The Good Sheet.

A micro newspaper, distributed at starbucks and under-written by Lenovo. It’s a single-page (folded) news paper on a single topic. More by Tim Windsor here. I’m anxious to see print reinvent, in whatever new forms may come, even if they’re mashups between digital-thinking and traditional inking.

Google G1 and the competitive advantage.

Google’s phone, the G1, won’t be a launch like other phones. With plenty of publicity driven by early rumors and the phone’s open-source Android platform, Google and T-Mobile will be spending in traditional media and only when the phone is on sale.

The campaign, called “Curiosity Is Everywhere,” was developed by T-Mobile’s Publicis in the West, is all about Google’s core attribute: the search for information. Google will of course have a leg up in online advertising, because its digital assets are obvious, as are Google’s competitive advantages. Soon, any search for “phone” might yield G1 results, so Google’s fair play in advertising on search will surely be kept in check by the industry.

FCC sponsors NASCAR

The FCC is advertising that TV is going all-digital in 2009 (Feb 17 to be exact).  If you’re still using rabbit ears on the boob toob, then chances are you’re watching Matlock and not NASCAR. However, if you tune your antenna just right on Nov 9 and 16, then you’ll see David Gilliland’s car racing around with the Federal Communications Commission sponsorship that reads: “Is Your TV Ready for Digital?” along with other words like “transition” and DTV.gov on the body panels. The car was suited up in this FCC lingo this past weekend in Martinsville. Congress gave the FCC about $20 million to spend on notifying tv-watching americans about the switch to all-digital and about $1 mil was spent on the pages of AARP magazine.

Brand Tags dude hot.

What? yes, according to agency spy. Also, his Brand Tags was hot too.

In a crashing market. Chapter 2. For marketers.

FOCUS. Now you should be worried about how good your copywriters are… tweak your marketing message to reflect the depressed spending times. For example, if you’re a family-oriented retailer – focus more on family needs, friendships (loyalty) and stay-at-home activities. Yep – TV is a good medium to buy right now

For marketing/ad/pr agencies: Put your strongest copywriter on overdrive (if you don’t have one – visit insertcopyhere to find one) and focus on crafting the message that resonates with your in-home customer.

For corporate marketers/marketing managers/product managers: If you know your customers as well as you say you do, then center the product or service benefit messaging on their most relevant and needs. Also, FOCUS on your strongest channel and the customers in it.

In a crashing market. Chapter 1. For marketers.

TAKE ADVANTAGE. Not everyone has the resources, but now is the time to take advantage of the competition that’s in a weakened state.

For marketing/ad/pr agencies: Most likely, you’re neglecting the same things other agencies are neglecting, which is financial injection into new staff (probably the talent that was laid-off by the bigger, slower, dumber “dinosaur” agencies) and client relationship building. Get stronger – use this depressed economy to advance.

For corporate marketers/marketing managers/product managers: Your play is simple – find your efficiencies, magnify the tactics that work and invest the marketing dollars with the partners that deliver results.tac Sales-driven tactics and easily measurable ROI tactics will not only hold everyone accountable, but you’ll learn a valuable lesson in what moves the needle in down economies.

This space left blank.

Clutter-free, conceptually-based design will always win. Just because you bought a half-page ad doesn’t mean you need to use every square inch of it.

Think.

Make the message accurate.

Think again.

Simplify the ad again.

Respect the whitespace.

Audi wants you to Meet the Beckers.

Audi has stepped to the line, introduced it’s automotive competition and assigned them each with dysfunctional member of the Becker family. Let the hilarious car customer stereotyping begin.
Visit: http://www.meetthebeckers.com

Paper is evil. Canadians are funny.

Or, taxes are evil, paper is taxes. Personally, i’ve avoided a paper tax return since I can remember – around when tele-filing got popular in the mid-90s. I’ve used several services over the past two years, filing electronically, and I’ve still never completely gotten around using paper – 6 pages at minimum. But, alas I’m not Canadian.

So, here you have it, eh. Canada’s SnapTax is warning you of the dangers of paper, it’s malevolent intent and if taxes weren’t scary enough – they’ll crumple up and turn into gremlin-esque creatures just days before your returns are due.

Blame it on myspace.

CosmoGirl magazine has shut down, with December being it’s final issue. Of the teen-girl magazines, CosmoGirl ranked third and Seventeen and Teen Vogue have dipped in ad pages too. Elle Girl and Teen People were also shut down over the past couple of years as teens are finding online content more appealing.

It’s predicted that parenting and home magazines will be the next to fall on hard times, as web presence in these categories increases in depth and features. Interactivity is the piercing edge of advertising in these categories and the online realm is the most effective medium for consumer engagement. Expect competition in these categories to push development and invest in technology in lieu of traditional marketing programs.