One of the top social media sites on the web, Mashable, provided a great overview of TWS2008; a conference organized by Israli blog the.co.ils. The objective of the conference is to identify the 10 best web start ups over the last year.
You can check out the 10 winners here, however I wanted to highlight two that stood out among the pack (for me at least):
Nuconomy Insights: What type of metrics are there beyond the click? Don't you want to know exactly how users are engaging with your site instead of how many are just getting there? With Nuconomy you can. Although it's still in Beta, the site allows you to track individual user actions within your site and flags you to when their behavior changes. All I want to know is where people click and how they navigate through our sites. It's one thing to know how many get there, quite another to visually understand how they navigate and consume site content.
HiveSight: Ever wondered what your targets online behavior actually is? Sure, we know everyone is on Facebook and MySpace but what are they actually talk to their friends about? What interests have the listed and what are they talking about right now? HiveSite uses a new algorithm that scales social media sites and blogs to understand what people are doing and then constructs a detailed profile of them. Try it out. It's simple and easy.
Other top sites include a system that allows users to incorporate flash into their sites easily, a developers dream to mobile app creation and WikiAnswers - the place to ask a question and have the collective provide a response.
Check them out.
Wednesday
Monday
I'm Voting Republican
This video, posted to YouTube a few weeks ago, has picked up a ton of steam. It's nice to see that the American political system is getting some play on the most popular video site in the world.
5 Million? Seriously?
The new Volkswagen commercial. Although Gisele is a big draw...was it worth the helicopters, explosions and washed up action star?
Friday
What the hell happened?
Remember when Old Spice spots were good? Now that the good creatives at CP+B are bored of the Old Spice briefs, they're giving the hack teams a chance.
Wednesday
Man vs. Banner
When was the last time you clicked on a banner? I bet when you did you were on the site for about 2 sections and went straight for the "back" button. Or it was just a mistake when you were trying to click on the "photo" tab in Facebook.
But sometimes Banners win. And here's how:
From Valleywag
But sometimes Banners win. And here's how:
From Valleywag
Google Trends for Websites
Paul has written numerous times about his love for Google Trends. If you are going into a client presentation or trying to convince a coworker with some good online stats, it's worth checking out.
Google has recently updated Trends with a new feature - the ability to search approximate web traffic against other sites. It's quite amazing to be able to compare, so simply, one site to another - especially in the same category.
For example, check out the traffic patterns between the National Post and the Globe and Mail:
Although we can't fully understand what lead to the dramatic rise in the Post (increased circulation, awareness ads, SEO), a graph like this would probably raise questions at the Globe and Mail - especially for advertisers who are trying to speak to the same audience.
Another example is even more interesting. MTV.ca vs rival Muchmusic.com.
The spike in June is most likely to the Muchmusic's biggest event of the year - the MMVA's. MTV seems to have a stronger TV program schedule (the Hills...) and their peaks most likely reflect series finales or new programs.
Finally, a personal point of interest, Canadian political sites. Let's take a look at the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP:
These results are interesting and sad. Even in the midst of a leadership convention, the Liberals couldn't generate more than a few thousand uniques a day. And the Conservatives and NDP? Non-existent. With the current success of American candidates, these groups might want to think about beefing up their web strategies. Or at least play around on Google Trends first.
Found on Laughing Squid.
Google has recently updated Trends with a new feature - the ability to search approximate web traffic against other sites. It's quite amazing to be able to compare, so simply, one site to another - especially in the same category.
For example, check out the traffic patterns between the National Post and the Globe and Mail:
Although we can't fully understand what lead to the dramatic rise in the Post (increased circulation, awareness ads, SEO), a graph like this would probably raise questions at the Globe and Mail - especially for advertisers who are trying to speak to the same audience.Another example is even more interesting. MTV.ca vs rival Muchmusic.com.
The spike in June is most likely to the Muchmusic's biggest event of the year - the MMVA's. MTV seems to have a stronger TV program schedule (the Hills...) and their peaks most likely reflect series finales or new programs.Finally, a personal point of interest, Canadian political sites. Let's take a look at the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP:
These results are interesting and sad. Even in the midst of a leadership convention, the Liberals couldn't generate more than a few thousand uniques a day. And the Conservatives and NDP? Non-existent. With the current success of American candidates, these groups might want to think about beefing up their web strategies. Or at least play around on Google Trends first.
Found on Laughing Squid.
JC Penny + Teen Sex
Good execution. Nice spot.
I like the JC Penny strategy, however this is an interesting choice to come out of the gates with. Has anyone seen any other spots that follows this campaign?
Thanks to Chirs for the link.
Tuesday
Your Knockers...An Open Casing Call
Finally, a user-generated content idea that really hits home. Wonderbra has announced that they are going to be holding an open casting call in London to find their next models. It is being billed as the largest underwear shoot ever.
Here's to the million views that the post-tryout video gets. Only one question: What percentage of those views will be male?
From copyranter.
Monday
Mercedes Benz Oil
Oil...apparently Mercedes Benz wants a piece of that profitable pie.
Every other car manufacturer is jumping on the hybrid bandwagon while Merecedes Benz gives oil a shot.
Every other car manufacturer is jumping on the hybrid bandwagon while Merecedes Benz gives oil a shot.
Best Gatorade Spot
Can you spot the gatorade in this video?
This video is really getting attention. Over 5000 diggs, about a half million views in 2 weeks over 3 videos.
This video is really getting attention. Over 5000 diggs, about a half million views in 2 weeks over 3 videos.
Internet Spending Continues; TV and News Decline
AdAge has just release a report that states that the top 100 advertisers in the US have increased their online display budgets by approximately $4.3 billion (33%) in the past year. Although ad spending only grew by 0.6%, the top dogs (who represent 41% of the total spend) clearly showed an interest in the web.
Who got hurt? "Traditional media" - especially TV and News.
From AdAge:
Put another way, these top-tier marketers increased measured internet spending by $1 billion; slashed newspaper spending by $674 million; and cut TV budgets by $406 million.
This is not to suggest that traditional media is dying, but the web is growing. And when budgets get tight, most markers seem to gravitate to spaces that can prove the success or failure of their campaigns.
Who got hurt? "Traditional media" - especially TV and News.
From AdAge:
Put another way, these top-tier marketers increased measured internet spending by $1 billion; slashed newspaper spending by $674 million; and cut TV budgets by $406 million.
This is not to suggest that traditional media is dying, but the web is growing. And when budgets get tight, most markers seem to gravitate to spaces that can prove the success or failure of their campaigns.
Read Wired
Over the last year, I've become addicted to Wired. At first, I thought it was a tech nerd magazine - something that only early adopters could read because it was too advanced, to technical, too geeky.
But after reading the last year of issues, I can honestly say its one of the best magazines out there. Not just for the latest in technology but mainly because the magazine's editor - Chris Anderson - is so forward thinking.
From articles about global warming to the latest news on Facebook, Wired is essential reading. Pick one up the next time your in an airport (and are sick of reading US Weekly).
Thursday
Tuesday
Yawn....Cannes already...who cares
Is there something wrong with me? Honestly, I could care less about Cannes, the hype, even most of the creative.
No one outside of our industry gives a shit, but to us this week means the world. Careers are defined, egos inflated, worldwide networks celebrated and a couple small little shops with a name like Cocktail Shrimp or Righteous Tide are given the green light to be seen as the next hotspots for boutique creative.
What a waste of time. Honestly, Cannes should happen every 4 years (like the Olympics) but unlike the Olympics there should only be one winner per category. That would make it worth paying attention to.
At the same time, I do wish I was there.....
No one outside of our industry gives a shit, but to us this week means the world. Careers are defined, egos inflated, worldwide networks celebrated and a couple small little shops with a name like Cocktail Shrimp or Righteous Tide are given the green light to be seen as the next hotspots for boutique creative.
What a waste of time. Honestly, Cannes should happen every 4 years (like the Olympics) but unlike the Olympics there should only be one winner per category. That would make it worth paying attention to.
At the same time, I do wish I was there.....
Monday
PicLens - A New Way to Browse
After reading The Economist last night, I found a cool article called "Rummaging through the internet." The article was dedicated to the new systems that have been developed to surf the web easier and faster.
Two that I downloaded tonight, Hyperwords and PicLens, have already changed the way I browse. Hyperwords is program that allows you to take a single webpage and make it dynamic. Imagine the ability to select any word on a page, highlight it, search it on Google, blog it or post it anywhere. With Hyperwords, you can instantly and easily. No longer do you have to go to Google to find out a term, you can simply highlight it and find it.
My new favorite, though, is PicLens. I've always found "Next" buttons in sites annoying. Whenever I'm cruising Facebook, YouTube, MySpace or Flickr, I hate being restricted to the photo sizes and the "next" button. I want to view the whole album, or all my search results, on one screen. And I want the ability to search through them instantly and seamlessly.
PicLens gives me that ability. In less than 3 minutes, it was installed on my browser and I was viewing hundreds of Facebook pictures on one screen. I searched "Steve Colbert" on YouTube and every video on the site came up. One click and I'm watching a video, another and I'm onto the next.
The real power of PicLens though is its "Discovery" section. This is where you can browse the news, sports, business and everything going on the web easily and quickly. You can even install the app to your webpage or RSS feed. It will make it better, I promise.
If you want to see where the web is going, download this app now.
Friday
Weiden Does it Again with "Never"
I've always been a huge fan of Nike ads. The brand is strong, the tone is always dead on and nothing makes you want to be more active (and wear Nike) than a spot with one of their high profile athletes.
While reading ESPN today, I came across an article for Nike's newest Tiger Woods spot. The commercial, narrated by Earl Woods - Tigers late father, talks about the mental toughness he tried to instill in his son.
As a golfer, and a Woods fan, this is one of the best Tiger spots ever done. The eeriness of his fathers narration, the perfect editing and great track, makes this commercial one that I would never FFWD through.
While reading ESPN today, I came across an article for Nike's newest Tiger Woods spot. The commercial, narrated by Earl Woods - Tigers late father, talks about the mental toughness he tried to instill in his son.
As a golfer, and a Woods fan, this is one of the best Tiger spots ever done. The eeriness of his fathers narration, the perfect editing and great track, makes this commercial one that I would never FFWD through.
The spot isn't on YouTube yet, but you can watch it here.
Wednesday
Nokia: The Next Episode
Don't know what it is about it, but I really like this new spot for the Nokia N95. Nice writing, great execution and a new announcement - the future of entertainment is here.
iPhone. Should Service Providers Advertise?
In case you were under a rock this week, Steve Jobs announced that a new, 3G version of the iPhone was shipping to markets across the globe. In Canada, the release date has been confirmed for July 11th at Rogers and Fido stores across the nation.
Not only is the iPhone faster, it's half the price (at $199.99). Now, this price will surely include
a 3 year plan on Rogers with a monthly data fee (it's not going to be cheap) but the attractiveness of the product is hard to argue with.
Which leads to an important question:
Should service providers like Rogers advertise the iPhone?
The iPhone is such a unique product that a loyal consumer base has been waiting for it to roll out across other countries. Tech blogs like Gizmoto and Engadget dedicated full sections over the last few months covering iPhone improvement rumors, launch timing and the minute details of the new device. On the day of the speech, they each had live minute-by-minute updates for the readers who were unable to attend.
Simply put - people know about the iPhone. National papers, like the Globe and Mail and National Post, had front page coverage and the word is out in Canada...it's coming. And it's on Rogers.
Apple has created a new, North American TV spot to showcase the debut and it will most likely be running in Canada.
iPhone 3G from Dylan Staley on Vimeo.
But this question isn't whether Apple should advertise the iPhone, it's about whether Rogers should.
Why spend a few million dollars on TV spots, a huge (separate) microsite, print and magazine when people already know you have the device?
Where Rogers can make a splash is in the monthly plan and the offer. If it's lucrative enough, you have an instant base who is thrilled to have an iPhone and (secondly) happy that they are not getting gouged by the price. For a service provider, this is ideal. Get brand awareness that you are the exclusive handset provider for Apple but also improve your customer service scores by providing consumer-friendly plans.
If anything, we need to learn from AT&T's mistakes of being the one bad part of buying an iPhone. "Yea...it's a sweet device, but I just got a 2,000 page bill from AT&T."
At the end of the day, Canadians are excited and so is Rogers. Hopefully, the plans will be affordable (and fair) and that the iPhone hype (which I fully buy into) helps to be a change agent for all service providers.
All I know is that on July 11th, I'll be at a Rogers store. Ads or not.
Segway's Go Viral
Have you ever seen someone riding on a Segway? One of those "Personal Transporters?" They are ridiculous and hilarious.
Why are we talking about them? Because they might have one of the best viral videos out right now - and it's a total accident. Check out this group of ladies testing them out in a hallway. One bails pretty hard.
Segway...welcome to the internet. From Adrants.
Woman Faceplants on Segway - Watch more free videos
Why are we talking about them? Because they might have one of the best viral videos out right now - and it's a total accident. Check out this group of ladies testing them out in a hallway. One bails pretty hard.
Segway...welcome to the internet. From Adrants.
Woman Faceplants on Segway - Watch more free videos
Agency Spy
Stumbled Upon a cool blog today called Agency Spy. Basically, it a place to find industry gossip about what the hell goes on at agencies across North America. The post that caught my eye? Publicis Groupe laid off 10% of it's IT staff today. Quite the day.
The site is full of anonymous tips from agency folks and if you every want to know the latest gossip / info about a shop before you head there. Check it out - we will be.
The site is full of anonymous tips from agency folks and if you every want to know the latest gossip / info about a shop before you head there. Check it out - we will be.
Sunday
VW Golf - Car Sounds
A new spot from DDB London. The spot is made up of only sounds found in and around the car. A nice idea and always-good execution for VW.
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