marginally subversive

Universal McCann's wave 3: Tech-empowered Connections...

2008-08-27T02:14:39+08:00

Universal Mccann International Social Media Research Wave 3View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: socialmedia research)

In search of a business model? Try these...

2008-08-27T02:08:31+08:00

Business Model Innovation MattersView SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: osterwalder alex) Business Model Design and Innovation for Competitive AdvantageView SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: business model)

It's all about the experience...

2008-08-27T01:56:59+08:00

I stumbled upon this interesting slide show on content marketing - at least that's how it was labeled on SlideShow.Com. However, I think that it does cover more than just content marketing as a discipline. It covers a far bigger, far richer view of the consumers' experience-sphere - and how brands can make/unmake their positions within this circle. It's all about enhancing consumers' experiences of brands - that's the raison d'etre of media, channel, and messaging experts. It's not about buying a TV ad or a print ad or a banner ad in some number 1 portal somewhere. It's not...

Innovation

2008-08-27T01:48:53+08:00

A thesis: Technologies designed to meet said and unsaid needs of consumers is what's going to drive innovations. Innovation is a careful balance between what consumers think they want now and in the near future - and what they have not yet thought about. The real challenge is not really "meeting consumers' needs" - as made evident by surveys or any other "emotional, ethnographic research". But creating technologies that enhance the experiences and lives of consumers. Google did just that. So did Apple's iTunes + iPod combo. So did Amazon.Com. They looked at how they could create better experiences for...

"Why aren't you buying?"

2008-08-27T00:36:06+08:00

I had a bit of a weird conversation this afternoon (my life, as you may have gleaned by now, is full of conversations...) I was accused - or the company I am with was accused - of being too late to the digital party because we don't buy "display ads in the number 1 portal sites with a very wide reach of eyeballs - and sticky, too, thereby delivering significant frequency and high probability OTS! Your competitors have savvy in this area - they always buy every week for their campaigns and they have committed to spend some money with...

Brands as Destinations

2008-08-27T00:28:28+08:00

I was just thinking about 'destinations as Brands'. The Hiltons and Conrad Hotels (which by the way are still tops on my list), Sheratons, and JW Marriotts. Then started thinking about "countries as brands" - Singapore, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Philippines, Malaysia. And then the brands that take you there - Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Northwest, Emirates... - all of which are not entirely 'destinations' but surely are 'brands'. Then my brain flipped: How about thinking of it inversely - "brands as destinations"? Does it hold? Come to think of it: some companies have called the 'retail...

Of Post-Buys, Rigor in Planning, Coke Zeroes and Vodka Martinis (that were probably shaken... or stirred)

2008-08-27T00:11:02+08:00

I was just speaking with someone who's been part of my 'batch' of media planners and strategists in the Philippines. She was lamenting that "the young ones are too impatient to climb up the ladder - looking at promotions as rewards; if only they knew what a promotion entails and how much it takes away versus how much it gives". To that, I said "Well, I am sure our bosses also felt the same of us when we came out of uni and were driven to prove our worth - and well, pay off those student loans". She also lamented...

"Problem at the Office?"

2008-08-18T21:38:57+08:00

Every now and then, I'd get this question: "Problem at the office?" Largely, it is 'evoked' by the dark circles under my eyes. (For the record: It is genetic. Nothing I do can remove the bags nor the dark circle. Believe me, I have tried.) Image from BusinessWeek; illustration by Ray Vella. BusinessWeek came up with this interesting article in their latest issue about problems at the office - and in addition, they looked at 'generational tensions'. However, what really interested me was the similarities of themes underneath the different problems that we all encounter. We strive for work-life balance....

Of presentations and PowerPoint(r)

2008-08-13T14:48:23+08:00

One of the things that friends - and colleagues - do not know is my fear of speaking in a public space. When I announced this as part of a 'getting-to-know-you' session with one of our clients (you know, the bit where you say "what's your deepest, darkest secret?" during a team-building seminar?), they seemed quite surprise. The feedback I got was that "But you think authoritatively whenever you present something..." and "It seems effortless". The truth is, it takes a lot of effort. And the truth is, I am violating certain "rules" of presentations that I think everyone should...

The Cloud: Interesting stuff...

2008-08-08T19:18:38+08:00

Nothing new - to be honest. But interesting nonetheless. How the Cloud (with a capital "C") is going to change our lives? Well, it has the potential of changing our views on privacy - as well as how we look at computing, sharing information, and other tech-lifestyle related activities. Amazing how we have grown since the Net was introduced to the public.