Random Culture

Ford: "Bold Moves" Campaign

Ford has launched a site to convince folks that they're making "bold moves" to be an innovative company. This is a weird campaign for Ford. The video "documentary" on the site is a mix of nostalgia, scare tactics and some strange admissions of guilt from Ford employees.

You can visit the website and check it out for yourself at: Fordboldmoves.com.

I'm not sure how to feel about this one. Ford is saying they're making BOLD MOVES, but where's the substance to back it up? I've been fortunate enough to work with Hyundai, a company that's truly made a HUGE turnaround over the last few years, building great cars that are kicking butt on safety and reliability, and look good. Hyundai is making bold moves and letting the results speak for themselves.

Link via Influx Insights.

Ford: "Bold Moves" Campaign

Ford has launched a site to convince folks that they're making "bold moves" to be an innovative company. This is a weird campaign for Ford. The video "documentary" on the site is a mix of nostalgia, scare tactics and some strange admissions of guilt from Ford employees.

You can visit the website and check it out for yourself at: Fordboldmoves.com.

I'm not sure how to feel about this one. Ford is saying they're making BOLD MOVES, but where's the substance to back it up? I've been fortunate enough to work with Hyundai, a company that's truly made a HUGE turnaround over the last few years, building great cars that are kicking butt on safety and reliability, and look good. Hyundai is making bold moves and letting the results speak for themselves.

Link via Influx Insights.

Official MySpace Page? Maybe not.

The folks at AdLand have a great post up about user created "unofficial" MySpace profiles for the brands we love... and hate. If you do some searches on MySpace for brand names, taglines or characters, you're likely to find them.

But wait a second... are they really "unofficial" profiles? Certainly the "official" ones that advertisers pay MySpace for ALL look much, much better. And some profiles, due to their tone or content, surely aren't the work of the brand. For many of these brands, there are several different profiles.

So can an advertiser create an "official" MySpace page without paying for it? According to the terms and conditions on MySpace:

"The Services are for the personal use of Members only and may not be
used in connection with any commercial endeavors except those that are
specifically endorsed or approved by MySpace.com."

But the terms and conditions also specify:

"You may not post, modify, distribute, or reproduce in any way any
copyrighted material, trademarks, or other proprietary information
belonging to others without obtaining the prior written consent of the
owner of such proprietary rights."

And with all of these "unofficial" MySpace profiles, it's clear that MySpace isn't, or can't logistically enforce the infringement of copyrighted, trademarked or proprietary material. I have no doubt that there are already "official" MySpace profiles for brands that aren't being paid for. They've just managed to slip under the radar, or MySpace has no way of determining whether or not they're really from the brand.

Here are just a couple of the TONS of interesting brand profiles I ran across...

Copenhagen, Rice Krispies,  Ex-Lax, Honda Fit, Pillsbury Doughboy, Vespa

Official MySpace Page? Maybe not.

The folks at AdLand have a great post up about user created "unofficial" MySpace profiles for the brands we love... and hate. If you do some searches on MySpace for brand names, taglines or characters, you're likely to find them.

But wait a second... are they really "unofficial" profiles? Certainly the "official" ones that advertisers pay MySpace for ALL look much, much better. And some profiles, due to their tone or content, surely aren't the work of the brand. For many of these brands, there are several different profiles.

So can an advertiser create an "official" MySpace page without paying for it? According to the terms and conditions on MySpace:

"The Services are for the personal use of Members only and may not be used in connection with any commercial endeavors except those that are specifically endorsed or approved by MySpace.com."

But the terms and conditions also specify:

"You may not post, modify, distribute, or reproduce in any way any copyrighted material, trademarks, or other proprietary information belonging to others without obtaining the prior written consent of the owner of such proprietary rights."

And with all of these "unofficial" MySpace profiles, it's clear that MySpace isn't, or can't logistically enforce the infringement of copyrighted, trademarked or proprietary material. I have no doubt that there are already "official" MySpace profiles for brands that aren't being paid for. They've just managed to slip under the radar, or MySpace has no way of determining whether or not they're really from the brand.

Here are just a couple of the TONS of interesting brand profiles I ran across...

Copenhagen, Rice Krispies,  Ex-Lax, Honda Fit, Pillsbury Doughboy, Vespa

Snickers "Instant Def"

Snickers has launched Instant Def, a branded entertainment campaign featuring 5 short films about a fictional "hip-hop" crew called Instant Def. This crew is actually played by the Black Eyed Peas.

All in all, the site looks really good, and the short films aren't that bad. It's no BMW films, but it's much more than I would expect from a Snicker's branded entertainment effort.

Visit InstantDef.com to check it out.

Snickers "Instant Def"

Snickers has launched Instant Def, a branded entertainment campaign featuring 5 short films about a fictional "hip-hop" crew called Instant Def. This crew is actually played by the Black Eyed Peas.

All in all, the site looks really good, and the short films aren't that bad. It's no BMW films, but it's much more than I would expect from a Snicker's branded entertainment effort.

Visit InstantDef.com to check it out.

Puma Launches World Cup Blogs

Puma has launched a new site to support the World Cup, which features 12 German bloggers from cities all around the country. Visit the site at: Adoptagerman.com. The site describes the campaign as follows:

"In their roles as ambassadors, they will tour Europe promoting a modern
and unexpected view of Germany while welcoming football fans to the
many delights the host nation has to offer this summer."

I think it's interesting that Puma would choose a little bit different angle. I've seen a number of World Cup sites being released over the last several weeks, and many of them are all the same, with obligatory advergames and standard sports stuff. However, I'm not sure where the "adoption" angle comes in, and the connection with Puma is very minimal. I also wish they had allowed the bloggers to customize the design and features of their blogs, to build more personality into them.

Regardless, it's an effort with some imagination, and worth checking out!

Puma Launches World Cup Blogs

Puma has launched a new site to support the World Cup, which features 12 German bloggers from cities all around the country. Visit the site at: Adoptagerman.com. The site describes the campaign as follows:

"In their roles as ambassadors, they will tour Europe promoting a modern and unexpected view of Germany while welcoming football fans to the many delights the host nation has to offer this summer."

I think it's interesting that Puma would choose a little bit different angle. I've seen a number of World Cup sites being released over the last several weeks, and many of them are all the same, with obligatory advergames and standard sports stuff. However, I'm not sure where the "adoption" angle comes in, and the connection with Puma is very minimal. I also wish they had allowed the bloggers to customize the design and features of their blogs, to build more personality into them.

Regardless, it's an effort with some imagination, and worth checking out!

T-Mobile World Cup Site

T-Mobile in the UK has launched a site for their 2006 FIFA World Cup sponsorship. It's a well done site that includes all the normal sponsorship items, like registration for contests, games and more. Of course, it also contains a number of mobile features, including sign up for alerts and mobile content based on UK clubs. Visit the site here.

T-Mobile World Cup Site

T-Mobile in the UK has launched a site for their 2006 FIFA World Cup sponsorship. It's a well done site that includes all the normal sponsorship items, like registration for contests, games and more. Of course, it also contains a number of mobile features, including sign up for alerts and mobile content based on UK clubs. Visit the site here.