For The Sake of Clarity - The Digital Tavern » Marketing & Messages

Apple Slammed With Lawsuits & Apple Slamming Lawsuits On Copycats

allan — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:38:36 +0000

I don’t expect that most readers are as interested in the ongoing patent wars that involve Apple, Google, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia and others. But I’ve been following the Samsung conflict with Apple. The issues of the lawsuits and the patent disputes are well beyond any discussion here. For those of you interested feel free to browse the links following this [...]

The Ethics of PR, Freelancers and The Media

allan — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:13:05 +0000

Ever read David Pogue? You know, the New York Times leading techno-geek. Yeah, the guy who reviews all the cool gadgets that you’d like to toy with if you like toys and are equally geeky, or the gadgets you will run backwards away from holding your index fingers in a cross as if you’re warding away the devil or your [...]

When Price Is All You Can Sell, Your Value Will Spiral Down the Deep Abyss

allan — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:29:38 +0000

Last night over a good glass of wine, food and a dose of marketing and sales brainstorming with a client and friend the conversation headed down the road of fees, costs and pricing. My client has been battling a sales force already battered down by a sluggish economy that wants to make deals or downward adjustments in pricing in order [...]

The Wild World of Restaurant Wine Corkage Policies

allan — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:38:33 +0000

Watch Out For This Pitfall In Online Banking & BillPay.

allan — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:33:46 +0000

Though I’m not sure the era of the truly paperless office, or personal life will ever come to fruition in my lifetime, I am committed to making it a reality in my life. Though I still hold an emotional attachment to traditional printed newspapers, magazines and newsletters, when it comes to invoices, bills, annual reports, tax returns and checks, I’m [...]

Making History. A Wine Industry First: Bedrock Wine Company.

allan — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:30:53 +0000

A vey passionate winemaker whose wines are some of the best I’ve discovered in recent years just announced that he will be issuing a refund to anyone who bought one of his most recent releases. Why? Because he doesn’t feel the quality is up to the standards he strives for and is committed to making.

Wow!

I’ve been passionate [...]

A Spoonful of Sugar, Not HFCS, Makes The Medicine Go Down

allan — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:42:48 +0000

Backlash Against High Fructose Corn Syrup Grows

I don’t claim to be a nutritionist, yet I prefer to eat healthy. Though, I am a foodie, in my own unique way. I love to cook, experiment with recipes and explore different cuisines. That’s why I’m writing a cookbook. It’s an exciting concept. I’m focusing on around the world with real food [...]

How Does Apple Grab So Much Attention? Always.

allan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:30:57 +0000

Unless you’ve been sleeping or simply unaware or uninterested in the world of technology or Apple, you know that gadget website Gizmodo somehow managed to get its hands on what is likely the next (4G) generation of the Apple iPhone. With Apple’s trademark, if not Gestapo-style secrecy it’s hard to [...]

Going Mobile. Going Social. What’s It All Mean?

allan — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:54:37 +0000

But the experience of being away from home with my 7th grade friends was certainly a study in social behavior--even if I wasn't familiar with the lexicon, I certainly had my social skills tested that long weekend. ... To be sure, it's critical for business to develop a social strategy, social user guide for employees and well thought out objectives on how social technology will impact both relevance and reputation.

Things Classic. Heritage. And What’s New Anyway?

allan — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:17:16 +0000

I guess I’ve been out of it. Well, at least out of this country. For three years. Wandering the byways of distant locales in search of some truth I already believed but needed to prove to myself, dodging erudite donkeys while avoiding potholes and pitfalls of solo adventure travel, lots has changed around here – in California – [...]

Social Sites Surpass Email Usage

allan — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:59:14 +0000

Social networking and blogging have become more popular than sending email, according to a new report from Nielsen.

More than two-thirds (67%) of the global online population now goes online to visit social networks and blogs.

“Social networking has become a fundamental part of the global online experience,” says John Burbank, CEO of Nielsen

[...]

Twitter Terrorists

allan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:08:10 +0000

Well, they just couldn’t leave well enough alone. This from Fox News:

The U.S. Army is flagging the popular blogging service Twitter as a potential terrorist tool, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported Sunday.

A recently

[...]

A Ten Year Old Merlot & Some Random Thoughts

allan — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 15:03:59 +0000

Trying to pick up the pace on the Digital Tavern, but I've been focusing on a rather large project that I'll fill you in on sometime in January. Patience and focus. Two of what have become my ubiquitous phrases when offering advice (solicited or not) to clients and friends.

So the Dr. tells me I've got to control my cholesterol. [...]

The Hugeness of Blogging by Ballmer

allan — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 07:04:59 +0000

Microsoft CEO tells Detroit Press columnist Mike Wendland that “Blogging is huge.” And that's why Microsoft hopes to take advantage of its popularity by launching MSN Spaces. Seems Microsoft is always playing catch up, but then again I never accused the Redmond behemoth of being innovative. Microsoft has tried to capture dollars and clicks from the successes of [...]

Scorsese and American Express

allan — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 03:39:14 +0000

I read with interest that fabled director Martin Scorsese directed a new American Express television spot that features longtime Scorcese collaborator Robert DeNiro. Apparently, Scorsese, DeNiro and other talent appearing in the new campaign, including Ellen Degeneres, all participated in the creative process. And its interesting the Scorsese would lend his directing hand to such a commercial effort. [...]

Branding: Making The Case For Unique Images & Design

allan — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 14:51:52 +0000

When it comes to image, identity, messaging or branding it's important to understand the essence of a company or product in order to identify and clarify its unique differentiators — those attributes and characteristics that distinguish a company or product from its competition. As a marketing professional I have a unique process I take companies through to aid them in [...]

RealNetworks Pleads With Apple To Go After Microsoft

allan — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 13:50:16 +0000

Ok. So maybe my title is a bit on the tabloid side of media hype. But according to an article in tomorrow's New York Times Rob Glaser, Real CEO offered to create a “tactical alliance” with Apple in an e-mail message to Steve Jobs.

Apparently there was a bit of “and if you don't” message [...]

Viral, Sticky, Eyeballs, Decapitation and Other Internet Lexicon From A Bygone Era

allan — Fri, 09 Apr 2004 08:17:14 +0000

I used to love those client meetings where the VP of Marketing in his self-important, authoritarian and demanding manner would remove his eyeglasses and shake them at our team when he explained he wanted to create a marketing campaign that would drive more eyeballs to his company's website. And the site itself would have to be “sticky” and that we [...]

What's In A Company Name Today?

allan — Tue, 02 Mar 2004 15:59:40 +0000

Notice the date today?

A few years ago when I was active in the company I co-founded, Wirestone, we competed in the internet professional services space, as it was called then. The biggest players included Razorfish, iXL, Sapient, Scient, Viant, agency.com, modem media and Organic.

Where are these companies today? [...]

Borrowing A Bit of Broadband Thanks To Open WiFi Networks

allan — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:03:09 +0000

Catching up on my blog reading this evening while I adjust to NYC time, I found an interesting new “cellphone” from Sony thanks to John Robb. But as John suggests such new gadgets could lead to regulation of WiFi networks. So the guy or company who's running an open Linksys access point here at 14th Street and [...]

Phones. Lawsuits. & Wanderlust Cured (temporarily)

allan — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 01:22:15 +0000

Good to be back. Though I miss the overall romance of life on the road as a free-spirited wayfaring traveler. Ah. But reality sets in. Stacks of mail. Bills to pay. Voice mail. Unfinished business. New business.

Settling in.

Back in March I wrote about cell phone number portability which now is approaching reality. And it's about time. Even [...]