Branding Blog

Crikey! What's next? The Eye of Sauron?

Microsoft Surface Sphere

Why your retail store needs a good web site, even if you don't do e-commerce.

Thanks to Holly at GrokDotCom for finding this article on SearchEngineWatch.

Media measurement company, Nielsen Online, conducted a survey to examine the relationship between online research and offline purchases. They found that 80% of participants who had recently bought consumer electronics from a brick and mortar store whose site they visited first.

• 53% bought from the site where they spent the most time.
• 58% would choose the internet if they could only use one channel to conduct product research on consumer electronics. Only 25% chose the brick and mortar store.

I get asked all the time about the importance of having more than just a first generation "my nephew built it" web site for your LOCAL clothing store, plumbing shop, cafe, bank, insurance agency, etc. My answer is always, "I can't believe it's 2008 and you're still asking that question. " But, some people will only listen to the numbers.

The numbers are still speaking. They haven't changed their minds. I can help you.

Nashville Small Business Seminar

You're still invited...

Boom Your Business....register today!

"The Breakup" the Sequel: "Inspiration Anyone?"

About a year ago, Microsoft Advertising released a video called "The Breakup." It's a great statement about the disconnect between advertisers and consumers. Now, a year later, they've produced a nice sequel. Again, deep irony regarding the fact that the advertiser just doesn't get it.

The video is designed to get people to a Microsoft web site called getinspiredhere.net, a brand new blog that promises to build a community of marketers, designers and developers. There's not much there yet, but it's likely worth watching to see how they progress...or they could just become another piece of the irony.

Inspiration, anyone?
by geertdesager

Wordtracker: Great Story on the Blendtec Saga

I wrote a short piece about Blendtec's success on YouTube a few weeks ago.

Today, Rachelle Money at Wordtracker's blog posted an interview with Blendtec owner/video star Tom Dickson.

When asked about his feelings towards viral marketing now, Dickson said, “The interesting thing about viral marketing is that when you put it out there there’s no way of taking it back - it’s gone. You might get people who say bad things but that’s just going to happen.

“Most of what’s said about the campaigns is very positive. In fact, if someone says something negative about me or the blender, we don’t have to do anything because others will come back and defend me and the product.”

It's a great success story. I find it very interesting that the strategic pieces all fell into place AFTER the company found a remarkable way to tell the message.

What are you doing to be remarkable?

                   

Let's Get Together in Nashville: We're having a Wizard Seminar!

A bunch of my fellow Wizard of Ads Partners are throwing a party seminar in the Music City. It's gonna be a lot of fun very educational. Wanna come along?

• Do you make decisions that impact a business?
• Do you have the courage to actually do something differently?
• Do you want to communicate more powerfully?

Take away a wealth of persuasively potent tools you can begin using immediately to Boom Your Business on Friday and Saturday, August 1st and 2nd, at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

It’s just $299 for two days. Strictly limited to the first 200 who register.

A 2-day event with this line-up should cost you at least $1,200. Why are we only charging $299? You're thinking that you're going to get a sales pitch, right? Nope. Nothing of the sort.

We're charging less because this is the first time. We're working out the bugs before we take this event on tour. You won’t be asked to buy anything else. The Wizard of Ads Partners do not solicit business. They are teachers first.

Ready to go back to school?  Raise your hand.

Boring but Valuable Formula #117: Repetition and Results

[Following the rabbit hole from today's Monday Morning Memo, will lead you to this fine piece of Wizardly Wisdom. We teach this to our clients, and this week Roy Williams shares it with all who follow the rabbit.  -Dave]

By Roy H. Williams

It’s a question asked by business owners in every town, village and hamlet. It’s asked by the cautious, the anxious, and the wise. It’s asked of every newspaper, television and radio rep.

“How many ads will I have to run before I begin seeing results?”

Still rooms left for Fight the Big Boys and Win

Unbelievable. There are still a few rooms of student housing available for next week's inaugural session of "Fight the Big Boys and Win" at Wizard Academy.

I was talking to Mike Dandridge yesterday about the class. He and co-teacher Tom Wanek have a lot of fun planned and everyone should come away with a plan to really take the customer experience of their business to a higher level. Customer experience is what triggers word of mouth. An average customer experience won't do it. The experience has to be lousy (for negative word of mouth...hehehe) or remarkable. Think about that word: Remarkable. That's what it takes.

It's getting kind of late for plane tickets, I know. The experience of attending your first class at Wizard Academy PLUS the opportunity to stay at Engelbrecht House on campus with your fellow students is a REMARKABLE event.

If you live in Austin, be sure to check it out. We have one student, owner of a prosperous accounting firm in Austin, who regularly stays on campus for classes. She lives just down the road. Literally a 12-minute walk from Wizard Academy.

Monday Morning Memo: Customer Profiles

By Roy H. Williams (go to MondayMorningMemo.com to listen to this memo.)

I’ve never seen a business fail due to reaching the wrong people. But if you listen to advertising sales reps, “reaching the right people” will solve all your problems.

And guess who has exactly the right people for you?

Can I have a Kindle?

A couple of friends already have one. They love it. I'm jealous. I want one.

I didn't want one quite so bad before I saw that they are back in stock!