Augmented Reality & Interactive Advertising

Ads That Come To Life

Interactive advertising reflects the future. Augmented reality (AR) is a great example of an engaging and interactive use of this technology.  Brands that adopt it and create an amazing, memorable customer experience will stand out in our minds and be perceived as industry leaders.  Truly understanding the customer, thinking outside the box and creating a strategy aligned with a company’s vision are the three principal ingredients needed for a successful AR experience.

Take a look at what Coca-Cola did this past January, at the Science Museum in London, when it used AR to create the ultimate customer experience.  They introduced a virtual mama polar bear who looked on as her babies were playing on the ice, and then the ice broke.  It captured our hearts and engaged us in Coca Cola’s and the World Wildlife Foundation’s cause “Get Involved,” that illustrates how important it is for everyone to get involved because when we work together we can do much more about climate change.  It also shows that Coca Cola is more than a soft drink.

Disney used AR when it brought its characters to life in Times Square.  It made for a thrilling experience as Disney characters interacted with people, and everyone could see it on a huge screen.  It was fun, certainly interactive and yes, memorable.

AR was also used in the recent U.S. elections when Obama was able to virtually reach out and high five a voter’s hand, making him seem very accessible.

Augmented reality gets the media talking because it’s innovative and it’s changing the way advertising is perceived.  Ads are no longer talking “at us,” rather they’re interacting in a fun way, and yes, at times, they’re making us involved in great causes.  What brands caught your attention recently?

Website 

Facebook

Linked In

Media Coverage…What’s it Worth?

Getting your brand or business in the news can be exciting, but how do you maximize its value? Reading about it in a magazine, newspaper, or blog;  watching it on TV or listening to it on the radio   provides instant validation for your brand.  In a recent post by Chris Winfield,  CMO of BlueGlass Interactive, he said “I love Ben Affleck's quote from the movie Boiler Room, “Anybody who tells you money is the root of all evil doesn't  f#!*ing have any.”  He went on to say, “I always felt that perfectly relates to companies and press coverage. The ones who don’t get coverage will quickly dismiss it as useless and the ones who regularly get coverage just smile and hope that the others keep thinking that way...”

We agree with Chris because consistent press coverage obtained by PR  builds credibility for brands, and generates new leads, partnerships, and links.  In turn, this will increase traffic to your website and social media sites, improve employee morale and increase sales.  

There’s no doubt about it, PR creates believability and media coverage generated from PR campaigns can really build value for a brand.  But, you need to know what to do with your media coverage once you’ve gotten it.  How do you maximize the benefits of these third party media endorsements?

There are many ways to publicize your publicity..  You can create a “Featured in” section on your website and let everyone read what the media have to say about your brand or project, build a link to your article or post, share it on social media, link to it from your company’s newsletter, and don’t forget its value as a sales tool for your reps and potential investors.

Source:  http://www.seomoz.org/blog/92-ways-to-get-and-maximize-press-coverage

Website 

Facebook

Linked In

Does Sex Sell ?

Often educated, sometimes career-oriented, married or single, with or without children, young or older, women have something in common. They are the major decision makers when it comes to purchases. In fact, 85% of all consumer purchases are based on women’s decisions - whether it’s healthcare, pharmaceuticals, home purchases, vacations, or even electronics and cars. The last two are particularly surprising, as they are known to be predominantly male markets.

It’s important for businesses to acknowledge women’s influence when creating a marketing strategy.  Sprint, for instance, has shifted its strategy from technology jargon to a lifestyle-focused strategy.  Still, many companies fail to acknowledge this.  Take a look at the automobile industry where, despite the fact that 65% of women account for car purchases, sex is still used to sell cars.

So the question is, does sex really sell to women?

If a brand isn’t selling a sex-related product such as lingerie or condoms, chances are, this type of advertisement will take attention away from the brand, possibly cheapening it.  Media Analyzer survey results show that only 8% of women like ads with sexual themes, compared to 48% of men, and 58% of women believe there is too much sex in advertising.

What don’t women want?

They don’t want to be talked down to, and what appeals to them is not the same as what appeals to men.  Marketers need to acknowledge this. It is shocking that 91% of women still think advertisers don’t understand them, but there’s nothing new about that.  Forty nine years ago, in 1964, David Ogilvy said, “The consumer isn’t a moron. She is your wife.” True then and obviously it hasn’t changed much.


Website 

Facebook

Linked In