Thursday, August 23, 2007

The Telecommuting Planner

Can you phone in planning? Can you web conference planning? Can you find insights in your pajamas?

I, for one, think you can. So, why is no one up for it?

I've read just about everything I could get my hands on about planning, its history, its evolution, its revolution and its forecast from some of the planets top planners in the last six months.

I read every blog from Russell, Gareth, Faris, Grant, Richard and other thought leaders.

I stay close to trend-watchers like Piers and Reinier, among several others. I'm on Facebook, Plannersphere, Flickr, You Tube and read as much as I can find on the evolution of Web 2.0.

I conduct intercept interviews, phone interviews, web groups and polls, focus groups.

I am connected with several quant firms.

I understand how to dig into the client's brand to find those energy and life sources.

I talk with AEs on client business-side matters. I talk with creatives on what's happening in the client's environment and community.

Now ........


Remind me why I need to be in your office 1,500 miles away every day from 8 - 5?


I am officially raising the flag of the telecommuting planner.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

OK, I admit it ... I love Advergirl

Here I am, blushing, and kicking at the ground, but dog-gone-it ... I'm a fan of Advergirl. I can always open up her blog and find something interesting or fun to read. She offers advice, topical information, trends and does it all with a smile. Why, she can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it seem worthwhile.


Thanks for the posts, Advergirl!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Thoughts on the VCU CD Conference

I've been reading about the creative directors executive training that took place recently at the VCU AdCenter. One of the insights to come out of the conference was to do Strategy and Creative together - at the same time.

I attended an executive training program at the VCU AdCenter in May for account planners. I heard the same thing then.

So ... I wonder ... why do they do these executive training programs independently? If Strategy and Creative works best when done simultaneously, then shouldn't the training programs work the same way?

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Got some time on your hands ... check out these 100 websites

From the good folks at TED, here are their list of 100 websites that you should know and use.


Happy Surfing!

CURIOSITY & KNOWLEDGE
http://www.reuters.com/
http://www.research.philips.com/
http://www.readme.cc.png/
http://www.podtropolis.com/
http://www.papertoys.com/
http://www.new7wonders.com/
http://www.lipsum.com/
http://www.thomasedison.org/
http://www.beelinetv.com/
http://www.useit.com/
www.submarinechannel.com/titlesequences
http://www.visual-literacy.org/
http://www.cartype.com/
http://www.captology.stanford.edu/
http://www.bannerblog.com_au/
http://www.ge.com/
http://www.curiosityshoppeonline.com/
http://www.creativecommons.org/
http://www.lawsofsimplicity.com/
http://www.gnu.org/
http://www.digg.com/

GRAPHICS, MUSIC & ARTS
http://www.yugop.com/
http://www.vincent-vella.com/
http://www.uva.co.uk/
www.tutorialblog.org/free-vector-downloads
http://www.tate.org.uk/
www.squidfingers.com/patterns
http://www.sohodolls.co.uk/
http://www.radioblogclub.com/
http://www.photogravure.com/
www.netdiver.net/illustration
http://www.mine-control.com/
http://www.matthewmahon.com/
http://www.marcelod2.com.br/
http://www.magwerk.com/
http://www.kraftwerk.blocmedia.net/
http://www.headbangers.tv/ *
www.grupow.com/circulo
http://www.creaturesinmyhead.com/
http://www.bernhardwolff.com/
http://www.arturofuentes.com/
http://www.alennox.net/

E-COMMERCE EXPERIENCE
http://www.colette.fr/
http://www.imaginemusicstore.com/
http://www.canyon.com/
http://www.coft1.com/
http://www.heftyrecords.com/
http://www.ourtype.be/
http://www.freddyandma.com/
http://www.nikeid.nike.com/
http://www.feelthepower.biz/
http://www.shopcomposition.com/
http://www.oneill.com/
http://www.agentprovocateur.com/

SEARCHING & FINDING
http://www.trendwatching.com/
http://www.thefwa.com/
http://www.springwise.com/
http://www.scirus.com/
http://www.scholar.google.com/
http://www.podcasts.yahoo.com/
http://www.msdewey.com/
http://www.maps.live.com/
http://www.chacha.com/
http://www.books.google.com/

ONLINE RESOURCES
www.infopresse.com/prixboomerang
www.rjnet.com.br/2velocimetro_php
http://www.vixy.net/
http://www.kuler.adobe.com/
http://www.wikitravel.org/
http://www.thinkingwithtype.com/
http://www.dominiopublico.gov.br/
http://www.madehow.com/
http://www.icp.org/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
http://www.dafont.com/
http://www.dictionary.reference.com/
http://www.gutenberg.org/
http://www.nationmaster.com/
http://www.en.proverbia.net/
http://www.del.icio.us/
http://www.touchgraph.com/

TOP INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE CREATORS
http://www.2advanced.com/
http://www.akqa.com/
http://www.almapbbdo.com.br/
http://www.artless.gr.jp/
http://www.bigspaceship.com/
http://www.d-o-e-s.com/
http://www.domanistudios.com/
http://www.eurorscg4d.com/
http://www.farfar.se/
http://www.firstbornmultimedia.com/
http://www.group94.com/
http://www.heiwa-alpha.co.jp/
http://www.hi-res.net/
http://www.lowetesch.com/
http://www.mecano.ca/
http://www.northkingdom.com/
http://www.rga.com/
http://www.soleilnoir.com/
http://www.wefail.com/

The Power of New Furniture

We just got new furniture for our living room. The kind where every cushion you plant your fanny reclines. So here we are last night, my entire family all sitting on nubuck leather sofas, loveseats and "snugglers" (yes, that's what the salesman said it was). And we're all reclining. I wish someone would have stood on a chair and taken a picture of us. It was the pinnacle of couch-potatoism.

But, then something happened. The dogs were scratching at the door to get in. It's 100 degrees outside and we're reclined in a cool 73 degrees living room with ceiling fans gently humming above us. The power of the furniture held us in place. Eyes darted left and right. Will he get up to let the dogs in? Will she get up to let the dogs in? Or will the power of the furniture hold us fast.

It did.

(But only for a few more precious moments, for all you animal lovers out there.)

Moving from Consumer to Raving Fan


I've always talked to my clients about how we want to move their target audience from being simply a consumer or casual user to a raving fan. That is an environment that goes beyond product. It, well, goes to the environment. Everything about the company or the brand must be absorbed into the psyche of the individual. At that point, it's no longer about marketing. Marketing ceases to exist. It's about giving people a chance to DO things, not an excuse to SAY things to them.

This post from the Brains on Fire blog got me again on my soapbox for clients to aim higher ... beyond loyalty programs to raving fans.

Plus this cool graphic is a great illustration of that movement.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

I'm a dinosaur - you're a dinosaur - we're all dinosaurs (or we'll be on Digitas's payroll)

Yes, as the title of this New York Times article reads: It's an Ad, Ad, Ad, Ad World. The future of advertising according to Digitas turned my happy hump day into holy hell day.

I believe it was David Bowie who once said, "I've seen the future. It's Kraftwerk." For those who went through the New Wave '80's, you'll remember this band (maybe). For others, the quote is as meaningless as the band.

I'd like to think as ambitious and phantasmagorical that David Kenny's dream is ... it's likely Kraftwerk.

But ... I'm no David Bowie either.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/business/media/06digitas.html?ex=1344139200&en=cce5715cb4999238&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

4A's Planning Conference and Where Planning is Heading .... Or is it?

Here's a link to the Influx Branding blog where they interview the gurus at Headmint and Zeus Jones.

One of the first sentences grabbed me immediately because I've been saying this for the last couple of years. "He suggested planners should develop a new set of tools because the ones they are using are 20 years out of date."

Duh!

We need to do a much better job at not only spending time getting into the heads of our client's consumers, but we need to do a better job at inventing better ways of doing this.

There needs to be more post-education portals and universities with the brightest planners today, raising a new crop of thinkers.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Very good read. Check it out. Thanks to Influx.


http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/article/1503/aaaa-s-planning-conference--zesus-jones-and-the-future-of-planning.html

The Relationship & Sex Matrix

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