HP Uses The TouchPad To Show How To Respond With Time-Based E-Mail Marketing

Just moments ago I received the following email from HP.

As many of you are aware, HP discontinued the Web OS operating system and discounted the cost of the HP Touchpad, a tablet intended to rival Apple’s iPad, to $99 and $149 respectively for their 16GB and 32GB models. Of course, by the time I tried to order one, they (and everyone else for that matter) had no supply available. Oh believe me, I tried to find one. HP’s website shows they are out of stock at the time and encourage us to sign up for updates if we’d like to be notified when and if stock becomes available. I registered.

When I saw the email, I first thought, “Already? They have some in stock already?” But alas, I was duped into opening an email I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. I admit it. They got me. But hey, if you’re in the market for any HP products at a 25% savings, you have until tomorrow to take advantage. Kudos to whoever designed this campaign.

Can Fun Change Behavior For the Better: The Fun Theory

Can we encourage positive behavior by making things fun? The folks over at The Fun Theory do. They held a competition inviting people to provide ideas on how to make everyday tasks such as throwing away trash, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and recycling more fun. They simply ask the qustion, “Can fun change behavior for the better?” Here are some of their submissions. 

Website: http://thefuntheory.com | Twitter: @thefuntheory

Only You Can Brand You

 

To put it simply, a brand is what comes to mind when a person hears, sees, or thinks of you or your organization. It’s not a logotype. It’s not a typeface. It’s not an advertising campaign. There is no shortage of advertising/marketing firms and agencies who can help you develop an image, but only you can develop your brand—they are developed from within. In order to begin that development, you must first have a clear understanding of who you are. Marty Neumeier, author of Brand Gap, simplifies the introspective analysis needed by challenging his readers to answer three seemingly simple questions:

• Who are we?
• What do we do?
• Why does it matter?

As simple as these questions sound on the surface, we often struggle to answer them succinctly and honestly when put on the spot. If you can’t answer these questions, it’s time to take a step back and seriously evaluate and clarify your purpose. After all, unless you know who you are, you can’t expect to develop any any effective communication with your target community. As branding and marketing people, we can ask the questions but only you can provide the answers. Only YOU can brand YOU.

The Real Tagline is Back!

Does branding work? Companies work to develop a brand identity that makes you feel a certain way about their products or services. They expend time, effort, and money creating the perfect phrase – or tagline – to coax those feelings from you. They expect your subconscious to control your wallet – parting you from your cash by convincing you to buy those feelings and make them a part of your own identity.

So, does it work? Sometimes. But you know better than they do.

The Real Tagline is your chance to tell the companies (and everyone else) what message the brand is really sending. Each day I will post a new brand. You leave a comment with a tagline that reveals the realimpression they’re making.

Website: http://www.therealtagline.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/therealtagline | @therealtagline