Back to blog...

Well it's been sometime since my last blog post! After a lovely extended Xmas and New Year holiday in Morocco...
we're well into 2011 now, it's almost like there wasn't any holiday or even a 2010. Where does the time go?
But being busy is a good thing ;-)

Thanks to all my readers/viewers in the world. The most interesting thing I've found is that I now have more
visitors from Australia, jumping up to number 2, below the US but just ahead of Sweden and the UK. Thanks Oz!

During my time away from blogging I've immersed myself in a lot of reading, 2010 in reflection and all the
fantastic predictions for 2011 and beyond. In January social media was ablaze with brands, forums and individuals
sharing and blogging like crazy. I decided to take the opposite approach and let everyone try and shout over each other...
opting to look for my own 2011, based on where we've been, 2010, industry innovations, social and people shifts... etc.

Mico-blogging has also sucked me in more, my iPad makes it a much easier way to view content faster and keep
informed, since July last year my UX with the device has shifted (tablets will change behavior a lot, but in time)
but my Read It Later apps have come more into play, resulting in a good way to store links but making it harder
to finish longer articles :-( I hope to reverse this habit this year, somehow.

2011
Apart from reading up on many different subjects lately, I've been rather busy with work projects and private
projects, some of which I will showcase here in the next few months.
And, as well as focusing on all the new creative inspiration and innovation stuff (as usual), I'll also be revisiting
and clearing out my blog folder (the vast collection of planned but never realized links) from over the years, to then
post the most creative, interesting and still valid things.
If time is on my side, or even not, I will endeavor to post more, realising the personal value of a blog again...
remembering why I originally started to blog, with or without visitors.

Anyway enough about me, check out this cool vid from London NYE...



When I first saw this after the holidays, my first impressions were...

1) Wow! Amazing! I miss London (well sometimes maybe)
2) WTF, 10 minutes of fireworks! Why didn't they give the money to charity or something/someone in more need?
3) Well, London and the UK are in need. After the hard y€ar or so, everyone can do with cheering up right?
Plus, this works as a great PR tool for the city of London, keeping it on the world map. The 2012 Olympics are just
round the corner, London needs those tourists!

Have a great 2011, more posts coming, speak soon ;-)

Best Buy - E-Cycle

The environment, green, recycling approach is a strategic approach that many brands are jumping on at the moment.

Doing something good and talking about it, should have a positive effect within consumers minds... leading them to

be part of that brand, movement etc. All brands in the near future will have such a positioning of some sort... making

it the norm or standard. One problem brands have is continuing to talk about it, or making it stick in some way...

often a brand has spent years marketing and advertising other benefits of a company or product... thus becoming

known for those (good or bad)... Explore Brand Tags...

What I like about Best Buy and what they are doing with their Greener Together e-cycling program, is the fact they

are now starting to really get behind this concept and market it, although having it in place for a year now. I guess

it's hard to put such a program in place, from a logistics and cost perspective. But the idea that you can bring in your

old electronic goods, even if bought elsewhere is definitely a good idea worth talking about. I'm sure it is a problem

many people face when moving house or having an annual clear-out etc. Knowing your old stuff will go to the right

place then feeds back to the consumer in a positive way and leaves a feeling of doing good from both parties.

People want to be part of something good! And make a difference! Involve them ;-)

CAT London 2009: The New Creative Rock Stars

Those of you who have worked with digital projects/agencies for sometime, totally understand the main points

in this clip and have done for many years. What's good about this clip is all the main topics are covered and gives

insights into how the new agency (all agencies) should operate internally and how they should also steer the client

into understanding the new working ways to obtain great solutions. As the world has changed and how we function

in it also (as consumers)... the processes in creating good, engaging and unique creative must also change.

Fortunately the day and mindset of traditional vs digital has now disappeared (nearly) with traditional agencies now

understanding that technology plays a huge part in creating solutions today. But it's not the idea!!! It's a channel,

a platform or a part of the idea, adding to the creative solution and client brief or problem ;-)

Understanding is the first step into making change ;-) Seth has the solution and wise words (as usual)

if you're having problems...

RECESSION MARKETING - T-Mobile do it again

T-Mobile continue their campaign by again putting focus on key strategic approaches (of the time) by bringing people

together for fun experiences and more importantly the concept of sharing the experience, because Life's For Sharing.

This works on so many levels and is tapping into key principles of the moment which attract people and thus feeds

back into the brand. The happy, fun element is a big part of this as people want an escape from money and

job depression, or from not knowing what fate is around corner. This time people were invited to the event, rather

than a pop-up flash-mob, this attracted over 13,000 people.

Add teaser trailers and the idea you will be part of something BIG, plus put the ad in a commercial break for Britain's Got Talent 

on a Saturday Night and all the elements add up. Huge production level here, but the final cuts will be spread into

other European markets. Nice one Saatchi & Saatchi!

The other event...

Innovative brands will save the day...

Final thought, does McCartney really need any more royalties?

RECESSION MARKETING - Approach

True words here from Alex Maclean of Airside. This clip is from April 2008 and although this approach has been

talked about in many ways, convincing clients may still be an uphill struggle. By focusing on innovation and new 
channels this may cost more budget but the exposure and effect within consumers minds should gain results if done
in the correct ways. I'm currently working with and researching relationship brands, where innovation is one key to this.

TEASE + HONESTY = Desire & Trust = Loyalty With Brand

Last night I caught up with Miriam from the Insider's Journal - The Björn Borg Blog. We always get caught chatting

(amongst other things) about social / blogging etc. The conversation was mainly based around what a brand, especially

a clothing / fashion brand should show on their blog, in this case her blog. I backed her up and told her it was great

being this open and transparent, it's the right balance without giving too much away.

I understand this may be a sore point within the creative industries, especially with older CDs / CEOs who maybe don't 

understand the power of community and being open, or how that can feed back into the brand in a positive way.

Anyway you get the picture, I could talk for ages about this subject...

but strangely this morning a mutual friend sent me this link... from Walter Naeslunds blog... saying basically the same 

thing about the same post and approaches we had been talking about last night.

It's gonna be a very different world in the near future, once this way of thinking is standard. Maybe it will go

round full circle with some form of secrecy being the best strategy, will openness become too obvious? Telling our

ideas on blogs before we've even created them is already here, whatever is next... I look forward to it :-)