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Get down with the sickness

One woman’s quest to squish the agency bug.

 
 
Erin Allsman for PRWeek: Help Clients Understand the Importance of Research to PR

Have you been following along with Erin’s PR Insider articles this week? Her final article for PRWeek advocates for the importance of investing in research to ensure a successful PR campaign.

 
 
Erin Allsman for PRWeek: Why It's Okay to Value Social Media in a B-to-B Environment

In the second installment of her series for PRWeek, Erin suggests we change the conversation and value social media for its ability to make a first impression on a potential new customer.

 
 
This Week: Erin Allsman is PRWeek’s 'PR Insider' Columnist

We have some good news to start off 2012! Our own Erin Allsman is currently featured on the PRWeek homepage for her series of articles appearing this week as part of PRWeek’s “PR Insider” column.

 
 
Nine New Employees Join BG

On the heels of securing several new integrated, public relations and social media clients, nine staff are joining BG this fall.

"These hires bring fresh thinking and valuable experience that will complement the marketing programs of our newest clients," said Marc.

 
 
When to Rein In Twitter Over Share?

As is the deal with any mode of human interaction, the rules of social media etiquette are in a continuous state of formation. We're collectively hammering out the unwritten rules of what (and what not) to share and how to share it.

But with social media, what's common courtesy?

 
 

Blogging Brides

Blogging Brides

On Friday, April 29, 2011, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton took the social media world by storm. But although the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding was a special circumstance, weddings and social media have become a common trend long before the royal wedding.

 
 
Brand Advocates are the New Brand Loyalists

Maybe it's just me, but the term "brand loyalist" always seems to conjure up a mental image of a 1962 businessman staring earnestly into a movie camera, brandishing a tube of toothpaste and declaring that he simply wouldn't settle for anything else.

But what if the brand loyalist is not extinct, merely evolved? In an often-cluttered communication environment, this person might have just been lost in the din. In many ways, the loyal consumer is still thriving, but now he belongs to a shiny new breed - brand advocate.

 
 
The Social Media Olympics

Gymnastics, swimming, and…tweeting?

With only a year to go, the official 2012 Olympic Games website is hosting a social media competition to rank the participating counties by most loyal fans. And although the competition has just begun, fans have already submitted over 85,000 tweets!

 
 

'ello 'ello!

'ello 'ello!

Brownstein Group recently welcomed ten new employees as the agency's client roster continues to grow.

"As Brownstein Group continues to grow and win new business, it is critical that we have talented and experienced marketing professionals to support all of our clients," said Marc.

 
 

The Tweeting MLB

The Tweeting MLB

Since their inceptions, the Home Run Derby and All Star game have brought us the hottest bats, gloves and change-ups to the field with a much anticipated game of ball.  This year, however, there was more than just the sweet, sweet sound of baseball-meets-bat and the prize of the World Series home field advantage. It also brought us tech-savvy fans the chance to actually interact with the players during the competition.

 
 
Aaaaaand, we're back!

Brownstein Group recently welcomed back two employees, Phil Edelstein and Kenny Kim, to its Strategy and Creative teams.

"It's nice to have their dynamic personalities in the hallways again," says Marc. "It feels as if they never left."

 

 
 
SocialMedia = The Future

"The Voice" is a talent competition, similar to "American Idol," in which musical judges and the American public decide which contestant has what it takes to become the next music superstar. But it's not just another reality show. "The Voice" is a new media platform that integrates social media with reality television.

So what does this mean for the future of television?

 

That's just it. This could be the future of television.

 

 
 
Grand Rapids, MI: Dying No More

If your town were considered a "dying city," how would you react? Probably not produce a music video. But that's exactly what the people of Grand Rapids, Michigan did.

 
 
A bribe by any other name is still…PR?

The healthcare PR world has been all a-buzz in recent weeks over the outing of two skincare companies offering controversial "incentives" to reporters in exchange for editorial coverage and attendance at a conference.

But if we take a hard look at the media landscape, PR's role in the creation of news, the woes of the shrinking newsroom and the broken print newspaper advertising revenue model, we might ask ourselves - were they really that far off the mark?

 
 
Take me out to the ballgame

I've never been much into the "sports."  I played here and there and was even on teams growing up but never really got into it.  Even now, I am fascinated by how excited people get over teams playing on tv.  I am really proud of Philadelphia fans and how passionate they are about their teams, but just have never felt it personally. 

That is until softball season at Brownstein Group.

 
 
Can I get full price?

Every morning when I pick up my iPhone, I find myself scrolling through a list of 10-15 email offers. Groupon, Living Social, Gilt…combine those with the dozens of retail email coupons and promotions I'm already receiving, and it's out of control.

Consumers now expect discounts. Which begs the question, is anyone willing to pay full price?

 
 
Hey Jenna, we're pink-ing of you

"Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink," reads the caption from Jenna Lyons, Executive Creative Director of J. Crew. "Toenail painting is so much more fun in neon."

I just don't see (and will never see) what all the fuss is about. This is fashion and it is supposed to be fun.

 
 
The Sartorialist is coming! The Sartorialist is coming!

As far as fashion and the people who photograph it are concerned, New York, Paris and Milan seem to be the only places that matter. It doesn't appear likely that Bill Cunningham will make it to Philadelphia anytime soon.

 
 
Where We Tell You About An Amazing Movie Called Bill Cunningham New York

Have you dedicated your entire life to one passion? There are few who can claim to eat, sleep and breathe their craft. Most of us would have to agree that on the work-life balance teeter-totter, we enjoy equal parts teeter and totter.

That's not so for New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham. 

 
 
Like, OMG! I totally ♥ the OED! LOL

Last week, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added a slew of new words to their online list, including a variety of popular slang utterances.

 
 

Inspired by Pork

Inspired by Pork

Since 1987, the National Pork Board has used "The Other White Meat" to promote - in this carnivorous writer's opinion - the tastiest of all meats. That ended last week when the board announced a new tagline: "Pork. Be Inspired."

 
 
Joe Weinlick

Most companies go through branding processes at some point. Heck, not at some point. At several points. Brands are created, launched, dissected, reinterpreted, and eventually revisited.

If you asked most people what they thought of branding, you would likely be met with some skepticism. Sure, it works for Coke or IBM, companies with big advertising budgets. But what is this going to do for me?

 
 
Dance, Magic, Dance!

Recently, I had the pleasure of re-watching the epic puppet perversion fantasy flick that is Labyrinth.

 Wow. This movie really is something else. When I first saw this as a child in the late 80s, I remember being intrigued but predominantly creeped out by this movie.  But, now, I'm kinda into it and found it much more entertaining this time around. I also can't stop singing " Magic Dance" and I've been dying to find an adorable baby in footy pajamas that I can toss up into the air.

 
 
Seductive Subversion

We have a special fondness for our neighbors at the University of the Arts, not least because it's our venerable founder's alma mater. So we were especially pleased that an exhibit that began in three modest sized galleries on Broad Street has grown into something of an international sensation.

Seductive Subversion: Women Pop Artists 1958 - 1968 is the first major exhibition of female Pop artists of the era. It's quite a reclamation project - planned over the course of four years, a majority of the work has not been shown in over forty.

 
 

Hellooooo Moto.

Hellooooo Moto.

Motorola seems to have been hitting the gym lately. 

 
 

A Font to Remember

A Font to Remember

Wes Anderson is to Futura as Woody Allen is to...

 
 

Pistachio Cat

Pistachio Cat

Pistachios

 
 
Personal Brand: Instantly Happy

I read an article on the train the other day in Women's Health, "Be Instantly Happy." I wondered how many people read this article for the instantaneous cure.

 
 

Tis the season

Tis the season

Tis the season.....Holiday Party Etiquette

 
 
A Pepper Melting Pot

This week Brownstein Group was the proud recipient of six awards at the Philadelphia PRSA's annual Pepperpots program. It was a banner year for the program, which had a record amount of entries, and a banner year for BG, as we took home the most awards in the history of our public relations practice.

Each year, as we receive the news of our wins (yes, they tell us in advance!) we have to decide who will attend the event, a decision that is typically based on who worked on the winning projects.

 
 
Don’t Meet Her in a Dark Aisle

She's baaaaack.

A few weeks ago, the incessant commercials for Black Friday began. I expect them every year, so it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But I didn't expect the Target psycho-shopper to return with her Stepford wife tendencies for a second holiday season. The Christmas Lady [who, btw, apparently is comedian Maria Bamford], is back and crazier than ever.

 
 

Create a Movement

Create a Movement

Some time ago I came across "Songs From A Room" (SOFAR), a series of global pop-gigs supporting new music which brings music lovers together in an unusual setting (often a secret living room) to hear the most innovative and interesting new music. During performances nobody talks, everyone listens creating the most intimate and spellbinding environment possible.

These gigs can be seen here:
http://www.sofarsounds.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/rafeoffer
http://www.facebook.com/sofarsounds

 
 

Ever posted a scornful message on Facebook or uploaded something seriously scandalous to YouTube? It may be time for you to meet The Social Media Sobriety Test. 

 
 
Not Dead, Just Badly Burned

For the past few months since AdAge conducted this survey I've been meaning to post my thoughts on whether or not the press release is dead.

Unfortunately, I've been too busy writing press releases to get to it until now.  And the topic has, in true communication field style, been debated ad nauseum. So I'll make this short and sweet.

 

 

 
 
Treat me like a human cause I think the change would do me good

Roger Miller has a song in which he implores his girlfriend, who is apparently embarrassed to be seen with him, to treat him like a human.

Looking at most advertising and marketing, I think we should all have the same plea. This is especially true of business to business advertising, which is typically filled with business speak and meaningless words and superlatives that do nothing to interest or connect with intended audiences.

"Innovative, industry-leading solution!"

Well, that is just great! Because I happen to be looking for an innovative, world-class, industry-leading solution. Now, if you would just partner with me to make it happen, what more could I want?

Puh-lease. Over hundreds of depth interviews with people who have jobs...

 
 
Homelessness Advocacy Group Checks-In to Foursquare

A new social awareness initiative uses check-ins to the location-based service Foursquare to benefit those who don't have a location they call home.

 
 
This is for you, banana lovers

If you're like me and can't go a day without eating a banana, you might have noticed a sticker on your (Dole) fruit promoting Go Bananas After Dark™ this past summer. Created by Dole, the Go Bananas After Dark™ program was designed to encourage consumers to continue to enjoy bananas even after the sun goes down.

 
 
Holiday Shopping Underway

Yesterday, I bought my first 2010 Holiday gift.  OK yes, that may sound ridiculous, especially with a pumpkin still sitting on my front step.  BUT, like most consumers, my holiday shopping has shifted to online, and over the past few years, I've realized my shopping season needed to move up if I want to avoid overnight shipping fees.

 
 
A Krimp in My Smile.

Tastykake, you have been making my afternoon snack time truly delightful for years.

And now lookit you. Taking your signature sponge cake - the Krimpet - so moist and fluffy and teasing my tastebuds with new inventive varieties.  Pancake Krimpets?!?!?! SHUT YOUR MOUTH. Or open it.

 
 

Brand Resilience

Joe Weinlick

Mostly good article on branding at Thought Leadership: 4 Surefire Ways to Destroy Your Brand.

But, they get one thing wrong. I would disagree with the upfront premise about how easy it is to destroy a brand. Once you establish a really strong brand, you can actually weather those storms if you stay true to the promise.

 

 
 

Brave New World

Joe Weinlick

The world of marketing is fraught with ethical dilemmas. There are worrisome implications if companies actually figured out how to manipulate people at a subconscious level. The latest trend is Neuromarketing: Advertising Age, Is Neurmarketing a Fantasy or the Future?

 
 

Now That's Cool

Now That's Cool

Never mind what your parents taught you growing up, now you CAN throw rocks at a glass house!

 
 
Goodbye Horses (Interns)...

One of the sure signs that summer is nearly over: Intern Exodus.

This last batch of creative interns have been pretty awesome.

Kids, I hope you learned a lot here at BG...like how to always look busy...and how to deal with crazy people that call you the wrong name all of the time...and most importantly - HOW TO SAVE YOUR STUFF TO THE SERVER!

Thanks a lot, guys. And good luck!

 

 

 
 

Pepsi goes naked?

Pepsi goes naked?

In Argentina, Pepsi is having some fun with the World Cup.  According to AdAge: "If Argentina wins the World Cup, Pepsi Cola plans to follow the example of Argentina's coach Diego Maradona, who says he'll celebrate by running around naked in Buenos Aires." 

 
 

World Cup Ad Battle

World Cup Ad Battle

This Friday, the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa.  As is the case with any major sporting event, the World Cup is a huge opportunity for marketers with a predicted television audience of over 1 billion and cumulative ratings for the month-long event expected to reach 30 billion. 

Check out what Nike and Adidas are bringing to the table.

 
 

Schaeffer Says

Schaeffer Says

Mark Schaeffer, Brownstein Group's seasoned studio manager and life-long Flyers fan, gives his two cents about hockey, Kate Smith and being a bulliever.
 
Read more after the jump!
 

 
 
PSAs are great. Thumb socks are better. (1)

Let's face it, PSAs aren't known for making us laugh but DoSomething.org took a serious issue and turned it into serious laughs with 'thumb socks.' 

Video and more after the jump.

 
 
Happy Birthday, Pac-Man!

When Google wishes you a happy birthday, you know you're something special.

 

 
 
Just How Social Are You?

Facebook page...check. Twitter account...check. YouTube channel...check.

Too many companies are looking at social media as a To Do List and bypassing the most critical element to success, an ongoing strategic plan. And they're about to find out why a checklist just won't work.

Social media management company Vitrue recently released the Social Page Evaluator, a free tool that can determine the value in dollars of a brand's Facebook page. Using the tool, you can also compare your page to up to three other brand pages. My guess is that company after company is being disappointed by the numbers they're seeing.

 
 
Erin Allsman

As an integrated agency in an ever-evolving marketing environment, we often look critically at our resources to make sure that we are set up to be nimble and efficient and to provide the most innovative and relevant solutions to our clients' marketing challenges.  We often create discipline-agnostic campaigns that integrate thinking from all of our departments, and rightfully so, because that is what will succeed in today's marketplace. But we can always improve our process; and to that end, Marc recently recommended giving this article a read:

http://edwardboches.com/the-new-creative-team-and-getting-it-to-work

 
 

Let's Get Engaged!

Let's Get Engaged!

While this may not be the most appealing message to some, James Ready beer is showing us another great example of creative outdoor that really engages consumers.

Great video recap of the campaign after the jump.

 
 

2010 Wall Ball

2010 Wall Ball

The 2010 Mural Arts Wall Ball was last Thursday and we had a blast.

Brownstein Group has always been inspired by the Mural Arts Program and we wanted to show them some love the best way we know how.

 
 

Twetiquette

Twetiquette

You know those people that constantly correct your grammar? Don't you just hate that?

Well, now they're stalking your tweets.

Read more after the jump.

 
 

It doesn't get juicer than this, folks.

Check out EVB's "Serenading Unicorn" created for Juicy Fruit after the jump.

 

 

 
 

Stressed!

Stressed!

It's a hard job, but we love to do it.

People noticing the stress of advertising and public relations professionals.

 
 

Truly Interactive

Truly Interactive

Are you fast enough to catch free fast food?

Check out this clever, simple interactive billboard game that DDB Stockholm created for McDonald's after the jump.

 
 
From Boredom Comes Inspiration.

We've all drawn on styrofoam cups at some point or another. It's just that most of us don't do it as well as I Am Boey.

 
 
Advertising Imitating Art Imitating Life.

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out the art and film project commissioned by Stella Artois: The Ritual Project and Up There.   The short film  documents a crew of artists in NYC and the dying trade of large-scale hand-painted advertising. The project itself details the step by step of bringing the perfect Stella Artois to life. 

View the short stop-frame animation of the Belgian Pouring Ritual seen at the end of Up There  after the jump.


 


 
 
Padded Rooms May Not Be So Bad Anymore...

Sometimes I feel like looking out my window to see San Francisco instead of Philadelphia. Now I can do that... kinda. Meet Winscape, your window to the future.

 

Video after the jump.

 
 
Turning Central Park into an Interactive Board Game

Integration of mobile apps and beautiful walk in Central Park = a digital board game for all tech nerds like me.  I'll be there, will you?

 

 
 
Be There or...Be Cool.

Finally, a flash mob I can get behind.

 
 
Will You Show Me a Bedtime Story?

Storytelling is hitting an entirely new stratosphere. The new Alice in Wonderland app tells Lewis Carroll's famous story through interactivity, revolutionizing the concept of the bedtime story.

 
 

Want of the Day

Want of the Day

Make a note of it.

And stop being so floppy

Har har :)

Check out these  awesome note pads designed by Burak Kaynak creative artist from Turkey. 

 
 
 
 
Everyone Loves a Good Parody Commercial

Parody commercials.

SNL's been doing them forever. And good humor sticks to the ribs. This is definitely one of the better skits in recent memory.

Click "Read More" to watch the video here.

 

 
 
A Good Old-Fashioned Social Media Food Fight

Taking a stand by sitting in front of a computer: How the generals of the new food revolution are using social media to fight their battle.   

 
 

Oh Hey There, April

Oh Hey There, April

Spring is here!

Or did we just flash forward to summer?

I'm not complaining, just sayin.

Here's what I'm looking forward to now that spring has sprung…

 
 
Hey, That's Awesome!

When two of my favorite things are combined, you've got a happy girl on your hands.

Not since Reese's have I been this tickled by a food ad:

Burger King and slasher-film icons!

(Yeah, I know, I sound like a well-rounded individual). 

 

 
 
A Seat at the Grown Ups' Table

There's been a lot in the press lately about what not to do in the face of a social media crisis and lessons learned from highly publicized screw-ups by major companies like Nestle, Southwest Airlines and Toyota. And yes, some of these incidents did hinge upon faux pas in the use of social media. But as I read through example after example, I can't help but think that in many of these cases, there exists some underlying corporate practice or decision at the root cause.

 
 

Radical Friend

Radical Friend

Radical Friend wants to rock your world.

 
 

YouTube Redesign?

YouTube Redesign?

Word on the street is Youtube is going to roll out a redesign today. I hope my kitten videos experience is enhanced.

 
 
A Pretty Piece of Flesh

Thought this was a particularly painterly post to celebrate the 157th birthday of Vincent Willem van Gogh. 

Check this out!

alexameade.com

Now, look again.

 
 
BG Groupies: Kenny Kim

Meet our Associate Creative Director, Kenny Kim.

He's as funny as he looks, folks!

 
 

Want of the Day

Want of the Day

Want: These gardens in a can, as seen on Coolhunting.com

 
 

Typo Love

Typo Love

I'm hot for certain types of typography.

 
 

Inspiration Station

Inspiration Station

"Reality is something you rise above." -Liza Minnelli

 
 

A video recently posted on Youtube shows a startling development for the next release of the Adobe Creative Suite (CS5): content-aware fill. This (in theory) takes photo-retouching to a new level. But is it for real?

 
 

Sign @ The Times

Sign @ The Times

In a case of art imitating type, the NY Museum of Modern Art has added the @ sign to its collection. 125 years after its first inclusion on a typerwriter, we're finally starting to pay some attention to this increasingly-loaded symbol.

 
 
Direct(est) Marketing

Chat Roulette. It's not for the faint of heart. But we can learn something
from it. Right?

 
 

Needs vs. Wants

Needs vs. Wants

You need coffee…but you want this jawn to drink it from.

Read about this fab coffee travel mug designed like a 70-200mm Canon L-series "white" lens on PDNPulse.

 
 

A few years ago there was a show on MTV called PoweR Girls. The show, billed as "sometimes glamorous, sometimes stressful but always exciting", followed a gaggle of pretty, dressed-to-the-nines girls as they pitched, planned and partied their way into Manhattan's club scene. As a young PR professional at the time, I was disappointed at how my industry was portrayed. All focus seemed to be on the celebs in front of the "step and repeat" instead of the messaging, strategy and tactics that make an event or any PR effort successful for the client.

 
 
Developing a website is like Knitting a Scarf.

Last week, I attended my second knitting class, where I learned how to knit a scarf.  At first, I thought that knitting would be a breeze! You're just looping knots around giant needles, how hard can that be?  You knit.  You purl.  You knit.  It seems like it's just this repetitive process that once you get the hang of it, you set your brain in a mode of set it and forget it.  However, once you have knitted a sizable length of yarn, you begin to realize it looks more like a polka dot scarf from the many gaps where the fabric should be.  You have to make the decision to either learn how to fix each mistake and refine them in order to make the scarf more appealing to wear, or to keep trucking along, hoping no one will notice the holes.  Well, developing a website can sometimes have the same outcome.

 
 
Just ask Betty White...

If you think for a second you're not ready to develop a social media strategy, ask Betty White what she thinks of that.  No story in recent memory better illustrates the impact of social media than Betty White's recent Facebook success. 

 
 
Administrator

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Welcome to the Super Awesome Blog

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