Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Brand Forward - Harvard Ad


The power of words backed by a green maze;
The reach of its light leaves aspirants in amaze...

Flipping the pages of HBR I kept asking myself "What Next". It took a few moments for me to realize that I was no longer doing that act. My finger wasn't even willing to point towards the corner of this page. I was gazing at this picture as the stocks would graze the pastures.
I just liked the way the sentence is smoothened to funnel out the brand.
You face increasingly critical challenges
in an unprecedented global economy.

You convene with powers
from around the world.
Your network grows.
Management becomes leadership.

You return ready to take your
organization where it needs to go.

The Next Level

Harvard

A short ode that address the present need of an aspirant, takes him through his dreams, the ones that he had imagines, the way he had imagined, and seeds the urge in the soil of desires and sprinkles it with belief that the fruit of his peach tree could be a tasty orange if he dreams for it.
The use of the words "Next level" is a hammering addition to wanting mind.
A clear demarcation of the dreams from the present and a strengthening assurance that the best key to the door is within reach. The Enlarged font illudes the mind of its closeness and best fit among the rest. I'm not sure if I liked the ad for the love of the brand or for the simple beauty that the ad manages to flaunt to the captivated eyes.


Saturday, November 13, 2010

k-NO-w Marketing. "Let the world market your product" ;)

Inception... Is it possible ? - Yes.
It is not the movie that I'm talking about. It is life. Everything, that one claims to be his own, in terms of the choices, desires, aspirations are all seeds. Seeds that were sown knowingly or accidentally by another set of individuals. Are you the one to decide the colour of your clothes?the brands that you sport? Do you really think that you make all your choices? Are your decisions really yours? Think...
Isn't that the one your pal or may be your envy next door took. Or is it, the decision of a wise guy who sits behind a glass plate enjoying the interesting patterns that get created as his 'At Pars' derive pleasure by claiming the crown of "Ignorance" spelt "Self Driven". Seth Godin say that for a product to win, it should be remarkable. It simply means that the product must be worth making a remark. A remark that drives a story. A story that you want to hear and tail that tale to your friends and them to their friends.
When you buy a woodland shoe, is it just to sole your need for a shoe. No. You need a story, a story to talk and a story that you want your friends to talk about even without initiating it. You don't use it. You Flaunt It.
Why bore(dom) me ?
Before a product is marketed, the marketer must focus on its need. Is the customer ever going to think about it? For a product to stay in the market, it must have a pressing need and must be reinvented to a better present. People long for special things. So, make your offering special. Gift them a chance to talk about it. They will be glad to market it on your behalf, one after another.
Love to see it be loved.
For your product to be marketed that way, you must love your product. If you don't believe in your product, and love it, why would they?
Love your product, but don't be blinded by its functional beauty, for all this beauty is admired only if the customer really cares about it. Only if there is a need.
Inception...
Choose people who are already interested.
If the product is great and if it has a story that aids me to relate, emote and talk about. I love it.
If the story allows the listener to heart the need in its simple essence, an inception has been made. Now, you know what the listener longs to hear. Decipher why the customer will like your product. Find the missing link. Showcase it bright in the light that he likes. You haven't marketed your product to the world. But, you have created your customer evangelists, or even better.
Watch the words spread faster than ever, be amazed by the way the world lives by your product. Do pitch in at calculated intervals; after all you are the marketer. Soon everyone will love and rhyme your story.
Oh my god... Did you see that? That product is so cool. I saw my friend using it yesterday and I bought it and it is very very good. Did you know that... ;)

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Passing Cloud

It was a fine afternoon that gave me a memory that will stay with me far better than I had ever imagined. I remember walking past an auto with divided opinions over hiring one. I had finally made my choice and that proved to be a worthy one. I had decided to be on my own, walking down the street on foot. Despite me taking the decision to walk, I had a constant urge to turn around and look for an auto coming by my way. But I continued marching.
And soon I was able to hear a subtle noise of continual taps and hushes from behind. To my surprise I could see the sky pouring down only a few meters away (10-15m). I couldn't believe the beauty that I was unfolding right in front of me. I looked around my feet and then up the sky only to find what the weather man would say a clear sky. I looked back at the marvel and I could see people running towards me like they were chased by the magnified toys of Steven Spielberg Inc.
I could hear a few hailing "Hey, the rain is chasing us". I was amused by the happenings of the minute, if i could say, it was fast. Just when the realization struck that I was the next in line to be greeted by the goddess of the sky. A shop and its more essential front shade caught my attention. As I took my first step towards it, I was blessed. In another few seconds the path was clear, and she had travelled the distance that I see and perhaps a lot more.
It was "The perfect passing cloud". I hired an auto for my way back home wondering "could this be the reason why I didn't hire the first auto?"... An experience that was worth it all... :)

Diwali Day - Sweets, Celebrations and Happiness


On the 8th of november I type these into my laptop as the bottom right corner on my screen reads 05:07. I've just reached my room and the climate here is soothing me to bed with every minute.
But this time, I believe that I'd win over my laziness.
Today also happen to be the 115th anniversary of the discovery of X-rays. This must be a happening month. 5th of this month was diwali, one of the most important festival of the Hindus. Diwali or deepavali (Row of lamps), the festival of lights, according to Hindu belief is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya from his exile after vanquishing demon king Ravana. It is celebrated on the new moon day of the tamil month "Ipassi".
Its strong association with crackers has taken it to the next level where everyone celebrates and light up the night sky with beautiful colours. I was at my home to celebrate diwali with my parents. With sweets and celebration the day turned out to be a memorable one. It was made all the more memorable when my enthusiastic self forced everyone to wait and watch me taking photographs of the sweet box at various angles, just to get the perfect picture for my blog :P . Finally I managed to put the compilation for display as a single picture. I'm glad if it did make a few mouths water. Talking about water, I've noticed that most of the diwali days come in line with showers from the kind sky. A time when people are badly in need of a dry weather to enjoy the fireworks to the fullest.I wonder what exactly the reason behind this is. Does the excessive cracker dust play a role in the weather change along with the usual participants? Another interesting part is the fact that TV channels air special shows and movies on the day of diwali. When 3/4th of the festive community is out busy turning crackers to smoke, dust and papers and of course "awesome fireworks and colours" the rest are lured towards the television only to enjoy the brilliantly picturised specials that are aired, along with a monotonous 'crac brac pat tap bang' noise of the crackers. The patience of the viewers is tested to the highest possible extent.
Ah, I've finally managed to brush aside the "later" factor and have blogged. Cheers. Have a great day!!! :)