Random Culture

Smart Marketing in Japan

While marketing for smart cars in the US is practically non-existent, due to the demand, it appears that Smart is taking a different path in Japan. They've launched a great website at www.playsmart.jp.

Smart Marketing in Japan

While marketing for smart cars in the US is practically non-existent, due to the demand, it appears that Smart is taking a different path in Japan. They've launched a great website at www.playsmart.jp.

VW: Crash Your Jetta

Volkswagen has launched yet another innovative online campaign, Crash Your Jetta. Like the GTI test drive video that gets customized depending on the options you select when building your car, Crash Your Jetta allows you to see what happens to the car you've built when it gets hit by things like a Rhino, a giant lizard foot, a ball of twine and more.

What's interesting to me is that most car companies would shy away from showing the actual crashing of their vehicles. But Volkswagen is using the opportunity to showcase safety features. No matter what the scenario, the car comes out pretty well. They even show the "crashes" from different points of view to demonstrate all the air bags.

To see it in action, visit the Jetta build your own and click on "watch safe happen."

VW: Crash Your Jetta

Volkswagen has launched yet another innovative online campaign, Crash Your Jetta. Like the GTI test drive video that gets customized depending on the options you select when building your car, Crash Your Jetta allows you to see what happens to the car you've built when it gets hit by things like a Rhino, a giant lizard foot, a ball of twine and more.

What's interesting to me is that most car companies would shy away from showing the actual crashing of their vehicles. But Volkswagen is using the opportunity to showcase safety features. No matter what the scenario, the car comes out pretty well. They even show the "crashes" from different points of view to demonstrate all the air bags.

To see it in action, visit the Jetta build your own and click on "watch safe happen."

Wheelvertising 2.0

Forget generic images on the hubcabs of taxi cabs as advertising... there's something even better now. The "pimp star" from Dub Wheels is a new wheel with LEDs that allows you to load images on your wheels as you drive down the street. Learn more about it at Customwheel.com. According to the site:

"With the PimpStar's built-in full color LED lights, microprocessor and wireless modem, you can display virtually any image, including text, graphics, logos, and even digital photos!"

Make sure you check out this video of them in action. Pretty impressive, but they'll cost you.

Wheelvertising 2.0

Forget generic images on the hubcabs of taxi cabs as advertising... there's something even better now. The "pimp star" from Dub Wheels is a new wheel with LEDs that allows you to load images on your wheels as you drive down the street. Learn more about it at Customwheel.com. According to the site:

"With the PimpStar's built-in full color LED lights, microprocessor and
wireless modem, you can display virtually any image, including text,
graphics, logos, and even digital photos!"

Make sure you check out this video of them in action. Pretty impressive, but they'll cost you.

Gawker Google Mashup

Gawker has launched a great Google Maps mashup, the "Gawker Stalker." It's essentially a feature on Gawker.com that allows visitors to submit celebrity sightings in Manhattan, which are then added by Gawker staff to a Google map.

It's a great example of yet another company leveraging Google's API for Google maps. Remember, if you're interested, it's open to anyone... with a few commercial restrictions.

Link via Blogebrity.

Gawker Google Mashup

Gawker has launched a great Google Maps mashup, the "Gawker Stalker." It's essentially a feature on Gawker.com that allows visitors to submit celebrity sightings in Manhattan, which are then added by Gawker staff to a Google map.

It's a great example of yet another company leveraging Google's API for Google maps. Remember, if you're interested, it's open to anyone... with a few commercial restrictions.

Link via Blogebrity.

Alexaholic

If you're addicted to Alexa data, Alexaholic is just what you've been looking for.

Alexaholic allows you to create customizeable Alexa graphs comparing up to 5 websites, and even allows you to paste the code for the graph on your site. Create your own here. One thing I'm a little disappointed by... you can't resize the graphs to fit your site. That's why I didn't put an example directly on the page here.

If you aren't using Alexa to look at competitive site data such as relative traffic, average page views, etc... you should be. It's a great free tool, particularly if you do anything in an attempt to map out a competitive landscape for your own company or your clients. Of course, you have to take the data with a grain of salt, because all the data is coming from the folks that have downloaded and installed the Alexa toolbar.

Link via TechCrunch.

Alexaholic

If you're addicted to Alexa data, Alexaholic is just what you've been looking for.

Alexaholic allows you to create customizeable Alexa graphs comparing up to 5 websites, and even allows you to paste the code for the graph on your site. Create your own here. One thing I'm a little disappointed by... you can't resize the graphs to fit your site. That's why I didn't put an example directly on the page here.

If you aren't using Alexa to look at competitive site data such as relative traffic, average page views, etc... you should be. It's a great free tool, particularly if you do anything in an attempt to map out a competitive landscape for your own company or your clients. Of course, you have to take the data with a grain of salt, because all the data is coming from the folks that have downloaded and installed the Alexa toolbar.

Link via TechCrunch.