Friday, February 13, 2004

We've Moved... our Blog

Our new blog is HERE. We decide to try out TypePad and so far, so good. Take a look at our new postings...

posted by Gerard @ 10:47 AM

Tuesday, December 23, 2003

Video Games and Politics

Take a look at www.deanforamericagame.com . The first video game for a presidential election. Designed by Persuasive Games, very interesting.

posted by Gerard @ 12:17 PM

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

Solve the worlds problems by playing a game?

What if...

Check out Gonzalo Frasca's "September 12th" game and explore this idea.

www.newsgaming.com

posted by Gerard @ 11:07 PM

Monday, December 01, 2003

Big Blog Problem

Is that you have to update your blog once in a while. Since that has proven tough to do recently (very busy you know), may I suggest a great blog on the subject of games, gaming, and the rhetorical use of games by educators, brands, and advocacy groups. You can find this wonderful blog at www.watercoolergames.org , enjoy.

posted by Gerard @ 5:44 PM

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

The Big Agency Problem

The problem with using a “Big” agency to do your advertising, creative, etc. is that if you don’t have a Big budget, you are not going to get the attention you deserve and your product will suffer. Here is the quandary:

- Big Agencies have Big ideas that win Big Awards (Clios, etc.)
- Big Awards don’t always sell products (see Apple, great ads, only 3% market share)
- Big Agencies have Big overhead and Big Executive salaries to pass along
- Big Agencies have Big clients, at least Bigger than you
- Big Agencies have no time for Small clients

The dilemma then for a small or med size company with modest marketing budgets is this question: do we put all our money into a Big agency and hope for a home run, do it ourselves, or find a smaller agency…

We believe the answer is to find an agency that is both experienced and eager for your business, an agency that gives you access to top -level executives and thinkers regardless of your budget. What you need is an agency that can draw upon big agency resources without big agency prices, and an agency that delivers results.

Where do you find one of these? Stay tuned…

posted by Gerard @ 11:00 AM

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

A Bite of the ol' Apple

As a long time fan and user of Apple computers, I am constantly amazed by their innovation of products and services. However; as a marketing professional I am even more amazed that they only have around a 3% market share. Let's examine this for a second:

- Apple computers are consistently reviewed as best in both design and performance
- Apple continues to roll out wonderful products that work best with Apple computers, such as the ipod
- Apple’s ad agency consistently produces award wining advertisements including: Think Different, and the recent Switch campaigns

So why do they only have a 3% market share? Its because their marketing campaigns have failed. Wait, how can “award winning” campaigns fail? Because, even if the products are great and the ads are unique, if they don’t deliver results, they fail. If Apple really wanted to gain market share, even a percentage point or two, they would have to radically change their marketing strategy.

Some may say that it’s ok for Apple to only have 3% market share and therefore simply position themselves as the “Mercedes” of computers. However; I believe their stockholders would disagree. The price and performance differences are not the same as that of Mercedes and the profit margins are not either.

Steve, let me know when you are ready for ideas that deliver results… and keep the great products coming.

posted by Gerard @ 11:23 AM

Friday, August 22, 2003

World Peace and Branding

It strikes me that most of the worlds problems are based on misunderstandings and cultural misperceptions. What is one man's holy war is another country's terrorism. If you look at the many problems between the Middle East and the West, they boil down to bad branding, PR, and marketing. If we spent some time putting together culturally appropriate PR, marketing and branding campaigns in these communities, do you think it would make a difference?

Why not find the best Muslim/Arab PR firm and match it with a top Ad Agency in the US and brand the US? I’m not convinced we do a good job of communicating our intentions and expectations. I believe a powerful Marketing plan would do more than any “Shock and Awe” could ever accomplish with fewer casualties and a budget much smaller than the price of even ONE tank.

posted by Gerard @ 2:14 PM