On October 1, the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Susan G. Komen for the Cure kicks off a new initiative, “What I Might Have Missed.”

At its heart, the campaign urges women to “Get Screened,” as Nancy Brinker, Komen’s sister, invites breast cancer survivors to upload their personal stories and share moments from their lives that might not have happened if they hadn’t been screened.

The overarching theme, “Less Talk – More Action,” underscores the fact that of the estimated 1.5 million American women over 40 who have insurance, fewer than 50% received regular mammograms according to a recent nationwide study.

Komen is no stranger to publicity, social media and innovation. A year ago today, for a 24-hour window beginning September 30th at 12:01am and ending at midnight, the organization launched the world’s largest one-day social media/online event with the goal of “turning the world pink.”Continue reading...

Fiat USA executives have been disappointed that the brand and the new 500 haven't been catching on so far in the United States as well as they had planned. So hopes were high for its latest US TV commercial — featuring Jennifer Lopez driving a Fiat 500 in what is really a Fiat-funded teaser spot for Papi, her latest music video — until the spot was panned by critics for taking product placement to new cheesetastic levels.

But in the criterion that really counts — is JLo helping to sell Fiats in America? — People's 2011 Most Beautiful Woman is turning heads toward the brand.

Consumer consideration of the car on the pages of Edmunds.com has climbed by 31% since the ad broke on September 12 during ESPN's Monday Night Football, the automotive-information website reports. Fiat consideration was up 95% alone on September 18, when the ad ran throughout Sunday NFL telecasts.Continue reading...

Actually, the National Football League has been focusing on the female market for its licensed goods for at least a decade.

The league has placed a new emphasis on selling team and athlete merchandise for women via an amped-up marketing campaign this season. One noteworthy new ad shows a 30-ish guy scoring big points with women in his life by bestowing such gifts upon them.

Check out the league's new digital catalog at nfl.com/women, which points to the NFL shop for a staggering array of branded items for women, from $13 up to $3,500 (for a jeweled clutch).

On the charitable front, the league is continuing its annual tie-in for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, including an auction on pink-colored NFL merchandise.

"Ten years ago, our motto was 'Shrink it and pink it,'" says Tracey Bleczinski, NFL consumer products vice president, to USA Today. "This year we have as many products, if not more, for women as for men."Continue reading...