Channel Nine are bringing a show to Australia called Hole In The Wall. If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, which is likely, here is the original Japanese version…

 

 

I was under the impression that now the Writer’s Strike is over we didn’t need to produce crappy replacement filler?

It seems to blog about marketing means you have to make some occasional prediction, usually about a future trend. I don’t have much to offer today but here is a small insight of mine.

 will be replaced by  while  will be replaced by .

And we can only hope that the use of  is made illegal.

During my Easter break, I discovered a new game to replace the classic Rock Paper Scissors. It’s called Bear Ninja Hunter.

Start back to back and on the count of three jump and turn around posing in one of three stances. The first is Bear with your hands above your head and fingers curled like claws. The second is Hunter with your hands in front like you’re holding a shotgun. The third is Ninja with your hands flat in front of you in a Karate like stance.

Bear eats Ninja. Ninja kills Hunter. Hunter shoots Bear.

Relation to marketing? I’m not too sure but it is fun. Oh wait, here it is in a commerical, a lucky save by FedEx…

 

Age calls it the worst ad ever. Personally, I find Cabury’s latest A Glass And A Half Full Production… interesting. Here it is in case you missed it…

 

Not quite sure what to think of it, although as Peter Wagstaff pointed out to me, like the Gorilla ad, this is all about having fun and enjoying yourself. With that said, I’m not sure it will be as popular as the original and the question becomes can Cadbury pull it off again?

Something that I find really impressive is the website. Not only does it have one of the best designs I’ve seen in a while, but Cadbury has been really impressive with their recognition of user generated content. Two things stand out; Firstly, the official website has links in the Studio section to some of the mash ups from the original. A risky move but an innovative one. Secondly, if you get into the Vault (password is “welcome” for the lazy among us) there are a number of extended clips from the ad. What do you do with these? You make mashups.

At first I thought this would be much harder to mashup than the original, I mean recording music over the top of Queen isn’t really that creative. But already I’ve found a great one and now I can’t wait to see what else is out there.

A brilliant example where the brand a recognising the work of its consumers.

I’ve been driving for nearly half a year now and one of the most fascinating things I’ve found is the unspoken concept of flashing your headlights. Usually this is done to let other drivers know of any dangers ahead, such as animals on the road or a upcoming car accident. However, it also applies to any police cars with their speed cameras out. Particularly over the Easter weekend, I was flashed a number of times and then I myself flashed other oncoming cars.

I’m not sure if this concept exists outside Australian culture but it certainly plays on the strong sense of mateship, even for those you don’t know.

Now just imagine a brand could do something similar. Create an action, embed it into a culture and create a direct link to your brand that will last for years. The closest example I can think of is the “Oh What A Feeling” Toyota Jump.

I’ve always had an interest in subliminal messages, particularly when it relates to advertising. Faris Yakob just posted a really interesting piece about the FedEx logo…
Look closely at the negative space between the E and the X. Something stand out now that it’s been pointed out to you? Logo designer, Lindon Leader, says the arrow was designed to represent “a symbol for speed and precision”.

It’s not quite the same thing but here’s something someone pointed out to me regarding the Virgin logo.

Apparently even virgins know that sex sells.

Being the good citizen I am, I went to donate to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal only to discover they do not accept PayPal.

I am a big fan of PayPal simply because I do not own a credit card (I know all Marketers are evil!). PayPal now has over 150 million accounts world wide, so why don’t all online stores adopt this as an official payment method? I have seen a small movement toward PayPal here and there but many, mainly charities, are lagging behind.

Surely it can’t be too hard to set up. Had they done so, they would have raised at least a guaranteed $25 more.

Mitch Joel just posted as to why blogging is more important than ever which raised some really interesting points. Even a small time blogger like myself can relate to the majority of them if not through my blog then through those that I read and comment on.

One point in particular got me thinking was the talk about the breakdown of cultural and geographical borders and the increased ease of global communication. An excellent concept but what stood out to me was where this increasingly growing new media trend falls on its face. All I ever really read about is the benefits of digital marketing not problems and issues, like this one which appears quite important.

Whilst we breakdown these walls and the world becomes a smaller place aren’t we at the same time building these walls higher and excluding some from the conversation? Two obvious examples to me are the those with lower socioeconomic statuses and those living in rural areas.

According to the ABS only 64% of Australian households have access to the internet and of those only 68% have access to a broadband connection. So how does a new media marketer target a struggling single mother of three or a drought stricken rural farmer?

Crowell Advertising tells us why they don’t give 110%

 

 

Interesting, but next time someone tells you they gave just 100%, scream “Bullshit!” because it’s rarely the case.