Thursday, 30 August 2012

Online photos x postcard = ? please solve


The chemistry begins when online photo on social media meets postcard…. And they fell in love and starting to make some money out from their love journies



E-cards were immensely popular couple of years back, however they seem to have lost its good old charm. Now, they are numerous companies or applications (integrate with social media) that allows consumer to send a REAL mail to their loves one in the form of custom cards that they created.



(taken from You Regards)

An example of this could be like...




The names of companies and applications are listed as below:






 These services share the same approach - using social media as a platform eg. facebook, Instagram and Twitter, bringing back a more personal and customized touch back to the way we communicate. They have time- and energy-saving benefits. Most of the services all provided at a reasonable price or no cost. It also helps the development in digital printing industry and creating more interaction and engagement among consumer. Most importantly, companies can generate revenue by encouraging people to upload or share more photos to their profile, and fulfilling their consumer personalization need (everyone wants to the one and only special, don’t you?). However, their novelty value is remained question whereby users might use these services once or at most twice. Further developments of all kind new features are necessary and definitely recommended. Most importantly, how do they plan on protecting copyrighted photos - if there are some customers stealing awesome photos from a great photographer without obtaining any permission and rights.                                                                                                                         




(taken from Photo Mapo)


Personal opinion

Despite the cool concept of this online-generated card (some integrates with Google map where we can attach where exactly we were located - see diagram above), I personally prefer the traditional post card (non-digital ones) where I always purchase the physical card from the country of origin (eg. whenever I travel to a foreign country I would pick up a postcard and deliver them to someone that I love who are at other country). They provide additional touch of sincerity and more meaningful, memorable. I had received a Touch Note postcard delivered from my friend early this year, that was my first e-post card and i was surprised with their quality and delivery speed (took them approximately 5 days according to my friend). i would definitely check them out soon! 


E-post card or traditional post card. Which one do you prefer? Please make your choice and share them below.

note: this article is inspired by Van GroveElliot and Price.


Monday, 6 August 2012

Where is my TimTam? the awesome camouflage pack







Being a regular YouTube users and sweet addict, I came across the following video recommended by my favourite site - Mumbrella





This video is part of the ‘Truly, Madly Tim Tam’ campaign, releasing on the 13rd August 2012 that demonstrate how to camouflage a packet of Tim Tams to avoid them getting found and eaten. This Tim Tams Camouflage packs were inspired by the imaginations of passionate Facebook fans.

Now, this video has received over 47,100 YouTube views, and 3,981 Facebook 'likes’ and 1,896 Facebook 'shares’ within a short period of time. 







I personally like how the choices of different setting or method TimTam had provided: 


a)   Book cover
-       Perfect for keep on the book shelves or in the racks




b)   Pencil case
-       Convenience to store in a desk drawer




c)    Chopped sprouts
-       Ideally for those who loves their TimTam cold




Although this camouflage method might not be long lasting, as they require significant effort, especially time to print, cut, paste, and hide. Additionally, people who can manage to find or detect them, might not work for the second time if the same people encounter the same situation. (Let say, your little brother has found them from whenever you try to hide them, he definitely will be extra aware and alert for the next time, thus the possibility of him finding this ‘hidden treasure’ is close to 100%!)


There are two different viewpoint on this. Majority of public was amazed and love the idea; a small number demanded that this amazing idea should be invented earlier (I was one of them! What about you?). However, numerous responses on Facebook and YouTube claimed that, there is actually no need to hide the TimTams as they most likely will be gone - already eaten by the TimTams lover before they want to keep them!

Despite of this camouflage method might not work, or less likely to be effective for the latter group, (majority of) their positive response on Facebook and Youtube already reflects their massive addiction towards Timtams, particularly the unique love Aussies have for TimTam.


In conclusion, this video has been a huge success with a creative, unique and innovative advertising concept in using social media tools (Facebook & YouTube) at a low budget but definitely effective enough to generate public interest and interaction among internet users. They uses personalised advertising, mainly targeted at those Tim Tams lovers (brand loyal), place more focus on social engagement, and  aimed at getting people to talk amongst themselves about the product.



One last important note to share (from Chris Brown of DDB Group - the principal advertising company for Tim Tam’s parent company Arnott’s):  
The key to social creativity is material that is social and shareable.

My personal perspective:  

Social + Shareable + Personalisation 

= Consumer would start doing advertising and marketing for the company

= Success in social media!  (like Coca Cola’s share a coke!)





This TimTam video have successfully caught my attention and interest to follow exactly what they have suggested. Unfortunately, their methods do not work on me, it took few seconds for my sister (a 25 yo working adult) to found out as soon as she sees them laying on the book shelf at our house because the paper cut out looks indeed unreal that actually draw more of her attention and curiosity to grab the 'book cover' that i recently just placed on top of the shelf. 

what do you think about this marketing method? does they seem to be attractive to you at first but feeling just mehhh, blehhh *insert any possible neutral or negative thoughts here* later on. i would appreciate if you can drop a comment below (and i will definitely visit your site as a return!) :D 

Friday, 3 August 2012

Blending an iphone, diamond and everything unexpected!?




iPhone can be used to make phone calls, surf internet, take picture and a lot of more. We place them anywhere - in our pocket, bag, car – basically where are we are. But have you try to place your 24/7 must-have gadget in the blender and do you have the courage to press the ‘start’ button so it would blend? Answer is obviously NOT!



Here, we have WILL IT BLEND?, blending various unusual items to show off power and the durability of the Blendtec line of blenders, especially the Total Blender.


the famous blending an iphone episode!





Blending coke with its sturdy aluminium can! 




Yes, YouTube is growing up as an advertising medium, although this is not a new method, but it is inevitably that video marketing is one of the best ways to advertise a company or product. Need I say more? 

Let’s check out the following cool facts that I had summarised for various resources including NY timesSocial Lens and MooBall

1)   one of the best and successful viral marketing campaign on YouTube

2)   first video was launched in 2006 (considered as pioneer of viral video)

3)   starring Tom Dickson, which is also the founder of Blendtec’s parent company, K-Tec

4)   Basically, it’s a blender that blends everything you could have in your mind – golf balls, toy cars, light bulbs, make up, toilet flusher, glow stick, Olympus camera, Tomtom navigator (gps) - even stuff that you could never think of like YouTube, Facebook, skeleton, Justin Bieber, super glue!


The popularity and impact of marketing success


1)   Increase in brand awareness/ recognition and return-on-investment (ROI) and 700% increase in sales

2)   Apart from their blender series, they also sell merchandise – t-shirt with the slogan of ‘Tom Dickson is my homeboy t-shirt’ and ‘Will it blend?’, both selling at  $15.99.

3)   Tom Dickson made many national television and radio appearances (eg. NBC’s The Tonight Show and History Channel of Modern Marvels)

4)   A huge list of awards they received from this viral video
  • ·      2008 CLIO Award, Bronze, Interactive, Viral.net Award- Best Viral Video.
  • ·      International Academy of the Visual Arts, Communicator Award- Viral
  • ·      Ernst & Young Utah, Entrepreneur of the Year, 2007
  • ·      Salt Lake Magazine, Best Viral Marketer, 2008
  • ·      Always On, Best of Broadband Award 2007
  • ·      You Tube Awards, Fifth Place, Best Series 2007
  • ·      Utah’s Exporter of the Year
  • ·      City Weekly, Best Kitchen Appliance
  • ·      Communicator Award, Gold, Award of Excellence for Best Viral Video
  • ·      Communicator Award, Gold, Award of Excellence for Best Viral Marketing Video
  • ·      #1 Viral Ad of All Time - Ad Age