Who says you cannot do funky advertising on billboards anymore. You gotta love stuff like this, I know I do :)
Via Absoluut Matth
Checkmate
16 04 2009Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: advertising, audi, billboard, bmw, checkmate, santamonica
Categories : advertising, bringtheloveback, inspiration, marketing
Microsoft Advertising
5 03 2009Although most of my work is related to some of Microsoft’s biggest consumer brands such as Windows Live, MSN, etc I also do (more and more actually) work for Microsoft Advertising. What does Microsoft have to offer to advertisers? Many of you might remember “Bring The Love Back”, today we have created another little 90 seconds video that explains a bit more what it is we do at Microsoft Advertising, check it out:
I’ve also set up a Twitter account for Microsoft Advertising Europe, offering another way to get in touch with us so follow us in case you are interested in advertising and curious about what we have to offer.
Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: advertising, bringtheloveback, microsoft, video
Categories : advertising, bringtheloveback, community, internet, marketing, microsoft, social media, video
Business card v.2
11 12 2008I still have to order new business cards after I changed jobs early October. I didn’t just want the corporate default though so instead I waited until this week to add some gapingvoid magic to it. The front of the card will still be the classic Microsoft design but on the back I will have this (see below) from now on. It sort of says the same as on the front but just in another language :) Can’t wait to get these printed.
And in case you wonder where the ‘geek marketer’ comes from, read this.
Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: business, gapingvoid, geekmarketer, microsoft
Categories : blogging, bringtheloveback, design, microsoft
Where’s agency 2.0? (Cont’d)
11 12 2008Right about a year ago I wrote this thought:
“With more and more agencies adopting new ways to get the connection between their clients the advertisers and the consumer, I think it’s time they rethink themselves as well and look at how they can serve their clients, their customers a bit better. Just a thought.”
It was at a time that I was working simultaneously with several different agencies across Europe and it struck me how all of them were telling me to focus more on the customer etc while in the meantime operating on a very self-centric approach themselves.
I was reminded of this post (and discussion) this week as Alain Thys and Stefan Kolle from FutureLab released a new report around exactly that topic:
“This is the free version of the Futurelab report on the growing disconnect between what advertising agencies offer, and what their clients are looking for. If you wish to purchase the full report with 60 pages of strategic insights and recommendations, go to: www.futurelab.net/agencyreport.”
Enjoy.
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Tags: agency20, agencyreport, futurelab, presentation, report
Categories : advertising, ageofconversation, bringtheloveback, consumer, inspiration, marketing, presentation, quote
Hugh at LeWeb 08
11 12 2008As I mentioned about a week ago in the ‘Blue Monster in Paris’ post, Hugh MacLeod was a regular guest at the Microsoft BizSpark and Live Mesh booth at LeWeb in Paris this year. We had agreed with Hugh to try out something different than usual and everybody who stopped by while Hugh was there could get a personal Hughcard and maybe even something more… like say a signed Blue Monster wine bottle for instance.
It was great to see a lot of people stopped by and had cartoons drawn on business cards, wine bottles, body parts, computers, etc. All good fun and a lot of times real conversation starters, just like we hoped it to be.
Those of you that were interested in the event will all probably have read what The Guardian had to say about it, well if you did then make sure you read Thomas Crampton’s answer to that as well. Every year when I look back at LeWeb it is with the eyes of both an attendee as a sponsor. Every year there are some things that could have been better (yes it was cold, yes I liked last year’s venue more, yes we were definitely spoilt re food last year, …) and there are always plenty of reasons why I will be back next year.
It’s still one of the best conferences for networking, there’s all kinds of great content to be discovered and you just know it’ll start a conversation just like the years before. When I checked with the program manager for BizSpark or the startups that were able to show off what they got as part of that program, feedback was very good. When I checked with the Live Mesh guys, feedback was good. And quite a few people went home with a personal cartoon… yeah it was good for me. Thanks again for joining us Hugh!
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: bizspark, bluemonster, booth, cartoon, gapingvoid, hughcard, leweb, leweb08, livemesh, stormhoek
Categories : bringtheloveback, community, conference, fun, inspiration, social media
Seasick Steve!
28 11 2008Last night I saw Seasick Steve on television and I have been listening to his music ever since :) Not only is that the kind of music I really like, the guy is as authentic as they come, seriously. And I’m sure that it’s partially because of his great music, but also because of that authenticity that he’s going to become even bigger than he already is right now (yes it’s the first time I hear from him, but that hasn’t been the same for everybody).
Check out this clip below from his appearance at Jools Holland more than a year ago and then this little documentary (part 1/ part 2) to see what I’m talking about. Enjoy Steve with the Three String Trance Wonder and the Mississippi Drum Machine:
First thing I’m doing this weekend is buying his stuff, all of it! Authentic stuff, I tell ya.
Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: authenticity, joolsholland, mdm, seasicksteve
Categories : bringtheloveback, music
No Copy
4 11 2008In image says more than a thousand words, that’s no secret anymore. And I guess that people who’ve been reading this blog for quite a while have noticed that I have a soft spot for advertising campaigns that convey a message using just one (but powerful) image. Like the 2 campaigns below, note that the first one has no copy at all.
More at Buzzing Bees.
More at adhunt.
Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: adhunt, advertising, buzzingbees, copy, image, print
Categories : advertising, bringtheloveback, fun, inspiration, marketing
A friend’s birthday
31 10 2008It seems to be quite appropriate that the 2nd anniversary of the Blue Monster coincides with Steve Clayton’s birthday as Steve has been crucial in getting the Blue Monster where it is today. Hugh Macleod has a nice little write-up about the Blue Monster history, well worth reading. For me this story started at a similar time that I got to know both Hugh (we met for the first time at LeWeb 2 years ago) and Steve and that’s how I got affected by our little blue friend. It was good getting to know all three of them.
In his post Hugh refers to what David Armano had to say about the Blue Monster, something he wrote after he and I met at MIX08 in Vegas:
“What’s to be learned? Blue Monster shows us that no matter how big or small the company that the world is a bigger place. And external influences can become internal influences. And it teaches us that if we are interested in the evolution of corporate culture, that symbols are important. If we don’t find our own—someone will find them for us.”
Even more, the Blue Monster became an example of how companies can embrace social media. It has become an example of how a company (or anybody for that matter) can benefit from letting go of control. Just read through Rohit Bhargava’s “Personality Not Included” for instance, or the more recent “Crowd Surfing” from David Brain.
Hell no, the Blue Monster is not dead – it’s alive and kicking, not only within the spirit of many Microsoft employees but also outsiders are starting to see change. And did you read Hugh’s 7th point? Well the Blue Monster is going to Paris… but more on that soon ;) For now, it’s just happy birthday.
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: bluemonster, brand, gapingvoid, hughmacleod, microsoft, steveclayton
Categories : ageofconversation, blogging, bringtheloveback, community, inspiration, marketing, microsoft, social media, viral
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