Mark Wanczak

If you were drawn in to the emotional news stories from Haiti this week and forgot what was happening elsewhere, you’re not alone. Fortunately, I gathered most of these stories before the ‘quake struck. If you haven’t, donate now.

Here’s what you missed this week:

1. Everyone’s talking about Dominos. Reactions are mixed on the pizza company’s approach to launching a new pizza. I think they haven’t changed a thing and it’s one big hoax on us all. Instead of evidence to support this theory, I give you two opinions on the campaign, from Bob Garfield and Laura Reis.

2. Gatorade also faced some controversy this week when a “pop artist” swapped the sports drink’s inspirational labels for something less… inspirational:

3. One brand that could use some coverage this week? Google. Their new Nexus One phone is tanking quick, selling only 20,000 phones in the first week. Note to Google: Advertise!

4. Or maybe Google should take a hint from Kraft who is now sponsoring the implosion of Texas Stadium for $75k. Come on Kraft, hire me for 75k and I’ll come up with far better ideas.

5. Go big or go home seems to be a trend not just limited to Kraft. Check out this latest spot from LG:

6. If you saw one of those 50-foot bras hanging off a building, you might post a pic to Facebook. An anonymous Facebook insider reveals that your photo and every other one you’ve ever uploaded will be kept forever by the social networking giant. Very informative and impressive interview.

7. If you have Google Alerts set up for yourself, you’re probably noticing random tweets of yours showing up in Google. How does Google determine which tweets are good enough? Read this.

8. Simplicity is a reoccurring theme here, but former Pittsburgh (is there really such a thing?) Justin Kownacki reminds us that simplicity can be taken too far.

9. Quote of the week:

The most frustrating part of running an ad agency is that sometimes you are at the mercy of people you wouldn’t hire to sweep the lobby.

- The Ad Contrarian

10. The weather is finally starting to break here in Pittsburgh, a cause for celebration and happiness. So I leave you with Coke’s version of happiness. Have a great weekend.

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Between The Cracks is a weekly roundup of noteworthy links that you may have missed. It is most definitely not a weekly commentary on defecation. Get your mind right.

I have to say that if the first week of 2010 is any indication, we are in for a good year. Found so many good tidbits of creativity this week, I couldn’t limit my list to just ten.

Here’s what fell between the cracks this week:

1. Artist Sean Woolsey is giving advertising a better image by transforming traditional bus stop billboards into messages of positive reinforcement. We all know there’s a few bus riders who need it.

2. I blogged about this last March, but it actually has a chance of happening. The House passed a bill to limit the volume of TV commercials. I absolutely hate when a show goes to break and the commercials are twice the volume of whatever I was watching. I bet my neighbors do too.

3. Speaking of commercials, I wouldn’t mind this one being loud. As Heavy.com suggests, it may be the best Mexican restaurant ad ever:

4. If you spend those commercial breaks browsing the web, but can’t finish an entire blog post or article before the show starts back up, Instapaper is for you. Add Instapaper’s handy ‘Read Later’ bookmark button to your browser and anything you can’t finish reading automatically aggregates into newspaper format with the click of a button. Syncs up with your iPhone, too. (thanks to BrandsforBreakfast)

5. One blog post I had no trouble reading until the end was Jeff Louis’ write up of the History Channel’s image problem over at Beyond Madison Avenue. Good stuff.

6. Take a quick jaunt back through history to your high school English class for this next video. Sci-Fi channel’s promotion of it’s new series loosely based on Alice in Wonderland is as wonderful as the book:

7. If you’re looking for something a bit less weird, but just as cool, Ray-Ban’s new implementation of augmented reality should do the trick. Unlike many AR examples, this is a smart application of technology that actually makes sense for the product it’s promoting:

8. Back in the real world, photographer Shane Rich is making 2010 his own year by lending his photography talent and website to a different client each day. January 1st will cost you $1, while December 31st will run $365. Smart idea, but it sounds like a lot of work. I’m interested to see how it goes. (Thanks to The Denver Egotist)

9. What does an orthodontist and a crosswalk have in common? Inventive advertising.

10. The Aflac duck took over USA Today this week. Enjoy the little guy while he lasts.

11. 2010’s best music video so far definitely goes to C-Mon & Kypski who got a little help from their fans:

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Between The Cracks is a weekly roundup of noteworthy links that you may have missed. It is most definitely not a weekly commentary on defecation. Get your mind right.

This is my last day of work for 2009. If you expect some kind of year in review or a list of my favorite campaigns or ads over the past year, you’re kidding yourself, that’s a lot of work.

Here’s what you’ve missed over the past two days:

1. I Believe in Advertising featured that nifty bus artwork above.

2. If you haven’t heard, Edward Boches (Creativity Unbound, CCO of Mullen) has started The Next Great Generation, “a new blog written entirely by Gen-Y 18-25 year olds willing to share their thoughts regarding life, work, brands, technology, environment, money, faith, sex, love.” It’s good to see my generation coming together to defend the stereotypical criticisms often tossed our way. Most recently, we answered the (stupid) question, “Do you still read books?”

3. Seth Stevenson over at Slate.com wraps up the most hated ads in 2009. I may just be including this because Seth calls out Zach Braff, who I unfairly despise. (Scrubs is childish. Had to be said)

4. If you’re not sick of augmented reality yet, grab your puke buckets. Adidas and BMW jump on the hard-to-use bandwagon. In all fairness, both new campaigns are better than most.

5. Grey out of Melbourne has this gruesome shocking awesome effective drunk driving PSA for the Australian Transport Accident Commission, featuring REM’s “Everybody Hurts:”

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Between The Cracks is a weekly roundup of noteworthy links that you may have missed. It is most definitely not a weekly commentary on defecation. Get your mind right.

What you missed while trying to cram in all your work before the xmas holiday:

1. Copyranter makes my week with this vintage ad (above) for After Six polyester. I feel a little bit better about those old Polaroids with relatives sporting the same get up. Great headline, by the way.

2. Speaking of great photography, Vince Aletti at the New Yorker chooses his Ten Great Photographs of 2009. Love that the Levi’s campaign is included (another great headline).

3. Simplicity is a theme here on this blog and Time Magazine has a thorough read on how Americans are trading in excess for simplicity.

4. Elsewhere in societal commentary, AdAged highlights a David Brooks article and adds some worthwhile views concerning the standardization of America.

5. Keeping with the America theme, how much is our brand worth? Increasing post-G.W.B.? Interesting approach and research from Simon Anholt.

6. Those last few links were pretty heavy stuff. Lighten up and determine if there’s a difference between Usher’s talent and a goat’s. Really.

7. Slate’s timely exploration of Santa in Advertising:

8. I really dig JetBlue’s new “Flyers Collection” promotion on their Facebook page. Essentially a catalog for items you’ll need when flying with JetBlue competitors, the digital piece is executed as though it’s running in mainstream media. Interesting that this much work is going into a Facebook feature. Love the copy in this as well, “Do note that consuming 100% of the Marshpillow defeats 50% of its purpose.” Kudos to JWT New York.

Favorite Post of the Week:

Dave Trott brings the noise again with a phenomenal post that ties in a WWII misstep and modern marketing. I just did his post a great disservice by summarizing it so poorly, so just go read it.

Favorite Video of the Week:

Agency Xmas cards fill the spectrum from poor to excellent, but I think everyone can agree MotherLondon takes the fruitcake in 2009 for this effort: (that guy on the right looks like an Al Borland intern)

Merry Xmas to those who celebrate. To those who don’t, good for you.

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Between The Cracks is a weekly roundup of noteworthy links that you may have missed. It is most definitely not a weekly commentary on defecation. Get your mind right.

A brief round-up of what you missed this week:

1. Dominos is entirely changing its core pizza recipe. No word on how many Facebook groups were created to protest.

2. Seen that talking pothole commercial? You know, the one with the awful Southern, Britney Spears-ish accent? Yes, it’s been remixed and yes, it’s kinda catchy.

3. Speaking of annoying ads, how about those singing, way-too-happy Gap ads? People are starting to mock them via YouTube.

4. If you’re not buying me that vintage MP3 radio I posted last Friday, do your best to get me this.

5. If you have a skateboarder in your secret Santa raffle, these clever ads may give you some ideas.

6. The Ad Aged blog (not to be confused with AdAge) does a nice summary of  ad industry euphemisms for being fired.

7. I change my Twitter a bit ago and never posted it here. So just in case, you can now find me @Mark_Wanczak.

8. Best Post of the Week: Steffan Postaer poses a very interesting question, “Is it hypocrisy to advertise (even celebrate) the Vegas lifestyle and then crucify those who enjoy it?” Recommend reading that.

9. Worst Post of the Week: Didn’t come across anything worth calling out. If you did, post it in the comments.

10. Best Early Xmas Present: Pens beat the Flyers in a home-and-home series for the first time in like 30 years. I could receive nothing for xmas and be totally content with just this.

Go out and finish up that last-minute xmas shopping.

Between The Cracks is a weekly roundup of noteworthy links that you may have missed. It is most definitely not a weekly commentary on defecation. Get your mind right.

Here’s what you missed this week:

1. Haven’t had enough of the AT&T/Luke Wilson commercial bashing? Read some more.
2. Google quietly releases Goggles, allowing you to search by picture taken from your phone. Sick.
3. If you had $500 to spend on a digital campaign, what would you do? I bet it’s not as smart as this.
4. Social media gives branding a bad name. The Grumpy Brit straightens it all out for us. (Love the last line of this)
5. How to make street flyers a little bit better.
6. Think online video is huge? Think again.
7. Dave Trott takes simple soccer advice and eloquently applies it to advertising. Love it.
8. Worst post of the week: 137 Twitter Marketing Tips for Small Businesses. 137? Really? Twitter is the simplest tool on Earth, don’t complicate it.
9. Best post of the week: The Content Strategist as a Digital Curator. Really unique perspective on managing online content. Long but certainly worth it.
10. Timely post of the week: The Art of Manliness Holiday Gift Guide 2009. Definitely asking Santa for that vintage tweed MP3/Radio.

Not satisfied? This 5-minute video of Dan Wieden should do the trick.


Between The Cracks is a weekly roundup of noteworthy links that you may have missed. It is most definitely not a weekly commentary on defecation. Get your mind right.

Thanks to jasonb42882

Today marks my last day at LarsonO’Brien Marketing Group. I’ve been with the agency since starting as a public relations intern almost three years ago. Click here to read my final post on the agency blog.

I’ll post here Monday the details of my new gig. Have a great weekend.

In light of the recent lull in posts here, I should point out that I’m not just lazily ignoring this space. Quite the opposite, in fact. Much of the time I used to spend on creating content here is now reallocated to contributing elsewhere.

This is still an ongoing experiment in personal branding and time management, but I’m becoming increasingly efficient at balancing blogging responsibilities and hope to hit some kind of stride over the next few weeks. It’s easy for me to put another blog ahead of my own as I do not want to let down those relying on me for content. Of course, summer isn’t helping.

So if you’re one of the few people (statistically speaking) who visit here often, hoping for new content, I encourage you to check out the links below and read what I’m writing elsewhere on the internet. Most of the content below is marketing related.

Konstructr

If you work in the architectural, engineering or construction industry in any capacity, Konstructr is for you. Since by day, I market architectural building products, I joined the site’s social network to learn more about the people I’m trying very hard to convince. After a few conversations on Twitter and a podcast interview with Konstructr founder and all-around great guy,  Vik Duggal, I began contributing to the site’s marketing blog. Also doubles as a green marketing blog.

LOdown

The LOdown is the result of lots of time, energy, frustration, as well as a bit of pride. It’s the laid back, personality-contributing section of my employers Web site. I moderate the blog and (annoyingly) encourage co-workers to contribute, while also trying to add my own opinions when time allows. I believe it to be a solid example of how blogging can positively contribute to an agency’s brand and reach, though the LOdown certainly has a long way to go.

Courtesy of salukipilot4590

You set up a blog for a company as a part of a new marketing strategy. Add all interested parties as authors and brief them on the blog’s goal. Appoint an admin who understands blogging’s benefits and has final say on all published content.

Then someone high up has a piece of news that needs published ASAP. What happens next? Does the established structure and philosophy of your corporate blog go out the window? Here are a few questions that should be asked:

1. Why does this need published ASAP? Is it crucial to crisis communications or just a line item someone wants to push through immediately. If so, will rushing this news adversely affect other efforts?

2. Who is authoring the blog post? Is it the person with the information relevant to the news? If not, is there anyone else informed enough to develop the proper content? Is it an issue that should be addressed publicly by upper management?

3. Who is being notified of the new post? If your blog is new or doesn’t have regular subscribers or daily readership, how will anyone know about your urgent news? If posts are promoted using tools such as Email or Twitter, how will this urgent post fit into the overall promotional strategy?

4. Why isn’t the person asking for the post to be written physically writing it? Clearly, they’re most aware of the subject matter, isn’t it possible they could summarize it in the time it takes to find someone who will?

What I’m getting at is that the same goals, strategies and tactics implement when a company founded a blog should be maintained, regardless of a post’s origins. While an issue coming from the top may have more importance or immediacy, it doesn’t mean it should break a blog’s initial intent and come off the tracks for the sake of accomodation.

I’ve noticed that in my previous posts that I’ve been a bit on the negative side of things. A Lesson in Twitter Etiquette and 233 Things I Don’t Need From Your Blog Post both are critical of others out there ultimately trying to help us all. This has lead me to reconsider the direction or focus of this space. Is it okay for me to criticize others? Well, of course it is, it’s my blog. But the better question is, are these criticisms representative of myself or my outlook on social media and marketing? The answer is no, they are not.

I look at other blogs like the BadPitchBlog, whose existence is based off of what not to do. So what separates this blog from BadPitchBlog? Success. Experience. Credibility. Basically, everything a good blog should be. Are Richard and Kevin a bit harsh sometimes? Sure, but they’ve earned the right to be.

I have not.

That’s not to say I will not be critical. But I think difference lies in the intent of those doing the criticizing. Are you helping others avoid a common mistake or are you being critical to appear superior in some way? I think I’ve leaned more towards the latter than the former.

So, I offer my apologies and hope you’ll continue to read on. I promise you’ll find a more positive intent on my part.