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Super Bowl Ad Tracker: Watch Donald Trump's Century 21 Commercial, Charlie Brown for MetLife and much more

Posted by Dale Buss on February 3, 2012 06:14 PM

The Super Bowl buzz window before Sunday's Big Game isn't closed yet! Among those bellying up with sneak peeks at their full SB46 commercials today include Century 21's official spot (above) with Donald Trump, Deion Sanders and Apolo Anton Ohno.

Pepsi also revealed its much-hyped ad starring Elton John and X Factor winner Melanie Amaro, who only wants some Pepsi — and uses her award-winning pipes to get some from a reluctant King John:Continue reading...

tech innovation

A Day Made of Glass 2: Corning Updates Viral Video Hit

Posted by Shirley Brady on February 3, 2012 05:08 PM

Remember Corning's viral video hit, "A Day Made of Glass"? Today the company released "A Day Made of Glass 2," described as "Corning's expanded vision for the future of glass technologies (that) will help shape our world." Watch a behind-the-scenes video below.Continue reading...

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Why Hashtags are Becoming Bashtags, and How to Stop Losing Twitter Followers

Posted by Sheila Shayon on February 3, 2012 04:06 PM

Think you're witty on Twitter? We've got bad news for you. Twitter users say only a little more than a third of the tweets they receive are worthwhile. Most are not worth reading at all, while 25% of tweets are actively disliked, according to a new study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, MIT and Georgia Tech.

The new study (the aptly-titled "Who Gives a Tweet?") reveals some surprising data about the two hundred million Tweets posted globally on Twitter every day, and the factors that lead users to tune out or unfollow.

Twitter users participating in the study reported liking only 36% of overall tweets; actively disliking 25%; and having no strong opinion about 39% of tweets, indicating a waste of the tweeter and, er, tweetee's time.

The reasons cited for the 25% of disliked tweets: using too many hashtags; constant, boring updates about where people are (especially those "I'm at..." updates from airports, restaurants and other locations); and users who habitually complain. The most-liked tweets?Continue reading...

branded media

Oakley Gives Women and ESPN a Boost

Posted by Mark J. Miller on February 3, 2012 03:01 PM

It used to be that publications kept their editorial and business sides as separate entities, also known as keeping "Church and State" separate in many a newsroom. With the way business and advertising has been evolving in recent years, though, some media outlets have found ways to find leverage a little content from its business relationships.

Sunglasses brand Oakley and espnW, ESPN's female-centric sports news website that launched in Dec. 2010, have announced an “innovative new content collaboration focused on serving the female fan and celebrating female athletes,” which is already evident (see above) on the espnW website.Continue reading...

web watch

HuffPo TV: Arianna Huffington Looks to Boost Engagement with Video

Posted by Sheila Shayon on February 3, 2012 02:11 PM

The Huffington Post is expanding its brand on video. The HuffPost Streaming Network will launch this summer with 12 hours of original video five days a week. With the goal of being "CNN meets YouTube" and a “never-ending talkshow,” HuffPo cofounder Roy Sekof will oversee the new video network , to which AOL is committing at least 100 employees exclusively, with current editors and reporters expected to contribute as well.

AOL paid $315 million to acquire Huffington Post in a deal that AOL CEO Tim Armstrong calls "the Super Bowl bet we made on Arianna." Now it's ponying up at least $10 million to take the HuffPo brand into video. With a goal of producing up to 16 hours of video programming daily next year, it's a clear play for increased ad inventory and stickier content.Continue reading...

auto motive

Automakers Rev Up "Eco" Positioning

Posted by Dale Buss on February 3, 2012 12:50 PM

Gasoline prices are still pushing an average of $3.50 a gallon across the United States, so they remain top of mind among American consumers who are buying new vehicles. That's why auto brands continue to find ways to create "Eco" positioning and even sub-brands for their vehicles and powertrains. Chevrolet is the latest, with its new Ecologic environmental labels that highlight environmental features of new vehicles.

Ford remains not only a pioneer but arguably the best practitioner of eco-positioning of its vehicles. The company has focused more on improving its traditional gasoline engines than developing and pushing new hybrids or EVs the last few years. And with a combinaton of techniques including turbocharging and direct injection, Ford has been able to boost the performance of a family of engines, both in fuel economy and power, to significant new levels, making a traditional four-cylinder powerplant perform like a six-cylinder and a six-cylinder like an eight-cylinder — while providing much better mileage.

Those are the EcoBoost engines that Ford keeps selling, keeps introducing on new models, and keeps talking about. The automaker just announced that it will offer EcoBoost engines on 11 models this year, up from seven in 2011, and triple production capacity for EcoBoost power trains.Continue reading...

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Super Bowl Watch: Madonna is a Gridiron Maiden in New Video

Posted by Shirley Brady on February 3, 2012 12:04 PM

Ahead of her debut as the Super Bowl half-time performer on Sunday, Madonna has released her new single, Give Me All Your Luvin', which features back-up vocals by pop stars Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. and football players galore.

brand bites

Brand Bites: Old Spice Man Video-Bombs Other Commercials

Posted by Abe Sauer on February 3, 2012 11:46 AM

Old Spice Man is back — this time, it's Terry Crews — in a trio of commercials directed by comic writers Tim Heideker and Eric Wareheim from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! 

Crews video-bombs other P&G brand spots: for Charmin, Bounce and, for fun, a vending machine full of snacks.Continue reading...

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