I see myself as a problem solver, but even more so a puzzle solver. By this I mean putting together pieces that others may not even see as a part of a puzzle. Or other times there isn’t a puzzle to be solved and I still try to force the pieces together. That was sort of the theme for today, determining what is a puzzle and what is not? This to me sounds a lot more productive than calling everything a problem.

Let me start with an example. One of my best friends put a message on my Facebook profile pleading with me to stop blogging. He is doesn’t see the point of posting insights up on a page and I think he still views it as an online “diary”. That is ok, blogging isn’t for everyone. However, as I read his comments busting on me, it dawned on me this is a great way to come up with a clear explaination that I can present to people who don’t see the value of blogging and are quick to dismiss it. So, I am going to start sending him different points of views about how blogging is a great way to connect with customers, as well as friends and family. After, all he posted on my Facebook profile so is already on board with Social Media. Do I dare tell him his Facebook profile is essentially a blog about him? Nah, he is a smart guy he will figure it out.

Puzzle One of the day created, solution imagined, all that is left is the execution. (Bryon, you are going to love this, cheers).

Second example or puzzle of the day, my brother and I had a great conversation about the new ways people are deciding to advertises when budgets get tight and a majority of companies are turning to digital media. We came to the conclusion that there are some fundemental shifts that are going on in our industry, however the rules still apply even if the mediums change. In a nutshell, is a great image produced with oil paint any less appealing to the viewer then if it was printed on a color laser printer? To your traditionalists, yes, to a consumer, no. Here is the thing though, conversations like this are where the lines of a puzzle needing to be solved and a lot of pieces available that sound like they might be good together cross. Can you come up with one solution to this? No, there are too many variables included.

And that brings me to my point of this post, it is important to keep an open mind to all new innovations, trends and tools at your disposal, but make sure someone else’s ideas don’t become extra pieces in the puzzle you are trying to solve. Identify early if there is a puzzle to be solved and use your experience to determine this, then use everything you can to best solve the puzzle for you.

Mashable announced their Open Web Winners today, and the article mentions some of the numbers they had participate this year.

Over 100 Blog Partners have helped make this the biggest Open Web Awards to date with 50,000 total nominations, 80,000 total votes in the first round, and 90,000 votes in the final round. Our blog partners come from 25 countries and are written in 10 different languages.

I used Mashable as an example here not only because it is an informative site, but because it too has become a buzz word. Websites in the coming months needs to be re-evaluated and developed as mashed-up sites. By mashed-up, I mean put together using 3rd party social media outlets as features (widgets) along side the core site content for the company or product the site is promoting.

This is kind of a no brain-er for anyone who has been in the online world for more than a year, but what is going to be interesting is how are the social media networks going to survive offering free services? As more and more large traffic sites start relying on these free outlets, like Twitter and Facebook as their main source of customer service, who pays the hosting bills for all of this traffic?

What are the options that are available that can generate revenue for these companies, and still keep an audience that is used to free and fun? First thing that comes to mind is Advertising, but there are a number of catches to this. With the simple nature of social media networks and social widgets, the two way conversation is the key and what company would want to possibly promote other companies and products on their websites or while talking to their customers. That would be like sitting at a Chili’s and having Applebee’s sponsor all of the TV’s in the bar. (Trust me I have seen this happen).

OK, what if the social networks charge extra to have advertising free services for business users? Simple you couldn’t because there is no way to tell who is a customer and who is a business. Or are they both now?

To end my ramblings this morning, I wanted to put this thought out there. As the next few month unfold, with the world economy in a slump and more and more people are unemployed, how will social media survive? It exists because it is free, it’s popularity will continue to grow, but as the saying goes, there is not such thing as a free lunch.

A Day in the Life of Spam

I got up this morning, much the same was as I always do, to the radio, but today instead of music I heard a commercial stating “Cash for seniors in this new option”. Wow, I thought, the economy must be really bad if people are now offering cash for seniors. I guess it is tough out there, all the career jobs are filled up and the standard response now is I saw your resume…please complete your application. Application? What happened to your resume should speak for itself, I haven’t filled out an application for a job since college. All I really want to do is create a way to Watch TV from around the world on your computer. Too bad that isn’t an option for a career. Maybe I will just Call Companies Direct and set up an Interview. I could do that all night long because I would be able to Type in the dark with: New illuminated Logitech Keyboard.

Suddenly I realized that if I did that I would never leave the house and everyone would be calling me saying, “Rid your Colon of weight and toxins”. Plus, the voice in my head was saying that, I would no longer enjoy my Second Chance to Enjoy Ebony Magazine purchased on your behalf.

I wish I knew all of the Hollywood Secrets to only working a few months out of the year or how to earn Cash from home? If you’re a senior homeowner Damn It! Another commercial telling me about seniors and cash. That is just wrong. Is anyone else Sick of the Recession Yet? Earn Thousands,Cash for seniors is a reality now I had to get out of the house, this seniors thing was out of control.

So I headed down to the coffee shop to see what the intellectuals were up to. I bought a cup of coffee at 7 Eleven and received a President Obama Gold Inaugural dollar as change. I was so happy because I knew how I could Make money on ebay and google with it. Why don’t they give these dollars as a scenario for seniors stops mortgage payments. That is a great idea,Barack Obama Inaugural Dollar. Uncle Sam could give you up to $25,000 open to see how. What a great Scenario for seniors stops mortgage payments. On top of that I started to wonder Why government auctions make sense for your budget.

This is crazy too, I have too much Hope for seniors and cash solution. I must have drunk too much coffee. I told myself that I should really be focused on how to Prevent foreclosure and protect your investment. Yet all I could think of was the quick cash I could get from building a home for seniors and cash solution.

I tried to forget about it, besides I didn’t know any seniors. If I had a cell phone at this point I would have started to Call companies direct and schedule job interviews. Instead I finally got to the coffee shop with my 7 Eleven coffee and was met by a woman who was super excited about how she got” LIFE:100 Events that shook our world-limited time offer and how she ordered her coffee with Acai Berry Supreme #1 Super Food.

I sat down in the corner of the shop to hide the fact that I bought 7 Eleven Coffee for a fraction of the price. My cheap coffee almost came out of my nose when I started laughing at another woman who was trying to Stay warm with the blanket with sleeves. Smart idea, she must have gotten one of those online graduate degrees from top colleges.

Just then a man sat down next to me because he noticed my cheap coffee. He said what if there were a lender designed for you? “Excuse me”, I said. The man responded, did you know you could get Cash for seniors turns for the good. I didn’t know what language this guy was speaking but once again I was reminded there is a good market for seniors.

The man introduced himself as Jack and he was in the business of Direct Lending looking for Commercial RE loans. However, business was slow for Jack and next he asked me “what about Gold Jewelry?Unwanted Jewelry?Get Cash Now”? Sorry I told him, I Don’t consolidate…completely eliminate your debt.However, I followed up by saying I was interested in cash for seniors turns for the good. But how would it work if I didn’t know any seniors? Jack gave some great advice,“Sign up for eharmony today for a free profile and find a window company now.”

I knew Jack knew what he was talking about, but to do these tasks I need to find a Sale on Select PC’s tonight only. The quicker I get started the quicker I could start making Cash for seniors turns for the good. While I was walking to the store that sole PC’s, I wondered why seniors we in such a demand, was it After warranty expired, engine broke?

My mind was spinning and telling me I needed to Enjoy Psychology today purchased on your behalf. The Government can help you get started today! Apply for a Federal Grant. That’s it, a Federal Grant. That way I could get a newsletter Update from Colorado Technical University. Everything was coming together, but was I only Looking to eliminate high cable bills?

Enough, I knew I needed to focus. I needed to look past the sign that read One-click access to schools awarding credit for military service. I have never been in the military, that ad didn’t apply to me.

What was I going to do? too many thoughts. 62, own a home? Stop paying mortgage now
entrepreneurs, Government Money is Available. AHHHH! I needed to Find out more how you could save and get out of debt. I have been told you must Find an online degree program that fits your goals!” If I could do that I could Find out how you could take control of your debt and how to get Cash for seniors turns for the good.

Cash for seniors, You will never find these deals at the dollar store. I finally got to the computer store and I had a great idea, Get 250 business cards, I could give them out to any seniors that I meet, then they could call me when they are ready to be sold for cash.

At the store there was a very attractive woman and she asked me, ”Would you like to Test and Keep a Hi Definition TV?” Wow, she must get paid a lot for what she does I thought. I bet with a job like that you could Discover how good it feels to wake up every morning knowing you won your car and you would have enough money to keep Looking for foreclosures. Could you imagine no Debt problems? You’ve got options with a job like hers.

Just then over the loud speakers in the store they said, “Congress gives seniors go ahead cash from house.” Holy cow, Congress is supplying the cash for seniors, this is my lucky day. I need to purchase my business cards and head over to the retirement home, there is a River of opt-in data.

I got to the retirement home and I caught up with the janitor who I knew from high school. The plan was why not Let your friends do the networking for you? After I bribed the janitor with some of the cash for all the seniors I ducked in to a room and saw a man with The world’s most comfortable jaw supporter he looked happy. However the janitor stopped me in my tracks and I said, Low on funds, you could get up to 1500USD and you can always find a Credit card matching search engine. He agreed and I was on my way again, dreaming of how to Enjoy Yachts International purchased on your behalf.

At this point I couldn’t believe that Congress gives seniors go ahead cash from house. This was a lot easier that coming up with a way to Call Companies and schedule interviews. I couldn’t wait to get earn all this cash, I remembered a sign I saw on the walk over, it said Cash in on Lenovo Employee Pricing til Monday. I had no idea what Lenovo was but if they had employees they were up on me. I hope Lenovo is the makers of that Incredible New Electric Pet Nail Trimmer. If I had one of those I could Get a career in public health

I walked out of the retirement home after getting lost and decided the best thing a high roller like my self could do is Treat yourself to a GPS Navigator. As I was walking around the corner I ran into a nurse for the retirement home and I couldn’t help but ask if she had heard Congress gives seniors go ahead cash from house and that with seniors After Warranty expired, engine broke

She responded by asking me if this was how I planned to Turn your debts into wealth and never worry about money again? Why don’t you Get matched with quality online schools and earn money? She told me that is what her family did. “We buy houses fast” she said.

She then asked me, “Who do you match with eharmony could help you know?” Actually I told her, I match with the girl at the computer store who asks “Would you like to test and keep a hi definition tv”. Good for you the nurse said, “now don’t forget that Congress gives seniors go ahead cash from house and go take that girl a Low carb oreo flavored shakes and atkins bars-on us.

Wow, I said, how do you have so much money, you are just a nurse. Oh she said, “I Get a government grant that comes from your tax dollars and study Benefit information for Military Members.

By this time had no idea what the nurse was talking about. The only thought I had was about the Incredible New Electric Pet Nail trimmer. Frustrated I tried to focus, Financial Success can be yours start today I thought. You could graduate online in 1.5 years and You could get matched with a trusted student load relief partner.

Enough of that nonsense today was the day to Get your piece of history today by selling seniors. This was my only way to Stop Living paycheck to Paycheck.

______________________________
I think I just created Mad Libs for SPAM Subject Lines.

Today reading about the factory workers in Chicago protesting the loss of their jobs, I really started wondering if this is the next evolution in the way we see businesses competeing in the global market place. Let me explain. From the article that I read on Yahoo, it stated that -

JPMorgan Chase & Co. plans to contribute $400,000 to Chicago’s Republic Windows & Doors LLC.

So what is so uncommon about this? Well atleast up ’til now we have seen large numbers like this fly across headlines almost daily, millions, billions, these numbers are so large that individuals really don’t need to concern themselves with them. But here is the difference about this, the reason this company was forced to close down and give their employees only three days notice is because Bank Of America, a competitor of Chase bank, would not grant the company the credit it needed to keep its doors open (no pun intended).

$400,000 is not that large of a sum for companies of this size, however what Chase Bank just did was marketing genius. Essentially, they purchased a $400,000 ad spot that reached every newspaper and news website’s homepage. The message was, “hey look at us, we are so stable that we can afford to help make a happy holiday for the ex-employees of a company our competitor forced to shut down.” They look like a hero in the financial mess that our country and the world is in. Even in their press release they state that they do not expect any of this contibution to return to them. However, it will. It will in the 250 employees of Republic Windows and Doors who have now just switched banks to the one who just gave them an extra paycheck. It will in the hundreds more who are in fear of their own banks closing and are in search of stability. It will in the thousands more who are hoping for a lottery style payout from Chase.

Has the old beast of marketing stategy and creative advertising finally been killed by the simple buying of customers?

The article hit on the idea that there is a lot of time wasted on groups coming up with worthless slogans and that slogans are no longer a valuable asset to a brand. I think that we have become so used to cleaver slogans that we look right past them. Marketers have realized this for awhile now and pushed another phenomenon that I am not sure what to call. It is the use of versions, sequals, types, 2.0, and other descriptors. If you aren’t following what I am describing, just watch cable television for about 10 minutes. CSI:Miami, CSI NY, CSI Torrington, Wyoming.

When I started in the Internet marketing world, it was all the craze to start naming the versions of your websites in the same manner that software developers have been doing all along, and thus was born Web 2.0. Wait a minute is Web 2.0 really a new form of slogan? It has the properties of a slogan in that it is creative, following the trend of the products it is associated with. Yet, it doesn’t describe what Web 2.0 is or how it can be used. Since Web 2.0 has been used so loosely as a buzz word, I think Web 2.0 really has become a new form of brand slogans.

Ok, so now we have an example of a slogan and a descriptor that really doesn’t fit and this is my point and what I think all marketers need to start thinking about. No longer can you put together just another cleaver slogan that is catchy and will stick with people. Now, with all of the worthless wording that is being thrown at customers, a brand name can still benefit from a slogan being associated with it, but that slogan needs to create buzz itself or at least thought.

Here is an example, if I decided to start using this as my brand and slogan, “JakeLudens.com Part of Web 3.2″, the audience that I have for my blog would be intrigued and wondering how I became part of Web 3.2, when most have only heard of Web 2.0. This would be much more beneficial than if I started using, “JakeLudens.com Purpose. Profit. Perfection.” Most of you would just look right over this and view my blog as just another WordPress Blog.

So is the slogan dead? Does it need to be killed? No it isn’t dead, but the old way of using slogans needs to be killed and no more time needs to be spent thinking up cleaver slogans, time needs to be spent making slogans that make brands cut through competitive marketing efforts and tell audiences who the brand is and what it can do for them. We now have a market place where customers are very conscience of how they spend their money and the customer’s needs taking over the focus of the customer’s need to be cool.

The first being a book that I grabbed off of the shelf at the office called Logo Lounge. My brother picked up this book a while back and I have seen several like it before. However, I highly recommend this one since it is simple. It consists of all types of Logos from all over the world and the book is categorized into styles of logos such as Typography, Initials, People, Birds, you name it. I went through this book tonight for about an hour looking at logos, some familiar others not so. I finally put the book down because I was getting frustrated thinking about how I didn’t want to “rip off” a logo from a product that already existed.

Instead, I started watching the Food Network and eventually found my way back to my laptop to give it another go. All the time Diane had been sitting on the couch taking apart dozens of picture frames that she has been collecting from thrift stores, clearance racks and the occasional yard sale. Since before we had moved in to the new house, we have had the idea to decorate our house with strange vintage advertisements, hence the collection of frames. To help with decor, Diane’s parents found two very old issues of LIFE magazine and gave them to us over Thanksgiving. How old? 1936. Oddly enough, beat up 1936 LIFE magazines are really not that valuable in terms of resale. What they are valuable in are the number of great advertisements inside of their pages.

Diane had carefully taken each issue apart and divided the ads into groups, Hygiene, Liquor and Oppressed Women. She then pitched each ad to me as if we were in an episode of Mad Men to see which ones I felt would be acceptable for the house. Don Draper, eat your heart out. Some I liked, others were just dull, or too hard to understand. One thing I did notice, advertisers used a lot more ad copy in the 30′s. When all was said and done we had decided on over a dozen new ads and Diane had them framed up. Looking at this new collection, it hit me how simple the logos for these companies really are, Johnnie Walker, Royal Typewriters, Electrolux, and even Ex Lax. All of these have simple logos made up of only great typography, no icons needed.

I booted up Photoshop and I had a new logo for my new project finished in a matter about 10 minutes. I love when inspiration hits and it makes you want to stay up all night coming up with more ideas.

Ok to be honest I just wanted Jason’s ADD to really kick in tonight. (you’re welcome Jason!) This is a photo of just some of the great toys that I have been going through the past two nights.

On to a new topic for day 2 of the 30 day blog challenge. Lets see what could I blog about? I know Twitter! No I am not a guru, I will leave that up to John, however I do want to mention that according to the people in the know, my Twitter Nerd Level went up today because I set up a new Twitter account for Black Diamond Digital. Not that setting up a Twitter account is difficult, but what I did notice today is how effective a really well designed background image for Twitter can be.

Today we were able to create a Twitter page that really reflected the new direction that Black Diamond Digital is going. We blended our logo, colors and the newest model that was just in the studio a few days ago. Check it out and let me know what you think.

To take it a step further I was able to tie the images together with an eblast of an upcoming event that we are hosting. Same model, completely different design element, but still kept the the attitude that we wanted for Black Diamond Digital. I uploaded the eblast here.

Next, I updated the Black Diamond Digital Blog with all of the same updates and links. I did all of this in the matter of only a few hours and was able to reach three different audiences, from C level executives to just my crazy friends that have no problem wearing a ridiculous beanie for any occation, to Twitter users who may never set foot in Las Vegas.

This is a perfect example of the new age of advertising, direct market reach with little to no cost.

This past weekend I helped my brother clean out his garage that had been filled with old toys that my parents brought out to us from Wyoming. Now, ironically my garage is filled with these toys, but I had a chance tonight to start going through them and cleaning them up to donate or sell. While I was unloading some of the boxes, besides being nostalgic, the thought came to me about how companies create flash in the pan buzz about toys simply for the holiday season. I wonder how many children beg for toys during the holiday season that only months before they had never heard of? I’ll be honest I know I did that as a kid and I am sure my parents were not too pleased that I lost interest only weeks after the holidays were over.

I feel this is exactly how the Internet has come to operate on a constant level, not just for holidays or special events. We are all glued to email, Blackberry, Iphones, laptops and desktops, waiting for the next buzz to come our way. It could be an email from your boss or the top story to break on Yahoo. It could be any number of internet guilty pleasures we have all come to embrace. Yet just like the toy that we begged our parents for each Christmas, we lose interest after a short time and are off to see what is new on YouTube.

The thing is, very few people recognize that this is how they are living their lives. Advertising people especially need to make sure they take a step back from the BUZZ in order to keep a window open so that they might be able to grab some of their customer’s very short interest span. (I would use attention span, but I don’t think any of us really pay attention) I think about how much time I spend, after I hear about a new innovation or marketing tool, waiting to see the practical use for it. Rather, I should be looking at what need it fulfills and why there is even a need in the first place.

Think about it, what need did the Hampster Dance really fulfill for anyone ? All these things did was kill thousands of hours of time and unimaginable amounts of brain cells. But wait… think about all the traffic that that webmaster got simple because of a flash in the pan?

Here was their list and if the stunt resulted positively or negatively:
1. Aqua Teen Hunger Force – The Boston Bomb Scare – Negative
2. Nathan’s Doc-Approved Dogs – Positive
3. Last Days of Disco – Chicago White Sox “Disco Demolition Night” – Negative
4. Oprah’s Free Cars – Negative not for Oprah, for Pontiac
5. Taco’s New Bell – Fake purchase of The Liberty Bell – Positive
6. Steal This Identity – LifeLock – Negative (Lesson here, don’t challenge hackers.)
7. Guinness’s Bar Book – Positive
8. Snapple’s Giant Meltdown – Negative (honestly, I have never heard of this one.)
9. By Land, Sea and Air – British billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson – Positive
10. Name That Town – Hey for a 1950′s radio show this was ground breaking – Positive

So it is Friday and I am in a marketing and advertising critique mood, so here are my picks for my favorite and least favorite marketing stunts and advertising endeavors. (mine are in no particular order)

1. Kleenex Napkin commercial – “They don’t fall off your lap!” – I wrote a post about this commercial back in September.

2. Zoo York Roaches – Having been a skateboard kid growing up, this is one of my favorite Shock and Awe campaigns.

3. VW’s Tribute to Jerry Garcia Ad – I have the issue of Rolling Stone that has this ad in it. I think it is the definition of knowing your customers.

4. Budlight’s “Real Men of Genius” – Anyone who still enjoys or is forced to, listen to sports on AM radio is with me on this. Great way of using an inexpensive advertising medium.

5. Save By Zero! – I personally hate this commercial – Not only does it not make sense – this YouTuber says everything in his title for this clip, “Toyota Saved By Zero Loop From Hell Campaign” – Oh and don’t forget The FIXX sang that song.

6. Apple’s “1984″ – I am a huge Orwell Fan, and yes this commercial was genius, but anyone in advertising knows this. (awww remember books?)

7. Affiliate Marketing. – Hey some one buy this or buy this Please, Please, Please buy this.

8. Golden Palace.com - Jesus Toast, forehead ads, pregnant ads, oh and you can gamble there too. It was fun while it lasted.

9. Cap’n Crunch – I feel this was the beginning of the demise of literacy. Do kids even know how to spell Captain? When did MTV become a word? I would love to just LOL about all of this, but it really concerns me how the intelligence level is going down and the apathy level is going up in our society.

10. Viral Marketing – The reply all button started it all and now if you make a fool out of yourself or do something creative and it is digital, everyone knows about it.

Myspace has had its ups and downs, but now with Facebook and other so called “professional” social networks, I really think that Myspace is a waste of time for most affiliate marketers. I think Myspace has its place for celebrities and musicians to promote their brands or their music, but just take a look at the ads that affiliate marketers are purchasing on Myspace. I remember a while back I was asked to read through the advertising contract for placing ads on Myspace. It was a very in-depth document and I think for the price there are many other avenues affiliate marketers can go down. In fact, I recall reviewing the stats from the one ad campaign that we did do, we had thousands and thousands of hits, and never did make a conversion on the offers.

So is my space an out-of-date affiliate revenue source? Lets go there right now and see what ads come up…Singlesnet.com, Taylor Swifts new album promotion, (with video, nice touch), Websinglez.net for Emo Singles – hey wait a minute this looks familiar, have you ever read the Classified section of your neighborhood “Weekly”, “Citylife”, “Thrifty Nickel” newspapers? Thats right, Myspace has turned in to an interactive cheap classified section, promoting singles, music, hooking up with a sexy someone tonight, Man seeking Woman, Woman seeking Man, etc. I wonder if Rolling Stone still has their classified section with their new layout? I hope not, they should save the trees and just use Myspace.

Myspace is a great marketing outlet for large companies that have no problem throwing away millions of dollars just for the sake of saying they have ads on Myspace.