We are aware of the Advertising relationship between both your respective firms. That being stated, stop treating us like idiots.

See below Screenshot

The fact is according to Washington, you are employed even if you don’t have a job. The current U-3 Standard counts individuals that have completely lost their unemployment benefits and still not employed as currently employed and happy.

But according to John Doe’s measure, he’s unemployed until he finds a job.

The current unemployment rate is 17.5% , not 10.2% according to the official measure of the U-6 rate. That’s great depression levels circa 1932, during the depression the unemployment rate eventually hit 25%. Based on our current “growth” rate we might reach that level within the next 900 days.

We have argued time and time again that the U-6 needs to be the official rate.

It’s the closest standard we have (officially) to how it was counted in the 1930’s during the great depression. It’s also a much closer picture of what reality is on the ground. The fact that the U-3 drops people from the unemployment rate when they run out of benefits, not when the find a job is reason enough.

To make matters even more interesting, the government is close to calling the recession over, technically that’s correct.. in reality it’s not even close to being right, because of what they are using as the standard.

In this rough example: Let’s say that in 2006 the economic output of the US was 100, in 2007 it was 90, 2008 it was 70 and 2009 it’s 50. Then early in 2010 it goes to 51 (this is done actually every 90 days, not every year).

Technically on paper the recession is over, we moved up from 50 to 51…. but in reality we are still at half of our economic output of 2006.

90 days is not enough, to mark a recession should be spread out over 2 year marks, not 90 days marks.. to count unemployment it needs to be the U-6 not the U-3.

We are completely being lied to. This recession isn’t close to being over and the unemployment rate is nearly double what is being reported.

Enjoy the lie you are being fed. The problem is that businesses don’t believe the statistics, because if they did they would think the recession is over and be on hiring binge, clearly that’s not happening.

5 days ago, with very little press Microsoft Encarta was shut down and the reason citied by the New York Times was competition from SEO branded Wikipedia.

Microsoft Encarta went though various advertising agencies throughout it’s life, but the on-going war of the better branded SEO Wikipdia was a losing battle. You can’t search for a decent term without finding Wikipedia somewhere on page 1.

If you think about it, the chances are you found Wikipedia though a Google search, then again.. then again.. then again… eventually the site became a brand to you… and clearly.. became a brand to everyone.. as Microsoft Encarta found out.

The point we are trying to make is that Wikipedia was better branded, and never needed an advertising agency to do it, all it needed was great results in Google’s Organic rankings. This powerful SEO branding campaign lead to the complete shutdown of Microsoft Encarta, despite the fact that various ad agencies attempted to brand it.

So the next time an argument takes place that SEO can’t do branding, asking them to define branding, hell even ask them to do a search for it. When they start reciting Wikipedia.. then enjoy the fact that you won the argument without them even knowing.

1 – He was seen going home from Ad Agency Publicis West
2 – He never made it home
3 – His car was found, abandoned a short time later without him inside.
4 – Publicis hired a Private investigator, then ended the search after a short time
5 – Police at one point had a lead, but evidently it didn’t pan out
6 – At the time, He has a pregnant wife and two children at home.
7 – online debates continue to rage over exactly what happened.

There are individuals (that have posted here and elsewhere) that noted there is more to this story, however that being stated the above are facts, mostly anything else is rumor.

We were TOLD …by a source close to the company .. that twitter is contemplating putting all external links though their own redirect service that is akin to the Digg Bar… meaning that it will have (this is what we were told) a retweet button on the left and advertising on the right hand side along with “close bar” and other “features” to the twitbar – twitterbar – revenue bar whatever you wanna call it.

Again this is unconfirmed… but any and every single link that goes though twitter will forced through their own redirect service.. IE: no more tinyurl … however it was discussed that bit.ly might actually be the vendor…. story is developing..

Someone confirm from Twitter if this is true?

Last week “Victory and Spoils” a new startup, received press over something that happens on a daily basis recently.

The problem is not all the press was positive. George Parker Wrote:

“basically means no work will take place in-house and everything will be freelanced out, probably as some kind of competition, this means anyone dumb enough to do it will get F*K!@$ peanuts even if they are the lucky winner.”

Bethesda, Md. (PRWEB) November 5, 2009 — GeniusRocket, a unique creative agency powered by crowdsourcing, today announced GeniusRocket Select, a new service that gives clients an unmatched crowdsourcing experience with the project management and service of a traditional advertising agency. GeniusRocket has been evolving the crowdsourcing model since its launch in 2007 and designed GR Select to offer clients a very hands-on experience with the ability to post projects with a money-back guarantee that they will receive quality concepts to fit their advertising and creative needs.

“The online world has changed how brands communicate to consumers and the use of viral videos has created a new medium for advertisers that is both innovative and accessible,” said Mark Walsh, CEO of GeniusRocket. “We understand the learning curve involved in adapting a new medium so we wanted to provide our clients with a very hands-on experience to ensure they receive the high quality concepts that work with their target audiences.”

Since its inception, GeniusRocket has developed an eight-stage process for each GR Select project:

1. The project is announced on GeniusRocket.com
2. Creative artists have one week to apply for the project by submitting a proposal and portfolio
3. A qualified GeniusRocket team will initiate a vetting process and review the submitted proposals and portfolios in order find the best and most capable artists to work the creative project
4. Approved and selected creative artists are contacted and given a set amount of time to submit storyboards for both the client and GeniusRocket to review
5. GeniusRocket will present the storyboards to the client for review
6. Based upon client feedback certain artists will be eliminated from the project but will still receive payment for their work
7. Remaining creative artists produce the actual video with constant feedback from GeniusRocket to allow for refinement of the concept
8. Final high quality submission(s) are submitted for final review and a selection is made

“As an artist, I realize that concepts are as only as good as their execution and the GR Select model breaks down the steps of what is involved in executing a project so I would be able to get direct feedback from the client to realize a concept while still getting rewarded for the work I’ve done,” said Alex Reiter, a veteran GeniusRocket.com participant. “The use of collaboration and the responsiveness from the client-end is highly beneficial to the creative process itself and I’m more excited than ever to be a part of this exciting new model.”

All of the participants in GR Select projects will receive a payment for their work, addressing the issue of “spec” work while simultaneously giving an added service to clients.

“GR Select brings us one step closer to truly harnessing the power of the crowd and proving that this notion that great ideas come from just one person is in the past,” says Walsh. “Companies both big and small are realizing that crowdsourcing isn’t just about saving money any more – it’s about tapping new resources to get a fresh take on your brand’s identity.”

About GeniusRocket
GeniusRocket (www.geniusrocket.com) connects experienced creative talent with companies seeking new marketing and advertising content. The GeniusRocket community features over 12,000 videographers, graphic designers, copywriters and other creative artists from more than 180 countries. GeniusRocket’s growing list of regional and international clients includes Heinz, Pepsi, Nutrisystem, South by Southwest and Hook and Ladder Brewery.

GeniusRocket is a privately held company based in Bethesda, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.geniusrocket.com.

Evidently there was a scoop that MSN was not going to use “blue” as much on MSN.com (like anyone uses MSN for anything?) but low and behold the exclusive turned to shit…. when Waggener Edstrom released the news themselves anyway… after wasting TechCrunch’s time writing up an exclusive.

BTW Microsoft, we really think you shouldn’t be using blue for anything anymore.. considering the only thing most of us think when you mention Microsoft and Blue is this.

Pets.com is a former dot-com enterprise that sold pet supplies to retail customers. It began operations in February 1999 and folded in November 2000. A high profile marketing campaign gave it a widely recognized public presence, including an appearance in the 1999 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and an advertisement in the 2000 Super Bowl. Its popular sock puppet advertising spokespersonality was interviewed by People magazine and appeared on Good Morning America. (Source Wikipedia)

Now let’s really consider it, did Advertising agency TBWA/Chiat/Day force Pets.Com to close their doors way earlier than they were supposed to… in fact, if TBWA/Chiat/Day didn’t push such an expensive campaign would Pets.Com survive till this day?

10 years ago, Pets.Com and TBWA/Chiat/Day issued the below press release.

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 8, 1999– Pets.com, the online category leader for pet products, information and services, today announced that it has named TBWA/Chiat/Day San Francisco as its agency of record for a multi-million dollar advertising and brand-building program.

How many Multi-Millions well that’s for the history books… literally. So what’s your thoughts? The business failed .. and failed hard. However 10 years later looking back, is it your opinion that Advertising is what killed it.. and the amount allocated to advertising?

Tears, no… but crybaby non-the-less. Did Mr. Jeffrey ever think that perhaps he should look in the mirror to find out why Kelloggs left? Was his agency providing the highest possible ROI on dollars spent? Was Mr. Jeffrey providing the proper Search and Social Media skillset to the client? Were they really making use of digital work to the level it needs to be used?

Clearly not, because at the end Kelloggs left. Is it because Kelloggs felt that after 71 years, advertising agency JWT was still doing the same work, using the same methods?

The problem is Mr. Jeffrey, the earth kept rotating… things kept changing… the question that must be asked is that did YOU allocate the resources necessary to growth areas, such as digital, search and social media?

“Kellogg’s have restructured their own marketing function to drive a greater degree of control from the center and felt a similar structure was necessary on the agency side,” wrote Jeffrey, calling the news “disheartening”. “While we understand the ambition, we are not happy and strongly disagree with their decision to move away from the agency…”

They updated their advertising and marketing, but you appear (from your statement) not to be willing to do the same. They wanted more control over their advertising dollars… and what.. did you prefer more black holes in terms of accountability?

They left for a reason Bob, think to yourself what that reason was.

As a subscriber to AT&T I find the advertising fitting, as using my smartphone on AT&T’s network is akin to using a dial up modem for Youtube. It just doesn’t work right. Perhaps if they covered more markets with a viable 3G network this wouldn’t be a problem. In our area, there are more jailbreaked iPhones on Verizon’s network than on AT&T’s.. because honestly the AT&T network here just doesn’t work. Also worth noting is that interest in the Google Android phone in this area is tremendous, basically people want anything other than AT&T.

Apple has not us no service locking people to AT&T to use their products. The short term strategy may have worked, but long term people just want a working smartphone, don’t think that having a cool looking brick is fun to have when it’s unusable.

Hopefully AT&T will lose this one.

Google has celebrated it with a splash logo on the main page.

This is great, when we were little kids Sesame Street weighed in with the same importance as breakfast and Mr. Rogers. Thank you Google for celebrating an event that affected so many of us growing up! I remember being tiny in the house growing up circling around the TV for the show. When big bird came out everyone was like “WOW… is there really big yellow birds like that? Mommy, Daddy? ”

Honestly this is one of the best things I have seen in a long time from Google.

Thank you!

Contact:

Joe Ciarallo
212-389-2011

Joe@mediabistro.com

MEDIABISTRO WEB SERIES TURNS OUT 50 EPISODES, SOMEHOW NOT YET CANCELED

DESPITE TERRIBLE REVIEWS, ‘THE SHOW MUST GO’ SENTIMENT, CREATOR/HOST CONTINUES EFFORT

New York, November 4, 2009 — ‘The Week in Advertising’ [TWIA], a weekly Web program showcasing comical advertisements, today released its 50th episode, marking the 49th anniversary since the show ran out of humorous material. “Well, 50’s a nice round number, so we figured it was time for a press conference,” said show creator/host/AgencySpy.com Editor Matt Van Hoven during a press conference attended only by himself prior to writing this release.

“That show is still on?” asked TWIA producer, Weston Almond, who does the show’s pre- and post-production. Aided in production and writing by TVNewser Editor Kevin Allocca, the program draws on “popular culture,” “industry news,” and “inexpensive whiskey,” for laffs. Much of that inspiration comes from Allocca, a former 23/6 editor and sketch comic. “It’s intelligent, informed, and always delivers a high level of important discourse,” said Allocca, who at the time was speaking of CNN International’s “Amanpour.”

Industry professionals like Saatchi and Saatchi CEO Gerry Graf agree. “Don’t quote me in your f*cking story, Matt,” he didn’t really say. Catch ‘The Week in Advertising’ every Tuesday at 1 pm at http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/week_in_advertising/.

ABOUT TWIA -

‘The Week in Advertising’ is a Web series highlighting the more entertaining aspects of the consumer-side of advertising. This less-than-seven-minute program also takes on confusing ads that the host is too limited in cerebral capacity to understand, and occasionally riffs on AMC’s ‘Mad Men’ in order to garner traffic. Though the risk of being canceled is high, morale on set is always low. Since that makes no sense, it’s time to end this press release, officially. OK, it’s over. Now. Now it’s over. Stop reading this.

Members of the media can receive more information about TWIA here: http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/week_in_advertising

–
Matt Van Hoven
IM/Twitter: AgencySpy

This honestly is how all advertising agencies need to work moving forward. What I am saying is that in the long run, all media planners are going to be facing more and more competition from a computer program.

The problem is the Google Adwords program ( again which is nothing more than an EDI / Ebay system ) works.. and works wonders against the traditional approach to staffing an advertising agency with tons of media planners. It’s the reason why ad agencies want their 20% cut, mostly because they have to pay for a bunch of people that honestly are not needed.

I am not saying to have Google Adwords replace your media planning department, what I am saying however is that perhaps some modernization of those areas might make more sense.

I know that there are media planning firms out there that have already modernized, what I am saying is that perhaps they modernized wrongly. They really need to adopt more of a Google platform for media planning and content owners need to understand that in a horrific economic environment like this, they need adopt that as well.

There’s nothing wrong with offering the spot at the highest price… and what we are getting right now for the most part is 10 guys at 10 differing advertising agencies all calling ABC trying to get a spot on V tonight.

This should be as easy as an authorized advertiser logging in and putting in their bid. That’s not what we are getting, hence the problem. Also don’t go on saying “it’s already there” because it’s not. Clearly this is ABC’s advertising page, what do you do from here?

Because that blank page is going to help everyone.

Even though there are already IPv6 DNS hosting services and the fact that most shared hosting accounts literally use a single ip, the chances of this actually happening, even on the old IP system are slim to none.

ARIN for years has been limiting the number of ip’s handed out, as of now you need the mother of all reasons to get anything substantial in terms of ip addresses.

So is the Internet going to go dark in a few months, the answer is no.

Feel free to send in your marketing spam to Media Inquiries at Phone: (781) 737-5200 if you want to be considered for Baskin-Robbins business.

I’m willing to bet that the company goes with a BDA since now they will feel it’s “more stable”. The problem at hand is that this agency is suffering the same fate as all advertising agencies, just happened that this one was rife with mis-management.

Freeman was responsible for the Wendy’s pop-culture sensation “Where’s the beef?” At his own agency, started in 1987, he did Little Caesar’s “Pizza, Pizza” and other memorable work. In the 1990s, there was a run with over-the-top dot-com advertising, such as when it fired a gerbil out of a cannon for Outpost.com.

The company see sawed with a rapid loss of clients and advertising revenue, even though they had some holding company money MDC invested almost a million dollars into the ad agency, then earlier this year stated that their 20% stake in Cliff Freeman & Partners is to be returned, sucking out nearly a million from the small advertising agency.