These folks are really good at getting attention. Volkswagen just came out with another cool digital marketing idea that I like.
They came out with a very fancy idea of introducing its features. It sort of simulates how useful it is in a real scenario. Instead of trying to figure out what this “Lane Assist” feature means, play a short game to understand what it is about.
Check it out @ http://www.vwinnovatie.nl/en/

Volkwage Cool Inovations

Volkswagen Lane Assist

Samsung Omnia is not only a good phone, but are really creative in marketing it. Sometimes i do get tired of looking at all the phone specs and trying to figure out what does it really mean for me. Samsung came out with a creative way of showcasing all its features, YouTube style.

When i was browsing through it, i find myself hook to the videos. They did a lot of best practices in making this viral. For one, these are short clips, interesting and funny. Check is out here http://www.42goodthings.com/

They even create a facebook entry to keep users posted.

I’m a fan, are you?

Just saw a funny youtube video about Celcom Vs Digi (South Park style)… I can’t wait for Digi’s fightback

Another funny way of creating one’s brand awareness through digital marketing

Of course not the real one. A virtual baby. Recently, I’ve just found a new marketing idea by Volkswagen to create the stickiness factor in digital marketing.

Not sure how’s the response, but I find it quite interesting and have tried it out by creating a baby of Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt (If they are still together la).

My thoughts

First, I don’t find the baby have any resemblance  with both Brad & Jennifer. At least I can’t find any. I’m always bad at seeing whether the baby looks like the father or mother.

But in terms of marketing value, I believe that they put a lot of thought into making it work.

1) The baby reacts to mouse movement. The baby’s head will move according to the direction of your mouse cursor

2) You can upload your picture and your partner’s picture or even search on the web for picture of others. (Hmmm… Now girls can fantasize on how their baby will look like with Brad Pitt as the father)

3) It’s simple to use.

Personally I find that this marketing idea can create awareness and good viral effect. But in terms of having brand or product awareness might be a bit weak. It only tells me that  I need to have a bigger car for the baby. But nothing much about why VW is THE car.

What do you think? Comment and tell me lar

Visit RoutanBabymaker to create your own baby

You know that competition is intense when you see Microsoft having an “I’m an Pc” booth just outside of an Apple store. Basically its a counter strike towards Apple’s I’m a Mac ads. If you haven’t heard about the “I’m a PC” marketing campaign check it out in Microsoft’s I’m a PC site. I wonder when will Digi setup a booth near a Maxis store. I guess things will get pretty ugly with the telco soon. (Yeah to the consumer!!) 

I just saw an Ad by Digi about offering free phone if you sign up for a 24 months contract. I’m eagerly waiting for Maxis/Celcom to come out with more goodies. (I need a new phone!!!)

Info from AppleInsider and highlighted to me by Ali Therani

An old forwarded email that uses a very funny way of describing marketing. What is digital Marketing?

I guess it will be something like this. I wish they use this kind of simple examples when i’m doing my marketing class.

You’re at a party and see a gorgeous girl.

You walk up to her and exchange Facebook IDs.

The next day you post on her wall and says, ‘Hi, I’m very rich, Marry Me.

That’s call Digital Marketing.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.

You go up to her and say, ‘I am very rich. Marry me!’

That’s Direct Marketing.

You’re at a party with a

bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl.

One of your friends goes up to her

Just saw this interesting website that tries to get the world’s opinion about the US election. If the election is decided by us, Obama will sweep McCain. Check out the result in Iftheworldcouldvote.com. Up to date 600,000 people have voted.

It will be interesting to see whether Obama can really win….

A couple of weeks back, Microsoft announced an USD300 million advertising campaign to change its brand perception. This got me thinking, can you ever change people’s perception? Does it matter that a company would be willing to spend USD 300 million to change perceptions?

Being a person who likes to poke into things, I went search about it do see whether:

1.       Does having a good perception give some leeway when companies fumble?

2.       Can you ever change the perception others have on you? Even with Microsoft’s cash coffer?

I found some interesting facts. Apple with its excellent reputation of delivering products that consumer wants also fumbles with some recent launches. Its MobileMe, IPhone 3G and its AppleTv was not exactly a smooth launch. But consumer’s perception towards it was still positive and they received nowhere near the hostility of Windows Vista. In true perspective, Windows Vista has a bigger consumer footprint and its performance will have a bigger impact towards consumer. Therefore, it is no surprise that consumer perception towards it is negative.

I for one, have a Windows Vista installed in my laptop. After SP1, I must admit that it works really well for me apart for some minor hiccups. But imagine, an aunt of mine who does not even own a computer share her piece of mind to me about the negativity of Windows Vista. Perception really counts! It can create a delusional reality where people can form an opinion about something without even looking at the facts.

So Microsoft really needs to spend the money to change its image. But would they succeed? One good example of a brand perception turnaround was Volkswagen’s Skoda brand. Skoda is a car brand with Easter Europe heritage that have a very bad reputation in producing poor quality cars with bad design. Apart from improving its quality, Volkswagen also embark on a marketing campaign to reposition its brand. Skoda came out with ads that make fun of itself and highlight the positive aspect of its product. Now, Skoda is one of the fastest growing brands in Europe.

I guess Microsoft is in the right direction with its ads. I must admit that I don’t really understand the message that it’s trying to delivered in the first 2 ads staring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. But I enjoyed the latest “I’m a PC” campaign which I find it refreshing and highlight the contribution and positive aspect of Windows. Which in my opinion, credit should be given when credit is due. Windows does contribute in connecting the people around the world.

Anyhow changing perception is a long and hard process and this will be just the beginning of Microsoft marketing campaign. Meanwhile I learn 2 lessons from my research. First, I should not be blinded by hearsay and unfound perceptions but should research into the features. Second, I better invest RM300 in some wardrobe makeover. This perception thing is really dangerous, and I don’t have the money to change the perception of others.

Just browse through a friend’s blog (Ali Tehrani) and found an interesting post about the social bookmarking landscape. So would like to share this out.

Looks like a map pick up from the book of Romance of the 3 Kingdom. Used to love that game. But i guess the folks in Facebook will be viewing this and say. “Let’s make conquering Asia our next years plan”. Really different way of looking at things

Social Network WorldMap