138 Words on Digital Marketing

It happened.   The one thing that I’ve built my career on thus far, digital marketing, annoys the hell out of me.  I say that as I’m blogging while refreshing Facebook and Twitter – the axis of digital marketing evil as far as I’m concerned.  I was once obsessed with figuring out how to be the first to put certain technology to work to solve marketing challenges. Let’s enable consumers to upload videos.  Let’s prove that CPG brand can leverage Myspace, then Facebook. Notice the problems with those statements?  As I matured professionally, I started to lose interest in the latest technology and capabilities, instead obsessing over the basic human needs that technology and content were fulfilling (or in some cases exploiting).  But people like the old version me are very important – I know a few that are invaluable.

Open APIs Equals Facebook Fun

Now that Facebook is opening up, check out some apps that Microsoft built to show the possibilities. Should get interesting. It looks like all the cool shit we’ve been able to do with Flickr, Twitter and others for years.

Girl Skateboards + Project (RED)

My second bite from Ibn Jasper today.  I am useless.  Time to retire.

Steve Berra On the Skateboarding Ecosystem

I love getting into conversations with my skater friends that border on the same topic and others like it.  Aside from my parents and a few key individuals in my life, I believe I can attribute a substantial amount of ‘who I am‘ to my time spent skateboarding – both on the board and observing – since 1991.   I would put teaching ‘Skate Philosophy 101′ at a university at dream job status.  I often say that one of my hobbies is tracing the influence of skateboarding throughout pop culture and society, from fashion trends, to art, to attitudes.   Pathetic hobby, I know.

I frequently see pop culture icons labeled trendsetters and style icons, when in reality they are taking their lead from the quiet (in relative terms) skateboarders who for the most part, could care less.   Style has always been an essential element of skateboarding, but progression and overall enjoyment should always remain most important.   Obsessing over a nollie flip – a skater.  Obsessing over the way your jeans fall onto your P-Rods – a misled skater.

I highly recommend reading Steve’s post.  It is long, but a great read.  It is begging for some David Armano-style graphic treatment to articulate the symbiotic relationship between the parties that call skateboarding theirs.

Always Stylish: NIP/TUCK Promos

Despite what you may think of the show, Nip/Tuck never delivers anything less than the best when it comes to creative promos each season. Their promos and corresponding campaigns are always a bit over the top and incredibly stylish. I just stumbled upon the promo for this season (above) and was reminded of previous seasons below. The show is basically a soap opera that guys can get into, but in recent seasons I think the producers kept up the aesthetics and maybe forgot about the script. Wait… who am I kidding? The script was never a focus, but who cares. The plot maybe a bit far-fetched at times, but the scary thing is… the obsession with beauty is all too real. See below.

See the promo from last season (Season 5):

Season 4:

Check the dialogue (and use of Duran Duran’s Save a Prayer)

This one needs no introduction:

I May Be Biased, But I Would Say the New Millennium…

In 2008, the worlds of music and branding aligned in a unique and resounding way. This resulted in several noteworthy initiatives, partnerships, ventures, etcetera, as well as some incredibly cool track usages for broadcast TV and Web advertisements.

Sadly for some music industry hopefuls, the branding equation wasn’t the savior they had sought. But as the music industry continues to evolve into a digital- and media-led business, branding remains a vital way for those who create and produce the music to monetize it.

Here are my top 5 list of newsworthy branded-music initiatives and top 5 track choices for 2008:

1. TAG Records. In April, Procter & Gamble partnered with the record label Island Def Jam Music Group to launch a recording imprint tied to its TAG men’s deodorant and body spray. Jermaine Dupri, the Atlanta-based rapper and music producer, was named president. Brand-alliance guru David Caruso of Acme Branded Content brokered the deal. Hopefully, his music will meet his and (even) consumer expectations. Red Bull, Mountain Dew, Levi’s and others are beginning to take on the role of nouveaux-record labels.

Read the full article here. To see if the music meets consumer’s expectations, wait until the new year for the big noise, check Q’s myspace now, or google’em.

Announcement: I AM KING, a New Fragrance from Sean John

Finally… but still tweaking.   Check it out here.

Tom Ford – Jack

I am not asking for any holiday gifts this year, but should you feel compelled… Let me help you out. See above.

I would also take them in black, but everyone is sportin’ black these days. So I would prefer brown. Whatever color you think would look best on me though.

Update:

You know… Tom Ford is my idol. How could he not be:

Most forget what he has accomplished…

Change

Photo via The Arab Parrot

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