing Silicon Alley, Internet Week New York was created. Internet week kicked off on June 3rd at Gracie Mansion, the “home” of Mayor Bloomberg and has been running throughout the week and will end with the Webby Awards on June 10th. The Internet Week concept was initially organized by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting and the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. It’s taken on a Wikipedia-like concept where anyone can create their own event or meet-up as well as attend any of the parties, roundtables or even yoga classes listed on the Internet Week roster. One interesting event was hosted by IWantMedia at NYU tackling “The Future of Media” where reporters David Carr-New York Times, Keith Kelly-New York Post, Kenneth Li-Reuters, Johnnie Roberts-Newsweek, Erick Schonfeld-TechCrunch and Michael Wolff-Vanity Fair/New York Magazine discussed how the internet continues to change the way we all consume media. Jonnie Roberts put it simply when he stated that “blogs are a megaphone for what he does for Newsweek.” The discussion which can be watched here, covers a range of topics including how new media is impacting almost all businesses, something that marketing and public relations executives have been conveying to CEO’s for the past few years. So will Web 3.0 be declared when the week-long event is over? Probably not, but this is if nothing else, an excellent effort to keep the internet social, with out having to create a new social network. Whether you can read HTML or just use the internet to browse celebrity gossip on PerezHilton, check out Internet Week and socialize off-line!

triplepundit on sustainable beer

Geoff Beattie — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:16:50 +0000

Nick Aster of triplepundit.com was one of our media panelists at the Sustainable Brands event in Monterey. Here is his interesting commentary on the green strategy of the New Belgium Brewery.

Six big lessons from Sustainable Brands 2008

Geoff Beattie — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:10:17 +0000

There was an incredible amount to learn from the Sustainable Brands conference in Monterey. I have picked the following six big lessons: 1. Brands which aspire to become sustainable need to communicate on a personal, not a political, level. Landor/Cohn & Wolfe's own 'Green Brands' study showed that consumers on both sides of the Atlantic are much more concerned about personal environmental issues, such as waste and packaging, and they are being 'turned off' (to some extent) by abstract concepts like 'global warming'. This is why supermarkets are making such a connection with people in both the UK and the USA. Abstract appeals to 'save the planet' won't work as well for brands as aspiring to make individual lives more 'sustainable'. 2. The environmental/sustainable message of brands must be combined with the more traditional consumer touch points, such as efficacy, price, etc. This was the starting point for Method, the home products company, which is growing incredibly fast from a zero base. There were many other examples of this important point. 3. Becoming a sustainable brand is also about better, long-term business performance. At a time of economic woes, a week of talking about sustainability might seem like a massive irrelevance. But we heard time and again that this big subject is just as much about profitable business as it is about the environment or social impacts. The people who created 'Hip Investor' believe they can outperform the market by investing in sustainable brands. 4. Any company can aim to create a sustainable brand. That was the view of green marketing guru Jacqueline Ottman, when I put the question to her. In Monterey, we heard from two companies, Dow Chemical and Clorox (best known for making bleach), who would not have been top of anyone's 'sustainable brands' list a few years ago. Yet both have embraced the sustainability agenda (in very different ways) which has earned them credit from customers, employees, shareholders and the media. Even coal companies, one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, can become 'sustainable brands' if they truly embrace the 'clean coal' agenda and invest in new technology. 5. Brands which aspire to be sustainable must 'get their house in order' before they even start planning any 'green marketing' initiatives. Measurement is critical. The best brands are performing 'life cycle' analysis - complex assessments which provide critical data on the social, environmental and economic impact of products through the supply chain, production process and after purchase. Life cycle analysis tells a brand just how far it needs to go before it can claim to be 'sustainable'. A good example of this is the work done by the New Belgium Brewery, Colorado, on some of their beers. This showed the company that, even though they prided themselves on making big progress in the production process (e.g. 100% renewable energy), life cycle analysis of the product after purchase showed they had a long way to go. But that's OK! Sustainability is a journey, not an end point. Consumers don't expect perfection when it comes to sustainability. But they do want to see that brands understand the scale of the problem, have a plan, and are in the process of implementing it. 6. There are now unprecedented opportunities for brands to get their sustainable messages across through both old and new media. This point came through loud and clear during the media session which I hosted, with Claire Alexander from Discovery Channel's new Planet Green, Nick Aster of Triplepundit.com, Anya Kamenetz of Fast Company, and Betsy Rosenberg of Eco-Talk. After being a little slow off the market, traditional print and broadcast media are embracing the sustainability wholeheartedly. The launch of an entire network devoted to the subject is a significant moment. And online, Nick Aster was a great example of the passionate, innovative and interactive journalism which is springing up all over the digital media landscape. To finish off, I have a clip from my interview with green marketing guru Jacqueline Ottman. Jacqueline has been in this business for more than twenty years, advising huge brands like HSBC. Her insights into sustainable brands in 2008 are well worth listening to. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAp17GLPpds[/youtube]

Transparency is the New Black

Haley Marish — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:39:45 +0000

Greg Owsley, Chief Branding Officer of New Belgium Brewery, spoke today at the Sustainable Brands 2008 conference in Monterey, CA on his company's sustainable branding success story. New Belgium's quest to showcase their sustainable practices began in hopes of inspiring other breweries or companies with similar values to embrace environmentally-conscious practices and culture from the inside out. Naturally, the quirky, fun-loving company faced trials and tribulations in defining its sustainable image, including marketing efforts developed both internally and externally that showcased their core values but failed to tell their whole, quite impressive, sustainable story. One challenge that often arises in this space, is ‘walking the talk’ - incorporating sustainable practices within the organization to coincide with marketing sustainable products or services to customers. Companies often jump ahead to the marketing part and forget that the proof truly is in the pudding, then come under attack for slacking in their own sustainable manufacturing or business practices. New Belgium faced such an experience when an ex-employee challenged its 100% wind power claim to local media by explaining that the company still utilized natural gas in its brewing process. Greg’s advice to companies who face an experience such as this is to be completely transparent about whatever it might be they’re under fire for. He advises that acknowledging your slip-ups and working to correct them will ultimately put you in your customers’ good graces. Covering them up only makes for an inevitable uncovering and a deceitful reputation to follow. This is a topic we face often in the PR industry, in crisis situations or more recently with clients building more of a presence on the blogosphere. We can all learn a lesson from New Belgium Brewery, which started with one man in a basement in Fort Collins, Colorado and has become one of the most recognized sustainable brands of our time. If you’re battling how to walk the talk with your sustainable practice, or facing a communications crisis, just sit back, have a Fat Tire and be transparent. Your customers will understand and even value you for it.

The Eco Method

Geoff Beattie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:26:36 +0000

Everyone at the Sustainable Brands conference in Monterey was talking about the speech given by Eric Ryan, Brand Architect of 'Method', an eco-friendly home products company, which is growing very fast in the USA. Method is a good example of the amazing proliferation of US-based companies offering a vast array of new eco-products - everything from recyclable dry cleaning hangers to solar-powered mobile phone chargers. The home product range, in particular, appears to be undergoing a green revolution in the US, in a way which is not so apparent, I believe, in Europe. Here is Eric talking to me about Method's mission of engaging consumers who have never used eco-products before - by focusing on good product design, safety, efficacy and fragrance as well as the environment. I'd call that a true 'Blue Ocean' strategy. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeR-6Hz4u1I[/youtube]

Plastic Fantastic

Claire Mann — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:38:07 +0000

It's Friday. So take five and enjoy this brilliant street art by Joshua Allen Harris. His 'air zoo' and animal installations on the streets of New York are made by tying plastic bags to the subway vents. It's one of those simple, brilliant creative ideas that makes you smile and 'I wish I'd thought of that'. Sadly I can't help myself also thinking about how it could be used to promote something and it's a reminder that attention-grabbing stunts can be cheap as old chips. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poi8klIN7A4&feature=related[/youtube]

Sustainable beer from Colorado

Geoff Beattie — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:14:15 +0000

How does a brewery become sustainable? The nature of the business places heavy demands on natural resources, so it's one of the more difficult green challenges. In this video from the Sustainable Brands conference in Monterey, Greg Owsley of the New Belgium Brewery in Colorado talks about the company's commitment to becoming more sustainable, and the insights gained from an environmental life cycle analysis of one of its beers, Fat Tire. Greg's entertaining presentation at the conference was one of the most talked about events during the week. Another Green Wolfie will be posting her impressions of that a little later. You can read more about New Belgium's sustainability initiatives here. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ouum2HUWrs[/youtube]

eBay’s ‘world of good’

Geoff Beattie — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:17:57 +0000

One of the most interesting ventures featured at the Sustainable Brands conference in Monterey was worldofgood.com, a new eBay community which allows consumers to buy products which have a positive social, environmental and economic impact around the world. This is a remarkable project which will connect third world producers with customers who want to make a difference when they shop. It's a partnership between eBay and World of Good Inc, which was founded by Priya Haji. Here is Priya, with Robert Chatwani from eBay, talking about their partnership. We wish them every success. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQr5rTU4FQ[/youtube]

Gap’s eco strategies

Geoff Beattie — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:24:14 +0000

Kindley Walsh Lawlor, Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Environmental Affairs at Gap Inc spoke at the Sustainable Brands conference in Monterey. There was much interest in Gap's activities. Here is Kindley talking to me about the company's 'eco-strategies'. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSwu9cDoQwQ[/youtube]

Deliberate Chic

Marc Levy — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:41:24 +0000

This may surprise some of our loyal readers -- and if you roll your eyes, I'll kick your ass -- but I'm actually a bit of a tech-head. Not quite sure if I fall into the early-adopter stage, but that's based more on economics rather than desire. (In other words, I can only by so many PDAs before my wife starts throwing my clothes on to the driveway.) I always want the newest, latest, tech-awesomest stuff.

What’s a hip investor?

Geoff Beattie — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:15:07 +0000

The answer, according to one speaker at the Sustainable Brands conference in Monterey, is an investor who wants both a high return on capital and help the world become a better place - ethically, environmentally or socially. Paul Herman is the CEO of HIP Investor, a San Francisco-based company which advises both investors and companies on how to be more sustainable AND profitable. Here is Paul talking to me about the fact that the mainstream financial world on Wall Street and the City of London isn't paying enough attention to the potential for highly profitable growth which also has a positive human, social and environmental impact. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDDatDdhQHg[/youtube]

Oscar helps California fight fluorescent light pollution

Geoff Beattie — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:56:59 +0000

What does Oscar the Grouch, the Sesame Street character who lived in a trash can, have to do with the California Environmental Protection Agency? We discovered at the Sustainable Brands 2008 conference in Monterey that Oscar is helping the California EPA tackle the serious issue of pollution from old fluorescent light bulbs, which contain mercury. California has created a highly innovative 'Take-It-Back' Partnership, fronted by Oscar, which is demonstrating the state's firm commitment to environmental initiatives. For those in Europe who think we are doing so much more than the Americans on the environment, take a look at what California is doing. At the conference, we heard from Leonard Robinson, chief deputy director for the EPA's Department of Toxic Substances Control. In the video below he is talking to me about the 'Take-It-Back partnership. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo9nV5k290Q[/youtube]

Discovery Channel launches Planet Green Network

Geoff Beattie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:19:10 +0000

In the first of our video reports from the Sustainable Brands conference 2008, Claire Alexander of Discovery Channel's new Planet Green Network, talks to be about what we can expect to see when the channel launches tomorrow, June 4th. Claire and I are sharing a panel tonight on the 'Greening of Media'. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAC1EyhCK3A[/youtube]

Green Brands study 2008 launched in Monterey

Geoff Beattie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:25:40 +0000

On the first day of SB 2008, my colleague Annie Longsworth and Russ Meyer from our WPP sister company, Landor, unveiled our Green Brands study 2008, examining consumer perceptions of environmental issues and companies in both the UK and the USA. The findings are remarkably similar. In both countries, it's body care companies and supermarkets who are really capturing the imagination of the public with their environmental initiatives, such as Marks & Spencer's 'Plan A'. The Guardian has picked up on the supermarket angle in its report on our study:

High-profile green advertising campaigns by supermarkets appear to be paying off with five of the country's biggest grocers coming out top in a survey of the most environmentally friendly brands. Campaigns to discourage plastic bag use and an emphasis on less packaging helped Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda take five of the top six places in a survey of 1,500 people.

What strikes me about this year is that, although people are clearly more worried about the economy in 2008, they have not forgotten green issues. They are forming ever-more sophisticated opinions of companies based on their environmental performance and commitment.

Sustainable Brands Conference, Monterey

Geoff Beattie — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:52:11 +0000

Greetings from the Hyatt Regency, Monterey, California, on the first day of the Sustainable Brands Conference 2008. Cohn & Wolfe is proud to be a sponsor of this event, which has brought together an outstanding cast-list of leaders in sustainability, media commentators and (of course) consultants. We have representatives here from big corporates like Dow Chemical, sustainability gurus like Andrew Winston (Green to Gold), and Claire Alexander from the Discovery Channel's new 'Planet Green'. Claire will be joining me tomorrow for what promises to be a great topic: The Greening of Traditional Media'. Also on the panel will be Betsy Rosenberg, executive producer of 'EcoTalk', Anya Kamenetz of 'Fast Company', and Nick Aster, the media artchitect of 'Treehugger'. Cohn & Wolfe, along with our WPP colleagues at Landor and PSB will also be launching our 'Green Brands' study 2008, which looks at current consumer perceptions of environmental issues, and how they 'how green' they consider our leading companies to be. If you imagine that worries over the state of the economy have wiped green issues from people's minds, think again. This study is essential reading for anyone who works for a leading brand, or who reports on it. Look out for a lot more in the days ahead. I will also be busy filming interviews with leaders in sustainability who are speaking here, to kick-start a rolling Cohn & Wolfe series. One thought strikes me right away: if anyone thinks that the United States is somehow behind Europe on sustainability, a week at this conference will make them think again.

An Industry With No Creative Bite To It

Jeremy Baka — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:06:12 +0000

I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. I hate going to the dentist.

Dentistry seems to have been doing the medical industry’s impression of a deer in headlights for the last two decades. While other medical fields have been doing such things as, oh, discovering DNA, completing the human genome sequence, cloning animals and using lasers to help the blind see, dentistry has been pumping Air Supply’s “Lost in Love” through headphones so you can’t hear the drill.

MySpace, Data Availability and the Case for Myanmar

Anna Floch — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:29:11 +0000

On Thursday, MySpace introduced a data-sharing initiative that will allow users to put their profile information on Websites across the Internet, marking a new level of inter-connectedness that is currently unmatched in the world of social networking (although Facebook did have their Beacon endeavor).On Thursday, MySpace introduced a data-sharing initiative that will allow users to put their profile information on Websites across the Internet, marking a new level of inter-connectedness that is currently unmatched in the world of social networking (although Facebook did have their Beacon endeavor). This “Data Availability” project will feature partnerships with Yahoo, eBay, Twitter and Photobucket and simply put, will allow a user to import their MySpace information between destinations thereby eliminating the ever grueling task (sarcasm noted) of recreating your likes, dislikes and contact information four different times on four different sites. In every way, this initiative is a step to decrease the island of autonomy around each website dedicated to social networking, and is similar in goal, but with marked differences, to Google’s OpenSocial initiative which allows social applications to be applied and built across many websites, which is a bit more focused towards developers than the “every-person” (in fact MySpace is a part of that initiative as well…what a tangled virtual web we weave). And in addition to OpenSocial, on Friday Google answered the MySpace call of Data Availability a bit more explicitly announcing the launch of Friend Connect, with more details about the initiative to follow today. Although I do have both a MySpace and Facebook page and am considering joining twitter, I have to admit I am not the most dedicated social networker. Regardless, this news fascinates me on a variety of levels. It brings up questions I have posed before, how can we protect privacy, legitimacy and authenticity in a rapidly evolving digital and virtual world dedicated to shattering the boundaries and walls that separate us? And is privacy even a concern any longer in an age where we almost expect to have a world of information at every click or opt-in? It may seem like a far jump, but because I was reading news of the MySpace initiative in conjunction with news of the devastating disaster in Myanmar I began to think instantly if there were any parallels—I promise this is not as tangential and far off as it seems. I began to think, this world of inter-connectedness is a fascinating advancement in the digital age, but does it offer anything to connect us to one another when it really counts? As you most likely know by now, last Saturday a cyclone with 120 mph winds slammed into the coastal towns of the Myanmar and rapidly destroyed, drenched, and flooded villages throughout the country. Since the devastation was first reported the death toll has begun to rise, with some accounts putting the number of dead near 100,000—and the world has been clamoring to help. Bill Gates’ foundation offered three million dollars for relief amidst calls for world cooperation in the efforts, the U.N. began delivering food, water and other necessities on Thursday and Friday only to halt efforts after Myanmar seized all shipments meant to aid the hunger stricken and sick survivors, and the country is refusing relief workers and placing the Visa’s of U.N workers in a frozen zone of non-approval. And today, many shipments are still being blocked as the US is trying once again to deliver the much needed aid. We are now living in a world that offers us the chance to connect to one-another without limits, but we cannot get into a country to provide aid that everyone knows is needed and this could amount to one of the greatest natural and humanitarian disasters of our time. But I digress. In many ways finding common ground between these events seems like a stretch, but I think it does beg us to ask the question, is there any way to use our virtual and digital developments to help in times of need? If anything, I believe the blogosphere and even social networking sites have a unique ability and perhaps even a duty, to disseminate information about these types of disastrous events, raise awareness and offer a call to action that will likely reach more people than ever before, think of it as a virtual grass roots effort. After all, as the old adage says, knowledge is power—and after doing a search of blog related discussion about these events, I am left hoping the murmur of awareness becomes a scream. For more information on how to help with the disaster in Myanmar, please visit the following organizations:

much, MUCH hotter than “gold bikini leia”

Marc Levy — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:22:24 +0000

Let’s hear it for steroids!

Jeremy Baka — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:22:00 +0000

C’mon, for all the whining that goes on about how steroids is cheating and ruins the integrity of sports, has anyone stopped to consider that they just might be good for athletics? Indeed, there’s a whole new niche just waiting to be discovered: The Supplemental Games, the ultimate extreme sports.

TV–Web Revolution

Andrea Jahanbozorgi — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:54:44 +0000

In the ever-changing digital entertainment world, television has turned from a very anti-social activity to being a social community. Television is no longer confined to water cooler conversation, but has evolved to an extended and even worldwide discussion and involvement, through Web tools, such as blogs, forums and fan sites. Viewers can find out what happens on their favorite shows through sites, but can also be influencers for show writers in the storyline process.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tux6kGXHLgA [/youtube]

Windows Shopping

Claire Mann — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:21:16 +0000

So here it is my first blog. Or maybe flog as it’s about fashion and the art (or not) of selling things. The Project Mayhem boys said they thought a female voice would be a good addition so I’m gonna break up all the talk of football and online dating with the serious stuff, like shopping. In January this year £4.5 billion was spent online shopping in the UK. Now I don’t know how much of that was on fashion but what I do know is that online clothes shopping is a whole lot more fun that trudging around the shops.

Research – The Dark Side

Marc Levy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:47:23 +0000

If you’ve read this author’s posts with any regularity (and for a moment, let's just humor me, shall we?), you know that I’m a big fan of research. Love it, love it, love it. Research drives insight and strategy. Research informs and illuminates. Research clarifies and coalesces. But research doesn’t replace your gut. I’ve said it many times – Numbers are like people: Torture them enough and they’ll tell you anything you want. For all the good that research does, research can also be limiting. Take a look at the video below. Yeah, laughed my ass off when I first saw it – but holy cow

Part 38…

Marc Levy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:08:10 +0000

...in the series of "the coolest things that marc has ever seen"...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo[/youtube]

Major League Baseball is Eco-Open

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:28:40 +0000

Play Ball! Two words that most of us long to hear after a balmy winter season where the only time baseball was muttered was when players were gasping for air from the lies regarding the misuse of steroids. Now, as our NCAA tournament brackets are closing, we can look towards the wonderful world of RBI’s and double plays from Santana, Utley, Jeter and Cabrera. Play Ball! Two words that most of us long to hear after a balmy winter season where the only time baseball was muttered was when players were gasping for air from the lies regarding the misuse of steroids. Now, as our NCAA tournament brackets are closing, we can look towards the wonderful world of RBI’s and double plays from Santana, Utley, Jeter and Cabrera. The thirty well-manicured fields of grass and the infamous wall at Fenway are not, however, the only things that are green about Major League Baseball these days. In a new effort to implement the “Going Green” buzz, MLB has teamed up with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to create the Team Greening Program. The NRDC Team Greening Advisor for Major League Baseball will work with each individual club on a host of topics, including how to address consumption issues related to air quality, chemicals, waste, water, recycling, travel and office products. AOL Living blog Green Daily, reported that “Of course, while the league is touting the "social responsibility" involved with going green, it's worth noting that it's also not bad for their bottom line,” says Frances Beinecke, NRDC President. “Their work will save energy, reduce waste, and make the organization, the teams, and the stadiums all run more efficiently." So what do all of these “earth loving” promises mean for the environment and more importantly, your baseball experience? For starters, food and beverage company Aramark may be serving your brews in recycled or biodegradable corn starch cups as opposed to plastic. Teams may be flying on commercial airliners (sorry Jeter, no more ‘copter rides to practice) and the new Yankee and Mets stadiums will be LEED certified to catch up with west coast stadiums in Oakland, Seattle and San Francisco. According to an announcement released by the Mets, The new Citi Field that will open in 2009 is being built from approximately 95% recycled steel to reduce energy consumption, and at least 2 million pounds of recycled coal combustion products that will save more than 800 tons of carbon dioxide. The team's administration building will feature a 15,000-square-foot "green roof," which will reduce energy needs by retaining cool air in the summer and heat in the winter. The new stadium will also contain low-flow plumbing features such as hands-free faucets and waterless urinals that will save more than 4 million gallons of water per year. Water conservation will also be achieved with the installation of an on-site well to be used for irrigation, as well as a 3,700-square-foot drainage bed to control the flow of storm-water runoff. What can we do to help? Angry fans, stop throwing your trash on the field, recycle your garbage (that’s what the blue bin is for), and take the train instead of driving to the game. Whether it’s about social responsibility, jumping on the Green PR bandwagon or really trying to provide the Earth with extra innings, Major League Baseball has finally stepped up to the plate.

Do We Get More – Or Less – Creative As We Age?

Marc Levy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:18:37 +0000

Before I begin, you have to remember that my partner in crime, Jeremy, is a lot older than me. A LOT. Jeremy was alive when the Dead Sea was just sick. I’ve seen younger faces on money. And me? Well, I’m a spry late-thirty-ish kid – albeit with the body of a 55-year-old and the sexual maturity of a Bar Mitzvah boy. OK, now that the stage is set, let’s get to the heart of the matter, shall we…?

T. M. I.

Doug Wyllie — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:48:13 +0000

I’m presently in a window seat some 37,000 feet above Denver. I love to fly so I actually enjoy business travel. However, I don’t think I’d enjoy having a seat on this airplane. There’s a time and place for everything, and the time and place for doffing one’s clothes is not at cruising altitude. Traveling naked, which includes bending over to pick up luggage, strapping a seatbelt across a bare lap, and sitting on seats of unknown cleanliness is unsettling. It’s also too much information at the least appropriate time. I would disembark that aircraft with three letters in my head: TMI. Thinking about that flight and those three meaningful letters – TMI – reminded me that even the most seasoned PR person or company executive can occasionally forget one of the most basic tenets of great communications: know when to stop talking. Brevity is beautiful. It also helps to assure positive results. The only way a person can say something they’d later regret later is to talk. While it’s true that silence sends a signal, few people have ever had to retract silence. Conversely, we’ve all heard this during a press briefing: “Oh, I really didn’t want to reveal that just yet, can we keep that off the record?” Safety lies in the assumption that a spokesperson is never completely off the record. Consider that Samantha Power’s offhand remarks in the Scotsman newspaper cost her her job, and cost her boss some embarrassment. People in Ms. Power’s position are under a unique microscope, but every spokesperson needs to be aware that anything they say can appear just about anywhere. Another valuable benefit to practicing brevity is that when someone has the opportunity to do live radio or TV, they will be more than ready to really shine. The spokesperson who is cognizant of the time they take expounding upon a subject is also honing their interview skills. Being brief is broadcast-friendly. Don’t let fantastic sound bytes become watered down (or irrevocably lost) in the clutter of a rambling answer. Admittedly, some complex topics require a lengthy explanation, but most things don’t merit a monologue. It’s often best to stop, breathe, and let the reporters absorb what’s been said. Most spokespeople are effusive and enthusiastic about their company, their accomplishments, and their vision. But at times we must diplomatically rein them in. This is one of the more sensitive responsibilities that we, as PR practitioners, must face, but it’s immensely valuable counsel. I’m signing off now; because I may have said too much.

Dating Myself

Jeremy Baka — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:48:41 +0000

I am 47 years old. I have never been married. I have never lived with a girl. I am not gay. What I am is a human oddity, a drooling side-show freak in the relationship circus.

“Step right up, ladies and gentlemen; see the human azygos, the mateless mutant of more than 40 years! See the relationship reject as he caroms from female to female; dumping those who love him and being dumped by those he loves. Listen in horror as he describes his tragic love tales like never before unveiled. Tell your married friends! It is an experience They. Will. Never. Forget.”

How My RSS Addiction Helped Me Land the Right Job

Sayo Ogundiran — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:26:20 +0000

Uncle Joe

Jeremy Baka — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:49:49 +0000

I hate the word creative. In fact, I hate people who say they’re creative. Okay, hate’s a strong word; I abhor people who say they’re creative.

So many people are touting creativity these days that saying “I’m creative,” is like saying, “I have a lung.” The word creative has been so thoroughly beaten it means about as much as “hero” or “green.” Media tag people as heroes for doing everything from picking up trash in their neighborhood to returning a wallet to its rightful owner. [Note: That is not being a hero that is being a citizen.]

Bad, Period.

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:23:34 +0000

Waiiiit a minute. Hold on. Stop. What the f*&%??!

That’s what I said while watching what turned out to be a commercial for Always minipads or maxipads, or whatever, by Proctor and Gamble. My Tivo was on the blink so I was doing what I always do when commercials come on – reading. Then, suddenly, Boom!, there it was: Have a happy period. I could almost here the crash of the collective number of shoes women were flinging at TV screens all across America. Are you kidding me -- a happy period? Whoa! That takes balls. (Pardon the gender jump.)

Scandal 2.0

Anna Floch — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:37:48 +0000

It is hard to recall a news story that so obviously revealed the changing face of media as much as the most recent scandal involving Eliot Spitzer.It is hard to recall a news story that so obviously revealed the changing face of media as much as the most recent scandal involving Eliot Spitzer. On Monday, within two hours of posting an article connecting New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to a prostitution ring, traffic on the NYTimes.com web site spiked 60 percent higher than at the same time the previous Monday, with mobile traffic nearly doubling during the same time period. As the story began to unfold in the coming days, resulting in Spitzer’s eventual resignation on Wednesday, the Times’ website continued to show signs of strain and slowdowns, as it sluggishly heaved through the traffic of the hungry public who wanted the most up to date information available. And it was perhaps Spitzer himself who recognized how quickly news is spread, proof being that he stood on a podium making apologies for his misjudgment and poor character less than two hours after the news of his involvement in a prostitution ring broke, denial wasn’t even an option. Besides revealing the well known fact that no one loves a sex scandal quite like a New Yorker, the speed-of-light pace at which the details of Spitzer’s scandal were exposed, prove that in this increasing world of digital connectedness, there really is no hiding from a scandal or the Internet news machine. This may just look like another political and personal failing (Clinton 2.0?) however this news story also revealed some interesting patterns about the way in which the Internet and social networking are changing how a news story plays out in the public, on TV and in the papers, and further proves that now more than ever, the media must aggressively attempt to stay ahead of their tech-savvy public who knows how to retrieve details and information faster and sometimes even better than they do. It wasn’t only that people were hungry to learn the details of Spitzers’ story, but rather they sought to stake a personal claim in the scandal as well, and there is no easier way to do that than buying domain names. Minutes after an article was posted on New York Times referring to Spitzer as the particular “Client 9” that was named in a criminal complaint filed by prosecutors last week, the client9.com domain name was registered for $10.13, and in addition to this purchase other savvy business minds bought client-9.net, and client-9.com. And it doesn’t stop there. As we found out in the days that followed, it appears that the very break-through in this case itself has been intricately affected by the amount of data exchanged on the Internet through a variety of digital platforms. What led the FBI and the IRS to Spitzer in the first place was a complex electronic virtual paper trail that revealed a large unaccountable movement of cash, corroborated by telephone wiretaps, computer records and other electronic evidence. With this information stored permanently on a variety of servers and databases it really does call into question what other persona digital traces are out there being tracked, and what if any, are the rules of privacy are associated to them—in this case the possible criminality of the act proved privacy wasn’t a concern when retrieving Spitzers’ records. In an article for Businessweek.com, Hillary Rhodes points out another interesting aspect of this news story, highlighting the changing face of one of the oldest professions in the midst of the wired world. Rhodes writes “the prostitution scandal involving New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer lays bare some of the inner workings of modern day sex work: text messaging to clock in the client, electronic fund transfers, a Web site featuring color photos, prices and rankings” and I would add, an easier more convenient method of payment. As Rhodes goes on to discuss, workers also use high-tech measures to avoid getting caught by the police (wire taps, cameras etc.), and in the case of Spitzer, also use technology to do the catching. And just when you thought the web of technology couldn’t be weaved any more tightly around this case, the infamous “Kristen” whom Spitzer was said to have been with on the night of February 13^th, was revealed to the public via her Myspace page to be a woman named Ashley Alexandra Dupre. The ease of access to this information may cause Myspace devotees to rethink their security settings. In addition to the New York Times article which splashed the shots of Ashley across any empty space they had available, CNN showed screenshots of the Myspace screenshots, and awkwardly scrolled through Ashley’s page reading her “about me” stating them as a testimonial of her theories on life, and as insight into her psyche. At just about the same time this media bonfire was ablaze, local news crews camped outside her apartment tracking her every digital move saying, “We can tell from her Myspace page that she has signed on this evening.” It is hard to think of another story in recent history whose details unwound so immediately and one that also relied so heavily on a social networking site for a solid evidentiary source. In addition to Ashley’s face gracing the cover of every major newspaper and news program; it appears that her goal to be an R&B artist is now more fully realized than ever. She sells her music on Amie Street, which sets the price of songs based upon how quickly and how much it sells. With her new found fame it appears Ashley’s song is now selling more quickly than Radiohead at 98 cents per download, so even she is cashing in. And if selling songs faster than Thom Yorke is not exciting enough, there are now 13 Facebook groups dedicated solely to Ashley. Every angle of this news story points to the rapid rate at which information is consumed and exchanged throughout a number of growing digital outlets—from the reveal of initial scandal to the way in which the perpetrator was caught in the first place. Whether it is a story breaking on a popular newspaper website, buying domain names to stake a claim to Internet intellectual property, or cruising Myspace to better understand the psyche behind a scandal, one thing remains clear, new media has made the public life of politicians and breaking news stories even more public and consumable.

Class Consumption

Jeremy Baka — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:06:19 +0000

I received absolutely devastating news via email last night. I mean, devastating news – the kind of crushing information that makes you sit and ponder how cruel the world can be; questioning our very own chance for survival. This news came in the form of e-vite to my 30^th–year class reunion. Are you kidding me? I have officially been out of high school longer than nearly everyone with whom I work has been on Earth. And that, I tell you, is major suckage.

It’s a Dodzi

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:26:20 +0000

I’ve just invented my own word: dodzi. Well, actually, my nephew created it. One of the first words he learned was doggie, but it came out “dodzi.” Unfortunately, however, his limited vocabulary ensured that everything was a dodzi: a horse was a dodzi, a car was a dodzi, his brother was a dodzi, his … well, you know, was a dodzi. Anything and everything was a dodzi.

Dodzi, therefore, means, “Anything that is overused, generic or familiar to the point of being meaningless.” Consider dodzi my one-word expression of things that have jumped the shark … twice.

Public Relations: Recession Buster for Marketers

Matt Wolfrom — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:01:08 +0000

Increasingly, the question on most minds is not if a recession is coming but when. Everyday we are confronted with shrill headlines predicting the worst for the economy. So why, as a marketer and public relations professional, am I not quaking in my shoes? Increasingly, the question on most minds is not if a recession is coming but when. Everyday we are confronted with shrill headlines predicting the worst for the economy. So why, as a marketer and public relations professional, am I not quaking in my shoes? The answer is surprisingly simple: unlike other marketing categories, this downturn should be a boom for public relations. Even in recessionary times, consumers still spend dollars albeit in a more conservative manner. As the dollar becomes more precious, consumers grow increasingly skeptical of traditional advertising messages and are relying on recommendations from fellow consumers. Companies and their brands must adapt to this shift away from traditional media to succeed. Word of mouth is king. The mass-market economy has been replaced by a “customer economy,” which calls for customer-to-customer communications built on trust. Users are embracing this form of engagement as evidenced by their activities online. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project Surveys, 27% of Americans share files from their own computers with others online, 30% rate a product, service or person using an online rating system, 34% use the Internet to display photos and 11% use online social or professional networking sites like Facebook or LinkedIn. Traditional media services have revealed their flaws as they struggle to not only connect but remain relevant to consumers. Public relations firms are best positioned to strategically drive branding. Leadership needs to be taken by firms that understand the universe of communications – across segments and various means of communication – and not solely a buyer-seller directive. Traditional advertising agencies will still be needed but on a smaller-scale basis. In fact, marketers have less confidence in advertising agencies and will turn to other for effective branding. More than three out of four corporate advertisers – 78% to be exact – said they have less confidence today in the effectiveness of TV advertising than they did two years ago, according to a survey released at the Association of National Advertisers TV Ad Forum (March 2006). In 2006, Nike spent just 33 percent of its $678 million US advertising budget on ads with television networks and other traditional media companies -- down from 55 percent 10 years ago, according to Advertising Age. “We’re not in the business of keeping the media companies alive. We’re in the business of connecting with consumers,” said Trevor Edwards, Nike’s corporate vice president for global and category management in an interview with The New York Times. Today’s consumer is far more sophisticated and even more skeptical of traditional advertising messages. Public relations agencies are well positioned to lead brand strategy in today’s fragmented media environment because they can break through this wall of skepticism. PR has been delivering third credibility since its inception and has taken the lead in applying that knowledge to help brands navigate today’s hyper-syndicated Web environment in order to build lasting and meaningful connections with their core audiences. PR is adept in understanding how to communicate with all types of constituents utilizing alternative channels for building brand image, connecting with audiences effectively, delivering a demonstrable return on investment and driving sales.

Great, GREAT, Great

Marc Levy — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:17:42 +0000

One of the Best uses of creativity ever. EVER!

The Big Non-Deal

Rich Gallagher — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:40:39 +0000

United We Fall

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:15:24 +0000

Before I start my rant, let me check something first . Okay, I'm back, just making sure we don't have these guys as a client ...

Hey, United, I got your friendly skies right here - you suck! In fact, all major domestic airlines suck. (Unless, of course, you happen to be reading this and you're a CMO for a major domestic airline. In that case, all domestic airlines suck, except yours. You need PR, though, and we can help you.)

Trends & Neighbors

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:18:30 +0000

As PR pros, it’s our job to be “in the now” and “in the know.” Trend tracking is one way we accomplish this but it’s not the only reason to stay on top of the market pulse. Trends help us maintain our clients’ relevance in the marketplace, identify changes in consumer expectations, and increase a client’s “cool factor” with specific audiences. Market trend knowledge gives us valuable insights so we can develop goods, services, and experiences that appeal to customers. It helps us avoid the risk of disappointing (or worse yet - not even reaching) target audiences.

On the Prowl for a Quality Camera

Dacrie Brooks — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:31:21 +0000

Last week, I found myself prodding along with a myriad of other proud parents in an attempt to get good shots of my son singing in his school Valentine’s Day play. Slightly frustrated, I paced back and forth, circling the stage to catch the right frame. And guess what? I never got a good shot.

I Heart Negativity

Marc Levy — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:22:39 +0000

Now, don’t get all uppity on me. I hate negativity in a brainstorm as much as the next guy.

No, I’m talking about ideas steeped in the “negative.” Let me explain…

A few years ago, Odor Eaters did a contest to find the smelliest sneaker in America. Pure genius. Put that one in the pile of “things I wish I thought of.” But, I betcha someone in a meeting said,

“That’s too negative. We’re all about making sneakers smell nice and fresh. Wouldn’t it be better to find the BEST smelling sneaker in America?”

How Can “Green” Do Creative?

Marc Levy — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:51:15 +0000

So, here’s my advice to you: If you ever have the honor of sharing a meal with Annie Longsworth, head of the San Francisco office, make sure you arrive in your Prius, wearing hemp from head-to-toe, and ordering something macrobiotic, for God’s sake. Because if you don’t, you’ll feel incredibly guilty.

(As a point of reference, I drive an SUV, wore a leather jacket and ordered the veal. THE VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL!)

Failure to De-Throne A Mega Brand

Steve Bosk — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:16:29 +0000

Mind Your (Digital) Business

Tony Obregon — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:14:25 +0000

A Joggle Through the Desert

Chris Knight — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:53:38 +0000

(George Shroder and Mike Cordano, Fabrik, Inc.)

Chris Shipley and the crew at DEMO, the premier event for introducing emerging technologies for more than 16 years, run a top-notch and well-oiled operation from their annual desert launch pad. Unlike CES and Macworld, there’s a more “make-or-break” feel to DEMO’s first public unveilings, which are broadcast live on the Web, and blogged about in real time. There’s also added pressure to deliver the golden sales pitch and big “aha” moment in less than six minutes flat to qualify as a DEMO-God. (At least in the Warhol 60’s, you had 15 minutes of fame.) Last week, 77 carefully selected entrepreneurs gathered on the main stage to reveal their wares to the world, while their software development teams back at the home office cheered them on. The demos are tightly scripted, including A/V cues for the broadcast crew, and the quality of lighting and sound is impressive. The best demos I saw this year were funny. Take Mandiant, for example, an enterprise security company that “Finds Evil and Solves Crimes.” The founders’ comic delivery had a campy Hawaii Five-O ambiance, but the simplicity of their messages played out quite well on the grand stage. The DEMO experience stands out from other events in January, typically tech PR’s busiest month. It’s much less frenetic than CES, and the balmy Palm Desert air gave me a chance to dry out from the dismal weeks of San Francisco rain during Macworld. It’s a more intimate gathering that lends itself to networking for partners, making personal connections, and learning more about other great ideas and implementations in the works. Instead of journalists running from one tech giant to the next, like CES, it seemed they had more time for casual conversations, laughs and insights from smaller, innovative companies. DEMO proved to be a fantastic launch pad for our client Fabrik’s Joggle, a new Web service for consumers frustrated by finding content spread across a variety of devices, online services and social networks. It’s one of the most extensive and interesting services yet to be based on the Adobe AIR platform. To kick off the coverage, BusinessWeek picked Joggle as one of its annual top DEMO picks, and buzz about Joggle spread across the Web quickly -- including blog posts from CNET Webware, Popular Science, the San Jose Mercury News and Macworld. For companies planning to make a big splash with a cool new product or service, DEMO is definitely at the top of my short list of recommendations.

Advertisers Look Downhill for Returns

Zach Siegel — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:52:18 +0000

It’s official – figures just released by web analytics outfit comScore have confirmed what we’ve all been discussing for the last few months – mainstream social networks are loosing steam.

You can check out all the stats here at Creative Capital. What you’ll find is that the average length of time users spend on all of the top three sites is on the decline…big-time!

With MySpace, Bebo and Facebook all posting double-digit percentage hits in Q4 2007, where should advertisers be looking?

According to BusinessWeek, niche social networks – particularly those that break a sweat – are where high-caliber advertisers are spending their money.

For instance, US Olympian and ski icon, Bode Miller, recently launched SkiSpace, a social network that snow-riders can join to meet ski buddies, plan weekend trips, and hear first-hand reviews of ski resorts. SkiSpace grew to a community of 10,000 in its first month.

There are countless other niche social networks that are attracting big crowds – and big money from advertisers. By catering to niche markets, these social networks can offer a channel for targeted ads.

BusinessWeek reported that some ski resorts are spending as much as $50,000 for such campaigns, leveraging new media capabilities such as mobile blogging widgets and RSS feeds to interact more directly with members.

Perhaps Mark Zuckerberg will take those pesky billion dollar offers more seriously this year.

I (meem) Put a Spell on You

Carla Mancebo — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:15:49 +0000

The Puppy Story, For the Last Time

Marc Levy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:58:21 +0000

Believe it or not, this week marks my third anniversary at Cohn & Wolfe. And after three incredibly successful years (oh for Christ sakes, would it kill you to humor me just this once???), one story still haunts me: the dreaded puppy story. I’m sick of telling it. I’m sick of being asked about it.

(And I’m sick of people who say “irony” when they mean “coincidence.”)

So, for the very last time, here it is:

A Good Tagline is a Terrible Thing to Waste…

Brittani Polivka — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:10:40 +0000

Just Do It. Where’s the beef? What happens here, stays here. Just Do It. Where’s the beef? What happens here, stays here. There is nothing like a good tagline. And for organizations that develop (or stumble upon) a t-shirt-worthy one, a good tagline can boost brand value considerably. So what happens when an organization with a noteworthy catch phrase decides it’s time to refresh and rework its image? Do they drop kick their slogan and hope for the best, or use it as the cornerstone of the new identity? The United Negro College Fund opted for the latter. After four years of research and planning, UNCF decided to keep one of its most defining assets when it unveiled its new look on January 17. Since grabbing the public’s attention with the phrase, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” in 1971, UNCF has become an icon in American history, as the largest private minority education assistance program in the nation. But after 30 years, while the tagline and the public’s admiration for the brand endured, UNCF’s ability to convey its ever-expanding mission to key audiences dwindled, creating a need for a facelift. The new identity of UNCF, created by Landor Associates, is designed to help clarify the mission and vision of the organization and increase its relevancy with its past, current and future beneficiaries. UNCF’s new logo features an updated torch, the use of color, and its acronym, rather than its full name (similar to AARP, formerly the American Association for Retired Persons). Michael L. Lomax, UNCF’s president and chief executive, explained that the elimination of the full name was a nod to change in nomenclature since the 70s, as many African Americans no longer identify with the word “Negro.” Using just “UNCF” is a way for the organization to speak to its current stakeholders, without losing its heritage. The tagline is another story. According to The New York Times, “Surveys conducted for the organization suggest that the ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste’ motto enjoys ‘exceptionally strong’ recognition by the public, but that only 56 percent of people make the connection between the slogan and UNCF. Mr. Lomax hopes the new campaign will tie everything together in the mind of the public.” While it may not ring true for a majority of organizations, UNCF recognized that the tagline transcended the brand, and is using it to help drive awareness in the wake of its redesign. A wise move, in my mind, because a good tagline is also a terrible thing to waste.

The F%&K-It List

Marc Levy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:31:27 +0000

In its first two weeks of release, the Bucket List has grossed nearly $40 million. (A little background – the film is about two men with terminal illnesses who meet in a hospital and decide to live out their fantasies spelled out in their respective “bucket lists” – the list of things you want to accomplish before you… ummm… “kick the BUCKET.” In their case, we’re talking about race car driving and other “laugh-in-the-face-of-death” acts of bravery.)

The Games Brands Play

Rich Gallagher — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:15:29 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, 2007 was the best year yet for the videogame industry, with nearly $18 billion in US sales – 43% better than last year’s total take.

The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Giant, Man-Eating Spiders

Marc Levy — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:37:50 +0000

As creative director, I truly believe this: if you're a client (current or prospective) and my ideas aren't making you just a wee bit uncomfortable, I'm probably not doing my job. (By the way, this is different than me making most of the people around me and almost all small children uncomfortable, but that's another post entirely).

Static Traveler

Carla Mancebo — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:07:43 +0000

Life is constricted to all types of boxes: Our apartments, our cubicles, even our computers entrap us. For many of us, traveling has always been the great escape from life’s restrictions. Lonely Planet, known for its insightful travel guidebooks, is a company that has been fostering the idea of exploring the world and soaking up its beauty and different cultures like a sponge. Recently, I came across LonelyPlanet.tv and knew I had found one of the best-kept secrets of online video content. LonelyPlanet.tv inspires the adventurer in all of us through video clips accumulated by daring, off-the-beaten-path travelers. Of course, nothing surpasses the actual experience of eating an exotic piece of fruit from a street vendor in Peru, or dipping your feet into the sultry water of the Red Sea. But when the box constricts and responsibility calls, LonelyPlanet.tv allows you to visit a new land each day, virtually, without a passport. I love “Travel Tales,” a compilation of short documentaries created by amateur and seasoned travelers.. In less than 10 minutes, you can make a virtual pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary’s Wall of Wishes in Turkey and feel forgiven …well, virtually forgiven. Another highlight is Bluelists, a collection of trekking recommendations.. It’s not your typical boring grocery list of tourist sights, but an anthology of inventive travel ideas for richer life experiences. So when the traveling bug starts to bite, soothe the itch with LonelyPlanet.tv—at least until you can go there yourself!

8 Simple Rules for Fostering Creativity

Marc Levy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:46:35 +0000

Happy new year, kids. As promised in my last post, here are some ideas for fostering that creative spark:

1. Odd Couples

Shiny, Sexy, New Things

Doug Wyllie — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:06:37 +0000

Kid Stuff

Marc Levy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:24:41 +0000

Ongoing news stories about the shaky economy continue to surface. Former Fed Chairman Greenspan even played Grinch at Christmas, explaining that, in his opinion, there is a 50/50 chance the U.S. will fall into recession.

You Get What You Pay For

Annie Longsworth — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:23:09 +0000

Report, Rinse, Repeat

Doug Wyllie — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:49:05 +0000

Can Creativity Be Taught?

Marc Levy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:14:04 +0000

Nope.

(They told me in Journalism 101 to get to the point quickly).

I admit, it’s a bit harsh, so lemmee back up a bit.

Part of my role – and Jeremy’s role – is to “foster creativity, at all levels, throughout the network.” That’s part of our mandate, with the help of others across the Global Catalyst Network. BUT, that’s not teaching. That’s elevating. Inspiring. Facilitating. Not Teaching. And there’s a difference.

Why do some view the possibility of teaching creativity as important? A few reasons:

Mea (G)ulpa

Marc Levy — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:41:48 +0000

OK, let the groveling commence: This blog has turned into a log. As in "dead limb." As we all understand in today's world of new media and self-publishing, content is king. And for the better part of the last six months, Project Mayhem has been a feudal serf.

So here's the promise: You'll get a minimum of one post per week for the rest of my life. If for any reason i fail to fulfill this promise, I will write another "apology" post and make a similarly lame promise in the hopes that you'll keep coming back for more.

Tech 2008: What Can We Expect?

Tony Obregon — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:38:31 +0000

Get Your Digital Dancing Shoes On

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:14:02 +0000

My Tech Holiday Wish List

Dacrie Brooks — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 02:50:09 +0000

Each year, I vow to myself that I'm going to turn over a new leaf. But this time, I mean it.

Hello, Anybody Behind this Blog?

Tony Obregon — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:55:37 +0000

You finally find a few spare minutes to do that online research you’ve been putting off, and start entering search terms into the Google blog search engine.

When Convenience is Inconvenient

Annie Longsworth — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:04:26 +0000

Like a moth to flame, I find myself drawn to an experience that is more like a form of personal punishment: safeway.com.

Radiohead Breaks Ground Again

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:05:10 +0000

Now You Have It… Now You Don’t?

Rich Gallagher — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:52:42 +0000

Last week, Apple’s mandatory software update for the iPhone may have unwittingly touched off an arms race between their in-house genius software designers, and their formidably geeky loyal fanbase. And really, they should have seen this coming…

Mom – CAN YOU DVR IT?

Dacrie Brooks — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:44:07 +0000

School’s finally back in session and I’m quickly reminded just how much our entire household (myself included) depends on certain technologies, such as video on-demand (VOD) and DVR.

Move Over MySpace, Here Comes Facebook

Donna Austi — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:00:51 +0000

Professionals pushing 40 and older are joining the college crowd on the social hub. Move over MySpace, Facebook, is a social utility that connects people with friends and colleagues. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet. All you need to do to join is have a valid address.

CNN- “It’s all about “You” in 2008

Steve Bosk — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:17 +0000

For the first time since 1952, no incumbent, (President or Vice President) will be seeking the oval office in 2008. Fresh faces are running and major changes have occurred in news coverage.

Citizen News Grows Up

Chris Knight — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:21:05 +0000

Merv Griffin Dies on the Heels of the Game Show Industry Comeback

Jackie Savage — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:06:19 +0000

Yesterday, Merv Griffin passed away at 82 years old.

Known as the “inventor” of television games shows, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune were Mr. Griffin’s brainchild. His death comes at an interesting time…some many are calling a television game show revival.

Human Nature Drives Web 2.0 Communities

Eric Doyle — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:37:58 +0000

Risk! A Bored Game

Jeremy Baka — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:01:14 +0000

A riddle: What one word scares more corporate heads than Mike Wallace with a camera crew? Hint: it has only four letters and when spoken in a corporate meeting causes the same reaction as yelling “Bullshit!” Final hint: presidents Lincoln, Taft, Roosevelt and George W. Bush all used it in their inaugural addresses.

Give up?

“Risk.”

You Think You Have Pet Peeves?!?!

Annie Longsworth — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:53:58 +0000

I just received an email titled, “Magazine Editor Shares Six Common PR Pet Peeves to Avoid” so I decided to test myself. After 15 years as a PR person (and 4 years as a journalist), could I guess what those pet peeves might be?

Download to Unload

Melody McCloskey — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:01:37 +0000

I can’t imagine what life would be like without social media. Balancing work, staying informed and maintaining a social life are, for me, three full-time jobs.

Gaming, E3 Style

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:37:54 +0000

I am not an avid gamer.

Risky Bidness

Marc Levy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:50:28 +0000

This month, a dozen 7-11 stores across the country turned into "Kwik-E-Marts," a real-life version of the animated stores featured on the Simpson’s television series. The nationwide stunt is promoting the new Simpson's Movie. This seems like a no-brainer: generate big publicity for 7-11. Dig deeper, however, and you'll uncover some serious risk taking. In the television series, the fictional Kwik-E-Marts often portray convenience stores in a negative light, e.g., expensive goods, poor food quality and ongoing targets for crime and general mayhem.

I came “this” close to buying a kilt…

Marc Levy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:25:33 +0000

Let me say, before we begin, I'm not Scottish. I have never played the bagpipes, nor have I ever waxed poetic about peat. But I almost bought a kilt.

Almost.

Go Green Yourself

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:04:19 +0000

Many green advocates say it’s easy “go Green.” Try buying organic. Try bringing reusable bags to the grocery store instead of plastic. Try taking the bus. It’s simple to do! Or is it?

Wii Have a Winner

Mike Manning — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:40:54 +0000

I've never been as obsessive about video games as most of my friends, in fact I've never bought a video game console. It's not that I don't like playing video games, I can get as addicted as the next guy once you hand me a controller or Wiimote. I just haven't seen the need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a console and library of games that I'll probably ignore within five years.

Nuclear Noise

Annie Longsworth — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:58:49 +0000

With among the lowest approval ratings of any President in U.S history, Bush’s political problems aren’t going away any time soon.

Why I’m Not Buying an Apple iPhone Today

Dacrie Brooks — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 22:54:03 +0000

While I typically LOVE anything new, especially mobile phones, I won’t be one of the millions of people who are expected to switch from current cell phone providers to AT&T (I’m a Sprint customer), trade in their current mobile devices (I have a Blackberry 8703e) and plop down more than $499 for a new Apple iPhone – today.

Ya-Who?!?

Melody McCloskey — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:56:38 +0000

How to put the Yahoo back into Yahoo!

I Spy…

Anna Floch — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:44:50 +0000

An Ode to My Barber

Marc Levy — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:42:37 +0000

A shout out to my barber, Fred. Barber, you say? Yes, I have some hair, just not a lot of it – and getting less every year. But I digress…

I don’t go to get my haircut at Fred’s shop because I need to. In fact, nobody who goes to Fred’s shop really needs anything more than a snip here and there. That’s because the average age of Fred’s customers dates back to the Pleistocene. No, hair is probably the last reason anybody goes to Fred. Truth is, Fred and his partner, Jerry, are average barbers at best. The reason people go to Fred shop is because of, well … Fred.

Off the Beaten Path but Still Marketing a Message

Steve Bosk — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:03:31 +0000

The increase in the number of reality television programs over the last five years has been quite dramatic. We’ve seen everything from new game shows to talent contents, to makeover efforts. But have you read this description of a reality show? A “dying” woman, suffering a brain disease has to choose who gets her healthy kidney among three contestants in need of a transplant. From the looks of it, this was not going to be your average reality show.

Who Says You Have to Choose Between Beauty and Brains?

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:02:53 +0000

Video Impact Meets Social Web

Chris Knight — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:37:03 +0000

Take a Trip Down Sustain Lane

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:17:26 +0000

I’m All A-Twitter

Eric Doyle — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:58:48 +0000

We the Media?

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:51:56 +0000

Time for a New Phone

Zach Siegel — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:30:35 +0000

After years of widespread rumors, we watched as Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s iPhone during his Macworld keynote in January, an announcement that took the mobile and consumer electronics industries by storm.

Why Social Networks Aren’t Social…Yet

Melody McCloskey — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:02:57 +0000

Customer Service? Hell.

Marc Levy — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:07:25 +0000

Here’s a simple idea for the millions of companies out there searching for new ways to improve customer service: Have someone answer the phone. Not something, someone.

The Rant Rolls On…Line

Jackie Savage — Wed, 30 May 2007 00:37:19 +0000

By now, everyone has heard of the on-air brouhaha between Rosie O’Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The View last week. At first glance, there’s not much to talk about, right? Republicans and democrats debating politics again…

Beyond the questionable fact that this firestorm happened during May sweeps (hmmm), the interesting part of this story is Rosie O’Donnell's online commentary.

The Blogger Hierarchy: Levels of Influence

Tony Obregon — Wed, 30 May 2007 00:05:51 +0000

The Good, the Bad, and the Green

Chip Dehnert — Tue, 29 May 2007 00:32:34 +0000

Across the Spectrum of Green

Annie Longsworth — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:54:22 +0000

Why Advertising Is Going To Die Alone, Without Friends

Marc Levy — Wed, 23 May 2007 03:07:35 +0000

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1zv6w_the-break-up

The New Media Ball Game

Rich Gallagher — Wed, 23 May 2007 01:06:32 +0000

Over the past week, baseball fans in all markets thrilled to Interleague matchups that are designed to bring teams together that would only play each other in the World Series under normal circumstances. It exposes up-and-coming players to a larger audience, and gives the fans more action to follow throughout the season. Earlier this year, it looked like Interleague series might be the only way a lot of fans could see their favorite teams, especially if they play in a different media market.

Network News Survivor: No Wo-Man is an island

Webmaster — Thu, 17 May 2007 16:10:57 +0000

On a typical NBC airing of Fear Factor back in the heyday of snacking on roaches and swimming with eels, everyone had and knew their role. Contestants grossed us out, the host initiated a sense of competition and the audience was grossed out. It got me thinking that a stint on reality TV would have been a better fate for Katie and the Couric Factor because she’d have a clear role.

Over 71 Million Blogs and Counting

Tue, 15 May 2007 19:37:25 +0000

Bill Gates’ Cloudy Crystal Ball

Mike Manning — Thu, 10 May 2007 23:56:19 +0000

When he's not busy giving away piles of money, Bill Gates likes to pop his head into the technology press once in a while to make a few predictions and remind everyone that there's someone out there even more loaded than Warren Buffet. The latest instance came at this week's Strategic Account Summit, a gathering of Microsoft's advertising partners.

It’s a Tasty World

Annie Longsworth — Thu, 10 May 2007 21:01:31 +0000

How Children Interpret Today’s News Headlines…

Donna Austi — Thu, 03 May 2007 00:47:50 +0000

Have you ever wondered how high school students perceive the war in Iraq?

Or how pre-teens are impacted by national news headlines especially today with everything that is going on in the world?

Click Here, Read All About It

Matt Wolfrom — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:04:13 +0000

Marking the continued erosion of traditional media viewership and readership, millions of consumers flocked to search engines to track the tragic events at Virginia Tech. Understanding this challenge and changing consumer behavior, many top-tier news organizations purchased search engine ads to promote their coverage.

Lessons from a Rock Star

Anna Floch — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:26:25 +0000

Regardless of how you feel about the music of Nine Inch Nails or its front man Trent Reznor, last week marked the end of an aggressive ad and marketing campaign to promote the Nine Inch Nails critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Year Zero. The buzz started with secret messages in Nine Inch Nails tour t-shirts and morphed into leaked songs, strategically placed USB drives and numerous websites devoted to the futuristic concept album.

Take the Tube on the Road

Dacrie Brooks — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:07:18 +0000

At this year's NAB, high-definition (HD) definition products were everywhere.

From new whiz-bang HD cameras to HD blank recordable media and even virtual HD booth babes, there's no doubt that it's finally here.

And while all of this is exciting (I have two Panasonic HD TVs myself), the HD displays at NAB didn't knock my socks off.

MySpace or YourSpace?

Charlstie Laytin — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:51:22 +0000

This week's move by MySpace to block video widgets from Photobucket may begin a mass exodus for the social networking giant.

For Your Listening Pleasure

Tony Obregon — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:19:33 +0000

What goes around comes around. This time it's coming to you via podcast featuring EVP/managing director Annie Longsworth, and Jessica Jones, research associate, in a lively and impassioned discussion around Cohn & Wolfe’s San Francisco office and the agency's new green practice.

Me, My Fabrik and the Easter Bunny

Chris Knight — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:48:22 +0000

The Very First Project Mayhem Reader Contest!!!

Marc Levy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:40:15 +0000

The contest: Name Jeremy's Kidney Stone
Win a dream date with Jeremy! (Second Prize. First Prize: You get to stay home.)

I’m a Fool for April

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:40:42 +0000

April Fool’s Day -- a day that says as much about the resulting antics as it does about the clowns who perpetrate them; the same people who send “Happy Monday” emails.

Marc Loses His Mind

Marc Levy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:38:52 +0000

They say, “never bury the lede.” So here goes: I’ve given up sports. For One Year. Really.

I H8 The Oscars

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:38:13 +0000

I hate Oscar night. Watching young, famous, good looking, rich people win awards is not entertainment to me, it’s painful. That’s because I take it personally. It’s like the entire world is graciously applauding these Gods and Goddesses and then turning their collectively heads to me saying, “And what have you done that was so great?” Nothing. In fact, I’m zero for four in the real Oscar categories:

The Grinch Who Stole Valentine’s Day

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:38:20 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day is an oxymoron. More relationships are destroyed by that holiday than fostered. According to the National Retail Federation, consumers spend about $14 billion annually on Valentine’s Day. Compare that to the roughly 50-percent divorce rate and you get an estimated $7 billion being flushed down the toilet along with the periodic wedding ring.

Super Names

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:37:00 +0000

With the Super Bowl just days away, it’s time to point the creative spotlight on the NFL, specifically, whoever is in charge of coming up with some of the most mundane, mediocre team names in sports. I mean, c’mon, what’s a “Brown?” I don’t even think Cleveland knows because they couldn’t even come up with a logo for it! What’s worse is they actually came up with that name following a newspaper contest where the person submitting the winning name won $1,000! (And that was in 1945!) The name comes from the coach of the Browns at the time, Paul Brown. Can the “Trumps” be far behind?

Man-Up PR People!

Jeremy Baka — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:35:53 +0000

PR people whine about not getting respect, they obsess about their miniscule budgets and pay scales and they envy advertising agencies who command the big-dollar creative campaigns. Boo hoo. Call it career envy, call it jealousy, call it whatever you want, we deserve our plight because, well … we’re wussies.

The Ever-Elusive Creativity Yardstick

Marc Levy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:34:00 +0000

No one really knows what pornography is -- or at least, how to define it. A great man (I want to say Carrot Top, but I'm not sure) once said (and I'll butcher this, I'm sure), "I can't tell you what porn is, but I know it when I see it." Another great man (Slappy White?) once said "Hey, buddy, enough with the parentheticals."

Openning Shot

Marc Levy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:32:55 +0000

I’ve worked 20 years in the communications business to reach the vaulted position of Chief Creative Officer. Perfect, just in time for “creative” to mean absolutely nothing. Today, touting creativity is like bragging about a boob job in Los Angeles.

Flying Solo…But not For Long

Zach Siegel — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:39:55 +0000

Following two years of research and thousands of consumer comments, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced this week that it will maintain its ban on the use of cell phones in-flight. The ban has been in effect since 1991.

Bags Just Got a Whole Lot Deeper

Melody McCloskey — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:56:36 +0000

Marketers Get Hip to Amateur Content

Eric Doyle — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:03:48 +0000

The Power of the Fob

Chris Knight — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:37:31 +0000

Click the Vote

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:16:43 +0000

Let The Madness Begin!

Webmaster — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:58:44 +0000

When Julius Caesar was summoned by the Roman Senate to Pompey’s Theater on the March 15, 44 BC, he had no idea it would be the last power struggle of his life. The now infamous warning by soothsayer Titus to Caesar, “Beware the Ides of March,” may always have a place in cocktail trivia, but the modern, main event in Mid-March is all about the “Madness.”

An IT Race to the Checkered Flag

Eric Doyle — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:54:24 +0000

La Casa de las Madres

Melody McCloskey — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:36:59 +0000

Rule #1 In Engaging Mobile Users? Don’t Build a Handset

Rich Gallagher — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:34:20 +0000

At the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco earlier this week, Nokia announced a new initiative to connect with gamers, and put cell phones on par with Nintendo’s DS and Sony’s PSP as a go-to mobile gaming device. Their head of game publishing, Gregg Sauter, promised a new delivery platform, a solid lineup of games from recognized publishers like EA and THQ, and a new site to support developers, complete with a blog.

Announcing Greenworx

Annie Longsworth — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:33:19 +0000

Next Net Winners Stand Out at Glitzy “Mash Up”

Chris Knight — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:11:43 +0000

For longtime tech valleywags, last week’s Business 2.0 “Next Net” mixer was a dose of deja vu.

Green Stars Align

Claudia Carasso — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:16:11 +0000

When Leonardo DiCaprio (he’s Leo to me and Marty) said that for the first time the Oscars had officially “gone green,” it was hard to believe that he wasn’t referring to the sea of

Finding New Ways to Sing the Blues

Rich Gallagher — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:38:21 +0000

By now, we’ve all heard about JetBlue’s recent debacle. Yes, it was messy and, at worst, an example of what not to do in customer relations. However, I was quite impressed with their attempt at brand restoration.

National Payroll Week Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:08:43 +0000

Boomerang to Brazil

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:40:04 +0000

These days the only thing that gets between me and the dozens of blogs I peruse each day is my thin framed glasses.

Don’t Leave ‘Em Hanging

Annie Longsworth — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:18:26 +0000

Lately I’ve been hearing myself say “Hang in there!” an awful lot. It’s what I said to a client who recently started a new job and managed a $43M acquisition in her first week. It’s what I said to an employee who is overloaded with client work because she is that good and in high demand.

Wikipedia Needs More Contributors, Not Less

Tony Obregon — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 06:28:48 +0000

There’s no denying that Wikipedia has become the most popular encyclopedia on the web, with a collection of facts on almost every subject in the world. The site has generated over 6 million articles in more than 250 languages – truly a global phenomenon.

Gotta Go Green

Annie Longsworth — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:44:19 +0000

Green is everywhere.

Nothing Says I Love You Like a Man in a Skirt

Melody McCloskey — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:02:35 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day! In the spirit of this amorous occasion, I thought I’d post about a timely viral campaign by Herbal Essences, at dumpcupid.com. The site features a video of a scantily clad, rather portly cupid walking around the streets of a

Inserting the message where we used to insert quarters

Rich Gallagher — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:47:17 +0000

Recently, news surfaced of Google’s negotiations to acquire Adscape Media, a firm that places ads in video games. While the concept of Google finding new places to distribute ads is nothing new, the fact that the internet’s 800-pound gorilla is jumping into the in-game business along with Microsoft’s recently-acquired Massive, Inc. shows that the space is a viable means of reaching the heavily sought-after young male demographic, as gamers shun more traditional media.

Turning the Queen Mary…2.0

Claudia Carasso — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:01:05 +0000

If you’ve been around more than a random seven years in marketing and have worked with big companies, you’ve heard ‘em all say, “Oh we can’t do that! It’s like turning the Queen Mary! It’ll take forever. No, it’s impossible.”

Get Blended

Annie Longsworth — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:45:29 +0000

The Virtual You

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 04:24:05 +0000

A friend recently told me that during the interview process he does a quick “MySpace background check” on potential employees. Apparently, using that not-so-secret online identity for information gathering is a growing phenomenon.

Yes, the World is Flat Again

Tony Obregon — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:18:34 +0000

Thanks to everyone who now participates in the online world in some way or another. We have artists, writers, educators, and experts sharing their stories and experiences with the world. Social media tools like blogs, tags, and widgets help us understand our cyber neighbors better.

Back…like a Boomerang

Tony Obregon — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:37:48 +0000

Boy it's good to be back. We've taken the last few months off to regroup, rethink, and realign our objectives behind this site. While we want to provide readers with insight into a variety of topics, we want to make sure we have fun in the process. That’s why our new blog, Boomerang, will not only focus on current issues affecting business and communications; we’ll explore how it's impacting our personal lives as well.

The Day Apple Reinvented the Phone

Zach Siegel — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:52:33 +0000

As the widely hyped and attended 2007 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) comes to an end, I, like just about every other PR guy, sifted through the week’s tech press to read about the exciting new gizmos and gadgets I can add to my wish list of toys. I was surprised to find that the highlight of this year’s show wasn’t at the show at all – it was at Macworld!

Welcome Back Ma!

Matt Wolfrom — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 05:30:04 +0000

A Look Back & Ahead

Matt Wolfrom — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:52:51 +0000

Season’s greetings from the Corporate & Technology practices at Cohn & Wolfe and welcome to Wolf Tracking, where we follow the ever-evolving media landscape.

ADP National Employment Report Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 05:01:35 +0000

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) may not be a company you’re familiar with, but there’s a good chance you get a paycheck with their name on it. ADP is the top provider of payroll services in the U.S., processing 24 million paychecks domestically and 32 million worldwide. Despite its enviable market share, ADP faces growing competition and challenges to its leadership.

Digicel Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:06:09 +0000

In 2006, we played an instrumental role in helping to grow Digicel’s business and support the company’s expansion efforts outside of the Caribbean.

Seagate Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:13:23 +0000

Earlier this year, Seagate turned to Cohn & Wolfe to help with the unveiling of an entirely new family of products and services under the Maxtor Fusion brand. They were launched and co-marketed with software partner, Fabrik, Inc.

SunTrust Bank Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 05:11:09 +0000

In June of this year, Cohn & Wolfe teamed with SunTrust Bank to introduce a new solution to protect consumers from the growing problem of identity theft. SunTrust became the first bank to offer its customers free identity theft protection, which included enhanced account monitoring to stop thefts before they happen.

Panasonic Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 05:10:26 +0000

2006 will be remembered as a tough year for competitors of Panasonic Toughbook. Cohn & Wolfe’s East and West coast teams helped create a swell of positive brand and product momentum throughout the year.

Yahoo! Answers Case Study

Matt Wolfrom — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 05:05:33 +0000

Yahoo! tapped Cohn & Wolfe to launch Yahoo! Answers, an online community where people can ask and answers questions on any topic. Our goal was to generate awareness of Yahoo! Answers as a community-based resource for information, interaction and inspiration. The campaign created excitement, stimulated word-of-mouth buzz and consumer trial and distinguished Yahoo!

Social Shopping Startups

Tony Obregon — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 03:17:25 +0000

There was an interesting piece by Bob Tedeschi of the New York Times last week that focused on a new segment of the social network scene: "social shopping." The article showcased ThisNext.com, a new startup that allows users to discover, recommend, and share the “things they love.” All the items for sale on the site are recommend

Widgets As a Marketing Tool

Tony Obregon — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:00:00 +0000

We couldn't help but point to Om Malik's article on widgets and their growing use as a marketing tool. They're the perfect vehicle for packaging a branded experience. Widgets, also known as gadgets, are single-function programs that exist on the user desktop or on websites and pull data from online sources.

Facebook Opens Door to All, Up For Sale

Tony Obregon — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:00:00 +0000

Lifestyle blog, Lifehacker, reports that Facebook has recently opened its door to any and all users (it was previously limited to students) and is also in talks with businesses such as Viacom to be acquired.

Dell and the Blogosphere

Tony Obregon — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 08:00:00 +0000

BusinessWeek’s Steve Hamm has an excellent article up about how Dell and the blogosphere interacted with one another duri

Washington Post Video Mashup

Tony Obregon — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:00:00 +0000

Blog Video Podcasting News reports that the Washington Post is inviting readers to mash themselves into a video with political reporter Dana Milbank.

MySpace Forms Partnership with Google

Tony Obregon — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 08:00:00 +0000

BBC News reports that Google has signed a $900 million deal with News Corp to become the sole provider of search and advertising on Myspace.com and other sites owned by Fox Interactive Media, excluding the FoxSports.com property. News Corp purchased Myspace.com last year for $580 million.

Topix Blog/News Search Tool Revamps, Offers More Value

Tony Obregon — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:00:00 +0000

The Topix search engine, which covers both blog and news sources, has updated itself with an interesting new feature: When searching for a particular news or blog item, Topix provides an interactive graph that shows the highs and lows of mentions over a one year period. Clicking on a portion of the graph will narrow results to that particular period of time.

PaidContent.org Scores Funding

Tony Obregon — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 08:00:00 +0000

An article by The Wall Street Journal’s Nick Wingfield highlights efforts by bloggers and reporters who are trying to raise money to turn their blogs into money making businesses. The article points to Rafat Ali as an example with recent backing to expand his indepent blog PaidContent.org.

Bix Online Contest Service Builds Brands

Tony Obregon — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 08:00:00 +0000

TechCrunch has an interesting article up about Bix, an online service (currently in invite-only beta) that allows sponsors to easily create and control contests.

Comments are Appreciated With Commentful

Tony Obregon — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 08:00:00 +0000

Blog SolutionWatch reports the launch of new service Commentful, a tool that allows users to keep track of discussions on new media sites.

The Second Life of the American Cancer Society

Tony Obregon — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:00:00 +0000

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is leveraging Second Life in some interesting new ways as part of their Relay for Life campaign.

FeedBurner Buys BlogBeat

Tony Obregon — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:00:00 +0000

PR Week: BMW Using Podcasts in Branding Push

Tony Obregon — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:00:00 +0000

NHL Plans Social Network Site

Tony Obregon — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:00:00 +0000

YouTube, Advertising Medium of the Future!

Tony Obregon — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 05:15:36 +0000

The Financial Times' Carlos Grande, writing from Cannes, reported that Mark Tutssel, worldwide chief creative officer at the Leo Burnett ad shop is quite fond YouTube, saying, “Marketers must learn to let go of the contr

Blog Mogul Denton: Blogs for Sale, Editors Shuffled

Tony Obregon — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 08:00:00 +0000

Technorati Profile

Webmaster — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 10:41:33 +0000

Technorati Profile