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Tuesday, April 21

Design the Future, Take $20,000

I like this promotion from LG and crowdSPRING. With an outreach to consumers to "predict what's next" in mobile phones, they connect with design and creative types, hyper-engaged and connected mobile device users. With top honors receiving $20,000 and another $60,000 in prizes, it might even motivate the next "big idea".

LG and crowdSPRING want you to Design the Future
LG and crowdSPRING want you to Design the Future

The Autocad Sketchbook Pro trial is a great partnership here, and a smart way for Autocad to put their software in the hands of budding industrial designers.

crowdspring.com/LG

Friday, April 17

One Million Twitter Followers

Around 2:15 am (EST), Ashton Kutcher reached one million followers on Twitter. With a Ustream.TV live video cam feed, Ashton broadcast from his home with family and friends for a couple hours on Thursday night while talking about the "media revolution" and how Twitter is changing the way we get our news, a reference to his race against CNN to become the first Twitter account to reach one million followers. On live video webcam Ashton showed the $100,000 cheque he is giving to malarianomore.org to purchase 10,000 mosquito nets.

Ashton Kutcher beats CNN to one million Twitter followers
Ashton Kutcher beats CNN to one million Twitter followers

Anyone tuning in had to appreciate Ashton's online broadcast where he casually discussed how media has changed forever, the power shift from corporations to consumers, and malaria and human trafficking causes...while taking calls from Diddy and giving Demi grief for the Hello Kitty dolls someone put on his office shelf. The first interesting celebrity reality TV I think I've actually seen.

twitter.com/aplusk
malarianomore.org

Thursday, April 16

Puma Lift

I love this new site for Puma Lift. Beyond the gorgeous design, fluid full-screen video, and 3D product build, this site communicates a single product feature (light) in a simple and engaging way. Droga5 continues to impress.

The new Puma Lift website by Droga5 and Firstborn
The new Puma Lift website by Droga5 and Firstborn

lift.puma.com

Wednesday, April 15

New Celebrity Brand Endorsement: Video Game Characters

Where can marketers turn for the next celebrity endorsement? In this new ad from French auto-maker Renault, they turned to video game characters. Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids, the seemingly-insane rabbits from the Rayman series, make an appearance in this French ad, aptly tagged as "Moronic Tests by Moronic Rabbits". Perhaps soft drink ads with Mario and sneaker commercials from Master Chief aren't far behind.

Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids are featured in this new French spot for Renault
Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids are featured in this new French spot for Renault

AdRants: Cracked-Out Rabbits Spot-Check New Grand Scenic

Tuesday, April 14

AT&T Features TOMS in New Feel Good Spot

You've got to love this new spot from AT&T. By showing how Blake Mycoskie, Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS, relies on his AT&T BlackBerry Bold for his business, AT&T enjoys the halo effect of the great thing TOMS does: give a pair of shoes to a kid in need for every pair of TOMS they sell. Great to see TOMS get this kind of mass exposure. Smart of AT&T to leverage a business innovator and philanthropist like Blake.

The new spot from AT&T: More bars in more places helps TOMS give shoes to kids in need
The new spot from AT&T: More bars in more places help TOMS give shoes to kids in need

TOMS Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, on his BlackBerry Bold
TOMS Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, on his BlackBerry Bold

TOMS: AT&T TOMS Shoes Commercial

Monday, April 13

BMW Squashes Audi Billboard

Bravado is certainly not new to advertising. But this outdoor campaign from Audi got a swift, direct response. When a billboard appeared on Santa Monica Boulevard in L.A. for the new Audi A4 that announced "Your move, BMW.", BMW actually responded.

The new Audi A4 campaign gets a direct response from the local BMW dealer
The new Audi A4 campaign gets a direct response from the local BMW dealer

With a board that declares "Checkmate." from Santa Monica BMW, bravado is kept concisely in check. Kudos to the local dealership for making a regional play against the competitor's national campaign.

Wednesday, April 8

Celebrity GWP

We already knew that music artists made the real money touring and not on music sales, but SoCal pop-punk darlings No Doubt just took the concept of free music to another level. Fans who purchase the top tier tickets online for the band's upcoming summer tour can take part in a special gift with purchase promotion: No Doubt's entire digital catalog of over 80 songs spanning all seven studio albums. Procter & Gamble would be proud.

No Doubt offers entire digital catalog to 'top tier' concert ticket purchasers
No Doubt offers entire digital catalog to 'top tier' concert ticket purchasers

No Doubt : News

The First Twitter Agency

Talk about specialization. After winning a Shorty Award for Best Twitter Advertising Campaign for AMC's Mad Men, Carri Bugbee plans on building a Twitter ad agency according to Advertising Age. AMC hired Carri to tweet as Mad Men character, Peggy Olson. So what does a character from 1962 say on Twitter? "peggyolson Is the super bowl a Tupperware product? I think Ma bought one of those when Anita had a party. She uses it for jello salad."

Carri Bugbee is the Peggy Olson Character on Twitter

Love how AMC used Twitter to connect with fans of the show. But as a believer of integrated brand management across multiple channels, not sure I get how a Twitter Agency would really work.

AdvertisingAge Video: Building a Twitter Ad Agency for Entertainment Companies

Saturday, March 7

Marketing Magazine Agency News

Marketing magazine reported on the launch of Glitteration:

Former Y Syndicate VP Roach Opens Glitteration


"Jeff Roach is attempting to connect brands with today's consumer"

AGENCY NEWS
[ FORMER Y SYNDICATE VP ROACH OPENS GLITTERATION ]
March 06, 2009 | By Kristin Laird

Jeff Roach is attempting to connect brands with today’s consumer—the most “empowered in history”—with the launch of his new marketing agency Glitteration.

Roach, former vice-president, marketing strategy at Toronto-based Y Syndicate, will act as president and creative director of the agency’s Toronto and California offices, which will collectively employ five people at launch.

Roach said he isn’t a big proponent of traditional agency departments, but believes in small teams that can focus on innovation in creative, strategic planning, and tactics.

“I had a desire to try and do something different. I’ve seen many models in the agency world over the years,” he said. “I’ve seen what really works, and I wanted to expand on that. A small team can work very fast and very efficiently.”

The agency will offer digital and interactive, advertising, and experiential services.

“Within each of those areas we’re looking at the more innovative place and spaces and things you can do,” he said. “We’re looking at new ways of reaching consumers.”

The agency, which officially opens its doors this week, is currently pitching “progressive brands” that are “really looking to step up their communications and be more innovative,” said Roach.

In 2003, Roach helped launch Youthography’s marketing division, adding agency services to the youth research and strategy firm, and in 2007 worked on the launch of the Y Syndicate agency network and two new agencies, Riot Brand Experiences and District Lifestyle Marketing.

Wednesday, January 28

Marketing Magazine Instantly Recognizable

Marketing magazine quoted me in an article on the power of logos:

Instantly Recognizable

While consumers were once quick to cry "sell out" when a celebrity began promoting products, attitudes have changed says Jeff Roach. "The youth market now, and pop culture in general, we're finding are more open to seeing logos... seeing their idols and icons hawking products and being in commercials. Selling out is less of an aspect than it used to be."


"Creating icons to be worn on the street and by Hollywood stars begins by recognizing the power of logos"

Tuesday, June 26

The Globe & Mail The Hard Sell

The Globe & Mail critiqued Youthography's viral spot, "Theft", for Desjardins General Insurance. Check it out:

The Globe & Mail The Hard Sell


The Globe & Mail Critiques "Theft"

Friday, April 20

The Globe & Mail Online Peer Pressure

I was quoted in an article in The Globe & Mail today about how online peer pressure drives hot sites:

Oh, look, a bridge...


The Facebook craze is attributed to online peer pressure

Monday, February 26

The Globe & Mail BlackBerry Mascot

I was quoted in an article in The Globe & Mail today about RIM's myspace.com/blackberrymascot:

RIM mascot targets online scene


The Blackberry Mascot hams it up on MySpace