As you can see above, the logo will always remain the same, but the image behind the logo will be in constant change. Why? Aol. wants to spread the word on all of the different content they reach. And why the period? It is supposed to represent “confidence and completeness”. So the question is, Can a few lower case letters and a period change an entire brand?

Feel free to read more here at nytimes.com

AdAge states that these 10 brands are the “hottest” brands in America. As an everyday consumer that fits the “target profile” for almost all of these brands, I hate to say, I have only seen ads or purchased 3 of these brands. What is it about these brands that AdAge sees as innovative leaders? What metrics do they use to measure this innovation? In reading some of the case studies of the various brands on AdAge I have to say I only agree with a few of these brands being on the “10 hottest” list, not to say the others haven’t done great things, just to say I think there may be some better brands out there in marketing innovation.

I’m beginning to wonder if Y!ahoo has truly capitalized on their Y!ou campaign.  I’m not sure how I feel about this video, I dont know exactly what it is, but it doesnt do it for me.

This is one of the coolest banner ads I have seen in a while.  The banner ad itself acts like the product…it Prints out a new cover page of the New York Times, spits it out toward the viewer and then takes over the old page having replaced the ad locations with cannon ads.

I love the way the ad acted like it was the product in action!

Yahoo has created a new campaign “It’s Y!ou” to emphasize that they are all about the CONSUMER.  As we all know by know, every company is striving to alter their strategy to make the consumer feel as though everything is about “them.”

I find this particular campaign pretty funny.  I recently pitched a campaign with a student group to a marketing team that creates campaign for two companies that are partners and are both the leaders in their industry.  I will keep their identities a secret, as I dont want them to feel upset that they missed the golden opportunity. What was the foundation of our campaign?…making it all about YOU! Interesting concept…and the corporate giants shut it down…hmm.  To think these two industry leaders could have been the first to release the true “you” campaign.

That being said.  Yahoo is the first company I have seen directly spell it out “YOU” but it has been a rising trend over the past few years to tailor campaigns to the consumer.  Time magazine person of the Year for 2006 was YOU. And 2006 was just the beginning.  I am interested to see the results of the “It’s Y!ou” campaign and the buzz it creates among consumers.

Coca-Cola wins again! Check out the full article

The link in the chat window leads you to this landing page where you can “gush videos” by having color splats show up on the video, “gush the world” and have gush splats show up on your house, you can “gush your friends” and have the gush show up on various websites and much more! www.bewarethegush.com

Its not just the fruit snacks going viral.  Last night on TV I saw a commercial for Capri Sun about the “Disrespectoids.” Disrespectoids are those who do not “Resepct the Pouch.” Kraft has created an online game called the “Disrespectoids” where kids can interact in a virtual world and play games against those who have “dissed the pouch” in order to gain achievements and rewards. Check out the website.

If you ask me Gushers and Capri Sun have done it right.  Consumers these days are all about being able to interact with the brands in a unique and exciting way.  In order for any brand to get the competitive advantage they desire they are going to have to go above and beyond with creativity in the channels. By creating unique online brand portals General Mills and Kraft are not online engaguing their target audience (the kids) but they are indirectly targeting the purchasers (the parents).  Afterall, in my opinion, kids are the driving influencers behind a parent’s purchase decisions when it comes to snacks.

A simple example of this augmented reality is the yellow first down line seen on TV during football games.

Here are a few more examples:

GE “Plug Into the Smart Grid”

…When it came to online shopping vs. heading to the store there were significant questions that drove people to continue shopping in the store…Will the item fit? How will it look? What does it feel like? Now, with the help of Augmented Reality the link between online and offline shopping has been created.  Zugara is trying to create an online web-cam based social shopper that allows you to shop online with all of the offline features and benefits you receive when you visit the store. Check out the article.

This whole Augmented Reality thing is pretty awesome stuff…as time progresses I’m sure I will post more on the topic.

Think you’ve mastered texting while driving? Take the test and see how you do!