NoEnd2HighEnd

facebook retooled

2011-09-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

(My view: The latest move by team facebook is to offer business users more intuitive and redeeming feel to the facebook page. This is another way to counter the Google + syndrome slowly picking up...the argument I had already posted sometime back )

SOURCE : AdAge Digital

Facebook today unveiled a major redesign to its profilepages called Timeline, which transforms the list of status messages andcomments into a scrapbook of a user's entire history on the platform. Eventhough this transforms the entire aesthetic and function of profile pages, thisdoesn't apply to brands and their pages.

While the updates revealed at Facebook's F8 conference add asuite of new tools for users to express what they are interested in -- likemusic, recipes, TV shows and news -- there's little detail on what brand pageswill look like going forward. What we do know is that they won't look exactlylike Timeline, but, according to Facebook VP-Global Marketing Solutions DavidFischer, will be "consistent" with the Timeline look-and-feel, whichis picture-heavy and curated to highlight only the most important events in auser's life.

The new Timeline pages let users feature any content --check-ins, photos or other updates -- in longer-view reverse chronologicalorder. So instead of the status updates and likes from the last week or monthof activity, a user profile page can look like a summary of his or her entireexistence on the social network.

"It suddenly gives [users] the opportunity to sharewhat business you're in, the products you're using or buying and sharing thatwith your friends," said Mr. Fischer.

Users can also tack applications from media companies anddevelopers on their timelines. For example, with the Nike Plus app, users canpublish the runs and distances recorded on its mobile app straight to Facebookpages. Media behavior can also be stored there with top-viewed movies or TVshows or favorite songs or albums gleaned from apps from Hulu, Netflix orSpotify respectively.

So what's the opportunity for marketers?

The most immediate implications are for entertainmentmarketers. Now that users can share what they are listening to, watching orreading on Facebook through media partner applications, marketers can grabthose mentions and give them wider distribution through sponsored stories. Sofar, marketers have only been able to take users' check-ins or status updatesabout their brands and distribute them to a wider Facebook audience. SonyPictures for the upcoming movie "Moneyball" plans to promote whenusers watch the trailer; the band Coldplay will promote when users arelistening to its music.

"Marketers want to promote stories about the thingsthey're affiliated with but don't always own the apps," said GokulRajaram, Facebook Ads director of product management, referring to apps fromservices such as Spotify, Netflix or Hulu that allow users to share whatcontent they're consuming. "Now you can promote stories from any app aboutobjects you own, not just from the page owned by the marketer."

But for Facebook, which eMarketer predicts will clear $3.8billion from advertising this year, will all these changes add up to morerevenue? "Anything that increases engagement on Facebook, and capturesmore user data, will drive up ad revenues," said Hussein Fazal, CEO of AdParlor. "The announcements today definitely hit both of these keypoints."

This also opens up a whole new way to target. What users arelistening to, watching or reading now will become a filter to serve adsagainst. For now, this new way to target ads will only be available throughFacebook Ads' API and its direct sales team.

I call this process re-Branding

2011-07-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

As per sources, Google’s new social media platform, Google Plus, is the result of an ambitious and earnest effort by Google at social networking. However it is also revealed that Google was not investing heavily enough in social networking as rival Facebook. It seems the company is working hard to adding the millions of users with a PLUS. The PLUS will allow people to share links and media among people they have divided into “circles” based on their relationships. The trend I guess would be followed with the gamut of social media offers like YouTube.
Even if Google + team is not blindly following Facebook and Twitter, but they are following them :P
Google + will bring the cult back and dominate the socializing space … I have no idea. But let’s get some perspective into the argument.

Late realization
I guess it’s better to be late than never. And it also came from top executive “It is about time we have come to the realization, if you don’t know people, then you can’t organize the information for people.”
I think Google has the right platform already set, and it would be a natural progression to reorganize with social and search touch.
Also one should not forget several failed attempts by Google to create Buzz in the social space. But with mixed experience I think it should be a good for Google to PLUS.

Attempt is the other name for RISK in social networking domain
The first mover advantage is true in love, war and now socializing. Google is the best search engine. Facebook is the best social networking site. Any foray into another field, through imitating or whatever, though good for expansion and diversification of portfolio, would be a good attempt or rather a social RISK.

Why suddenly :
Is it…Google Plus to Challenge Facebook in Brand Ads???
Of course its just want to socialize ..its money and its big and growing. As per MAGNAGLOBAL, it is expected that the online advertising to collectively grow by 11.7% in 2011 and by an average rate of 11.0% through 2015, with a total global market size of $103 billion in 2010.
Though it is still early to take a call, Google+ has shown signs of keen user engagement, according to Google :) with already millions of users in Google/gmail , it would be not difficult to convert them into Google plus. And I am sure in coming days there’s a lot of magic still in store for Google to offer the socially active consumers!
With Google+ profile page Google should be excited about boosting the business experience with rich analytics and the ability to connect that identity to Google’s major money-making AdWords business. Google is also testing on business page demand and guess will also cross sell the analytics as a service to them. So cross selling huh!
User interaction is also a buzz in the advertising word and I think Google through Plus should be encasing the shift. There are also more in advertising . This social media war is in essence the defining battle for the future of the advertising business, and we should all be paying close attention.

Backward Integration
Yes ..its BI for Google Plus with rest of universe to connect and reconnect not only with user profile but also to hone the loose treads on its advertising offerings / engines with Adsense and Adwords. Further adding it to the mobile online space, I think it’s gonna rock invinciblein virtual space.
Also we know that Google has Search engine capabilities, strong datacenter farming, browser, analytics, ad engines, etc etc. So this is just to integrate all together with a people and + experience.

Did I mention Tulalip!

Ok ..people ..MICROSOFT is working on its secret plan or call it just a coincident. Well whatever,

It was entitled Tulalip and promised users to “find what you need and share what you know easier than ever’. There was a page that displayed features which allowed users to connect via Facebook and Twitter, but no Google+. There were some links to ‘See how it works’ amongst others but obviously didn’t work. Source: http://www.socl.com/

So in coming days there would be so much to come.

Google + Dominate or not …it would be interesting to see if we dominate the sudden change, and shift our browser usage.

The analysis:

I am not sure if this theory hold true…but there’s no harm in trying

In the year 2005 (Mid 2005) I signed myself in Orkut. And there began a journey to a whole new world of time pass. This time it was a smart move, I said to myself. Days went by happily. Suddenly in 2008 (Mid 2008) I was introduced to Facebook. I felt I had hit the jack pot. I liked the color blue , and it was a refreshing feel coming out if the pink feel of Orkut. And now its mid 2011 my appetite for socializing is again challenged and I am in the verge of the shift.

So the point I want to bring in is if there is any logic to the social networking self life or cycle in the social networking space. With reference to the above situation, I SEE a trend - THAT in every 3 years the social networking market wakes up to a new change, and people kind of starts adopt it . So the fact is how companies in the social media space is enticing the user preference and user experience. I see its again 3 years and its again time for Google to divide the market preferences by adding more users with Plus (ofcourse) which will help Google multiply the business.

Techno brAND syndrome

2011-06-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Technology is no longer an aspiration, and should be included in the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need!

So why I am saying is because of the recent survey By Afaqs.com on Buzziest Brands of 2011. Out of which The top 15 buzziest brands give out a peculiar trend. There are 6 technical brands and 5 telecommunication brands. This makes one realize how important technology has become in today’s world.

For more read : http://trak.in/tags/business/2011/02/28/top-buzziest-brands-india/

CW ji…

2010-11-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

I know it’s a history now … but I thought to bring the dead (topic) to life.

Post Dabaag, it was GWG …I don’t know it was meant to be a HIT or it hit the brand India! However, I believe India is bigger and no event should tarnish the image and the potential of the market as the MNC would see it. It’s part of the business.

Ok …I don’t know the real issue hovering around the CWG all I could gather from the past one month before the CWG launch from the media sources that its certainly gonna dent the brand India. The not so anticipated CWG for many including me was then became the most awaited block-buster topic at almost every corner of many offices, parking areas, the coffee shop, the bloggers lane and the joggers link (sorry pls swap the words). It’s working as detox. And the media covering every inch of it, making life worse for Mr. Kill Madi :P :S anyways you got it right.

But I don’t want to blame Mr. Killer you know…Why? Firstly, the matter of fact is that this guy Mr. Killer is doing the job, the job of spending big amount. So what if the roof was falling and bridge did collapse and treadmills were rented for some fancy numbers. The bigger picture was he was trying …let’s appreciate the guy Mr. Killers whose experience doesn’t allow him to do such jobs. And in public sector you learn things in hard ways…so CWG is/was in the learning process. If we really want to blame, we need to blame the system who appointed Mr. Killer for this job. Secondly, why there was no PPP (Public Private Partnership). Thirdly, why media was jumping around when the D day was nearing creating more panic and negativity. What were they doing a year ago? It should have helped the work to finish fast. Fourthly, there was heavy rain (as Ms Dikshit mentioned); the sky was falling kind stuff. And fifthly, there is certainly a sixth angle in it.

The real issue and the point I want to bring here is, this CWG is a tip of the iceberg of corruption; procrastinated work; the ‘chalta hai’ syndrome; the lousy project planning of government; the tut u mai mai; bla and blue . The CWG situation is present every day of my life, your life, Indian life - the corruption touches us every morning. Today its news for you, tomorrow you will become the news. The matter of fact is what the point of discussion when the system is so corrupted (am I right Mr. Raja). Ever since I had paid road tax, I still haven’t enjoyed much of good roads in Bangalore (and for your knowledge, the road tax in Bangalore is the highest in India). Even the road in Bihar and Jharkhand is better; please visit Jamshedpur to test it. The fact is the common wealth of man in India is never being utilized properly, and it is, and has become the way of our life and system. So why do we need to be so vocal about CWG? However, in the end, there was a happy ending - like a Karan Johar movie. There were balloons flying and A R Rehman rocked on the D day. So chill.

It’s only in days to come that we will find if the brand image of India gets a beating. The world had watched and is watching, but as they say ‘we shall overcome’. I mean we should, what you say Mr. Killer!

All the best … it happens only in ‘Incredible India’

The turnaround man

2010-01-04T23:46:00.001-08:00

Yes, Mr. Nitish Kumar, the CM of Bihar…the man in the spot light…so is his effort. Before I fill the post with praise, I would like to bring statistics to ponder. Source: Economic times:

A manifestation of the turnaround in the law and order and infrastructure sectors could be gauged from the fact that the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the state has shot up from 94,446 in 2006 to 3.56 lakh in 2008.

According to the latest Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) data, Bihar’s GDP grew by an astounding 11% in the five years between 2004-05 and 2008-09, much more than the national average of 8.49%, making it the second fastest-growing state in the country. It, of course, has benefited from a low base effect since the state has long been a growth laggard, but governments before Mr. Kumar had been unable to accelerate economic growth.

‘We want the next round of green revolution to happen in Bihar’

Sure we want, and me too, Bihar is a special state for me; most of my growing days (schooling) have been spent in the state. Later became Jharkhand… Keeping away the synonyms of Bihar with kidnappings and abductions, the criminal-politician nexus; let start it new… at-least the thought should be new and hope anticipated …
As we travel through the 2010, we are more hopeful about prospects for 2010 compared to the dismal valuation and performance all these years. It’s not about Bihar or Biharis..It’s a state of the nation which needs to be constructed and re-BRANDED … yeah exactly brand it new!!!

Further, I would be happy if we could get the “litti (s)” branded and retailed…howz the thought …
Mc Litti or BBL (Bihar Baked Littis) anyways …happy new year 

Brand the New Year

2010-01-04T22:01:00.001-08:00

With this brand new note we should start the 2010 :)
Wish everyone around the world a happy prosperous brand efficient new year!!!

Brand GANDHI SELL?

2009-11-17T22:06:00.000-08:00

Yeah, again Gandhi is obsessing me...and the brand community...I was reading the ET today and a article strike me, was all about the Gandhi.... as a case for in point "Mont Blanc” is going the Gandhi way...however, the only difference is that there is ROI attached for every piece of 241 pen they are going to get sell.

LETS not deviate from the topic....I believe is there a whole new kind of marketing propaganda ushering in the market...call it trendsetter...atleast in India. Propaganda bcoz it is not tested (I believe)...and will it work....man it’s just a pen ... or leave it to self actualization.

From marketing prospective why not extend the human personalities into brand and do the Che Guevara way ...again there are fear of misuse and category killing effect....
I m also not sure how many of these 241 pens would react in the minds of the "the consumers" but one interesting point Mr. Tushar Gandhi made and was quoted in that ET (Brand Equity) article was and I quote again

"He would sell his autograph for Rs 5 which he gave to the khadi fund,” says Tushar Gandhi. Gandhi himself was well aware of his brand value.

Anyways, let the course of time decide how it sells … in a big market called India which is now in itself

brand GANDHI

2009-07-29T12:54:00.002-07:00

When we think of a product, we tend to think of a brand and subconsciously our mind gets involved in the brand projected towards the product. To ascertain my thought in the generalized situation ,I am sure; if asked about soap or chocolate probable response would be either Lux or Dove (if asked to a lady) etc, for soap and may be Cadbury for chocolate. Similarly if we need to think of mobile phone in India it’s definitely Nokia which strikes in our mind instantly. Brand gives familiar identity of the product.
As a mater of fact, brand is intangible product which simulates in the mind of a customer before it really gets sold. It is like mind over matters, akin to the Indian politics , where we are put to simulated situation before it converts to reality and the projections are so meticulously and lucratively branded making election feel like a product and people exercise their franchise with lot of enthusiasm as if to realize benefit of the product immediately after election .

The recent result of the Lok Sabha Election 2009 is the greatest testimony to illustrate my argument. Like Zoozoos to Vodafone, its Gandhis to Congress. Brand matters, however,brand building is also an aspect for the brand to come as winner and if we go back to history of Indian politics we have only few prominent charismatic personality in our mind. Prominent among them are Netaji Subash Bose, Gandhiji and the Nehru family which dominated post independence Indian politics. Further, it’s the family lineage that works wonder as in case of Rahul Gandhi win over the psyche of the population. The brand Gandhi was predominant across all ages, castes, and above all among different political parties which joined the bandwagon. It was a sheer victory of brand in the minds of the beneficiaries i.e. constituent domiciles, the people of India, at large. Congress party, just like any company, campaigned the ambisously planned product called Rahul as a youth leader; someone who is willing to understand the generation next of India. The strategy was well above the agenda which the congress party had put forward during the campaign and the result is a clear mandate by the people of the nation. From a brand prospective it is certitude win of priceless brand at the cost of the product i.e Congress party (confusing)

Although it is debatable, “Is Brand Congress usurped by Brand Gandhi?” However, going by the results whether it is Rahul and Sonia or Varun and Menka they all won from their respective constituencies. Irrespective of a winning or the loosing party, brand Gandhi was victories in all politically correct grounds. Moreover, it is nobody’s fault- but as a nation we always look for an idol, a demi–God to follow or worship at every moment which turned out to be unprecedented one. Also if we consider other than Congress they all lack brilliance in the brand value to influence enormous geographical area or the ambassador of deliverable identity even though they all had an agenda well recited and well documented. It was indeed the success of brand and the constant phenomenon called ‘change’.

Cluster Branding

2009-03-05T01:31:00.000-08:00

I am sick of the word “Economic Downturn” but I / we can’t abate myself/ our self with the effect of it either directly or indirectly. Branding is critical to both marketing and the company’s budget. To make your brand vocal and communicate the offering of your company one need to brand and re-brand. Succumb to situation companies are cutting down its cost of operations be it branding, this in return affecting the advertising and brand management companies. Advertising companies are finding it difficult maintain the CRM in the low cost strategy. Now how you reduce cost in the already reduced clientele.
What i would suggest and foresee is to open a new channel of brand management strategy. Whatever one may call , well i call it Cluster Branding and I will define it as a symbiotic branding strategy wherein the different companies from same fraternity come together to communicate their offerings. To make sense the ad agencies will offer platform to companies in same industry say IT/ MR/ Consultancy/ Auto etc,. and advertise their offerings.
In a B2B scenario when say, companies into Market Research and Consultancy can participate in the ad/ promotion/ also OOH advertising being in the same ad campaign.
Well this might sound impractical considering the fact these companies are competitors to each other. However, for an outdoor B2B platform where the cost is a factor and economies of scale is a sound good factor, ad agencies could woo them to get printed. Also the Nitti gritty can be argued and need to sort out...hence it’s a WIP plan as of now.
coming to the advantage of this would be definitely to do with cost cutting specially in times of crisis. I will explain by giving example …say a big MNC like HP who is into MR and business intelligence and needs to advertise frequently from the HR prospective and also to brand it best in this business, can find it hard to allocate big sum for advertisement. On the other side small company like Infiniti whose core business is MR/CI/BI finds it difficult to allocate budget to advertise itself which is also necessary to stay into the business. Now Cluster Branding would be the solution to it. How??
Bringing both the companies in the same print / outdoor ad platform where both will leverage in terms of cost and in terms of brand identity making their presence currently in the market. Small company will leverage its brand identity by getting associated with the big brand in the same business and big companies will reduce it cost of advertisement in the long run.

BIG B blogged down

2009-01-16T22:48:00.000-08:00

Respected sir.....

To sir with Love : Its called Branding

sirji writes Source :http://bigb.bigadda.com/2009/page/2/

A couple of hours, a few damp smelling minutes of those under the English Channel, self mobile operated pictures, early morning French countryside and PARIS..!!
The Salon du Cinema team meets me at the entrance to Paris-Nord station and after an exchange of greetings and flowers and video and stills, out into the wet and cold Paris streets, chased by a huge group of women, who scream and shout and clap, making you wonder what it is that I may have done to receive such an enthusiastic welcome in a country that hardly knows who I am. But, Fouad my driver and sincere personal guide during all my recent visits to the city, gathers me quickly into his car and drives off. They are migrants or asylum seekers from nearby or distant country and are begging he informs me. My ego brought into place I am saddened by their plight. Conditions the world over are so similar. Perceptions differ, but the reality of life and existence, unchanged.
On blog, comments for the film ‘SlumDog Millionaire’ and the anger by some on its contents, prompt me to say the above. If SM projects India as Third World dirty under belly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky under belly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations. Its just that the SM idea authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a Westerner, gets creative Globe recognition. The other would perhaps not.
The commercial escapist world of Indian Cinema had vociferously battled for years , on the attention paid and the adulation given to the legendary Satyajit Ray at all the prestigious Film Festivals of the West, and not a word of appreciation for the entertaining mass oriented box office block busters that were being churned out from Mumbai. The argument. Ray portrayed reality. The other escapism, fantasy and incredulous posturing. Unimpressive for Cannes and Berlin and Venice. But look how rapidly all that is changing. Retrospectives in Paris and New York. Dedicated TV channels running Hindi cinema on prime timings. Premiers at Leiscester Square, the home of all Hollywood royalty, thronged by hundreds on the street in cold biting weather. Affable recognition at most corners of the universe… And a dear friend from Los Angeles wires in that Hollywood is abuzz with India and the phenomenal talent that exists there. We’re talking cinema still !
DAY 264, response 156, Pooja Srivastava Bannerjee, writes a long exhaustive capital led piece, dripping with sarcasm, undiluted cynicism, pride and arrogance on how their group of fans who visited the outdoor shooting of Abhishek in Orcha wilderness in Madhya Pradesh were denied a ’smile’ and a ‘wave’ from him ! They, who were the wives of Army personnel; personnel that laid down their lives for the nation. They, who bought tickets to our films so we could become who we are. They, that were the contributor to our riches and wealth. How dare, they, who have made us and who if they did not patronize us where we would be, be treated in this manner from Abhishek who, their commander informed was not the typical star but a well behaved individual.
I have given my response to said lady. Apologized on his behalf. Given a background to the lives of artistes and actors on set. Tried to explain the possible circumstances of the situation and left her with a pertinent query.
My endeavor in treating said incident with fairness and a semblance of democratic understanding, coerces me to put the matter up for the extended family to react, reject, advise, comment on it. Would you ?? Thank you.
‘Tis late now ! ‘Tis not so sweet as it was before..
Good Night and Namaskar
...........
comments : http://bigb.bigadda.com/2009/01/12/day-264/#comment-268002

Hi Sir,
Well. I agree about your saying about “a murky under belly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations” however I don’t agree that the movie should not get Globe recognition since SM idea authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a Westerner, gets creative. The other way as you have mentioned would perhaps not, of course and I am saying this not because I am not proud to be Indian or I doubt the credibility of incredible India! But at the same time one should not forgo the power of Marketing & Brand Building that the WEST had always maintained and the REST has always applauded as when required.Don’t you agree we are so proud to associate our self from whatever walks of life we come from, from whatever fraternity we belong we love to associate ourselves with the WEST?Again let me reiterate what actually making a point is that we welcome and we are so used to welcome foreigners to give us the certificate on whatever we have and whatever we do. Hence SM is not the exception as they have the power of money and marketing ability to gain recognition. They are BRANDED …HOLLYWOODI think we need to portray BOLLYWOOD in the same way as they do and focus on our talent and rather than getting angry on the content of $M coz it is true …..Where are our politically correct people…..

Satyam Hang will be Over

2009-01-14T22:39:00.000-08:00

After reading Satyam Hangover: Implications on India's Brand IT in ET http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/Brand_Equity/Satyam_Hangover_Implications_on_Indias_Brand_IT/articleshow/3975604.cms#write

An individual promoter cannot spoil the entire party ....exactly and why we are so concerned with the entire IT industry. Indians have a short lived memory.. what stays is the brand and the brand in the IT sector is not Satyam but the Brand INDIA which is promising and growing .
What has happen is an operational failure in Satyam, what should be remembered is the work which is to be delivered, the service export factor need to go on. Government and eligible officials need to ensure the job of nearly 55000 employees should not be taken. Whether it is Satyam or else who takeover the company should carry on the work...work that maters and the brand equity will be upheld.
I agree that the Big Three will take up the challenge to salvage Brand Indian IT.
As long the company serves the client better the show will go on.

GREEN room

2008-11-28T07:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks for reviewing this message in e-form!

This would be the ubiquitous thanks giving sentence when we going through documents in the internet. And organizations are taking it very seriously so you need to take this write up and read this in e-form.

Be it a car manufacturing company or a IT company they are creating a alternate identity for their BRAND …the GREEN BRAND. This is not only an effort for looking for alternate energy or optimizing processes, I believe it will refresh their Brand as a alternate brand identity.
Well I perceives theirs lot of meaning in the word GREEN and the traffic on this road is leading to only prosperity for the future generation

G get
R resources
E energy
E efficient
N now

Get Resources Energy Efficient Now ….HOWZZAT

Get: companies preparing for the change , the way it operate to make it more energy efficient

Resources: the assets/ gadgets/ building/ servers/ products/ etc

Energy :) positive

Efficient: now here lies the challenge to make the above to the optimum /maximum level for better tomorrow

Now! (Enough of seminars)

Quick facts :
Brands need and some are communicating their social purpose investments. Only 40% of consumers around the world say they are aware of any company that actively supports a good cause, and only 33% are aware of a brand that actively support a good cause. In China, awareness of brands that actively support a good cause grew from 55% in 2007 to 68% this year, most likely because of the recent Olympic Games.

Consumers say that if two products are of the same quality and price, commitment to a social purpose (42%) trumps factors like design/innovation (30%) and brand loyalty (27%) when choosing one brand over the other.

Half (52%) of consumers globally are more likely to recommend a brand that supports a good cause over one that does not, and 54% would help a brand promote a product if there was a good cause behind it
----------------------------------------------------
India is also anticipating Green drive by big companies in all forms ….IT companies are banking on the Green datacenters /optimization of resources ..Banks are welcoming the e-formats and reduction of paper works… Car / bike companies are making engines more fuel efficient…
I feel its CSR in its green form and this making waves in its Brand image …
It is realized that consumers would remain loyal to a brand during a recession if it supports a good cause. Well! A person like me will support brand which is advertising for causes like Green and save the earth ….and I am sure there is market for people like me.

It is also seen people in all level and walks of life supporting green phenomenon...I have a quick example of www.potosynthesis.com/ and yes
No one can deny the fact that nearness to nature makes person feels very calm and relaxed.

There are many companies across the world that supports social causes in different ways and they are getting the benefits and consumer attentions. Few are mentioned:

1. innocent drinks "The Big Knit" –
“The Big Knit” has raised more than £370,000 in support of older people in the U.K. who struggle through the cold of winter, an estimated 25,000 of whom die from cold weather-related causes. Proceeds from the sale of special wool-hatted bottles of innocent drinks go to Age Concern, an organization that provides hot meals, room thermometers, warm blankets, safety checking electric blankets, and advice on how to handle rising energy costs.
2. American Express Members Project –
Amex re-launched the program (started in 2007) with the aim to fund programs that will have a positive impact in the world with $2.5 million dollars. The year-one votes were tallied and the winning causes were: 1st - Alzheimers Early Detection, 2nd - Help 100,000 Children Thrive in the Classroom, 3rd - Loans that Change Lives.
3. Yamamay –
Yamamay an Italian underwear brand launched their Yamazonia line by creating a special jute bag to be sold through Yamamay retailers. The proceeds from bag sales go to save the Brazilian Rainforest. The project was linked to the S/S 2008 underwear and beachwear collection inspired by Brazil.

4. The Times of India –
The “Teach India” campaign, organized by the Times of India in conjunction with the UN Volunteers Program, corporate partners and NGOs across India, has attracted 55,000 volunteer teachers – most of them people who give their leisure time to teach underprivileged children. The big brilliant idea is simply that just two hours a week can change a child’s future.

5. Marie Claire –
Marie Claire launched “La Rose Marie Claire” in France promoting education for girls. The campaign ran to coincide with the International Day for Women’s Rights. The campaign raised money to benefit “toutes a l’ecole” which builds schools in Cambodia and “a glance, a child” which awards scholarships.

6. Kiva - Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. The website aims to help real people make strides towards economic independence and improve their own lives and communities.
7. CauseCast - CauseCast is "a one stop philanthropy shop" by TechCrunch where media, philanthropy, social networking, entertainment and education converge to serve a greater purpose. CauseCast enables people who want to do good, want to be inspired, and want to inspire others to connect with kindred spirits, leaders, nonprofit organizations, and brands that inspire them.
8. Google Maps - Google and Brazil's indigenous Surui people have taken mutual social responsibility for preserving threatened rainforest. Surui tribespeople, trained in IT with the help of non-profit Amazon Conservation Team, use sat-nav and Google Maps to record and report illegal mining operations in their territory.

9. Xbox 360 - Game design features for the first time in this year's Microsoft Imagine Cup, a technology design competition where students help address social issues with innovations in software, graphics and more. Competitors in the Xbox Games for Change Challenge can win the chance to have their games (which must feature a message about creating a sustainable environment) made available as downloads in the Xbox LIVE Arcade service or MSN Games.

10. Starbucks - In partnership with the RED campaign, starting November 27, every time you buy a special (STARBUCKS) RED product, a contribution will be made to the Global Fund, to help save lives in Africa.

Man is a Virtual Animal

2008-11-03T02:11:00.000-08:00

We human beings are a social and animal sometime...was and will be...if not they we not man may b superman....the point i want to make is now with the pro advent of technology we have different ways of socializing ...however it is not restricted to being connected , its about we are now exposed to communication of all forms...be it sharing ..be it sending sos to the community around us...creating a platform and sense of awareness by being the first or the last person.

At the micro level:

as a busy office going person we hardly get time to know our neighbor next door (if thr are boring persons around..and in case of we see good chic/ chiken i might make wrong assumptions) . More over we have friends, school, college friends far away from our reach so we wonder hw should we connect them...and now we have facebook to orkut..to ibibo, ryze....etc etc so we are vertually connecting ourself and letting our friends and thr friends hw we are doin...hw cool am i and all other crap/ not so crap/ etc

At the macro level:

we are comming close to each other without being close. thanks to the virtual networking sites.
what i understand from the brand perspective ...we are making our presence from a network which has stong "clickfalls" like the retail footfalls and directly or indirectly getting part of the network brand.

Companies are also sensing the importance such social behavorial aspects and are entering into the next level of marketing '''"the viral marketing" inter network marketing.... i feel consumer behave the way want to behave physically and these virtual platforms will the , if not best ..a way to judge the personal orientation of a person ...his desires ...his virtual social connections , communities he/she is in ..will make a marketing judgements easy and it will gonna help the marketers to wooo consumers with stuffs...they like ...

The next time we log in the sites think we log-in the brand

:)

what TASTE better Branded or un Branded Aloo, Piyaanj, Mirchi

2008-10-16T02:27:00.000-07:00

Did i say branded aloo (potato), piyaanj(Onion), mirchi (chilli)..........what the fish....
Actually the point here i was making is about consumer power, retail power, brand power. Logically can we brand vegetables (untill its preservative /processed - cames under CPG) . However it is getting branded under the roof of retail stores ..be it reliance fresh, spencer, nilgiris, .... and we i follow the reverse power chain:
Consumer power <-------- retail power <--------- brand power

sorry...will add soon :)

Brand mamta made amar

2008-10-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

Na……….No I am not discussing about the killing field singur.
However, political branding is all we have seen all the while. It’s lean mean thin and is always here to stay in. Political rapture is not in the party brand but it’s the personality in the party which moves the brand image of the party. SP or TMC’s agenda who cares but the voice of mamta and amar maters in the market.

Branding in its most widely understood intelligence has always had a role to play in politics. It was the same apna lalooji who moved his party with his persona of nonchalant attitude is now moving the Indian Railways in the vertical limits of the profit. I wonder if anybody know /care about his party agenda but always look forward to his fund(a) he enjoys .

See I couldn’t resist myself from giving examples about Lalooji . I think he is the face of the modern politics Indian Railway sorry Politics have ever produced.
I wonder how many people remember the political party symbol in other word the Brand symbol of the party but we can relate with Singh, Modi, Mamta, Maya, Amma, Chiru, so on…… they are the heartthrob of the party. They are not the party people, of course they are not but they are more than the party.

In the end, it doesn’t even matter who is thinking about the progressive India or India progressing in the politically correct India. What matter is who’s line is it anyways which catches the imagination of the 2/3 rd of India and they decides whose gonna rule the PM/ CM chair.

Its about brand loyalty which pays royalty

More Brand per Brand

2008-10-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

I happen to read an interesting article in the ET today. It had a curious title “ More Brand per Brand”.

I think it is creating market the MARKET. While technically we can say its bundling offer, which works and working well in India. We are very lazy people and want everything in one place so in this prospect it works to offer the double-edged sword.

Simple examples of brands extending into adjacent categories make complex dynamics in the mind of the buyer. Yes flip side has to be there but in a huge MARKET like India there is always a passenger for each bus.

I think its perfect to extend the product offering, also one should understand that the other brand is selling because of the original brand image and the original brand image is getting re-branded with new customers coming for that "new" offer and buys the original product in return (actually its the other way).

However the core competencies should not be diluted as this is the reason other products are getting sold not because it’s getting diluted but the original brand value is pushing the "new" products in the market making more n new customers to get in.

Taking the Crossword example , 70% sale of books and 30% from the rest I think it is a Retail concept which is catching up and yet to stay. As mentioned earlier people "Love all when you have all" in the same place.

I could find another example of TATA car showrooms /dealers name any in any city we find there not only car but the Accessories for car so you more in the total bill and get more margin and we don't have to go a special car Accessories shop if we don't want to. Also we getting the TATA value added services via the dealers. There are other examples.

Ok let me give some local example from a small town like Ranchi. Renowned Tailors in Ranchi enjoys the customer satisfaction benefits and have Clientele which includes top ministers and businessmen. These Tailors not only make pants and shirts over the counter but keep Textile for sale. Ya it works sometime. Here you will not only get better service instead you could get the best service.

"MASSTIGE is in"

2008-07-04T04:04:00.000-07:00

aaha.....pls ask the CMO who is taking all the risk . Fuel price boom, inflation boom, cost cutting measures boom, austerity measures boom but Masstization will create its own boom...and ask Mr Michael Silverstein he will back all the CMOs to go for Indian market and the aspirational taste of the people of India(not every on ofcourse).
Say it an irony but premium brands are here to stay ....Porsche Boxter, Mercedes Class C, BMW , Bath & Body Works, Victory’s Secret,Red Bull, Kendall Jackson, Godiva, Jimmy Choo ......

ICE Price

2008-03-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Whats the price today? Rs 1000
Next month? Rs 899
Two month later? Rs 799
I dont wanna analyse further ....the payoff goes to the one who have patience here. What i want to say is hw much is the price its MELTS like ICE. It is visible mostly for electronic goods...(thx to Moore's Law) now it could be felt in other consumer goods too.
Ok Moore in next

BRAND

2008-03-07T02:32:00.000-08:00

This is always been my preferred topic ... many things had been said over again and you will get numerous links /websites appreciating the idea of the thing "BRAND"
Well, according to me that sells well makes a good brand .....ok in india atleast ....fine let me think again n i will come again with my idea ....and sometime when not selling also makes a very good brand .....now how many Hugo Boss is selling everyday....there's the catch n argument.....

March 18, 08........

NANO market

Yesterday i indulged myself in a mild debate, "what will happen when NANO by TATA enter the market" We all were sure and had consensus on "something will happen :) " but were different in what is actually gonna happen.....

Is it the infrastructure will become de-structure..Is it the loss to other car company..Is the difficulty for the buyers to judgeon the color of the nano car..Or is it....Well anything ..

Now i think there will be the emergence of a new market in India...global ..its the "NANO market". The departmental store wala close to my house will certainly have a Nano to flaunt.

With this Nanoism emerging...will again give rise to a new brand recognition..no its not to the product (which by virtue of TATA it will enjoy) but the recognition would defenetely go to those who never thought of having a car...will get a tag of a proud car owner....Hey now pls compare "him" with BMW guy....but pls dont forget our "him" would squeeze through the BMWs on the same road......

DooD

2008-03-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

Discuss online offline Dude.... this is a new thingy i have come up...forum...oh not again
Under this title we can gather our thought about anything ....online/offline

Reality CheckThe reality is....most of the time we are not in reality ...we dont want, dnt care attitude....

Nothing else matters

2008-03-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

Ya its a song..rock song......its true....nothing else matters except YOU.
iTS YOU who decides what would be the order of the day as a person, a friend, as a boyfriend/girlfriend/ brother/sis/ etc ....As a BOSS
Now that's the catch of this blog.....no its not a about human senti-mental(al), psychology . Its about who you are and what you do where ever you are /what you doing in life....sounds high.....

Welcome to High way to high end :)