Tracking the media... those Cheeky Monkeys

Does This Spit Up Make Me Look Fat?

2009-06-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was in the kitchen with Beth taking a breather from the younguns and had a laugh. Beth told me that I had spit-up on my shoulder. Pepper's last burping session came with a prize and I was the lucky winner. I looked at it for a second but since it wasn't a big deal shrugged my shoulders and went back around my business. Then Beth said, "If it makes you feel any better I've got poop on my shirt."

That's right! We've reached the point where getting the kids asleep/fed/bathed/quiet/off each other's throats is more important than how we look. THIS is parenthood. THIS is why a parent's wardrobe freezes at a certain point and never gets any better. THIS is why I'll never have a truly "white" shirt again.

Parents will stop traffic, ford rivers, take on a pack of wild dogs and risk life and limb to wipe a child's mouth and/or nose but find it perfectly acceptable to go around with dirty pants, shirts and hair. THIS is parenthood.

TraxMedia Re-BOOT

2009-06-08T08:10:00.001-07:00

Its time for a re-fresh. I've settled into a wonderful job with Smucker's and thought that I'd get back to sharing more of the "defining moments" that inspired this blog.

Kraft Earnings Take A Hit, Store Brands On The Rise

2009-02-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

Kraft just reported a 72% drop in earnings during 2008 - the majority during the last quarter. Consumers are cutting back in a lot of ways and turning more to store brands to save money. However, Kraft still plans on increasing its marketing budget to 8% of its total budget (up from 7% last year).

Very smart move! The best way to counter store brand growth is to emphasize the value in the Kraft: Consumers have to believe that they get more value and better products if they spend the additional money. Brandweek reports that, "Kraft will rely on product innovations and value marketing to drive growth behind its brands.

Surprisingly Product Recalls Don't Change Eating Habits

2009-02-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

In the wake of the ever-expanding peanut butter recalls I found this news surprising and a little troubling.

The Washington Post reports that, on the whole, Americans will alter their habits over the short term but revert to regular practises once the news swell has passed. Why? Psychologists theorize that "learned helplessness" is to blame.

"Few consumers, if any, had heard of the Peanut Corporation of America, the company responsible for the [current peanut butter] outbreak. Yet the Blakely, Ga.-based company sold its products to more than 70 name-brand firms that used them for foods including cookies, pet food, ice cream and cereal. With the possible spread of tainted product so wide, consumers tend to believe that they can't do anything about it and their response is not to try. When faced with a perceived helplessness consumers tend to carry on with regular behaviour despite the risks.

Trekaroo Helps Families With Kids Plan Vacations

2009-02-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here's one for the kids (and parents with kids). Trekaroo is a travel planning site targeted specifically at parents with children. The site offers travel tips, top cities for families, kid-approved activities, in depth reviews and a chat option for parents to connect and discuss.

Mashable's take: "Although Trekaroo doesn’t marvel us with any spectacular new technology, we think that parents could really benefit from the knowledge base of an active community of family travelers." I agree! The chat feature helps get answers from a community of parents that have been there and done that.

Pasta Is Cheap Eats

2009-02-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Consumption of pasta is up across the board. Sales, volume and revenues all rose during 2008 as increasingly strapped consumers turned to the staple.

But Peter Smith, chief executive of Harrisburg, Pa.-based New World Pasta, which makes Ronzoni, said that the current economic situation has caused people to rediscover pasta. I know our family is eating more and more these days.

From the Houston Chronicle/AP

Whats In A Name... Your Last Name?

2009-02-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Something very cool for all the family history buffs out there. Dynastree allows you to more sense of your lineage, by tracing the roots of your surname. They have a new surname mapping feature that allows you to see the geographical dispersion of your last name across the country. Check out your surname map. Adams is #30 on the list of most frequent surname in the U.S. and there are folks with the name in all 50 states (Texas has the most). Very cool.

Thanks Mashable

Super Bowl Ads Step Up Their Digital Game

2009-01-28T10:20:00.000-08:00

On Super Bowl Sunday viewers will huddle around their TVs to experience what has become the advertising industry's biggest day. This year, however, advertisers are looking to get their money's worth by leveraging new digital technologies designed to "make the most of the short exposure their ads will get on the Feb. 1 game broadcast."

The Wall Street Journal reports that several updated and new technologies will be on display. "Interactive TV ads, sophisticated search strategies, Web-only outtakes, mobile-phone applications and social-networking campaigns" will all have their 30 seconds in the sun. These new extensions and applications are advertiser's way of stretching their marketing dollars and using digital technologies to give their ads an audience before, during and (hopefully) long after the Super Bowl champ is crowned.

This year's philosophy can be summed up by Matt Ramella, manager of media and digital marketing for Anheuser-Busch InBev. "We're definitely trying to change our mind-set to use mass TV in a more efficient and effective way... Digital extensions pick up where mass media leaves off."

Personally, I'm pulling for the underdogs - successful digital extensions and the Arizona Cardinals!

Economy Slows Organic Food Growth

2009-01-28T09:33:00.001-08:00

The economy is causing consumers to watch their budgets and question their commitment to organic food. The increased pressure on food budgets has slowed the growth of the organic food segment but it is still growing. Sales in December were up 5.6%, compared with 25.6% a year earlier.

Reuters reports that "most people who purchased organic foods were very committed" despite slowing growth in the sector. Tom Pirovano, director of The Nielsen Co. said, "I'm not convinced that we are going to see big declines in organics any time soon." I hope that the growth of the organic food is not a fad but the current economic will definitely put the viability of the segment to the test.

Delete Feature For YouTube Comments - Sweet!

2009-01-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

YouTube now offers a "Delete" feature for all your posted comments so you can remove all your less-than-profound nuggets. May I suggest we all take some time to remove all the "Sweet!" and "Killer vid" comments we've made on videos we thought were cool back in the day.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids Are The New Black, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are SOO Last Year

2009-01-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

A recent American Heart Association science advisory said that Omega-6 fatty acids, found in some vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, can lead to a lower incidence of heart disease. The findings of the study put the omega-6 debate to rest and recommend that people get 5% to 10% of their calories from omega-6 fatty acids.

According to the Washington Post, the benefit of omega-6 fatty acids has been the subject of debate because "arachidonic acid, a component of omega-6 fatty acids, is a building block for some inflammation-related molecules, and there have been fears that it might increase the risk of heart disease."

"That reflects a rather naive understanding of the biochemistry," said William S. Harris, director of the Metabolism and Nutrition Research Center of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. "Omega-6 fatty acids give rise to both pro-inflammatory compounds and anti-inflammatory compounds. To say that they are bad because they produce pro-inflammatory compounds ignores the fact that they give rise to anti-inflammatory compounds as well."

Kellogg Tests New Cereal Box

2009-01-27T08:46:00.000-08:00

The Kellogg company is testing a new "space saving" cereal box that AdAge predicts will "redefine the cereal aisle." The box holds the same amount of product and uses 8% less raw materials. This is Kellogg's biggest change to its boxes since the 1950's.

This move is heralded as a new solution to consumer space concerns in the kitchens but - please forgive me for being a skeptic - it sounds like a way to prepare consumers for less product in a new and improved smaller box. In 2007 several companies redesigned their packages and touted environmental benefits to consumers while at the same time cutting product sizes. Kellogg could be taking a two step approach so keep your eyes on the product weight in the snazzy new boxes.

Are you the Most Powerful Person on Facebook?

2009-01-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

Facebook Grader is a way to rank yourself and others on Facebook. The Grader gives you a grade out of 100 "compared to all the other users of the service." Your ranking is calculated by the number of friends you have, the relative "power" of your network and how complete your profile is.

User beware! Your score will probably make you depressed for the rest of the day. I got a 9... no numbers left out... NINE... OUT OF 100! Yikes. My friends and I have work to do!!!

A Mashable blogger received a score of 86. Thanks a lot, HubSpot! You beat me up, tore down my KISS poster and made me feel all bad about myself.

2008: Year of the Incredible Shrinking Packaging, 2009: Year of the Incredible Rising Prices

2009-01-19T06:31:00.000-08:00

Just in case you haven't noticed or heard from the media - the packaging of your favorite products shrunk in 2008 but you still paid the same amount. This year it looks like the prices of the smaller packages will be on the rise.

During 2008 thousands of almost imperceptible changes crept into the grocery isle. Some much-decried examples:

The "bubble" in jars of Skippy peanut butter jar got more indented, turning an 18-ounce jar into a 16.3-ounce one

Bryers ice cream containers shrank by one-quarter of a quart

Containers of Tropicana orange juice got 7 ounces lighter

Froot Loops lost more than 2 ounces per box

The reason? During 2008, Manufacturers claimed package downsizing was a result of rising commodity prices and they didn't want to pass the higher prices on to the consumer. However, when commodity prices dropped at the tail end of 2008 the packaging and prices stayed the same. Now, in 2009, it looks like they changed their mind and are more than willing to pass the prices on to consumers. Starting yesterday, January 18, Kellogg Co. put into effect new, higher "prices on the majority of its cereal brands and Pop-Tarts toaster pastries." General Mills will most likely follow suit.

What's a consumer to do? Read the fine print and look high and low. Store brands will start looking even better now that consumers are being asked to pay even more for a smaller package.

With help from the Chicago Sun-Times/Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the Convenience Store News

CPG Innovation Stalls During Recession

2009-01-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that new studies demonstrate consumers are just as likely to try new products during a recession fewer companies are launching new products into the uncertain economy. The slowdown in new products is trickling down to the new product testing, advertising and PR sectors Adage reports. Recessions have often yielded great innovations and loyal consumers so it seems like a bad idea to sit this one out. Fair weather CPG brands usually only make sales when the weather is fine.

CSPI Sues Over Vitaminwater Claims

2009-01-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has joined forces with two firms filing suit against Coke's Vitaminwater for what they call "deceptive and unsubstantiated claims." Their main concern is that "flavored sugar water" shouldn't be marketed with health claims like "rescue," "energy" and "endurance." CSPI feels that the high sugar content negates the benefits the marketing touts.

Another practice that CSPI is calling into question is Vitaminwater's labeling. A Brandweek article notes that "the servings of calories and other 'bad stuff' are shown per every eight ounces while the vitamins and minerals are labeled per bottle."

Coke countered that the suit was an effort to draw more attention to the Washington, DC based CSPI during the pending inauguration and added, "This is a ridiculous and ludicrous lawsuit. Glaceau Vitaminwater is a great-tasting, hydrating beverage with essential vitamins and water, with labels showing calorie content. Consumers can readily see the nutrition facts panels on every bottle of Glaceau Vitaminwater, which show what's in our product and what's not."

Social Networking the #1 Growth Area in Online Marketing

2009-01-13T08:05:00.001-08:00

With all the bad economic news swirling around you may have missed the fact that 25% of small businesses said they will increase their advertising spend in the social networking arena. Online Marketing continues to grow and a majority of small businesses saying they expect to spend "about the same" as they did last year on online advertising. For small businesses, the question is not IF they will spend advertising dollars online but WHEN and in WHAT FORMAT.

With budget cuts and layoffs almost across the board it appears as if online marketing is immune to some of the current economic woes. Read more via Emarketer

TweetBacks Help Track Reaction to Blog Posts

2009-01-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

Twitter applications continue to multiply and make listening-in and tracking easier. TweetBacks displays all the Twitter buzz attached to a particular blog post. Any time the post's URL is used on Twitter TweetBacks builds a list for your perusal. The program adds a line of code to your template and displays "Twitter activity relating to blog posts in the same way that comments are displayed on most blogs today."

Thanks for the heads up Mashable

50+ Ways to Track Web Traffic

2009-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

As always in PR, I'm on the lookout for better ways to track website and blog traffic. This list is awesome and is sure to help find the audience numbers we all need.

You've Probably Visited AOL Today and you Didn't Even Know It

2009-01-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

AOL is silently buying up a diverse portfolio of sites to increase the advertising "constellation" they can offer. Some of their stars include the TMZ and Engadet.com.

Jonathan Dube, the president of the Online News Association said AOL is “selling a much more targeted, focused product, both to the audience and to advertisers.”

Thanks NY Times

I Was NOT on the List of 25 Most Influential People on the Web

2009-01-12T07:08:00.000-08:00

I'll put that on my list of things to do this year (again!). Business Week's list is a great way to put faces behind the platforms and technologies that are changing the digital world. The list also has lots of entrepreneurs and start up companies making fringe technologies that are moving the digital tectonic plates that we build on! Notables:

Google's leadership trio - trying to make their corporate motto come to life "Don't be evil."

Matt Mullenweg of WordPress - he just turned 25!

Craig Newmark of Craigslist - he personally helped Beth and I sell our lightly used crap

Kevin Rose of Digg - Business Week calls him "one of the most well-known faces of the new Web elite"

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia - recently ranked in the top 10 most popular sites in the world

Evan Williams - started Blogger... then one of his employees started Twitter... watch this guy and his crowd for the next way to communicate!

Ketchup is Fun, Delicious and Colorful

2009-01-09T09:18:00.000-08:00

BEST CONTEST EVER!

"Dip it, dunk it, spread it or squirt it, Ketchup is fun, delicious and colorful, and kids love to eat it!" I ate so much ketchup growing up that my parents considered it a vegetable. Since then my quantity of ketchup consumed has slowed but my appreciation/love for the best condiment ever still runs deep. Heinz Ketchup has launched the 2009 edition of their "Heinz Ketchup Creativity" contest for kids and their schools. The winning designs will be featured on 19.5 million packets of Heinz Ketchup.

Click here to vote starting on March 20-25!

Winners receive:

Their designs printed on approximately 19.5 MILLION Heinz® Ketchup Packets

A cash prize of $1,000

Their art displayed in the Winners’ Gallery

Recognition and rewards for their schools, including: $1,000 toward art supplies, $1,000 worth of free Heinz® Ketchup, A framed poster of their artwork for display

Facebook Hits 150 Million Users, A Random Sample

2009-01-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

Facebook's official blog posted that the platform now has 150 million users. Yikes! Apparently this number is ACTIVE users which makes it all the more impressive. Facebook could reach 300 million by the end of 2009 if this growth pattern continues.

Gracias Mashable

Recession Prompting Towns to Loosen Limits for Sidewalk, Banner Advertising

2009-01-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

Several small towns across the country are loosening their restrictions on how businesses (particularly small, independent businesses) advertise their services. Alexandria, VA is allowing store owners in their historic district to display sidewalk signs for the first time ever. Giving businesses another tool to help attract consumers will help the owners during this tough economic environment (and raise more tax revenue for the cities).

I see a growing trend in this story - when push comes to shove the dollar will trump aesthetics every time. I'm certain that we will see more and more stories like this as "important," normally "hot button" issues get shelved due to the economic worries. For better or worse the crappy economy is showing us what's really important to us.

From USA Today

New Apple iTunes Pricing Structure is Bad News for Britney Spears Fans

2009-01-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Soon iTunes will be implementing a variable pricing structure. The most popular, top-40 tracks will cost $1.29 and older, less popular music will be available for download for $0.99 or $0.69. If you listen to a lot of "popular" music this will end up costing you more money. If you like music that falls outside of the "normal" purview you could save some cash. I can't wait to download those rare gems from Reggie & The Full Effect and 2 Skinnee Js that I've had my eye on!

New Social Networks: Reading Trails is Way Better than Hanging out at Barnes & Noble for 4-6 Hours on a Saturday

2009-01-06T07:04:00.001-08:00

Reading Trails is a new social network for readers. Its goal is to help members find new books and people with similar literary tastes. You create a trail with all the books you've read and enter tags and descriptions on the books in your "trail." Over time you can see your likes and dislikes and find "intersections" (i.e. books you have in common with other users). You can follow trails, see what other users are reading now then find and buy your next read.

Thanks Mashable

During Downturn Consumers Want Economy Sized Options

2009-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

It should come as no big surprise that nearly 60 percent of U.S. consumers are "very concerned" about rising food prices. Given the lengths that consumers are going to in order to find a bargain and the equally impressive efforts that CPG companies are undertaking to scrounge a profit, The Nielsen Company's recent survey data isn't a revelation.

58 percent of U.S. consumers are "very concerned" about rising food costs
47 percent of consumers survey prefer CPG manufacturers to offer large, economy sizes with lower price points per serving
Only 17 percent of consumers prefer CPG manufacturers introduce new, smaller pack sizes at lower prices
9 percent of consumers suggest CPG manufacturers downsize or modestly reduce the packaging size of products, keeping the price of the product the same

If only some free food came with this thought...

From Gourmet Retailer

Your Favorite Foods... Now with Caffeine

2009-01-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

Mintel's Global New Products Database noted that there were 70 new foods that used the term "energy" in the product descriptions during the first half of 2008. Surprisingly only a few of the new "energy" foods were beverages - in fact, 42 of the new products were snack foods, 16 were confectionery items and 7 were breakfast foods.

"We expect the concept of 'energy' - both physical and mental - to greatly influence food-product development," said Krista Faron, a senior product analyst from Mintel. “Energy is poised to take food in a new direction, giving consumers who need a boost many different ways to get it. From natural energizers, like omega-3s or antioxidants, to foods that are fortified with energizing ingredients, we are seeing ‘energy’ emerge as a core benefit in new food products.”

Food Product Design is reporting that "caffeine is also finding its way into foods like energy bars and even cereals like instant oatmeal. High-antioxidant superfruits, like blueberries and noni, are also added to foods promising mental and physical performance boosts.

From Food Product Design

Break Free of the 140 Character Limit with Twitblogs

2008-12-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

Twitter just added a blogging platform that allows you to follow the Twitter format without the 140 character limitation. The new format looks just like the Twitter interface but allows you to add images and videos to your blog sized tweets. Your post headlines will be posted to your regular Twitter account so your followers will see what you're saying.

Mashable's take: "TwitBlogs is simple, efficient, and solves a real problem: we like it. The question is: would you choose the familiarity of a Twitter-like interface over Tumblr, which provides more advanced features and theming, among other goodies?"

How Brands Can Maximize Twitter: An Opinion

2008-12-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

Mashable writer made several interesting points about brands on Twitter. The main point is this: Brands would be better served to choose an appropriate person to represent them in the space versus creating an amorphous brand persona acting like a person. Twitter is supposed to be about individuals connecting and sharing with other individuals and if the one-on-one element is lost the platform could slowly melt down.

Store Brand Soda on the Rise or Enjoy Dr. Thunder

2008-12-22T08:59:00.000-08:00

One of the few areas that still banks heavily on big brand names is starting to crumble under the weight of the economic downturn. Carbonated soft drinks are usually dominated by name brands but consumers are now reaching for store brand sodas to quench their thirst. The store brand soda segment has been gaining ground over private labels as the year has progressed. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that "Nielsen data on Nov. 1 for the previous four weeks showed private-label carbonated beverages up 6.5 percent in dollar sales. Branded carbonated beverages fell about 1 percent in that same period." The AJC reports that "retailers also are putting a greater emphasis on their store brands" and promoting their private labels more heavily and touting the quality of the products. Mmmm... nothing hits the spot like a cold can of Mountain Yeller! From the AJC

Febreze will be Home for the Holidays

2008-12-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

Febreze recently released a new limited edition line just for the holidays. The new varieties include Vanilla Bean, Cranberry & Frost, and Winter Evening & Warmth. To kick off the limited edition push P&G has enlisted Laura Dellutri as spokesperson to play up the value of the line during these tough economic times and launched a sweepstakes to share holiday traditions.

"Given the state of the economy, many people are looking for cost-effective ways to pull off a grand gathering for family and friends this holiday season," Dellutri said in a statement. "Febreze's limited edition scents are offered in a variety of products to help invoke a warm and fresh seasonal atmosphere at home without breaking the bank."

We love Febreze at our house, especially during the winter when the windows are closed and the heat is on. A quick spritz around the house really helps the the house smell fresh. I can't wait to try the limited edition holiday varieties.

From BrandWeek

Have you stumbled upon SumbleUpon?

2008-12-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

If you haven't discovered StumbleUpon, now is the perfect time - its a great way to discover all the great content you've been missing in 2008! The site's aim is to help users "Discover your web" and allows users to search the web and make decisions along the way. As you move about the web StumbleUpon leans from your preferences and will bring you similar content. According to Mashable, StumbleUpon has "the unique feature of showing you a random website, anytime, anywhere, and also learns and adapts to your interests, showing you websites specifically tailored to your preferences." So get out there, review your favorite sites and let StumbleUpon do the rest. There's no telling what you'll stumble upon in 2009.

Growth of Organic Foods Suffering from Economic Woes Just Like the Rest of Us

2008-12-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

The growth of organic products is slowing and in some cases flat lining due to the troubled economy. The AP reports that "shoppers are having second thoughts about the value of organic foods, particularly fruits, vegetables and meats. But they're not giving up entirely on these products."

Sales continue to rise but not at the same explosive growth rate that the segment experienced during the previous decade. The owner of an organic market in Chicago reported that "the same amount or more of people are coming in, but they're buying less."

That being said, expert still expect that the customer base for organic foods will continue to grow based on the "assumption that prices will drop and mainstream retailers will stock a wider variety of products." That trend is already on the rise and stores like Target and Wal-Mart continue to add their own lines of store-brand organic items. As the economy continues its current funk consumers will continue to avoid higher priced specialty stores and by their organic items from value priced outlets.

A social network for soccer hooligans

2008-12-17T10:24:00.000-08:00

Mashable reviewed YouSport - a soccer-centric social networking site focused on building a community of recreational athletes and fans. The beautiful game is making major inroads here in the US of A and this social network is another great step in the right direction. YouSport is a global platform for fans of the game to connect, amateur players and future professional players between 14-19 years old to find games and resources for youth coaches. Now I just need a network for rugby players...

Coupons: Take pride in your savings!

2008-12-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the current economic upheaval coupons are back in fashion and are "This Season's Must Have," according to Stuart Elliot of the NY Times. Since consumers are trying any conceivable way to stretch their dollars its no surprise that coupons are booming. There is a new breed of consumer that takes pride in their deal and coupon finding skills. "Thrift is the new normal,” said Lance Saunders, an EVP from Campbell Mithun in Minneapolis. “There’s no stigma to getting anything on discount, instead, there’s a sense of pride.”

Offering coupons during the economic downturn increases trial and purchase for major brand names and can keep them top of mind in the face of the surging popularity of store brands.

Technology is also advancing the coupon's march into the mainstream. Coupons can be accessed by mobile devices and sent directly to cellphones. Advancing technology also allows brands to target consumers and personalize the coupons they receive. A personal coupon increases the brand experience and can cement loyalty... hopefully through this recession and beyond.

Top coupon sites:

coupons.com, couponcabin.com, couponcode.com, couponmom.com, 8coupons.com, fatwallet.com, shortcuts.com

"Critter Carols" are the new "Elf Yourself"

2008-12-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

Oddcast and Purina have created "Critter Carols." The new viral holiday promotion allows users to create an animated holiday greeting card using images of their own cats or dogs. Once you upload images of your pets they will bark (or meow) classic holiday tunes like "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells." Elf Yourself was fun but this is next level cuteness!

Excited to get my run on with DailyMile

2008-12-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

Mashable just reviewed the new social network DailyMile - a social training site for runners, triathletes and cyclists. There are lots of cool features - coolest by far is the "Motivation" feature that allows you to send a short motivational note to your training buddies. Athletes can sign-up for races, share workouts, and meet participants in your area. The site tracks your individual miles logged, average mile time and total participant miles logged - so far users have run over 108,000 miles. DailyMile has a Twitter vibe and even links to Twitter so you can auto-post your updates. I can't wait to see my miles total grow!

Since DailyMile is currently in private beta Mashable shared an invite code if you want to try it out - use the code ‘mashable’.

Lessons to be learned from the demise of Pownce

2008-12-02T08:48:00.000-08:00

Pownce - a Twitter rival - was just absorbed by Six Apart but there are several key lessons the social network world can takeaway from their demise. (From Mashable)

Less is sometimes more - Pownce made adding groups, file sharing and other popular features easy to use without "cluttering the service."

Being a more reliable option doesn't make your service popular - despite Twitters frequent down times and technical difficulties Pownce wasn't a strong enough name to pull consumers away.

If you come late to the party, you'd better make a big entrance - "If you’re not first to the game, but perhaps second or third, you need to do your research very thoroughly; sometimes being bigger, better and faster than the competitors simply won’t do."

The main takeaway from me is that brand recognition and top of mind awareness still trump better service and social networking options. Consumers will stick with what they know despite better platforms out there - the onus is on would-be competitors to create the best product possible. At least for now, Twitter is still the king.

Brand X set to make its mark in 2009

2008-12-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

USA Today's Ad Tracks report that store brand products are poised to make 2009 "a tough year for big brand-name consumer product makers, whose pricey ad budgets make up part of their labels' higher cost. Here are some unsettling stats:

72% of U.S. consumers say private-label brands are a "good alternative" to name brands

Private-label quality was called "as good as" name brands by 62%

For the 52 weeks ended Sept. 27, private-label goods already were up 10.2% from the previous year, for total U.S. sales of $81 billion

Cyber Monday, Cyber Monday... Can't trust that day!

2008-12-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Cyber Monday deals that seem too-good-to-be-true probably are! USA Today reports that "a wobbly economy, combined with a consumer thirst for too-good-to-be-true bargains, has motivated cybercrooks to unleash a torrent of spam, phishing scams and malicious software." Beware how you are going to spend your portion of the estimated $821 million consumers will drop today!

US Hair Care Market Needs More Volume, Body

2008-12-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Apparenly, according to the WSJ and Axe, I'm the only one that thinks my hair looks good! Axe (Unilever) has released a new line of shampoos, conditioner and styling products that have been designed to give me "Girl Approved Hair." Gillette (P&G) also released a new line of hair products for guys. This intense competition seems a little manufactured in the face of the souring economy. After all, when push comes to shove, despite the fact that "men's styling has without doubt become more exciting," dudes will end up using the original "girl approved" shampoo and conditioner - the ones they buy for themselves and we sneak when they aren't looking.

Shop... Shop like there's no tomorrow!

2008-12-01T12:35:00.000-08:00

The holiday buying season kicked off with a bang this Black Friday. The deals were plentiful, the discounts were deep and consumers heeded the siren's call. What happens from now until the end of the month, however, will be the real indicator of the strangle hold the economic downturn has on consumer's wallets. The Wall Street Journal reports that, "Although unprecedented discounts lured shoppers into stores, momentum ebbed Saturday, raising concerns that shoppers were merely exploiting the "door-buster" deals and then walking out of stores." Lets all do our part to keep the sales volume up and get as many BOGO sweaters as possible!

Defining moments

2008-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

A very trusted source for inspired leadership recently said that these troubled times will serve as a source of defining moments for those that live through them. I can think of no better way to describe current events in the world and my family's life. What I do over the next few days, weeks and months will serve as an important line in the definition of my life. Stay tuned and get ready for insights into the media and the occasional laugh.