I think it might be a bit unnecessary to introduce the marketing guru, Seth Godin. In my opinion, he doesn't need an introduction. If you don't know him, well, head to your favorite bookstore and buy one of his books. Some are better than others, but they will all make you think. Personally, I'm a fan, and have read many of his books. I've also tried to keep up with his blog, but I've been getting busier so it's been harder.
At any rate, he gives a great lecture here about how to stand out.
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Crowdsourcing - Pros and Cons
If you haven't heard of crowdsourcing before, it is, in short, harnessing the power of crowds to generate ideas. That's how proponents would categorize it. Critics, on the other hand, suggest that it is little more than exploitive contests. I have mixed opinions on the idea. Whatever the case, it is fairly innovative as a concept.
Crowdsourcing as a concept has existed for a while. Whether you talk about Wikipedia, open source software or futures market theory projects like DARPA's much-maligned Policy Analysis Market, crowds of people are able to create more, generate better solutions or forecast better than any one individual or company. Crowdsourcing as discussed so often in media today refers to the many different companies who have sprung up to connect companies with large groups of people such as Innocentive, Atizo, Idea Bounty to name just a few.
This latest varient uses a contest format with large cash prizes to tempt individuals to submit ideas. I must admit I came across this rather late. I first heard about it in through the Idea Bounty Peparami brief which garnered a lot of headlines. It sounded like fun to pit your wits against other creative writers (presumably other ad agency copywriters) with a potential payout of $10,000. I spent about 3 hours in total writing up one TV commercial and two print ads proposals and I was in the top 100 out of 1000+ entrants. Apparently, I'll get some kind of prize for doing that well.
It's hard to tell whether this is a fad or a real future trend. Having surfed the idea a bit, I can tell you a LOT of ad agency people are utterly disgusted by this concept -- a cheap outsourcing of creative work. To some degree, I agree with this. An agency would be paid several hundred thousand for a similar campaign. Shouldn't the winner have received something similar?
On the other hand, this money would be split into salary and production costs. And the copywriter, AD or CD who originated the idea is not likely to get that much in compensation for their idea. I think it is worth mentioning that $10,000 is no small chunk of change even for ad execs making $60 000 - 100 000 per year. As far as I know, unless you are a partner in an ad agency, you are not likely to make anything near $10,000 (presuming hours worked) for generating a single nationwide marketing campaign idea.
I also agree with the argument made by some ad execs that ad agency people spend too much time inside advertising world without looking out. Diversity is maybe the biggest plus for crowdsourcing --ie outside-the-box thinking garnered by non-industry insiders. (That has worked for many solutions at Innocentive.) On the other hand, both winners of the brief were former long time industry pros.
Will I continue to submitting crowdsourcing ideas? Maybe, I don't see spending 30-60 minutes for the chance at a large payout to be time poorly spent. I might spend that time just surfing the web for news articles.
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Crowdsourcing as a concept has existed for a while. Whether you talk about Wikipedia, open source software or futures market theory projects like DARPA's much-maligned Policy Analysis Market, crowds of people are able to create more, generate better solutions or forecast better than any one individual or company. Crowdsourcing as discussed so often in media today refers to the many different companies who have sprung up to connect companies with large groups of people such as Innocentive, Atizo, Idea Bounty to name just a few.
This latest varient uses a contest format with large cash prizes to tempt individuals to submit ideas. I must admit I came across this rather late. I first heard about it in through the Idea Bounty Peparami brief which garnered a lot of headlines. It sounded like fun to pit your wits against other creative writers (presumably other ad agency copywriters) with a potential payout of $10,000. I spent about 3 hours in total writing up one TV commercial and two print ads proposals and I was in the top 100 out of 1000+ entrants. Apparently, I'll get some kind of prize for doing that well.
It's hard to tell whether this is a fad or a real future trend. Having surfed the idea a bit, I can tell you a LOT of ad agency people are utterly disgusted by this concept -- a cheap outsourcing of creative work. To some degree, I agree with this. An agency would be paid several hundred thousand for a similar campaign. Shouldn't the winner have received something similar?
On the other hand, this money would be split into salary and production costs. And the copywriter, AD or CD who originated the idea is not likely to get that much in compensation for their idea. I think it is worth mentioning that $10,000 is no small chunk of change even for ad execs making $60 000 - 100 000 per year. As far as I know, unless you are a partner in an ad agency, you are not likely to make anything near $10,000 (presuming hours worked) for generating a single nationwide marketing campaign idea.
I also agree with the argument made by some ad execs that ad agency people spend too much time inside advertising world without looking out. Diversity is maybe the biggest plus for crowdsourcing --ie outside-the-box thinking garnered by non-industry insiders. (That has worked for many solutions at Innocentive.) On the other hand, both winners of the brief were former long time industry pros.
Will I continue to submitting crowdsourcing ideas? Maybe, I don't see spending 30-60 minutes for the chance at a large payout to be time poorly spent. I might spend that time just surfing the web for news articles.
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Friday, December 4, 2009
Magical Digital Video Brush
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Brainstore - The Idea Factory
I heard about the Brainstore a few years back. If you haven't heard of them, they are a Swiss applied creativity company. It's a fantastic idea. They have developed a multi-step, structured creativity process. I wanted to know more and they were kind enough to send me a DVD detailing their process.
I teach Creativity Seminars to business people myself so most of their techniques were familiar to me. What I thought was really special was how they created such a rich space for idea generation. I think the vibe is a fun cross between a hip ad agency and a funky IT company. Lots of play. People become more creative when you shake up their routines. Take them out of their familiar surroundings and try something new.
I also really like the incorporation of teenagers at one stage of the process -- having taught teenagers for a number of years I can tell you that they do come up with some really fantastic ideas. I hope this gives someone in your country a few ideas. Two thumbs up!
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
I teach Creativity Seminars to business people myself so most of their techniques were familiar to me. What I thought was really special was how they created such a rich space for idea generation. I think the vibe is a fun cross between a hip ad agency and a funky IT company. Lots of play. People become more creative when you shake up their routines. Take them out of their familiar surroundings and try something new.
I also really like the incorporation of teenagers at one stage of the process -- having taught teenagers for a number of years I can tell you that they do come up with some really fantastic ideas. I hope this gives someone in your country a few ideas. Two thumbs up!
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Monday, November 30, 2009
New Ads Worth Sharing
If I didn't know better, I'd have to think they made this texteditor for me. I'd like to try it, but at the moment, it is only available for Mac. (And yes, I use MS.) Herraiz Soto and Co create a blissful ad for Ommwriter.
The next ad is Pereira & O'Dell for Muscle Milk. The overwhelming amount of kitsch in this makes it worthy of a mention. A Thanksgiving themed commercial worth watching.
The final ad this week is by Tierney, Minneapolis for Garmin, makers of GPS for cars. Well executed Christmas theme!
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
The next ad is Pereira & O'Dell for Muscle Milk. The overwhelming amount of kitsch in this makes it worthy of a mention. A Thanksgiving themed commercial worth watching.
The final ad this week is by Tierney, Minneapolis for Garmin, makers of GPS for cars. Well executed Christmas theme!
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Fora Lecture of the Week: Dan Piraro and Bizarro Buccaneers
Bizarro is great. It's a a bit like the Far Side, but even weirder. If you don't know it, you can check it out here.
At any rate, I had never seen the artist, Dan Piraro, before. He appeared at a San Fran Haight Street bookstore to discuss his latest book, Bizarro Buccaneers. Very funny guy in person too!
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
At any rate, I had never seen the artist, Dan Piraro, before. He appeared at a San Fran Haight Street bookstore to discuss his latest book, Bizarro Buccaneers. Very funny guy in person too!
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Friday, November 27, 2009
10 Most Innovative Consumer Electronics Companies
A victim of their own success...
Strategos just released a top ten list of the most innovative Consumer Electronics companies.
1. LG
2. Nintendo
3. Microsoft
4. Sony
5. Hitachi
6. Canon
7. Sharp
8. NetApp
9. Audiovox
10. Apple
...and the big surprise is Apple in tenth place. This is quite different from the Business Week Top 50 where they come in 1st. Why the difference? Apparently, the biggest fault with Apple is their lack of uniqueness in customer surveys.
Personally, I wasn't surprised. BusinessWeek themselves had an article called: The Mac in the Grey Flannel Suit where they detailed how common Apple was becoming in the business market among regular employees. You couple that with all the anecdotal stories I've heard about Apple's "fadish" popularity among teens. And you have a recipe for a brand in decline. It's hard to be different when everyone owns one.
What do you think of this list?
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
Strategos just released a top ten list of the most innovative Consumer Electronics companies.
1. LG
2. Nintendo
3. Microsoft
4. Sony
5. Hitachi
6. Canon
7. Sharp
8. NetApp
9. Audiovox
10. Apple
...and the big surprise is Apple in tenth place. This is quite different from the Business Week Top 50 where they come in 1st. Why the difference? Apparently, the biggest fault with Apple is their lack of uniqueness in customer surveys.
Personally, I wasn't surprised. BusinessWeek themselves had an article called: The Mac in the Grey Flannel Suit where they detailed how common Apple was becoming in the business market among regular employees. You couple that with all the anecdotal stories I've heard about Apple's "fadish" popularity among teens. And you have a recipe for a brand in decline. It's hard to be different when everyone owns one.
What do you think of this list?
Stay inspired!
Cheers,
Maurice
www.voiceone.fi
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