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Even though it has never been shown on public TV [which makes it a tad ironic that it won an awards program for the best in television entertainment] but it has been seen by more than 12 million people (via youtube), Bud Light won the first-ever Emmy for ‘Swear Jar’.

Enjoy!!!

 We have all seen heaps of these things on counters…

and to be honest most are a bit “naf” and are more like begging boxes than promotional devices for their worthy causes.

So, it’s a welcome event when someone takes the time to produce something this clever.

Who could resist donating a few measly coins just to see it work.

The next few weeks postings are all going to be bit fragmented.Over the next five weeks my family and I are off on a bit of a global jaunt through Asia, Europe, and the U.S. to recharge our frazzled brain cells, do some business, snow ski, and explore art galleries. This means, at times, I will be unable or too lagged out to keep up daily postings, however, whenever I can manage to beg borrow or steal some precious bandwidth and internet access I will share some of the pics and ideas we find during our travels.

So, please don’t give up on me, keep checking in because I’m sure we will find lots of interesting stuff to share during our travels.

I’m not commenting on this…

I’m far too busy making apologies for my own New Years Eve indiscretions.

Thrifty is best known as a car rental service. But now, they also rent trucks and in order to promote this service, they used the following marketing campaign.

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Essentially the message says stuff to the effect of: 

If it is difficult for you to read these letters? then maybe it’s time for you to drop by for a free eye test.
Advertising Agency: Proximity BBDO, Belgium
Creative Director / Art Director: Adriaan Van Looy
Copywriter: Wim Provoost
Production: Sofie Verschaeren
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This clever fund raising stunt was positioned in a busy Australian shopping mall.

To dramatize their message that research could only continue with public donations: Every time a passerby donated money the “scientist” would continue his apparent research work with test tubes and beakers, when nobody donated, he sat slumped in his chair.

apparently it was highly successful.

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Wow, I get the distinct feeling these people really want to make a point here…

You certainly can’t accuse them of being wimpy or subtle about the way they are promoting their message.

I like the way they are engaging their target audience whilst maintaining a sense of humor about it.

It is interesting to see some of the incredibly creative ways Advertising agencies are attacking this issue, after all, it’s only a few years ago, that the blue ribbon clients in any agency were the tobacco companies.

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Yesterday I was reading Carol Bentley’s Blog of Copy Writing Tips and came across a name I knew: Dr. Robert Cialdini…Several years ago Cialdini did extensive research (real tests, with real people, in real business’s) into what influences human behavior.

If you have not read his book, Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion, do yourself and your business a HUGE favor and get a copy, in fact go now, and I’ll wait right here until you get back.

This book earns its place as one of the best and most practical business books ever written. His material and research is not merely the re hashing’s of previous writers.

Cialdini’s book is totally original and based on the stuff that every business owner needs to know about how and why your customers make their decisions and the best way you can communicate with them and it outlines specific strategies everyone can put into practice.

BUT NOW FOR THE REAL GEM…

Carol Bentley has discovered five VIDEO’s on YouTube (part one is above) that are the good doctor delivering the best parts of his book live. I downloaded them last night and have spent a fair part of my day listening to and watching them. In short, they are the best business videos I have ever watched. They are an absolute must see for every serious business person.

To view them go to YouTube and enter Cialdini into their search (I have done it for you in this link) and all five parts will come up.

Now for the cheeky part, If you like me want to watch these videos again and again, and or show them to your team members, without blowing your bandwidth clean out of the stratosphere you may wish to do the following:

To download a VIDEO from YouTube to your own computer

1. Click on the VIDEO (in YouTube )
2. Copy it’s URL from your web browsers address bar
3. Go to: http://www.techcrunch.com/get-youtube-movie/
4. Paste the VIDEO’s URL into their download tool (it’s all very easy, it tells you what to do)
5. The download box will pop up and all you have to do is tell it where you want the file saved on your computer.
6. You may have to add a .swf to the file to have it recognized by your VIDEO player.

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Please let me know what you think of these, and don’t forget to visit Carol Bentley’s site, you will find some of the best business communication advise available on the web there.

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Shopping bags are an ongoing major expense for retailers, So it make sense to make sure yours becomes a walking billboard for your business.

It costs very little extra, in some cases no more, to produce a bag that grabs attention. If your bags are not being begged for and stolen by your customers, it’s time for a redesign.

Then, when you have a real “gob smacker” employ all the local unemployed to walk around your part of town with one. (O.K. maybe I’m getting a bit carried away) but I’m sure you get the picture, because a well designed shopping bag is a powerful Advertising medium that will really annoy your opposition when it is carried into their store and reminds their customers there is an alternative place to exercise their plastic.

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