Martin Sorrell - We’re in trouble
March 31, 2009
Martin Sorrell, CEO of advertising agency WPP Group plc told a packed auditorium Tuesday at confab MIPTV that the sky is falling. He stated that he fears that all these online advertising agencies and their lower overhead coupled with the recession will eat into his bottom line and force massive changes at WPP group plc. Hollywood is reporting. He must of read this article regarding our opening dating circa 2006 … This guy must be a rocket scientist ..
Parker is right to call him the dwarf… because he really must be clueless to see the reason all these internet only (IE: SEO / SEM / SMO) advertising agencies are getting larger and larger clients.
Recently at our firm we went almost 100% virtual in terms of office space, and went though a process of cost cutting … no not employees… we don’t lay off employees… but things like expensive rent, high cost office phone system.. going virtual will save the company anywhere between $100,000 to a quarter million a year.
Why did we go though this cost cutting measure.. because some of our business is reliant on these less than technically proficient ad agencies that are regularly seen on Adscam, Tribble , Adweek, Adage and Media Bistro / Agency Spy. The smaller agencies we partner with are light-years ahead of the BDA’s that we deal with.
Yes, I cut costs because of firms *like* WPP group plc, and my fear that firms run with that level of “Mad Men” circa 1968 technology is what is scheduling their doom.
I myself did this because honestly I don’t trust some of these advertising agencies. Is this biting the hand that feeds me? Not really… because I fully expect that to dry up anyway.. because I don’t think they will make it though this recession. You can’t push out half million dollar websites without meta tags .. and expect to be in business for too long..
The problem is the “safe bet” isn’t so safe anymore… Those types of agencies never invested in what the client wants… and that is the root of the problem.
A few decades ago, no one ever got fired for hiring IBM … now people get regularly fired for hiring IBM… because the costs are just too high for what is delivered… sounds familiar?
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advertising agency BBH offers paycut instead of layoffs
March 31, 2009
BBH, the advertising agency, is hoping to avoid the mass firings that their competitor advertising agencies have been using as standard practice for this recession / depression.
BBH’s offer is to give their employees a paycut instead. BBH has asked about 400 employees to vote on whether to take nine days’ unpaid leave this year. In essence a forced vacation without pay rather than be fired.
We suspect in this environment the employees will take the offer… and chances are most of them will be grateful that they lost 9 days of pay rather than 365 days of pay a year.
It’s ugly out there… really ugly. It’s not anything that most individuals have seen in their lifetime. It’s worse than the 1970′s .. it’s worse than the early 1980′s.. and it makes 2001-2002 look like a walk in the park.
The problem with this recession is the long term nature of it. It’s not a quick 6 month downturn.. it’s been going on for years now, with no end in sight. Example headlines from today.
Sun-Times Media Group files for Chapter 11
New GM CEO says more plants could close
U.S. home prices crash record 19 percent
Consumer confidence near record lows
Does this sound like life will get better? Possibility, because you have to hit bottom before any recovery takes place… and the debate is “where’s the bottom” … we can’t find it.
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sulumits retsambew
March 30, 2009
Evidently someone is running a sulumits retsambew SEO contest. We are not part of it.. just saw nothing but Digg spam on it.. and figured someone can comment and inform us of who and where this contest is running. I want to stress this is not an entry, we just wanted to interview the person that started this contest… unless of course if the contest is like a million bucks… just kidding.
We like to keep track of these things and find out who or what is behind the push. SEO contests initially started back in 2003 with the now defunct SearchGuild.Com. It was quite fun then. Regardless when an SEO contest is going on, we just had to see who is behind is.. considering myself, Chris Ridings and a few others were who invented the idea of a sandbox contest a few years ago and we are curious on how it involved.
So please comment below and let us know…. also please note this is not an official entry.. we don’t do SEO contests… we are curious.. and if the people that started this one wants to be interviewed, let us know
Have fun with your sulumits retsambew contest.
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Getting Through Tough Economic Times
March 30, 2009
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is spending money developing a website telling people people not to cry and be sad over the economy being in the toilet. The Department of Health & Human Services is to offer an online emotional rescue kit. “Getting Through Tough Economic Times” will launch Tuesday with a media push across all platforms. Yet the Advertising Agency that was responsible for this PR disaster was not released in the leaked report…. because clearly some Advertising firm just got a major bailout package.
The waste of taxpayer website is meant to help people identify health concerns related to financial worries. The feds will warn of depression, suicidal thinking and other serious mental illnesses. It will raise warning flags for: Persistent sadness/crying; Excessive anxiety; Lack of sleep/constant fatigue; Excessive irritability/anger.
Because of course people will turn to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services when thinking of killing themselves… rather than calling 911 or a friend or family member to call 911…
The guide will be available starting at midnight at http://www.samhsa.gov/economy
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InterActive Ad Agency Goes Virtual
March 30, 2009
When Roger Wehbe founded Yooter InterActive Marketing, LLC in 2004, he knew he did not want Yooter to be the traditional office, and open space was always a good word to describe what Yooter InterActive had to offer. Today, Yooter InterActive Marketing, LLC has taken it a step further, and is giving employees the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere. President Roger Wehbe is proud to announce, “Yooter InterActive is going virtual.”
Yooter InterActive Marketing, LLC recognizes this move to a virtual workplace as a strategic business decision for many reasons. Yooter’s clients have always been top priority, and the move is just one more way Yooter can serve clients’ needs more efficiently and effectively. In addition to enhancing client relationships, the virtual office will provide Yooter InterActive endless opportunities to refine, expand operations, and attract the best and brightest talent.
Yooter’s President, Roger Wehbe embraces corporate social responsibility, and is excited for the shift, “First and foremost to Yooter is our clients’ success, and we see this move as another way of increasing our efficiency, while recognizing our social responsibilities. Going virtual will minimize the carbon footprint of Yooter InterActive and greatly reduce costs for both the company and employees.”
Since Yooter’s start in late 2004, the company has gained employees with superior talent, and visionary leadership. For Yooter, it is important to retain these key employees, and to continue to exceed clients’ expectations. To do so, Yooter is committed to providing employees with a virtual workplace that encourages and supports creativity, teamwork, and productivity, all while maintaining solid management practices. Yooter has found that when a company provides employees with choices, and a voice where they can share feedback, the internal relationships, as well as employee-client relationships are strengthened. Yooter InterActive works to provide current as well as potential clients with the best customer service. The commitment from their employees in delivering individualized custom solutions to each client is just one of the many values Yooter InterActive takes pride in.
Yooter InterActive is well aware that growth of new communication technologies demands companies’ to rethink their internal communication strategies. Yooter’s virtual communication strategy will be complimented by regular face-to-face meetings to maintain cohesion and to promote open communication. Sales Executive, Francine M. Roberts stated, “advances in technology have allowed us to communicate from anywhere. The Internet has always been our bridge for communication, and the virtual office will only compliment the success that we have achieved as a closely knit team.” To maintain and strengthen the bonds of client relations, Yooter will continue to encourage clients to openly connect by traditional as well as non-traditional methods of communication. As an alternative to meetings at client locations, Yooter utilizes local executive suite services for clients that do not have a brick-and-mortar location.
From everyone at Yooter InterActive, “This is not a change, but rather an improvement. A virtual office is what you make of it, and our talented employees will make it a success. Let Yooter InterActive be the missing piece of your marketing strategy.”
For more information, visit Yooter InterActive Marketing, LLC’s website at www.yooter.com, and look for our new website launching in April 2009.
About Yooter InterActive, LLC
Yooter InterActive Marketing, LLC ( http://www.yooter.com ) is a leading Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing Agency, founded on the principle that all companies need a fighting chance. Yooter’s clients range from fortune 100 firms to startups. Yooter is one of the most respected SEO / SEM firms, with mentions on ClickZ, Threadwatch and other media outlets that gear towards InterActive Marketing and SEO. Yooter was founded in late 2004 and has been growing exponentially over the past 4 years.
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Fight breaks out over GM Recession
March 30, 2009
Tempers and fist fights at a GM dealership, closing its doors Friday. The anger of losing their jobs boiled over into at least two fist fights at the lot… threatening reporters. This is what America is starting to look like due to this recession. The words “foreclosed” and “losing my job” were repeated several times.
It’s ugly out there… really ugly..
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Obama Fires GM CEO Rick Wagoner
March 29, 2009
Obama has personally fired the CEO of General Motors, Rick Wagoner. In perhaps the first time in written American history that a US president has fired a CEO of a major company. The surprise announcement redefines the relationship between business and government in this era of subsidies and bailouts.
In other words, the president is in charge… and in charge big time.
We can’t say we disagree with this decision, the company under his leadership has done nothing more than build gas guzzling monsters that no one wants.. hence why it’s financial position is in hand out mode with Washington being the only one in town lending money to the company.
From what we were told, it was a condition to receive bailout funds… Rick Wagoner leaves the company or the company goes into bankruptcy and receives no bailout funds.
That being stated it is a massive shift in policy that now places Washington in charge of any company that has received TARP or other bailout funds.
We can’t wait until the guys at the banks start looking at their cozy bonus laden positions… because they are next.
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Porter Novelli International bills $2 million for mag ads
March 29, 2009
Porter Novelli International, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Omnicom Group has billed Costa Rica $2 million dollars for a handful of ads in National Geographic Traveler magazine. The ads begin in June and run until November.
$2 million dollars for magazines that sit near toilets .. and SEO budget for Costa Rica Tourist
Board (ICT) … it’s rumored to be zero.
So they spend money on magazines… but have no budget where people are actually looking.. online and though search… amazing stuff.. Source : here and here
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George Parker Slams Matt over ad agency unions
March 28, 2009
George Parker has slammed Matt at MediaBistro.. over guess what… Ad Agency Unions… Calling Matt a Fucktard Cretinous Douchenozzle .. the problem is that Matt wasn’t actually wrong… but he wasn’t actually right either… same with Parker’s criticisms.
There is a need for unions… prior to them showing up there was epic abuses of employees… but what makes this interesting is that many rules have been added since those days.. for example working conditions have improved dramatically for employees… but much of that is due to OSHA as well the unions..
Unions still have a place.. but not exactly the same need they had in the 1930′s.. let’s face it in many cases the unions have done far more damage than good… a prime example is Bethlehem Steel. The company went bankrupt in the early 2000′s… but at one point it was listed on the DOW .. it was a shining example of American manufacturing… Unions had their fair share of the blame for the company downfall. The Union had Bethlehem Steel’s hourly wages so high that they were paying their employees nearly 14x the same rate that non-union employees were getting… forcing the company to charge so much for the steel that the company had to close down… laying off all the union and non-union employees…. in essence their union lost them their jobs.
The UAW now is facing similar levels of heat. US car companies pay their employees much more than Toyota or Honda… and the crisis in Detroit is a refection of the UAW’s prime work.. the destruction of the US auto manufacturing base.
Not that all unions are bad… but some are… don’t rush to defend or praise.. because honestly it’s highly dependent on how how both the company and union are run. If it’s like Bethlehem Steel’s union then it’s a disaster .. … if it’s run just to make sure everyone gets their hours fully counted for each paycheck then that’s something entirely different and a just reason for a union.
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Crispin Porter + Bogusky to make more shit ads for Microsoft
March 27, 2009
Microsoft has hired Crispin Porter + Bogusky (again) to attack Apple in new ads that portray Macs as too expensive compared to Windows. The problem is that Windows machines are too expensive compared to Linux machines.. the reason all these Netbooks are sold with Linux is because Microsoft products were too expensive.. Nothing like the pot calling the kettle black.
Seriously Microsoft, you need a new ad agency, Crispin Porter + Bogusky is just not cutting it for you.. with multiple failures in a row.. prime example Jerry and Bill … Microsoft is just wasting their money with these guys… float a review… because trust us on that. You don’t want to say that Microsoft is cheaper when all these Netbooks are being sold with Linux because Microsoft is too expensive.
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