Reading Pennsylvania has a problem with Google
February 22, 2010
The Tribune owned Allentown Morning Call wanted to know if the Lehigh Valley is obtaining more searches on Google… but an interesting point is brought up in the paper.
”If a company is starting up, and they are picking a name, and they are in Reading, PA I strongly advise them not to put Reading in their name,” Wehbe said. (yep Wehbe is me…)
The issue really is how similar spelled names keep clashing. Reading ,PA (as in Reading Railroad in Monopoly) has a serious problem when it comes to branding.
I wouldn’t want to open the “Reading Bookstore” … because “Reading (PA)” is spelled the same way as “Reading”.
When living in towns and locations that have differing names it lends to problems in Google’s rankings.
When picking a company name, choose one that doesn’t have differing meanings.
Efficient lighting means good business
February 22, 2010
An article on Modern Tire dealer outlines the exact reason why business needs to keep mindful of their carbon footprint.
1,549,640 kilowatt hours annually were saved by STTC using Philadelphia based Aelux for their company lighting needs. Aelux specializes in power efficient lighting using advanced technology.
This matters to many people, especially in Pennsylvania where businesses and consumers were greeted with a 30% rate increase on their electric power bill.
Many of Aelux’s clients have been able to hedge against the rate increases by having them consult for them on lighting needs and then addressing it with government and power industry sponsored tax benefit that reduces the total cost of installing lighting that saves money and the carbon footprint.
It’s a win for everyone, and it’s expected to become more and more of an issue as environmental and cost concerns weigh on people’s minds.
STTC can now state that they took actions to help the environment, and at the same time they took positive action on their bottom line by using Aelux.
This is a growing trend, and one that has a positive net social and cost impact for all concerned.
Did WPP and Dell spend a quarter billion on Enfatico?
February 21, 2010
Is there a way to get the actual amount spent on this disaster?
Between Dell and WPP , what literally was allocated to this project, the 10 year leases, the 1000 apple computers bought for Dell, the estimated 600 people on payroll …. etc etc…
Dell said that they would allocate $4.5 billion to the project… but the chances are remote that they got anywhere near that…
That being stated they DID hire hundreds of people, took out roughly a dozen leases, bought nearly a 1000 apple machines… etc etc… they spent money.. big money..
Dell doesn’t line item “Money wasted in Advertising” on their balance sheet… so I guess I need to make a spreadsheet and add it up with estimates..we’re going to do this with really rough numbers because WPP and Dell both refuted our requests for hard numbers due to the embarrassing nature of the question.
But I am guessing it went into at least $150,000,000 to $300,000,000 million range.
The 100,000 Sf office in Manhattan alone would be millions.
My guess is they hired at least 600 people when all the press releases are added up.. if the average salary is $40,000 (when you factor in Boon’s salary with the staffers making $10 bucks an hour)…
So 600 x 40,000 = $24,000,000
Add the customary 30% for payroll taxes, health insurance etc etc…
You got an additional $7,200,000
So you’re looking at roughly $30,000,000 a year for 3 years…
That’s $90,000,000 in payroll alone.
A dozen office spaces at 100,000 a month…
That comes out to be $14,400,000 (12 x 100,000 x 12 months)
So now we’re on or about $105,000,000 (roughly)
Let’s add it an additional 2 million for apple machines, apple software, copies of photoshop, digital cameras, photo equipment, ect etc.
Now you’re getting close to the 110,000,000 mark…
3 years…. of this mess…
How much do desks, phone systems and chairs cost? They didn’t buy that stuff at the thrift store…
I would say between $150,000,000 and $300,000,000 was blown on this project.. that produced one ad in India worth about $2,000 bucks with a small advertising agency.
How many people’s job could be saved with $300,000,000. What new products would Dell have launched with an additional $300,000,000 in the bank?
Yes it’s known that the Enfatico disaster happened.. but did anyone actually look at how much this hurt everyone.. the lost potential income from new products, the mess in terms of lack of advertising. This was a disaster that will have repercussions for the next decade or longer at minimum with the landlord of the buildings that Enfatico signed a 10 year lease with.
So here’s the challenge WPP and Dell .. tell us exactly what the shareholders lost on this?
Tiny ad agency puts out full page NYT ad - 5 figures
February 21, 2010
The BDM ad was unusual because it is an example of something we rarely see in the ad world nowadays, namely ad agencies advertising themselves. “It’s what we tell our clients to do, so we figured that we should, too,” explained Stuart D’Rozario, the founding partner at BDM who wrote the copy-heavy ad seen in the N.Y. Times. The ad cost the small shop a solid five-figure sum to run, but it did what it was intended to do — attract attention. “We’ve gotten many e-mails,” D’Rozario said. Fueling business is reporting
5 figure sum, in this economy, in print media … they must be getting e-mails because people are in shock.
I wish I had an RSS feed to that e-mail account:
“You paid what for that ad?”
“This is the advice you give your clients?”
“Who could you have hired with those 5 figures?”
WTF : Ubuntu Linux to use Bing for Search
February 18, 2010
A complete WTF moment. Ubuntu Linux will by default go to Microsoft as default in Firefox installs via Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Linux’s corporate backer Canonical has signed a partnership to use Yahoo’s search results by default in the version of Firefox it ships. In turn Yahoo has signed and passed all legal hurdles to outsource it’s search to Microsoft’s bing. What you are going to see is Microsoft cutting a check to Yahoo, and Yahoo in turn forwarding that check to Ubuntu. To make matters even more confusing, Google hired Ubuntu to help code ChromeOS.
Yes, you read that right. Ubuntu selects Yahoo, Yahoo Selects Bing, Google Selects Ubuntu.
Go figure.
This is more confusing than driving in Boston.
DraftFCB appoints Alistair Ross to “think of shit” position
February 17, 2010
DraftFCB has appointed VCCP’s Alistair Ross to the newly created role of head of ideas. Ross will be responsible for helping to devise ideas across the agency’s range of accounts. According to Campaign Live
Huh? His job is to sit there and think of shit. That’s awesome! What an incredible use of resources. To have someone get paid to sit there and think of ideas when the creatives are being fired and laid off left and right.
Clearly we are in the wrong position. Every advertising agency needs a “think of shit” position. It pays 6 figures and you get a lofty desk.
This is exactly what advertising has come down to. Companies pay big dollars to have him think of shit.
If this doesn’t make anyone in the industry upset then nothing will, life is good move on.
Comcast Tech Support vs Linux user
February 17, 2010
It appears that Comcast has no idea how to handle someone with an IQ over 30. This individual just wants setup fancast to watch hbo programming on his computer. Clearly Comcastic doesn’t know how to handle such a complicated question and the madness begins.
The below is a cut and paste of the IM discussion with Comcast this individual has.
——————
CustomerX > Trying to access HBO content on Fancast.com and it’s telling me I don’t subscribe to HBO.
Ronnel > Hello CustomerX_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Ronnel. Please give me one moment to review your information.
Ronnel > Hi CustomerX. I am glad to have you on chat. How are you today?
CustomerX_ > Good
Ronnel > I am glad to hear that.
Ronnel > I understand that you cannot access HBO on Fancast correct? Thank you for taking the time to contact us for this issue. I can certainly help you with this concern today to the best of my ability.
CustomerX_ > ok
Ronnel > May I know if you have signed in to Fancast using your comcast email and password?
CustomerX_ > yes
Ronnel > Do you have HBO on your cable service?
CustomerX_ > yes, yes i do.
Ronnel > Okay I will have to check on the subscription on your account. May I have your account number please?
CustomerX_ > i don’t have my account number on me. should i look it up?
Ronnel > Its okay. May I have the name and the address on the account please?
CustomerX_ > i have the number here
Ronnel > Yes may I have it please.
CustomerX_ > XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ronnel > Thank you very much. Please give me a few moments while I pull up your account.
Ronnel > Yes I do indeed see here that you have HBO subscription on your cable service. I have verified it on your account. Since this is an issue on Fancast. I will need to transfer you now to the Department that can help you solve this issue.
CustomerX_ > hey, can you guys just fix it and email me? or do i have to waste all night on this?
CustomerX_ > i mean, it’s not really MY fault
CustomerX_ > is it now?
Ronnel > Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst
Butch > hhi
Butch > How’s it going!Il be more than delighted to assist you with your concern.
CustomerX_ > Hi Butch!
Butch > Hey there!hows it going?
CustomerX_ > Great, I just want to watch HBO shows on Fancast by signing in with my super comcast login!!!
CustomerX_ > but it won;t let me
CustomerX_ > and ronnel wasn’t helpful
CustomerX_ > can you fix it or is it all like fail
CustomerX_ > ??
Butch > sure!
CustomerX_ > yippee!!!!
CustomerX_ > w00t!
Butch > may i please have your comcast email addresS?
CustomerX_ > [email protected]
CustomerX_ > yep thats it
CustomerX_ > is it fixed yet?
CustomerX_ > still won’t let me login
Butch > Im sorry but we need your comcast.net email account
CustomerX_ > and i’ve been here 30 minutes
Butch > Let me go ahead and check it for you
CustomerX_ > that’s what i’m registered with. if it’s good enough to take my money, it’s good enough to log in with. i don’t use the crappy comcast email.
Butch > You need to use the comcast.net email so you will be distinguished as having with account with comcast and that you will have more features in Fancast such as watching HBO
CustomerX_ > wait, i use this email address to login to comcast to manage my account and make payments. nowhere does it say i have to use your crap email
CustomerX_ > so i can has fancast now?
Butch > to pay your bill online, you also need to have your comcast.net account email
CustomerX_ > nope
CustomerX_ > wrong butchy
CustomerX_ > thats wrong
Butch > Do you currently have internet service from us?
CustomerX_ > i pay like this
CustomerX_ > yes
CustomerX_ > using it now
CustomerX_ > i have never ever had to use comcast.net email addy
CustomerX_ > in fact, i’m logged into comcast now with the yahoo addy
Butch > I understand…please do use it CustomerX…just for the mere reason of accessing HBO on fancast…
CustomerX_ > but then i have to set it up and use it, which i do not want to do and should not have to do. that’s not the nature of the comcast login system at all, so what do we have to do other than you showing me the specific policy that compels me to use your craptastic email????
Butch > No need…il have it done for you
CustomerX_ > woah spooky
CustomerX_ > neways, i can has fancast now?
Butch > Please give me some time to go through with all the p[rocess for your convenience
CustomerX_ > oh so convenient!
Butch > CustomerX, can you please grab a pen paper?
CustomerX_ > sure can butch! got them handy in my hand
Butch > Have you downloaded comcast access?
CustomerX_ > wtf is that?
Butch > Username:xxxxxxxx Randomly Generated Password:xxxxxxx
Butch > That is the software that you will need to use to view fancast.
Butch > You wont have an ordinary Fnacast once you have downloaded it
CustomerX_ > wait i need software to use a web based streaming video site just because i want to watch hbo?
CustomerX_ > oh will i have super duper fancast?
CustomerX_ > or like hulu desktop?
CustomerX_ > or like…
Butch > Well something like that CustomerX
Butch > You will be able to view more movies and HBO
CustomerX_ > ok, so does that work on mac and linux too?
Butch > We apparebntly handle windows OS
CustomerX_ > only windows os?
CustomerX_ > so that’s limiting
CustomerX_ > what os versions?
CustomerX_ > like windows 3.1?
CustomerX_ > 95?
CustomerX_ > 98?
CustomerX_ > ME?
CustomerX_ > 2000?
CustomerX_ > xp…
Butch > 98 and newer
CustomerX_ > vista?
Butch > Thank you!
CustomerX_ > ahhhh
CustomerX_ > so you support 98 but no ubuntu or osx?
CustomerX_ > neways butch
CustomerX_ > thanks millions
CustomerX_ > so i download access and i has fancast?
Butch > most welcome
CustomerX_ > i log in with that username and pass?
Butch > Let me give you the link to download comcast access. And please use your comcast email username account to regsiter
CustomerX_ > ok, can email me this transcript? like to my real email addy?
Butch > https://device.comcast.net/comcast-access/
CustomerX_ > my yahoo one?
Butch > No CustomerX, please use your comcast.net username(the one i have given you)
CustomerX_ > i know i hear what you puttin down butchy
CustomerX_ > but i want our conversation emailed to me
CustomerX_ > naaamean?
Butch > You may have this chat transcript printed or saved by hitting the END session Button. You will then have the option to print this out
CustomerX_ > ok, just wanted to lnot lose the instructions mr butch! thanks again and have a swell night
Butch > You need to first download comcast access and then manage your computer. You will first need to configure everything before you can have its full features
CustomerX_ > yeah, i’ll give it a whirl tomorrow
Butch > http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?seoid=use-comcast-access-manage-computers
Butch > The link i just gave you will shoe you how to manage and use your comcast access
CustomerX_ > gotcha
CustomerX_ > sounds wonderfully restrictive! anyways, gotta run butch
——————
Branding Backfires - Walmart : No one wants “brand names”
February 16, 2010
This newfound affection for store brands is “sticking,” said Dibadj. He cites his firm’s recent survey finding that 77% of consumers who traded down to less expensive private label products are happy with their decision. CNN is reporting
CNN is reporting that Walmart is dumping everyone from their shelves… basically shooting them in order of what their advertising budget is. The bigger the advertising branding budget, the more they being banned from Walmart Shelves.
“”In this recession, consumers have certainly become less discriminating with what they buy,” said Cecera. “Consumers have rushed to value prices, and they are buying generic brands.”
She said retailers’ own brands have grown their market share by between 2% to 6%. ”
and for some prime examples:
“For example, Wal-Mart recently removed Glad and Hefty-branded storage bags from shelves, replacing them with its own lower-priced Great Value brand, according to the parent companies of both products.”
The fact is that Walmart was literally targeting firms that spent the most with their respective advertising agency and starts going down that hit list.
This is a bad trend.
“Branding is seen as expensive, meaning there’s a bunch of fat there that doesn’t need to be there inflating the cost to the consumer” is what we were told.
That’s beautiful stuff.
Google to run Yale University e-mail System
February 16, 2010
The Gmail-based service will gradually replace the University’s current e-mail client, Horde, the student said. The incoming class of 2014 will be the first to go directly to the new Google system, and current freshmen and sophomores will have to make the switch. Upperclassmen will have the option of keeping Horde, but the University plans to phase out Horde by spring of next year. Yale News is reporting
Matt Drudge is linking to the above post with the words “DOMINATE: Google to run Yale e-mail…”
Interesting to say the least, but its not as unexpected as you think. Email can and sometimes is a problem, Horde is a decent e-mail program for companies and large organisations, but e-mail is always a time consuming problematic process that can consuming valuable IT staff needs.
Let’s face it as well, Gmail is pretty easy to use.
If you were going to outsource it, Google isn’t a bad option by any stretch of the imagination.
Churches, Colleges and Medical offices move into Vacant Malls
February 15, 2010
As some big-name businesses, such as Chick-fil-A and Waldenbooks, move out of local malls, nontraditional tenants - from a college to a church group to a dialysis clinic - are moving in. According to the Republican Herald
This actually changes all sorts of on site advertising agency issues. People going into the Mall to visit the Dialysis Clinic will still need to eat, but do they really want to start shopping at random stores? Does it make sense for car dealers to park their goods in the middle of the mall now? Considering more people would see it via a youtube video than in a mall today?
All those movie posters that are randomly put up in the center islands? Is that even a viable way to advertise anymore? Store owners generally try to place their stuff near related stores. The Arcade used to be always next to the movie theater for example.
The issue at hand is if this recession changed the very nature of the malls. Before they were lumped into the Walmart labelled downtown killers, but things are starting to change.
These malls are hurting, and hurting badly.
When these malls start accepting “Total Renal Care” (yes that’s one that is moving into the local mall) , U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, and Frackville Foursquare Gospel Church where The GAP, Chick-Fil A and a host of other stores and food outlets used to be it completely raises questions on if the Mall model is still viable in this day of “order everything online”
High Rents, low traffic and a nasty recession is completely changing the entire nature of the Mall.
The Mall down the street from this location has a new Anchor “store” it’s called Alvernia College.
I want to stress I am NOT just pointing out the issues in this local area, these problems are throughout the entire nation. Every city, every town is facing these conditions.
This picture below actually represents about 90% of the US based malls in our current great recession. I’m sure JC Penny has a line out the door for people to buy their made in China stuff.
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