Bearduary, the Finale

March 11, 2009

We do a lot of weird things at work.

We participate in contests that border on the ridiculous. Like the recent Bearduary contest, which spanned January and February, awarding a $50 prize to the charity of the person who grows the most inspired beard.

We judge these contests through an e-mail vote, using pictures taken by one of the participants. The contact sheets:



(The votes were counted, by the way, by another participant.)

(Not that I’m bitter over losing. I still have my beard! I’m still honoring the commitment! No one understands my plight!)

Seriously, though. It was Erik’s idea, so he gets to count. And we have a transcript of votes – 93% turnout – so everything was legit. I garnered some sympathy votes, but it was Craig’s to lose. And he didn’t. He won, in fact. So I guess it was Craig’s to win, too.

Total Votes:
Craig: 8
Chris and Joey: tied for 6
Corey (Your fearless author): 3
Erik: 2
Jason and Don: Zero. Come on. Take this seriously next time.

Obligatory Pie Graph:

We announce the award. The winner, instead of choosing a charity, donates the money to a pizza fund. Joe matches it. And a pizza party is born.

Of course, I sit at home, sick, while everyone else snacks on pizza. But, if I was there, I’d be living it up too. And that, my friends, is why working in the agency world can be pretty sweet.

You have beard growing contests that results in an online vote and a pizza party.

Naturally.

Congrats, Craig. I mean, whatever.

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic, HenkinSchultz

Change, the Presidential Way

January 20, 2009

After nearly two years of tough campaigning and bitter competition, we were lucky enough - as a nation of free citizens - to watch a smooth transition of power from one leader to another.

And regardless of whether you are for or against the party in charge, you have to admit that, above all things, this smooth and peaceful transition is one of the things that makes our country so great.

For all that it symbolized, the passing of power from one president to the next wasn’t just a new job description. It’s a changing of ideals, of direction and of ideological standards.

In other words, it was the changing of a brand.

At noon, EST, just as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, a transformation happened at www.WhiteHouse.gov. The official Web site of President Bush became the official Web site of President Obama.

WhiteHouse.gov

We’re not just talking about information here, either. WhiteHouse.gov was reshaped to reflect the brand that Obama built over two years of campaigning. It includes the font most closely associated with him. It includes a White House blog. It is laid out in the same manner as his campaign site. It’s unmistakable: Barack Obama is President.

Coordination of this level takes a careful eye and a powerful Web presence. But, in this advanced technological world, it’s necessary. The first place people go for information is the Web, and the last thing you want to do is disappoint them with out of sync data and an aging visual presence.

Take this as an example. When your company makes an update to its brand. When your agency is working on a new campaign. When you’re unveiling a new logo, or a new direction, or a new leadership structure.

Look at every angle. And coordinate it so that, when the deed is done, there is no question about the past. It’s only the future. It’s brand management at its simplest – and best.

When you’re making change, take care to make it smooth, peaceful and complete. After all – it’s the American Way.

-

(Of course, even the government can screw something up. The first post on the White House blog promises communication, transparency and participation. “We’d like to hear from you!” it says.

And, unfortunately, it does not allow comments.)

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic

Happy Election Day

November 4, 2008

It’s election day.

This means a lot of things. For those of us who are able, we have the privilege of voting. To make our voice heard. So go out and do it, for Pete’s sake. Seriously. What are you waiting for - tomorrow?

Also, it means we can gain a little respite from the barrage of political ads that have battered us into submission. I mean, you know, it gets to the point when you simply don’t care who wins, as long as you can get away from the yard signs and negative campaigning and endless e-mails about giving cash to already rich campaigns.

But before we say goodbye to all of the political advertising, let’s take a look at some historically negative campaigns.

For instance, the vicious hate-mongering that Stephen Douglas riled up against future President Abraham Lincoln.


Or what about the fear that George Washington placed into our hearts. At 3 a.m., we’d all want him leading our country.


(A major thanks to two of the best ad blogging minds in the adblogosphere: Make the Logo Bigger and Where’s My Jetpack? In fact, I’ll be the first to make the endorsement: MTLB/WMJ 2012.)

Happy Election day, everyone.

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic, Advertising

Saying what you mean. Showing what you say.

October 8, 2008

It’s simple.

In marketing, you want to say what you mean.

And visually, you want to back up what you say with images that correspond.

Any disconnect will be noticed. Pounced upon. Seen as weakness, as an disingenuous attempt at trust.

Say what you mean. Show what you say. Mean what you show.

These are all common things to keep in mind when designing and writing and developing a concept in all aspects of marketing. But really, I’m using these common sense ideas as an excuse to play this great YouTube clip: A’Ha’s “Take On Me,” as if the song was written to match the video.


It all makes so much more sense now. Take me on.

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic, Marketing

Batter Blaster!

June 19, 2008

No more mess! No more time-wasting mixing! IT’S PANCAKE BATTER IN A CAN!

WATCH THE VIDEO NOW.


“Make better breakfast faster! BATTER BLASTER!”

Who says we’ve run out of things to invent?

(Unfortunately, it is not available in South Dakota yet.)

BATTER BLASTER

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic

A new musical journey

April 25, 2008

Last night I saw a TV spot for the new 2009 Dodge Journey. My ears instantly perked up. There was something familiar about it. Something I’d heard before.

It was the music. Specifically, Grandaddy’s “AM-180” from their 1997 album Under the Western Freeway.

I’ve been a Grandaddy fan for about a decade. And this song is one of my favorites. So you can imagine my surprise.

“Isn’t this a mini-van,” I thought? “Aren’t those for parents and yuppies and guys in hip hop groups?”

(To which I answered myself, “You know, the people who liked that song when it came our are probably either: 1. Parents 2. Yuppies 3. Guys in bands, though not necessarily hip hop.)

I then got over it and realized how cool this was. Grandaddy, getting national airplay (albeit uncredited commercial airplay).

What I find amazing is the idea of television advertising – and to a certain extent, teenage-driven television shows – as one of the most effective vehicles for music distribution.

It seems more than ever that the independent rock scene is overflowing with bands that have marginal, niche audiences. There are simply too many to take in at once.

But getting your music in commercials or television shows, whether on purpose or by chance, is proving to be an incredibly viable path to sudden respectability – or, at least, relevance.

After all, look what it did for Feist. (Or, come to think of it, The Fratellis, Yael Naem, or any Apple artist.)

——-

(Added bonus – when searching for the Grandaddy spot, I found another Dodge Journey spot – exact same video, different song, different copy. I wonder which was created first…and if this one was even supposed to be released.)

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic, Advertising

The Importance of Proofing

February 14, 2007

Notice anything missing from Google’s Valentine’s Day logo?

Goole?

Just goes to show that even the biggest of the big miss some things.

By Corey

Filed Under Off Topic

Sioux Falls Chamber Annual Meeting Set-up

November 14, 2006

Finally, the event you’ve all been waiting for. Click here to see the 12 hour initial setup at the Convention Center on Monday October 16th, 2006! The 12 hour time span is condensed to 1 minute, 38 seconds.

Enjoy!

By Don

Filed Under Off Topic

How Many Degrees of Separation.

October 3, 2006

The Unknown Man
(click to enlarge)

There’s an unknown man on my desktop.

Yikes!

It’s not as dangerous as it sounds. Actually, this photo is on my desktop. My daughter is in front, and mystery man is in blue on the right.

It occurred to me that perhaps I could use the power of the Internet to find out who he is. And more important, what he’s thinking about.

Not that I don’t care about the other people in the photo – the guy in the grey shirt and the lady with her shoes off.

It’s just that Blue Shirt looks serious and purposeful. While Barefoot surveys her pedicure and Grey Shirt checks out some babe across the street, Blue Shirt is clearly pondering something important.

I’m betting that on the Internet, there are fewer than six degrees of separation. And this is a perfect way to find out.

The photo was taken May 30, 2006 in Manhattan on Fifth Avenue right outside FAO Schwartz, which had just closed for the day. We’re next to the new underground Apple store, just off 59th.

Mr. Blue Shirt – who are you?

By Clara

Filed Under Off Topic

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