volume

Please Euthanize This Big Boy Already – How Lack of Innovation Killed Another Giant

Not only did the shift towards digital communication cause a continuing decline in revenues, the lack of innovation caused the U.S. Postal Service to fall far behind able competitors like FedEx, UPS, etc. (lowering prices is not innovation; and delivering 3 days a week is not innovation either.) We are at a point now where if the USPS disappeared, consumers will shift their remaining habits towards digital and existing delivery competitors will (gladly) absorb the incremental business (because they already work the routes anyway, and can even lower prices due to extra volume).

Source: http://bit.ly/9RHDtQ (BusinessWeek)

March 4 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Postal Service, facing a $238 billion budget deficit by 2020, should consider cutting delivery to as few as three days a week as the agency attempts to pare costs, a consulting firm said.

Those cuts are among changes McKinsey & Co. presented in a report this week at a postal conference in Washington. Options also included expanding business lines and restructuring retiree health benefits.

Tags: Agency, amp, Bloomberg, budget, budget deficit, business, business lines, BusinessWeek, communication, conference, consulting, consulting firm, consumers, decline, deficit, delivery, digital communication, FedEx, firm, health, incremental business, innovation, lack, March, McKinsey, point, report, restructuring, retiree, retiree health benefits, s postal service, service, shift, Source, u s postal service, U.S. Postal, UPS, USPS, volume, volume source, Washington, Week

Friday, March 5th, 2010 Uncategorized No Comments

Evian baby viral video has much higher ROI than Etrade baby superbowl ad

The Evian baby viral ad (red spike) got almost as much search volume as eTrade’s Superbowl ad of 2009 (blue spike). But Evian paid millions less by skipping the expense of airing the video on traditional media; instead they just posted it to YouTube for free. But notice that in both cases the effect was ephemeral (not long lasting) — notice the narrowness of the spike. Interest in the viral video also subsided quickly. But at least Evian didn’t waste millions on producing and airing it — thus achieving a massively larger ROI than Etrade who paid to make the ads and then air it at great expense on the Superbowl for the last 3 years.

Etrade Baby Ad

Evian Baby Viral Video

Tags: 3 years, allowFullScreen, amp, application, Baby, effect, embed src, ephemeral, etrade, Evian, expense, height, hl en, http www youtube, interest, lt, movie, name, narrowness, notice, param, param name, ROI, search, search volume, spike, src, superbowl, superbowl ad, true width, type, type application, value, video, Viral, viral video, volume, waste millions, width, x shockwave flash, YouTube

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 Branding, analytics, search No Comments

The Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing

Thou shalt not target customers with messages they don’t want.
Thou shalt be truthful.
Thou shalt respect your customers.
Thou shalt make it easy for people to find you.
Thou shalt be useful.
Thou shalt make it easy for people to pass along.
Thou shalt measure and optimize.
Thou shalt listen to customers.
Thou shalt remove any organizational barriers to speedy, collaborative innovation.
Thou shalt not do brand-ing.

Thanks for all the retweets!

WSI_ComandixI’m not Moses, but here’s The Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing http://ow.ly/TQuh

iamdanmoriartyThis is awesome – the 10 commandments of modern marketing http://bit.ly/7l8aBw – All very true, but especially #9!

tombutlin10 Commandments of modern marketing http://bit.ly/8MNo8g by @acfou. It doesn’t get clearer than this.

SuzzicksRT @AnnaMariaVirzi: How true, @acfou! Online marketing commandment no. 5: Thou shalt be useful http://www.clickz.com/3636027

acfouThou Shalt Not Target Customers (even with #BehavioralTargeting): Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

matt_mcgowanRT @AnnaMariaVirzi: How true, @acfou! Online marketing commandment no. 5: Thou shalt be useful http://www.clickz.com/3636027

indie_preneurThe 10 commandments of modern marketing — are you playing nicely? http://www.clickz.com/3636027 /via @AnnaMariaVirzi

pedrogomezGreat read: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing: http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

AnnaMariaVirziHow true, @acfou! Online marketing commandment no. 5: Thou shalt be useful http://www.clickz.com/3636027

horacemitchell10 commandments of modern marketing http://short.to/12npj

fonstuinstra10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ http://ow.ly/TOgq (h/t Jan van den Bergh)

GetPushingRT @GranerCreative: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://tinyurl.com/y8mahr5 #marketing

MarComNetworkRT @GranerCreative: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://tinyurl.com/y8mahr5 #marketing

GranerCreative10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://tinyurl.com/y8mahr5 #marketing

jevedebe10 Commandments of Modern Marketing. http://tr.im/JJ1A

TemplateZonepretty solid guidelines – maybe someone should carve them into stone tablets! http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

theviragomedia10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ http://bit.ly/7HKYGI

GreeneMarketRT @acfou: Thou Shalt Not Do Brand-ing: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing #whatwereyouthinking – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

MoniqueElwellexcellent reading: Augustine Fou Thou Shalt Not Do Brand-ing: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing http://htxt.it/E3ut

PeteHealyAugustine Fou’s “10 Commandments of Modern Marketing” @acfou http://j.mp/5MWrLr #in

jessweissAll communications must be relevant, respectful, etc. @sarahebourne @andylarrimore The 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://ow.ly/TLCI

sarahebourneTrue! RT @andylarrimore I think I will revise these slightly to the 10 Commandments of Web Content – http://ow.ly/TI0V

blakeandwhite10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – from @ClickZ. Great list, @acfou! http://bit.ly/5MWrLr

TachmanRT @PDMAffiliates 10 Modern Marketing Commandments: http://bit.ly/5MWrLr #advertising

TdF_ConsultantsRT @berteloot: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

DecorcatsRT @berteloot: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

BrandojoRT @acfou: Thou Shalt Not Do Brand-ing: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing #whatwereyouthinking – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

acfouThou Shalt Not Do Brand-ing: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing #whatwereyouthinking – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

berteloot10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

pamdyerColumn: Modern marketing must focus on today’s consumers http://bit.ly/8g3EGJ 10 commandments for marketing in 2010

TaiKolenkoAn awesome article on Modern Marketing! I like the comment, “the sun is setting on the era of big “push” advertising.” http://bit.ly/5MWrLr

KFinneganThe 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – http://bit.ly/90GhVq

DistribionDMRT @AdLocal: Reading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

AnteroDiasCommandments of Modern Marketing – A list of the 10 rules every marketer should follow to meet consumer needs in 2010: http://bit.ly/5MWrLr

AdLocalReading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

patriciahader#Measure and optimize on the 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing list http://bit.ly/8vQ1w6 via ClickZ

_Vanessa_V10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

HamiltonWallaceRT @acfou: Ten Commandments to help “marketing sinners” become saints – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

seewhatcouldbe10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 via @addthis

winsell10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 via @addthis

mnm8312Reading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

andylarrimoreI think I will revise these slightly to the 10 Commandments of Web Content – http://ow.ly/TI0V

PedroBravoNada de hacer branding y otros 9 mandamientos de marketing moderno http://www.clickz.com/3636027

davidamoore10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ http://bit.ly/5MWrLr

shannonholatoRT @cmo4hire: Read 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing, #10 No Brand-ing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

everyspoon10 Commandments of Modern Marketing. Learn them. Love them. Live them. Especially #5: Thou shalt be useful. http://www.clickz.com/3636027

zapalaFZKReading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

joshua_dthou shall be useful & truthful – RT @gerardodada: Reading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027 – all true

MMG_Works10 Commandments of Modern Marketinghttp://bit.ly/8UVG1J

gerardodadaReading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027 – all true

PDMAffiliates10 Modern Marketing Commandments: http://bit.ly/5MWrLr #affiliate #advertising

BizIncubationRT @mediatrustpete 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 by @acfou chief digital officer

mediatrustpeteMust Read for Marketers : 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 by @acfou chief digital officer

MetaResponse10 Marketing Tips; http://bit.ly/5MWrLr

shiraadattoBrilliant as always! RT @acfou Ten Commandments to help “marketing sinners” become saints – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

raysmannaTen Commandments to help “marketing sinners” become saints RT@acfou http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

acfouTen Commandments to help “marketing sinners” become saints – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

gmcdanielGood #marketing advice. Thanks for sharing! RT @Intouchsol: The 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing- from @ClickZ http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

ChurchChair10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 via @addthis

IntouchsolThe 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing- from @ClickZ http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

delpierreReading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

AdsMitchell#Marketing | 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

Datadude09Reading 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://www.clickz.com/3636027 Nothing we don’t already know but still interesting.

debbieswiderLove this from the ClickZ crew: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing! http://bit.ly/6f3F5d

cmo4hireRead 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing, #10 No Brand-ing http://www.clickz.com/3636027

CollinsCompany10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 via @addthis

susanjspauldingRT @RoyMorejon: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – http://zi.ma/86997a

pablorazziRT @gnewell: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/4RC4K1

gnewell10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/4RC4K1

glenngabe10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/75GhEK -great post by @acfou. I found myself nodding in agreement through most of it.

RoyMorejon10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – http://zi.ma/86997a

acfouHappy 2010! Ten Commandments to help “marketing sinners” become saints – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

Sharon_Higbee10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/6khoUG

thenameshopnz10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 via @addthis

Spunky_PR10 Commandments of Modern Marketing: http://www.clickz.com/3636027 http://bit.ly/8B5DZ7

jenkins123110 Commandments of Modern Marketing: On the other hand Sweetriot came out of nowhere, used no paid advertising .. http://bit.ly/5yKvpX

jenkins123110 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/5yKvpX

Jeff_Scarpo10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/5yKvpX

beeyourfriend10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: Some people start the new year with resolutions. I thought, why not … http://bit.ly/5hjQZJ

friendfollower10 Commandments of Modern Marketing – ClickZ: Some people start the new year with resolutions. I thought, why not … http://bit.ly/5hjQZJ

2koolsales10 Commandments of Modern Marketing: With digital tools, devices, and channels data and feedback can be obtaine.. http://bit.ly/5yKvpX

col250401RT @sponsordiddy: 10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/8uC7up

2adproshop10 Commandments of Modern Marketing: http://bit.ly/5GVRTl

EnterSuccess10 Commandments of Modern Marketing: On the other hand Sweetriot came out of nowhere, used no paid advertising of … http://bit.ly/6HLwmZ

jamieohler10 Commandments of Modern Marketing: On the other hand Sweetriot came out of nowhere, used no paid advertising of … http://bit.ly/4B39X4

marketingbot“10 Commandments of Modern Marketing” http://tinyurl.com/y8mahr5

GINFrank10 Commandments of Modern Marketing http://bit.ly/8dJM9l

HartHootonMarketing and #SocialMedia tips from Augustine Fou | RT @acfou: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing – http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

Tags: acfou, acfouThou, advertiser, advertisers, advertising, andylarrimore, AnnaMariaVirzi, AnnaMariaVirziHow, audiences, banner ad, BehavioralTargeting, Bergh, berteloot, best buy, brand, Brand-ing, business, cell phone, click, ClickZ, collaboration, collaborative innovation, com, ComandixI, commandment, Commandments, consumer, consumers, content, decision, Dell, demographics, den, development, equipment ads, fashion magazines, feature, feedback, firestorm, focus, fonstuinstra, Fou, gardening equipment, GetPushingRT, GranerCreative, horacemitchell, IdeaStorm, indicator, indie, information, innovation, interaction, interest, Jan, jan van den, jevedebe, kryptonite bike lock, lead, LEGO, list, make, making, MarComNetworkRT, marketing, marketing marketing, mass media, matt, mcgowanRT, measure, minivan, Modern, modern marketing, Moses, MyStarbucksIdea, online, optimize, organizational barriers, output, PDMAffiliates, pedrogomezGreat, performance, person, preneurThe, print, process, Product, publicity, radio, Read, Relative, reputation, respect, search, Shalt, someone, something, Starbucks, stone, stuff, SuzzicksRT, target, telecommunications company, TemplateZonepretty, term, Thou, time, tombutlin, U.S., van, van den bergh, Vanessa, variables, volume, way, Web, web pages, Wendy, WSI

Thursday, January 7th, 2010 Uncategorized No Comments

Net Promoter Score (NPS) – A Metrics “Sacred Cow” That Should be Slaughtered?

My main issues with the Net Promoter Score (NPS) is that it doesn’t tell me anything new, is based on flawed math, the number cannot stand alone, and is not actionable (does not tell marketers what to go do).

Read More about Net Promoter Score Challenges

Thanks for all the retweets!

ZebraBites@adamferrier Another one for the NPS collection; http://www.clickz.com/3635696 (via @jhenning and @acfou)

acfouIt’s an “it is what it is” metric (which isn’t actionable) – #netpromoterscore #netpromoter #NPS - http://bit.ly/6EYyc

spiralsThought provoking Net Promoter article http://www.clickz.com/3635696 -Good idea to use search as an indicator of customer satisfaction

VirtualMRRT @berniemalinoff: RT @JHenning @acfou: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3

seangibRT @glenngabe: What’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://bit.ly/84Jh2P via @acfou on ClickZ – some interesting comments as usual w …

glenngabeWhat’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://bit.ly/84Jh2P via @acfou on ClickZ – some interesting comments as usual w/Dr. Fou.

MetriclyWhat’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score - http://bit.ly/8U3VVD

christinet6dOh snap… RT @lizapost What’s the value of the Net Promoter score? According to @acfou, not much. ‘http://bit.ly/6EYyc

lizapostWhat’s the value of the Net Promoter score? According to @acfou, not much. ‘What’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score’http://bit.ly/6EYyc

berniemalinoffRT @JHenning @acfou: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3 || healthy debate pros/cons of #NPS

contactjrFrom @acfou: What’s wrong with the Net Promoter Score? http://bit.ly/17ahJC

Noakesi@holycow RT @jonnylongden: RT @rj_berg: Great article on some of the problems with Net Promoter Score (NPS) http://bit.ly/2h5jot#measure

acfouNet Promoter Score (NPS) like brand sentiment scores are oversimplified averages that are not actionable - http://bit.ly/6EYyc

ju2ltdRT @jonnylongden: RT @rj_berg: Great article on some of the problems with Net Promoter Score (NPS) http://bit.ly/2h5jot #measure

jonnylongdenRT @rj_berg: Great article on some of the problems with Net Promoter Score (NPS) http://bit.ly/2h5jot #measure #retail – why use this?

Adtraction_RAJ_What’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://bit.ly/17ahJC (mmm)

KarmaMediaLabs#NetPromoterScore not all it’s cracked up to be? Decide for yourself: http://bit.ly/17ahJC

EricheadRT @rj_berg: Great article on some of the problems with Net Promoter Score (NPS) http://bit.ly/2h5jot #measure #retail – why use this?

PeteHealyNet Promoter Score = useless; replace w/ search volume. Augustine Fou @acfou http://www.clickz.com/3635696 Your thoughts? #in

helena_chariRT @mrnews: #NPS ‘tells you the obvious, isn’t predictive, doesn’t answer the “So what?” question.’ http://bit.ly/1DqmgD (via @DavidPenn …

makingcjcAn it is what it is” metric…debate on the Net Promoter score. http://www.clickz.com/3635696

DannyGavinRT @EstherSteinfeld Interesting read: “What’s Wrong with the Net Promoter Score?” @acfou says, “So many things.”http://bit.ly/1ojkfk

ZaliciousRT @kevinertell: This is an excellent article on ClickZ: What’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://www.clickz.com/3635696

hellosmalldogArticle about NPS is interesting – thanks to @mjayliebs for CCing us! We’re reading it now. (via @acfou, @wimrampen)http://tr.im/Fgv3

bigmacherRT @kevinertell: This is an excellent article on ClickZ: What’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://www.clickz.com/3635696

DavashRT @rj_berg: Gr8 article: problems w/Net Promoter Score (#NPS) (http://bit.ly/2h5jot ) #measure [A grad of stats 101 could see all of this]

BobbleHeadGuruRT @rj_berg: Gr8 article: problems w/Net Promoter Score (#NPS) (http://bit.ly/2h5jot ) #measure [A grad of stats 101 could see all of this]

EstherSteinfeldInteresting read: “What’s Wrong with the Net Promoter Score?” @acfou says, “So many things.” http://bit.ly/1ojkfk

kevinertellThis is an excellent article on ClickZ: What’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://www.clickz.com/3635696

rj_bergGreat article on some of the problems with Net Promoter Score (NPS) http://bit.ly/2h5jot #measure #retail

mjayliebsRT @wimrampen: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3 (cc @hellosmalldog)

jestodcWhat’s Wrong With the Net Promoter Score http://www.clickz.com/3635696

jonathanmendez“NPS is what I call an “it is what it is” metric — it tells you the obvious” http://bit.ly/6EYyc

mrnews#NPS ‘tells you the obvious, isn’t predictive, doesn’t answer the “So what?” question.’ http://bit.ly/1DqmgD (via @DavidPenn1@jhenning)

DavidPenn1RT @jhenning RT @acfou: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3 Maybe we need to take it less literally?

wimrampenRT @JHenning: RT @acfou: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3

NicoPeruzziPhDRT @JHenning: RT @acfou: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3 – the emperor has no clothes…

JHenningRT @acfou: Net Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” http://tr.im/Fgv3 Builds on my criticisms with some of his own.

acfouNet Promoter Score (NPS) is synonymous with “useless” (is based on bad math, is not actionable) – what say you? http://bit.ly/6EYyc

Tags: accurate indicators, acfou, acfouIt, acfouNet, adamferrier, Adtraction, Alone, Amazon, anything, apple, application, article, Augustine, berg, bergGreat, berniemalinoff, berniemalinoffRT, blog, BobbleHeadGuruRT, boots, brand, camera, cannot, CCing, challenges, chariRT, christinet, ClickZ, colleague, collection, company, customer, customer satisfaction, DannyGavinRT, DavashRT, DavidPenn, debate, debate pros, detractors, dimension, dOh, Dr. Fou, EricheadRT, EstherSteinfeld, everything, Facebook, forum, forum posts, Fou, friend, future sales, glenngabe, glenngabeWhat, gr8, grad, Great, Helena, hellosmalldogArticle, idea, indicator, industry, Insight, JHenning, jonnylongden, jonnylongdenRT, KarmaMediaLabs, kevinertell, Let, likelihood, list, lizapost, lizapostWhat, ltdRT, makingcjcAn, many things, marketers, math, measure, measurement, MetriclyWhat, metrics, mmm, Net, net promoter score, Net Promoter Score (NPS), netpromoter, NetPromoterScore, New, NPS, number, online, Paper, percent, percentage, PeteHealyNet, power, Predictive, predictive power, Product, product innovations, Promoter, promoters, pros cons, question, quick scan, quot, RAJ, Read, Read More, reading, rj berg, rt, satisfaction, scale, score, seangibRT, search, search volume, season, sentiment, service, snap, specific products, spiralsThought, stand, statuses, survey, time, use, value, VirtualMRRT, volume, Warner, way, wimrampen, word of mouth, ZaliciousRT, ZebraBites

Friday, November 20th, 2009 Uncategorized No Comments

The Grand Unified Theory of Marketing(tm) – Digital String Theory

Just as physicists and mathematicians have been searching for the grand unified theory of the universe, I have been looking for a way to tie together the disparate disciplines of marketing and advertising, a way to correlate metrics from different industries that interrelate with marketing (e.g. market research, Nielsen, etc.), a way to put all past theories in context and perspective (Michael Porter’s Five Forces, Net Promoter, etc.), and a way to explain marketing successes and failures — all in one.

My method is the scientific method – which is simply put doing experiments and making observations that either support or refute hypotheses.

A grand unified theory will also need to be able to take into account phenomena such as social networks, etc. What are the organizing principles of such; what is the value? Why now?

Using digital tools — such as search volume trends — we can start to correlate marketing spend effectiveness across different forms of media and also different advertising and marketing techniques. The example below compares eTrade and Drobo. What is most embarrassing is that eTrade, a well known brand from the first dot-com heyday, spent lots of money creating and airing TV ads which it hoped would go viral. They even paid for Superbowl ads for the last 2 years to promote the “eTrade talking babies” as you see from the 2 spikes in search volume during February of 2008 and 2009. However, when compared to Drobo (a startup company that developed a very easily upgradeable back up hard drive array), it is shocking to note that Drobo spent NOTHING on advertising and relied entirely on word of mouth and an awesome product. And their search volume is not only larger than eTrade but also sustainably larger despite zero advertising and media cost. The “totals” even suggest that the volume under the curve of Drobo is 8X (EIGHT TIMES) that of eTrade.

So if you consider that eTrade spent millions of dollars to create the TV ads and even more millions of dollars to air them on TV in order to drive interest, demand, and hopefully new customers, then Drobo can be considered to have gotten the equivalent of 8X more dollars in advertising and media – for FREE using techniques and channels other than TV advertising. So what does that say about the relative value of TV advertising compared to these other, newer techniques?

godaddy vs megan fox

Tags: account, advertising, array, brand, company, context, curve, demand, Digital String Theory, digital tools, disparate disciplines, drive, drive array, Drobo, effectiveness, EIGHT, eight times, equivalent, etrade, example, February, fox, FREE, godaddy, grand unified theory, Grand Unified Theory of Marketin, heyday, hypotheses, interest, interrelate, lots of money, market, market research, marketing, marketing spend effectiveness, marketing techniques, mathematicians, Megan, method, metrics, Michael Porter, money, mouth, Net, net promoter, Nielsen, nothing, order, perspective, phenomena, physicists, Product, Promoter, research, scientific method, search, search volume, social networks, startup, startup company, successes and failures, superbowl, superbowl ads, support, theory, theory of the universe, Times, tv ads, universe, value, volume, volume trends, way, word

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 Uncategorized No Comments

Interesting Search Observations – chocolate covered cherries vs chocolate covered strawberries

Chocolate covered cherries are more popular (more searched) at Christmas; but chocolate covered strawberries are more popular at Valentines. By observing what people pull for, we can derive insights that are useful in business strategy, inventory planning, and marketing (by ads around chocolate covered strawberries for valentines but cherries for christmas)

Source: Google External Keyword Tool – Search Volume Trends

via Niall McKinney, uTalk Marketing. At Valentines, women need more help picking gifts (search volume for “gifts for guys” consistently higher every February for the past 5 years). But “gifts for girls” shows dramatically higher volume every Christmas.

Tags: business, business strategy, chocolate, chocolate covered cherries, chocolate covered strawberries, Christmas, External, February, gifts for girls, gifts for guys, girls, google, help, insights, inventory, inventory planning, Keyword, keyword tool, marketing, Niall McKinney, planning, search, search volume, search volume analysis, Source, strategy, Tool, tool search, trends, uTalk, Valentines, volume, volume trends

Monday, August 3rd, 2009 analytics, search, trends No Comments

How Megan Fox got the equivalent of $50 million of Superbowl ad spending – for FREE! — the marketing of Megan Fox

godaddy superbowl ad spending led to sharp spikes in search volume every February for the last 5 years straight. Other advertisers who spent on Superbowl ads have similar lift in search volume from the TV advertising.

Source: Google Insights for Search

If you believe that lift in search volume indicates interest and intent and if you consider that each 30-second ad cost $3 million in 2009 (WSJ: NBC Super Bowl Ads to Cost $3 Million) and assuming GoDaddy’s ad did not air more than once, they spent $3 million to get their ad in front of a TON of people and to get people’s attention. Those people who saw the ad and were interested enough to take action went online and searched for more information by typing godaddy into search (see lift in search volume during February of each year) .

If we assume that it took $3 million to generate a certain lift in search we can use multiples to calculate the media dollar equivalent of any lift in search — for example, if godaddy spent $3 million to get X lift in search, then a 2X lift in search would have required $6 million of media (in a very very simplified back of the envelope estimate; it usually would cost more than 2x to get that lift) — i.e. it would have cost at least $6 million in superbowl ad media dollars to achieve a 2X lift in search volume.

So, if we now compare search volume on megan fox side by side with godaddy search volume, we will see that in Feb 2009 Megan Fox was indexing at 21 while godaddy was indexing at 12 (this is normalized to a scale of 0 – 100). So search volume on megan fox indicates she was getting the equivalent value to $6 million of super bowl media ad spend – FOR FREE — roughly 2X the search volume of godaddy in the same time period.

At the peak of her search volume in June 2009 (corresponding to the release of Transformers 2: The Revenge of the Fallen), she was indexing at 100 and godaddy at 7. This is 8x the index of godaddy of 12 during the Feb 2009 time period when they were airing their superbowl ads. This implies that she was getting the search volume that would have required the equivalent to a $24 million super bowl ad spend to achieve — again for FREE!

If you want to research futher, use the following link to bring up Google Insights for Search to see relative search volume

http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=godaddy%2Cmegan%20fox&cmpt=q

In February 2008, Megan Fox indexed at 8 and GoDaddy at 8. In 2008, Superbowl ad spots cost only $2.7 million — so she had the equivalent search volume as a paid advertising spending $2.7 million on a Superbowl ad.

In 2007, Godaddy indexed at 6 during Feb 2007 Superbowl. Megan Fox indexed at 43 during the July release of the first Transformers movie — this is an 8X multiple on Superbowl ads that cost $2.6 million — or $21 million

So the perfect “product placement” of Megan Fox in the two Transformers movies garnered her nearly $50 million worth of advertising based on search volume equivalency. This does not even take into account her sustained and increasing search volume, compared to most advertisers’ search volumes which drop right back down to pre-ad levels once the ad is finished airing.

Tags: 2009 superbowl ad rates, 6 million, account, action, advertisers, advertising, attention, Bowl, cost, cost of super bowl ads in 2007, cost of super bowl ads in 2008, cost of super bowl ads in 2009, dollar, dollar equivalent, envelope, equivalent, equivalent value, estimate, example, Fallen, Feb, February, fox, FREE, front, futher, godaddy, godaddy superbowl ad spending, google, index, information, intent, interest, July, June, lift, link, Megan, megan fox, Million, movie, NBC, online, peak, period, Placement, Product, release, Revenge, same time period, scale, search, search volume, search volume equivalency, side, Source, spending, spikes, Super, super bowl, super bowl ad, super bowl ads, superbow, superbowl, superbowl ad, superbowl ads, time, TON, transformers, tv advertising, use, value, volume, WSJ, X, year

Thursday, July 30th, 2009 Uncategorized No Comments

Lift in search volume indicates that customers …

… saw the ad, recalled it, and thought it relevant enough at the time to make the effort to take action — search for more information about it (beyond the tidbit of info contained in the 30 second ad, print ad, radio spot, or banner ad).

But traditional ads are still very very costly and inefficient due to the extremely large media cost.

For example, at the extreme cost of a Superbowl ad, the following advertisers were able to drive fleeting (short-lived) lift in search volume: godaddy, etrade, sobe lifewater, dennys.

Tags: action, advertisers, banner, banner ad, cost, due, effort, etrade, example, godaddy, info, information, LifeWater, print, radio, radio spot, search, search volume, SoBe, sobe lifewater, Spot, superbowl, superbowl ad, tidbit, time, traditional ads, tv advertising, volume

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 Uncategorized 1 Comment

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and other Harry Potter Movies

interest in Harry Potter movies (indicated by search volume) match exactly to the launch of the movies themselves. What is interesting is that the current movie (Half Blood Prince) and the upcoming 7th Harry Potter Movie (Deathly Hallows) had enormous search volume over 2 years ahead of each movie, 2005 and 2007, respectively. See second chart below.

Daniel Radcliffe…Harry Potter
Michael Gambon…Professor Albus Dumbledore
Dave Legeno…Fenrir Greyback
Elarica Gallagher…Waitress
Jim Broadbent…Professor Horace Slughorn
Geraldine Somerville…Lily Potter
Bonnie Wright…Ginny Weasley
Julie Walters…Molly Weasley
Rupert Grint…Ron Weasley
Emma Watson…Hermione Granger
Helena Bonham Carter…Bellatrix Lestrange
Helen McCrory…Narcissa Malfoy
Timothy Spall…Wormtail
Alan Rickman…Professor Severus Snape
Oliver Phelps…George Weasley

Tags: Alan Rickman, Albus, albus dumbledore, Bellatrix, bellatrix lestrange, Blood, Bonham, Bonnie Wright, Carter, chart, Daniel Radcliffe, Dave Legeno, dealthy hallows, Deathly, deathly hallows movie, Dumbledore, Elarica, emma watson, emma watson hermione granger, Fenrir, fenrir greyback, Gallagher, George Weasley, Geraldine Somerville, Ginny Weasley, Greyback, half, half blood prince, Hallows, harry poter movies, harry potter, harry potter michael gambon, harry potter movies, Helen McCrory, Helena, helena bonham carter, Hermione Granger, interest, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, launch, Lestrange, Lily Potter, Malfoy, Michael Gambon, Molly Weasley, movie, movie half blood prince, Narcissa, narcissa malfoy, Oliver Phelps, Prince, professor albus dumbledore, Professor Horace Slughorn, professor severus snape, Ron Weasley, Rupert Grint, search, search volume, Severus, severus snape, Snape, Timothy Spall, volume, Waitress, watch harry potter, Wormtail

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 Uncategorized 1 Comment

The hardest thing to do in web 2.0 …

is keep your audience, keep them interested, or provide enough value to them to get them to switch or get them to come back.

Case in point, Wolfram Alpha. In many ways it is superior (in a different way) than Google because it is a computational search engine — its results are focused on things that can be calculated — e.g. distance between NY and San Fran, etc.

Interest has waned (see search volume chart) and traffic has dropped (see Compete chart).

Tags: audience, case, case in point, chart, Compete, computational, computational search engine, distance, engine, Fran, google, interest, NY, point, San, san fran, search, search engine, search volume, traffic, value, volume, volume chart, way, wolfram alpha

Thursday, July 9th, 2009 Uncategorized No Comments

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Digital Strategy Consulting
Dr. Augustine Fou Bio

go-Digital Blog on Digital Marketing

Opinions, Rants, Raves, and all things Digital Marketing

volume

Please Euthanize This Big Boy Already – How Lack of Innovation Killed Another Giant

Source: http://bit.ly/9RHDtQ (BusinessWeek)

Evian baby viral video has much higher ROI than Etrade baby superbowl ad

Etrade Baby Ad

Evian Baby Viral Video

Interesting Search Observations – chocolate covered cherries vs chocolate covered strawberries

via Niall McKinney, uTalk Marketing. At Valentines, women need more help picking gifts (search volume for “gifts for guys” consistently higher every February for the past 5 years). But “gifts for girls” shows dramatically higher volume every Christmas.

How Megan Fox got the equivalent of $50 million of Superbowl ad spending – for FREE! — the marketing of Megan Fox

godaddy superbowl ad spending led to sharp spikes in search volume every February for the last 5 years straight. Other advertisers who spent on Superbowl ads have similar lift in search volume from the TV advertising.

If you want to research futher, use the following link to bring up Google Insights for Search to see relative search volume

http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=godaddy%2Cmegan%20fox&cmpt=q

In February 2008, Megan Fox indexed at 8 and GoDaddy at 8. In 2008, Superbowl ad spots cost only $2.7 million — so she had the equivalent search volume as a paid advertising spending $2.7 million on a Superbowl ad.

In 2007, Godaddy indexed at 6 during Feb 2007 Superbowl. Megan Fox indexed at 43 during the July release of the first Transformers movie — this is an 8X multiple on Superbowl ads that cost $2.6 million — or $21 million

Lift in search volume indicates that customers …

… saw the ad, recalled it, and thought it relevant enough at the time to make the effort to take action — search for more information about it (beyond the tidbit of info contained in the 30 second ad, print ad, radio spot, or banner ad).

But traditional ads are still very very costly and inefficient due to the extremely large media cost.

For example, at the extreme cost of a Superbowl ad, the following advertisers were able to drive fleeting (short-lived) lift in search volume: godaddy, etrade, sobe lifewater, dennys.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and other Harry Potter Movies

The hardest thing to do in web 2.0 …

is keep your audience, keep them interested, or provide enough value to them to get them to switch or get them to come back.

Case in point, Wolfram Alpha. In many ways it is superior (in a different way) than Google because it is a computational search engine — its results are focused on things that can be calculated — e.g. distance between NY and San Fran, etc.

Interest has waned (see search volume chart) and traffic has dropped (see Compete chart).

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volume

Source: http://bit.ly/9RHDtQ (BusinessWeek)

Etrade Baby Ad

Evian Baby Viral Video

Thou shalt not target customers with messages they don’t want.

Thou shalt be truthful.

Thou shalt respect your customers.

Thou shalt make it easy for people to find you.

Thou shalt be useful.

Thou shalt make it easy for people to pass along.

Thou shalt measure and optimize.

Thou shalt listen to customers.

Thou shalt remove any organizational barriers to speedy, collaborative innovation.

Thou shalt not do brand-ing.

My method is the scientific method – which is simply put doing experiments and making observations that either support or refute hypotheses.

A grand unified theory will also need to be able to take into account phenomena such as social networks, etc. What are the organizing principles of such; what is the value? Why now?

via Niall McKinney, uTalk Marketing. At Valentines, women need more help picking gifts (search volume for “gifts for guys” consistently higher every February for the past 5 years). But “gifts for girls” shows dramatically higher volume every Christmas.

godaddy superbowl ad spending led to sharp spikes in search volume every February for the last 5 years straight. Other advertisers who spent on Superbowl ads have similar lift in search volume from the TV advertising.

If you want to research futher, use the following link to bring up Google Insights for Search to see relative search volume

In February 2008, Megan Fox indexed at 8 and GoDaddy at 8. In 2008, Superbowl ad spots cost only $2.7 million — so she had the equivalent search volume as a paid advertising spending $2.7 million on a Superbowl ad.

In 2007, Godaddy indexed at 6 during Feb 2007 Superbowl. Megan Fox indexed at 43 during the July release of the first Transformers movie — this is an 8X multiple on Superbowl ads that cost $2.6 million — or $21 million

… saw the ad, recalled it, and thought it relevant enough at the time to make the effort to take action — search for more information about it (beyond the tidbit of info contained in the 30 second ad, print ad, radio spot, or banner ad).

But traditional ads are still very very costly and inefficient due to the extremely large media cost.

For example, at the extreme cost of a Superbowl ad, the following advertisers were able to drive fleeting (short-lived) lift in search volume: godaddy, etrade, sobe lifewater, dennys.

is keep your audience, keep them interested, or provide enough value to them to get them to switch or get them to come back.

Case in point, Wolfram Alpha. In many ways it is superior (in a different way) than Google because it is a computational search engine — its results are focused on things that can be calculated — e.g. distance between NY and San Fran, etc.

Interest has waned (see search volume chart) and traffic has dropped (see Compete chart).

About Me

Tags

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Meta

Pages

Archives

Favorite Sites