Marketing and all things related

Marketing Blurb has not yet seen this, but according to The Wall Street Journal (paid subscription required) Philips electronics has entered into a novel agreement with Time Warner to advertise on the Table of Content page for flagship magazines Time, Fortune, People and Business 2.0. Normally, readers must flip through 8 or 10 pages of advertising at the front of magazines hunting to find the Table of Contents page. But under this unique advertising deal, the TOC moves right to the first page. The ad for Philips appears on the inside front cover, with this explanation: "Simplicity means not letting complexity stand in your way. It starts with the Table of Contents on the first page. And it continues with the last page where you'll see innovative products that will change the way you live." Marketing Blurb thinks this is an outstanding idea, and we applaud both Philips and Time Warner for testing the concept.

Marketing Blurb used to live in New York. Not Manhattan, but Port Washington on Long Island, which was close enough. We were much younger then, but like all New Yorkers we thought we were damned special. And despite our inflated... Continue Reading

When Marketing Blurb was younger and trendier than we are now, we used to drink martinis. Not on a regular basis, mind you and our preferred venue was a quiet hotel dining room while dining alone. We always knew what... Continue Reading

Whenever we teach marketing, our students always ask, what is your favorite advertisement? Well, if we had to pick just one, we are fond of the Right-hand ring campaign from A Diamond is Forever Trading Company. Originally, the campaign featured... Continue Reading

Advertising Age (free registration required) is running a noteworthy story called What P&G Learned from Veg-o-matic and Ginsu-Knife suggesting its readers not sneer a direct response television. The story contains valuable information that P&G is looking a direct response television... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb already told you that Dunkin’ Donuts is testing a new store prototype. And while they’re working out the bugs, we learned of a new advertising campaign from AdRants. The campaign is called America Runs on Dunkin’. And the... Continue Reading

Okay, Marketing Blurb wants to know what your favorite television commercials were over the last 30 days. No, we’re not keeping score, but IAG Research does, so companies can measure the effectiveness of their ad placements. And according to Ad... Continue Reading

You already know that print advertising is suffering at the hands on online media these days. But there is one bright spot for traditional media you might not have realized. According to research from OAAA, the Outdoor Advertising Association of... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb loves outdoor billboards and marquees more than the next pundit. We think Times Square is an advertising theme park, and we never tire of the larger than life images. But if you are serious about advertising large, think... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb resisted the temptation to critique all those inane Super Bowl commercials in February. We watched the game and thoroughly enjoyed four quarters of serious offense and defense. For the most part, the commercials were lame. But we still... Continue Reading

Back in early March, Marketing Blurb mentioned that Coca-Cola was introducing new drinks during the Oscars. One drink, called Blak, is a “coffee” cola containing about twice the caffeine of Coke Classic, but fewer than half the calories. Coke believes... Continue Reading

You already know that online media is sucking advertising away from newspapers. This is especially true in certain product categories, like automotive, where local newspaper depend upon regular placements by local car dealers. But traditional radio advertising sales are in... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb is not especially keen on television advertising. Producing and placing a television commercial is too damned expensive, especially when the gopher to the assistant camera grip is unionized. Fortunately, there is a lower cost alternative, which makes television... Continue Reading

Can we talk? Remember those suggestive TV advertisements for Levitra with the women wearing her man’s shirt (sans anything else) and cooing about their re-energized sex life as a result of his treatment for erectile dysfunction? Or how about those... Continue Reading

Back in February, Marketing Blurb told you the Beer Institute was updating their voluntary industry guidelines for advertising the golden elixir. We expressed a degree of skepticism then, and it seems we are not alone. The New York Times is... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb is not especially keen on television advertising, but then again, we are not keen on television programming, either. But what we think is really not important. Pay attention instead, to media buyers who place television advertising. It turns out these... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb does not believe in regulating the advertising industry. We do believe that children should be spared from certain kinds of advertising--but this is a role for parents, not regulators. Likely fearing possible government action, the Distilled Spirits Council... Continue Reading

Marketing Blurb remembers the original Gatorade, before marketers mucked it up with weenie flavoring and coloring. Real men Gatorade was salty and tasted awful. Athletes endured the real juice to re-hydrate. But today, kids pack sports drinks in their school... Continue Reading

You’ve probably already heard the flap over Volkswagen’s GTI Turbo-conjones billboards targeting Hispanics in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. English speakers often use the Spanish term as slang for balls. But the native connotation is vulgar rather than clever.... Continue Reading

Microsoft is not known for ground-breaking advertising. In fact, some in the advertising industry find Microsoft advertising forgettable at best. But Microsoft did receive kudos for their upgrade Office 2000 campaign featuring cubicle dwellers sporting plastic dinosaur heads. The message... Continue Reading