Pure Thinking

The tool for too much Twitter

Too busy for Twitter? Too bad. In an effort to further distract us from getting any real work done or accomplishing anything worth tweeting about, creators have eliminated the 'too busy' excuse with Twitter for Busy People. Happy browsing!

--Kate

The battle for brand control

 

Since birth, the Internet has been creating legal stress for businesses and individuals alike, and the growing popularity of microblogging site Twitter is no exception.

Starting with celebrities, fake Twitter accounts have been popping up with no legal backing to help victims shut them down. Though Twitter co-founder Biz Stone hopes to install a verification service later this summer, until then individuals and businesses are in a battle for control of their brand, and are often battling with a competitor.

An operator at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH, was shocked to receive an email from a marketing consultant who created a Twitter profile in their name. In the email, the consultant offered to give up control of the profile - in exchange for season passes to the park - and then suggested they hire his firm to manage their brand.

More here.

--Kate

Commercialized Navigation

  

BBQ Pork Burrito = Kickball Win!

A little advice before we head out to the annual AD2 Denver Kickball tournament... EAT A BBQ PORK BURRITO TO GUARANTEE VICTORY!!

Head coach Dan Bylsma of 2009 Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins added a unique tradition of consuming a BBQ Pork burrito at his favorite Pittsburgh Qdoba franchise before each playoff game, in addition to the regular fully-bearded good-luck charm carried on by all hockey fans. The combination proved to be a success, on and off the ice.

Byslma's good luck charm invigorated an entire viral campaign for Qdoba, stimulating "tweets' and obtaining over 1,000 members in just 72 hours on its facebook fan club. "The Lucky Burrito Campaign," as it became known, received national notice by the New York Times and USA Today, as well as on NHL.com and ESPN.com.

So, Pure employees...as the catered choice of food at today's unprecedented event is coincidentally Qdoba, I expect to see a bbq pork burrito consumed by all. My only concern in this key ingredient, is the absence of immense facial hair that was doned by all Penguins... so perhaps we should cross our fingers too!

Check out the story at: http://adage.com/article?article_id=137441

-Michelle

First 'Commercial' App?

Fox & Family Guy just released the first commercial application with a Family Guy-themed app. Clips will be accessed through 4 video clips, featuring 20 show clips, games, and build your own characters. The app costs $1.99 while also linking directly to the iTunes store to purchase full length episodes. To have access to Stewie's deranged ways 24/7, just download the “Freakin’ Sweet Family Guy” app.

I find it interesting.... as Tivo eliminates traditional TV spots, others are pulling marketing and paying for it! Not a decrease in advertising I say; rather a slow shift to improved, extremey targeted, and valuable channels! What's next?

--Michelle

Free concerts

http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com

This is a cool site for free, live, previously recorded concerts. Just sign in and browse the thousands of free concerts and interviews, and start listening. With a detailed written summary of the history of the band at the moment of the concert, you can almost put yourself in the crowd, even if you weren't.

Beautiful Losers film

In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of like minded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.

Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today's youth.

Has anyone seen this film?

99 cent cab rides

 

In promotion of Verizon's new pre-paid phone service plans that average 99 cents a day, they're offering 99 cent cab rides in NYC for a day (soon to also include 99 cent ice cream cones). When will this campaign go national and reach the Denver market??!! You can count me in....!
Verizon offers 99 cent cab ride in NYC for a day

Loyalty Cards: Not So Loyal

With my sesame bagel with veggie cream cheese in one hand and my cup of green mountain coffee in the other, I made my way through the line at Bruegger’s this morning, in which I am repeat visitor. As I reached the register, I was offered yet another loyalty rewards card. “Buy 6 cups & get your 7th FREE!”

Everyone who has taken Marketing 101 knows that loyalty cards/memberships are a way to stimulate repeat purchases as well as award your most loyal or profitable customers. In my opinion, it does the exact opposite.

Loyalty cards last as long as they have not been ran through the wash, lost between stacks of unwanted bills, or dropped in the trash with the remnants of my breakfast. More so the only way to safeguard the loss of my loyalty card is to save my receipts as proof of purchase. So now, I am requesting for not only another loyalty card, but also 6 receipts to boot.

I understand that Bruegger’s will profit from the 3 cups of return visits before all forms of documentation go MIA, but at what cost? Before I have even received my stamp for the 1st cup, I am already frustrated at Bruegger’s for not delivering upon their customers underlying wants and needs.

Here’s a thought to Bruegger’s: If instead of printing multiple soon to be lost receipts and loyalty cards, why don’t you save some trees, join the green trend campaign, and take the cost savings from printing/supplies to implement a digital loyalty program that is tracked at the store with say (genius point) my phone number?

Now that would truly be rewarding to the customer…

But hey, on the bright side… I now need to purchase a larger wallet that can handle multitudes of loyalty cards and receipts, so I will be sure to tell Bruegger’s the purse manufacturer says thank you for the repeat business, stimulated by their loyalty card.

Stranger than strange

King Louis XIII’s monogrammed potty… a foot operated breast enlarger pump…human hair wreaths…these don’t mean much to the average person, but to some, they are definitely worth preserving and showcasing. In honor of the recently released Ben Stiller comedy, Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian, RadarOnline.com, along with travel writer, Terese Loeb Kreuzer, came up with the 12 Strangest Museums in the world. Check it out!