I had the good fortune of hearing Richard Branson speak last week (Thank you WBZ Radio!). He informed the crowd that he had just been at Boeing, and that this was a great time to be buying planes. He encouraged those with “cash” or “means” to spend, invest and expand right now. In his words: it is up to small business to do what it always does and grow ourselves out of this mess. It’s one thing for a little business person like me to encourage businesses to take advantage of the quiet market, but when Sir Richard points it out, it hits home. So, go out today and buy that plane, or new employee, company vehicle or website that is going to fuel your companies growth.

* Can I use that term? They just had the coin toss-when did the singer from Everclear start playing for the Steelers?–6:30PM Hyundai will let me edit their ad for them. What does it pay?   6:45 The Audi ad was fun. I like the Pepsi ad that’s out with “My Generation” a whole lot better than this one with Dylan and William i’am. In fact, the “My Generation” ad is so good that it looks like a Coke ad.   7:02 Nice of Bridgestone to run an ad for Hasbro’s Mr Potato Head. 7:07 The start of the second quarter brings out the sexist sots–and the monkeys! 7:11 Pepsi is introducing the first diet cola for men. Huh? Why does the Superbowl give agencies and brands permission not to sell anything? It’s just a contest to try and get laughs. Like “Last Comic Standing” with bigger budgets. I also don’t understand the mean tone to a lot of these spots. Tell Madison Ave that the Bush era is over. 7:22 Well, after weeks of teasing, I know know what “G” is. Another new Gatorade. More money for Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning. The Cars dot com is another example of an ad with no value proposition at all. Creative for the sake of being creative. It will do more for the agency than the client. 7:35 I like the Hyundai Genesis ad showing the other car companies screaming their name. A good way of showing off, and making the point about who they beat, as well as building the brand. No more talking babies or monkeys please.  7:43 More and more meanness. Halftime-that lizard water thing was the biggest waste of money yet. I’m guessing that very few people will recall what that ad was for.  Springsteen brought that Obama-era feel to the halftime show. Bravo! I like the Priceline spot. Funny and there’s a clear value proposition for the customer. Times are tough but you can still afford that vacation thanks to Priceline. Shatner is great!  8:35 I guess the recession has even affected the mob–they are eating at Denny’s. 9:16 The Coke Zero ad was cute. Another take off on the Mean Joe Green ad. It had a nice twist. Cash4Gold was a bit odd. Hard to take them seriously. 9:23 Did I just see an ad with a call to action? Yes, for Visio TV.I have to say, that in my humble opinion, that the best ad far and away was the one that didn’t run in the game. It was the PETA spot. The objective was to gain awareness, and with all the media attention, blogging, downloading and conversation, PETA got exactly what they wanted-without spending all that money. Very good game. Please, please post your opinions too!  

We are in the middle of helping one of our new clients redefine their brand.  As part of the interview process, we asked them, “if your business were a car, what kind of car would you be and why?” I turned the question back on us and came up with the Batmobile. We look a little funny until you see what we can do. We get you out of jams, have many capabilities that aren’t always obvious, and we never stop fighting. After the job is done, just stick us back in our cave until you need us again.  How about your brand?

Please join me in turning a deaf ear to the increasingly negative media. At what point will advertisers stop sponsoring these broadcasts that tell Americans to put their heads in the sand and give up? I can only judge by my own experiences and yes, it’s been the most challenging year for our business since 2001. But guess what? We are really good at what we do. We help business grow and have been doing so for nearly 24 years. Not all 24 have been a cakewalk. That’s sort of what makes getting out of bed in the morning fun. Not knowing what is going to happen. Accepting challenges and feeling the satisfaction of meeting them. Since I stopped listening to bad news, Open Skye has begun work for 3 brand new clients. Clients who know that the only way to succeed is to continue to market themselves and outwork and outsmart their competitors. I’m not suggesting that ignorance is bliss. But I would suggest choosing a sitcom at 11PM, going to bed in a good mood, and waking up ready to take on whatever is in your path. Who’s in?

I never thought I’d say it, but it really is time to shut off talk radio, put the newspaper down, and start watching sitcoms at 11PM instead of the news. Do what you’ve always done in business: believe and trust in yourself and let’s get going.

I have to say that the Obama campaign understands marketing, and especially internet marketing, better than any other campaign in history. I received many timely, well written (and brief) notes from them the past few months. None as impressive as the one I found in my in box this morning:

Kevin –

I’m about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don’t want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it’s time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing…

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack

Was it not long ago that we had a leader who didn’t know how to weigh produce in a supermarket? Now we can look forward to an administration that  is inclusive, and speaks to the entire “United” States of America.

They even know how important it is to thank the customer.

OK, here’s how I would set things up. No one needs any money for advertising.

1. All candidates get the same ad schedule across the board.

2. You can only talk about yourself in your ad. No discussion of opponent.

3. Starting in Jan of an election year, there is a one hour debate every Sunday evening on rotating networks for one hour. Available on the web after it airs live on TV.

4. There is a very easy and brief quiz you must pass in order to vote.

Whoever loses turns all leftover money raised to education.

Peace!

I am curious what people think about the new Walmart logo. To me, this is one example of the power of design. After living with this on TV for a few weeks, my sensibility about the brand has already changed. I like that is is friendly and somewhat contemporary. It is not “in my face” and pedestrian like the previous version. Will it make me go to Walmart? Maybe not, but over time, who knows? I am a Target shopper, and nobody does branding better than Target. They make paper towels exciting! I am curious what you think and I hope you will comment. Thanks!

Does T Boone Pickens write his own ads? In just 15 seconds this ad explains the problem, gets me motivated to want to take action, and gives me a simple call to action that I can follow.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1648674250/bctid1755448369

If you don’t want to follow the link, the ad talks about how the government of Iran is making a MAJOR effort to use natural gas in their vehicles so they can free up $120 a barrel oil to sell to us while we are doing nothing.

This reminds me of the ad that ran when I was a kid that encouraged people not to litter. People toss their trash out of a car at the feet of a native American. I think of that Indian everytime I watch some pig toss their cigarette butt out of their car onto our earth.

Holy cow how do I sign up to live in this innovative, happy, intelligent, color blind world that exists in the advertising that runs on Sunday mornings? Are all oil companies really committed to developing renewable energy sources? Are insurance companies sinking profits into keeping me healthy in the first place? And if big banks are investing in American innovation, then we really are well poised to create the economy based on Energy Technology.  The truth is, that advertising and marketing will play a key role in influencing behavior and public opinion regarding what our country does about energy. My feeling however is that $4 a gallon has done more. Oil companies are all trying to position themselves in the best possible light as people open their minds and begin to demand new alternatives.  My question is, why only air these messages during political or national news programming? I’d like to see these highly produced, carefully written ads air during American Idol, sports and sitcoms as well. Then I will believe that these companies are actually hoping to educate the public and get them to participate in the process. So far, it just feels like a cry to investors.