Reynolds American Inc.–the nation’s second biggest tobacco brand is about to snuff out smoking in its offices and buildings. Reynolds manufactures Camel, Winston, Pall Mall and several other major cigarette brands. The company informed employees earlier this week that the use of traditional cigarettes, cigars or pipes will no longer be permitted at employee desks or offices, […]
Here’s How You Know if It’s Time to Rebrand… Market forces have changed significantly since you last did any serious branding. You’ve lost your ranking in the competitive standing and your business model is dated. As a result, your brand just looks and feels passe and tired to the consumer. You have […]
Brands, agencies, and marketers working in digital media will tell you, innovation happens so rapidly that predicting future trends and reviewing trends from previous years can either be illuminating, or a subtle evolution, as platforms attempt to better monetize their offerings from the previous year’s developments. For example, with the popularity of the Millennial target […]
Who really invented the mp3 player? Or the cellular telephone. What about radial tires, the automatic transmission and frequent flyer miles? How many consumers know the answers to these questions and how often does it ever really matter to them when they go to buy the product? For example: Apple didn’t invent the mp3 player but […]
I’m sure from time to time, you look at the stats on a YouTube video or channel and wonder how on earth 7 or 42 or 119 million people took time to watch ‘that’. After all, these numbers are close to–and far larger than the number of people who watch The Walking Dead on […]
As Snapchat plans to spend the next year focusing on its communications business, founder Evan Spiegel reveals what brands must do to connect with millennials. Snapchat is the antithesis of the linear, documented style of its rivals, according to Evan Spiegel. Speaking at Cannes Lion this week, he explained: “Over the last 10 years all our conversations […]
Successful brands are just like the people you interact with every day. They have a set of values. They make promises that people expect them to keep –and they usually do. We want them to be both trustworthy and consistent– and they almost always are. And, they consistently impress, amaze and support all those who […]
OF ALL THE AUTOMOBILE RECALLS THAT TAKE PLACE EVERY YEAR, you would be hard-pressed to find too many million-dollar exotic supercars that EVER appear on the list. Sadly however, that’s exactly what we need to report today. And this is not just ANY supercar–it is perhaps THE supercar of our day. Ferrari North America and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have […]
So, what is brand marketing really all about anyway? It’s about customers, right? Discovering who the right ones are. Making them happy. Keeping them happy. Inspiring them. And making them your brand’s most vocal advocates. Repeating again and again. The Goal: A large cadre of intensely brand loyal consumers who will enable your company to grow […]
Ahh, the fickle finger of fate. One year you’re hot and the next, well you know the story. Case in point: For a variety of largely silly reasons, including increased health consciousness, the harried pace of modern-day life, boredom, too much free time and plain old shifting consumer preferences–Americans have been shunning many former consumer […]
Hardly a day goes by where we don’t see another formerly successful brand on its way out, or already there. And the most common response we usually have to the news is “Well, of course they’re gone…everyone saw it coming.” Everyone except those who needed to see it might be a bit more accurate. Hindsight […]
“How did this happen?” “Why have our customers been leaving?” “When was the last time we didn’t have to discount everything we sell?” “How come we don’t seem to have an interesting story any more?” “Why don’t we feel in a position to take a real position on things these days?” “Why is so much of […]
The NFL has lost its stranglehold on Sunday evening Nielsen supremacy. And not just with Nielsen’s ‘television’ ratings either. The reason for all of this is the pop-culture juggernaut and audience phenomenon better known as The Walking Dead. The AMC series is now among the highest viewed shows in Nielsen history, and scored a #1 spot […]
Apple’s relatively quick decision to pay artist royalties during the three-month trial of its new streaming service could set it back more than a half billion dollars–a financial death sentence for most companies but a flea bite for the world’s most successful brand. After singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s much publicized scolding of Apple for not paying artists […]
Heinz has been left red-faced after a complaint from a consumer in Germany, who claims the QR code on a bottle of ketchup is linking to a hardcore porn site. Heinz had ran a special promotion on bottles between 2012-2014 with a QR code enabling consumers to design their own label. However, after the promotion ended, a […]
The Life Blood of any business is repeat business. ‘One and done’ is a proven recipe for business failure. And most other things being equal, repeat business is all about the relationship. There are many (and I mean MANY) articles, posts and videos on what the ‘perfect formula’ for getting repeat business is– and I am now […]
We all love Luxury Products and Brands. We love reading about them. Looking at them. Gawking at those people lucky enough to have them. And we all love the prospect of owning and buying some of them ourselves. Which is why marketing a luxury brand is a very HIGH STAKES and complex undertaking. In fact, […]
There were a lot of people who predicted this story would happen ever since Monster just ‘fell off’ the Beats brand. Audio equipment maker Monster LLC has sued Beats Electronics LLC, owned by Apple, over alleged “fraud and deceit” in the way that Beats acquired control of the rights to the highly popular “Beats by […]
I know it might be hard to imagine but Google’s Gmail system is currently unavailable in China. The outage is widely believed to be a result of the Chinese government’s ongoing attempts to curb the company’s growing presence on the mainland. Reports of major outages began on Friday– and data from Google’s real-time traffic report showed […]
Eastman Kodak Co.(or let’s just say KODAK since we’re all friends here) is still among the most iconic of all American brands. It is impossible to argue this point. However, Kodak made an ENORMOUS marketing mistake that cost them a brand that had almost 80% of the consumer film and camera market at its peak. […]
Image courtesy of General Mills If ever there was a post that proves to the doubters ‘marketing is everything’, you’re reading it. Take heart because a glimmer of sanity and hope is at long-last back. Call it a continuing nostalgia wave. Call it a ‘cheaper to do than actually creating something new’ wave. Call it the end […]
One of the first things all marketing students are taught is “The Trend Is Your Friend.” Nobody knows or cares what it means except those of us in the business. Paying attention to trends is a great litmus test for identifying the best marketers–look for it if you’re retaining or hiring one. Which brings us […]
While most things these days have a lifecycle of around 6 months, it is good to know that others endure. Among those everlasting niceties of human life is the simple THANK YOU. It knows no age, no gender, race or national origin. It is universal. And nobody is ‘too big’ to say it. Or write it. […]
Apple–the world’s most important technology company; and You Tube–the world’s most important social media vehicle have significantly tightened their relationship. And, that is SOMEWHAT of a good news story for you. We’ll explain the disclaimer a bit later on. You Tube made the announcement earlier this month in New York. At a press conference, the company detailed the […]
What is most surprising to me about Apple’s purchase of Beats Music is all the people who say they’re surprised by it. Let’s see if we can clear things up. Think about this deal like Apple did… According to most reports, Apple has roughly $160 billion cash in the bank. And, of course, Apple is looking for ways to […]
The Golden Arches. Big Blue. What Can Brown Do For You? Can you imagine your next can of COKE not being red? Or your next bottle of Perrier or Heineken not being green? I didn’t think so–and you probably won’t have to any time soon. It’s some seriously high-test branding isn’t it? Color is powerful. […]
Better enjoy that Chocolate Mashed Potato Cupcake soon, because the cupcake’s 15-minutes of fame is running down. At least that is what all the headlines and bloggers are saying, But wait. Because I think they have it all wrong. Last summer, the entire world wrote the obit on the gourmet cupcake business. After all, the iconic Crumbs went […]
The YouTube World. How should marketers utilize its valuable demographic information? Along with the likes of iTunes and Spotify, YouTube has frequently been cited as a disruptive force in the music business. The characterization often centers on disputes around copyright and monetization, but “Despacito” may stand as a testament to another profound form of disruption: […]
Streaming is becoming more and more of what the music business is– and will be, all about. And while streaming music wherever you are in your home is nothing new–it is rapidly becoming less of a novelty and more of a fact of life. So, it should come as NO surprise that the leader in Whole House […]
Apple is once again selling Bose home audio products in its stores (according to 9to5Mac), two months after it pulled the line for what were officially ‘unknown’ reasons. Neither company has ever gone on the record about exactly why the divorce occurred, although a couple of obvious reasons did emerge. First, Bose sued Apple over what Bose […]
This piece of news is the latest and greatest example of why Apple is really the exemplar of a customer-centric brand. A cracked iPhone or iPad is not exactly a rare occurrence. But it is (or was??) a very BIG problem and all of you who ever experienced it with a year to go on your […]
Black Friday was a really good Friday for online retailers. Overall, sales were up over 8% from a year ago with nearly 47% of online traffic coming from mobile devices as of 6 PM Eastern time. That mobile figure is a 24.2% year over year increase. However, Thanksgiving day itself those numbers were even larger […]
The Power of Suggestion. It’s really the bulk of what marketing is all about. And like all great professions, marketing has tools that people who do it for a living utilize because they have been proven effective over a long period of time. As an example: Are there words so powerful that they can subliminally get […]
In a shocking if not surprising move… Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a measure this week that blocks Tesla Motors Inc. from selling cars directly to consumers in the state, siding with auto dealers and General Motors Co. even after other Michigan manufacturers advocated for the right of Tesla to execute its business model in the state. The legislation, passed […]
This post has nothing to do with marketing other than the fact that it might make your otherwise insane afternoon as a marketer pass a bit faster. And I really haven’t seen any of these before. Enjoy and don’t be a troll about having some fun! 1. A Million Seconds is 11 Days. A Billion […]
First: A Quick Bit of Background on This Important Story: Netflix announced its third-quarter earnings on October 15, 2014. And it was surrounded by a ‘one-two’ punch that most investors didn’t see coming. The report showed a significant subscriber shortfall–ouch #1. That fact, combined with a long-awaited, same-day announcement by HBO that it would begin […]
The Times They are A Changin’. In a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone but apparently surprised many–Time Warner’s HBO made the long-awaited announcement that it would offer an online-only service in the U.S. next year. This is a huge story with lots of implications throughout the content-delivery world. Especially if you happen to be a cable […]
Privacy is becoming a real hot-button issue for smartphone makers. The public is demanding more of it and they’re starting to voice that concern with their hard-earned cash. Apple’s Tim Cook and company went out of their way to stress privacy and security when they launched Apple Pay in September. Mr. Cook actually took a […]
The Bose and Apple ‘Smack-Down of the Goliaths’ ended this week with more of a whimper than a bang. Apple-owned Beats disclosed Friday that they’ve settled their patent infringement dispute out-of-court preventing a trial and a whole lot more. Bose, who first filed the complaint in July, disclosed to a U.S. District Court in Delaware that […]
Despite the eternal advice to the contrary, we ALL judge books by their covers. Which is why a consumer brand’s greatest visual asset is often its packaging design. Brands spend huge amounts of money coming up with ways to stand out on the retail shelf or floor. And some of the results are classic. Just think […]
Okay, I know a whole lot of you are getting your iPhone 6s ordered– and a number of you cutting-edge types already have your’s in hand. Either way, get ready because you’re not far away from dropping it for the first time. IT WILL HAPPEN. So, how will you new baby fare? Should you take the […]
Apple’s September 9 Press Event was really a joy to behold for all consumer product marketers. We all know that If you are going to do a launch these days–you have to do a BIG launch to gain real traction. AND that really big launch needs an equally big story to tell or you […]
Apple truly changed the world of business last week. In as big a way as the day ATMs, (800) numbers and online shopping were first announced. Maybe bigger. In fact, because of Apple’s milestone announcement–Nike, Macy’s, MacDonald’s, PETCO, Whole Foods, Wells Fargo, Disney and Starbucks all found something to agree on. Along with around 220,000 other […]
Here’s another example of MARKETING creating culture like no other discipline can. Is there anyone who doesn’t remember the first time they mastered the PC or the iPhone? What about the Swiss Army Knife? Or, the the Sony Walkman? Do you remember the first time you listened to music on an actual transistor radio? And the day you […]
OMG! How could this possibly be? The economy is bouncing back and yet you’re about to read the names of 6 HUGE brands that are now basically on life support. But, wait. “If the legendary Volvo is dying then how can little ol’ me survive?” “If Quiznos is toast, then I don’t stand a chance, […]
WE ALL LOVE INTERESTING STATISTICS. They’re fabulous mind candy. Great dinner and party conversation. And a good, nutritious source of business trends and information. But there are some statistics that stop you dead in your tracks and leave you feeling something just short of complete disbelief. Enter Social Media. Due to its incredibly important influence and […]
WE’VE ALL BEEN IN THIS SITUATION… You’re a startup or a brand in a state of stagnation or decline. It’s not just a temporary ‘lull’—it’s a palpable TREND. This rapidly mounting need to improve sales numbers without adequate media dollars combined with the inability to find enough qualified leads is creating a level of negative […]
It is always amazing to me how wrong people are about Video Gaming. And more importantly–Video Gamers. Decades into this category, misconceptions run rampant. “It’s for Teens and Tweens”. ” It’s mostly guys playing”. “It makes parents crazy”. It’s all wrong and it’s time to set the record straight. According to The Entertainment Software Association, […]
The suburban, car-loving, home-owning parents of the millennial set represent Costco’s key demographic. But what about the real-life millennials themselves? As far as retail success stories go, few can compete with Costco’s run in recent years. In surveys, customers routinely weigh in on how much they love the Costco shopping experience, and the company’s unique business […]
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The billionaire creator of Beanie Babies, Ty Warner, will serve two years of probation, including mentoring high school students, following his guilty plea on a tax evasion charge, but no jail time, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. Warner, 69, who pleaded guilty in October, told U.S. District Court Judge Charles Kocoras in […]
Okay… so all of us spend money on things we need. Things we like. Things that make us feel good. Americans love buying stuff. In fact, we spent about $11 trillion shopping for things last year. And if your company makes any of the products listed below, you are probably rolling in clover. But […]
The first correct response will win a 150 word profile about their business in an upcoming issue of American Brandstand. So, enter now. Just subscribe to this newsletter and send us an email with your answer. We can be reached at info@coordinatedmarketing.com. Winners must be subscribers to this newsletter. AMERICAN BRANDSTAND.
Content Marketing should now be as familiar a term to professional marketers as media planning and websites. After all, it’s likely customers are barraged by more ads, social media sites, content streams and raw data than they can possibly assimilate–never mind recall and turn into a purchase decision. It’s also probably why content marketing is the […]
Within much of the photography community around the world, the Hasselblad Lunar and Stellar have been taking a lot of heat— often called out as nothing more than rebranded Sony cameras that slap on exotic and/or luxurious materials and sell for thousands more than the originals. But just in case buying a standard Hasselblad Lunar isn’t exclusive […]
Just how did Alex Tew’s website make $ 1, 037 million in just a little more than three months? Why are we taking up valuable BLOGGING real estate to tell you about some guys’ really awful looking home page? Well, because this awful looking home page is nothing short of sheer business brilliance and I feel […]
Ah, the age old battle: Marketing VS Sales. In my 20+ years of corporate marketing, NOTHING has wasted more time and produced bigger threats to success than this little nuclear-grade street fight. And don’t even tell me it’s not going on in your company right this minute. Some people swear that marketing drives sales, and others […]
Since its inception back in 2010, Instagram has become one of the fastest growing mobile applications to date. Considering it has an estimated 150 million monthly active users worldwide, it is clear that this filter-enabled picture displaying social app is showing no signs of slowing down. With the simple evidence being that prospective customers are […]
The world really is getting smaller. NO, it really is. Stunningly, the planet’s population passed the 7 billion mark and over 2 billion of those are connected to the internet and more than 5 billion have a mobile phone. Streaming, downloading and unlimited talk and text are the new rules–replacing a world dependent on […]
Market Research Company Euromonitor International released a new report identifying the top 10 consumer trends for 2014 with a focus on consumer behaviors and beliefs going into the new year. According to the consumer trend report, there is an overwhelming desire globally to indulge in luxury goods, download more apps and document experiences visually through social […]
As advertisers aim to stand out in today’s fragmented media landscape, advertising is only part of the formula for reaching consumers. Creating a memorable brand identity by resonating with consumers is just as important, and some messages resonate better than others, according to Nielsen’s latest Trust In Advertising report. The Nielsen Global Survey of Trust in […]
Here’s a challenge for you: Go search for a marketer that doesn’t understand the importance of content in his or her marketing strategy. You’d be hard pressed to find someone, I’m sure. According to the Content Marketing Institute’s latest benchmarks report, 93 percent of B2B marketers use content marketing, up two percent from last year. […]
LEAD BY GEOFFREY JAMES The worst managers have a fundamentally broken understanding of workplace, company, and team dynamics. Don’t make these mistakes. A year ago, in 8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Bosses, I contrasted the great bosses with average ones. Many readers commented that what I described as an “average” boss was actually an awful boss. Not so! Truly horrible […]
“This age group [Generation Y, or, Millennials] actually really trusts what they receive in the mail because they like something tangible and something tailored to them. It’s great news for us—and direct marketers that don’t send targeted direct mail messages are definitely missing out.” We couldn’t agree more that direct marketers who leave print out […]
An online retailer is being sued after fining a couple $3,500 for a negative review and then dinging their credit score when they didn’t pay the fine. The lawsuit, which is seeking damages of at least $75,000, accuses KlearGear.com of defaming customers John and Jen Palmer, inflicting emotional distress, and violating the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. […]
Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of the world’s top 100 brands, as determined by Interbrand’s Best Global Brands report, now have an active Instagram account. According to Statista, nearly all of them post at least one photo per week, Another reminder to brand marketers that developing a professional social media program is not an option any longer. […]
There’s been a lot of buzz in the custom electronics world following a successful CEDIA Expo 2013. And system sales are expected to grow as we head into 2014. But today’s consumers are different. Instead of seeking excess and glamor, they’re driven by value. Homeowners still want entertainment, but their idea of entertainment may not be a […]