Browsing Tag

Food

Old School Marketing for Social Media Type Stuff

So I went to check the mail the other day and yet again some random person put something in my “please pick my mail, OH Mr. Attentive Postman Person flag”.    Normally all of the unwanted hang tags and cards go straight to the trash.   The main driver is these are typically for services I already have a vendor of choice for or I don’t need any trees trimmed, wouldn’t even imagine why painting my walls with toddlers/kids and I am pretty sure I don’t need any more Pampered Chef items, but this one was different – it was for a blog (http://www.theredneckreview.com/).  So I didn’t throw it away instead I took a photo and decided to write a little.

Promotion is Hard Work

photo.jpg

Who WOULDN’T give this sorry little cartoon character a minute and turn over the card, so I did on the way to the garbage can – stop not a service provider, a writer!  Come to find out it is a blogger, trying to sell his wares sorta door-to-door in a bad economy.  How bad?  Well apparently beef jerky bad.

photo.jpg by you.

In the end, social media isn’t killing old ways of doing things it is only changing how/where we do it.    As marketers, we will continue to create content, continue to advertise and we will continue to be challenged to covert interest into motivation to buy.   Buyers are people and the more you can touch them the better, so integrating your online channels with the real-world marketing is an imperative for your brand.   I know this is pretty self-evident, but I’m always a little amazed at how hard it is find a product’s website on their advertising and packaging, but Brent Basham gets it – no single channel is independent or works in today’s marketplace.

So a brand managers, find a way to get your online identity on packaging and all advertising.  As product owners we need to find a way to get your product’s story integrated into as many of the online activities/channels as possible.

MiniCarts: Thank you smart person

photo.jpg by you.

I’ve seen the half carts in numerous places, I vaguely remember them from a European shopping experience or I imagined it.  I for some reason always equate useful, small and smart with European not sure why.  Regardless it is perfect for a quick trip which has awkward sized items not good for a basket – like 2 gallons of milk, 1 gallon of Soy Milk, 1 big apple juice a, bananas and cereal.

From a financial perspective, I’m pretty sure I spent more than I would have with a basket so it appears to be a good share of wallet decision as well.  Give ’em a shot – easier to maneuver and better than the little baskets without a doubt.

50 Things I Like: An Exercise in Developing Future Content

I thought I would spend some time documenting the things I like, with a goal of identifying what I might want to write on in the future. Not unlike mind mapping, but more public – hopefully some of you will pick this up and use this exercise as well.

  1. Art – All kinds, the problem is I don’t have skills here.
  2. Signage
  3. Twitter
  4. Math
  5. Mountains
  6. A Spring Day
  7. Rocks
  8. Driving in Foreign Countries – It’s a challenge, it’s kinda like playing Gran Turismo 5.
  9. Business
  10. A good movie
  11. Trees
  12. Golf
  13. Eating outside – specifically on a Saturday in the fall at Zingerman’s
  14. Fried Cheese Products
  15. Reading a book while on a plane
  16. Home projects
  17. Gardening
  18. Maps
  19. Mojo Sauce
  20. A rainy Sunday during Shark Week – Does shark week still exist?
  21. Learning
  22. Teaching
  23. Rivers and Lakes
  24. Writing – notes to myself, email and this blog thing.
  25. Dogs
  26. Fishing
  27. Camping and Hiking
  28. Integrity
  29. Science
  30. BBQ-ing
  31. Rides in the mountains in the fall
  32. Identity Management
  33. Work – Yeah, I’m one of those – not only do I like work, I’m Puritan about it and dig my current gig.
  34. Geography
  35. Earth Science
  36. Chiropractors
  37. Astronomy
  38. Business Stuff
  39. Cool Stuff – All kinds, electronic gadgets, hats, the perfect Wok, windmills….
  40. Technology
  41. Applications
  42. Media
  43. Unions – more accurately, socialism and general economic theory
  44. Travel
  45. Education – How technology impacts education and as a discipline
  46. Sustainability
  47. Being Outside
  48. Parenting
  49. Canada
  50. Live Music

$1 Coffee a sustainable model?

So with the recent Starbuck’s test of a $1.50 short in Seattle and rumors of a $1 bottomless cup it could make it cheaper to consume more paper products and miscellaneous packaging. That being said – you can make your own coffee, here is the ROI to justify a crazy expensive espresso and cafe Americano maker. Not sure this model would standalone under the $1 pricing model.

Below is a baseline framework for establishing the benefits of brewing your own coffee, the model assumes you are financially responsible in part for someone else’s coffee too.

Benefit can be accelerated through more consumption and a lower grade coffee platform.