tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38730140281122207992024-03-14T13:49:29.932-05:00Spork in the RoadThoughts and comments of a Houston area copywriter.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-36354758552729069162012-08-02T13:47:00.005-05:002012-08-02T13:47:52.114-05:00Creative bravery<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day you start running a shop on fear is the day
your shop is doomed<o:p></o:p></div>Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-86068358114559279122012-01-22T21:42:00.006-06:002012-01-23T08:20:42.530-06:00The ingredients for a successful Foursquare campaign<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlDJG-G0GvBZSNe8ZLDecausba4v9qKIy5Xj0M5r9r-bxox3BnueOhwlADTZuQLh3mwhTES2uKOPSj6Sk6w-G0oEjUS_102LoIQsO9tAH1HnHElmGQTMb0Og6r5pYgrMx5yoko9QeLS0d/s1600/SamAdams_BWW_Foursquare.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlDJG-G0GvBZSNe8ZLDecausba4v9qKIy5Xj0M5r9r-bxox3BnueOhwlADTZuQLh3mwhTES2uKOPSj6Sk6w-G0oEjUS_102LoIQsO9tAH1HnHElmGQTMb0Og6r5pYgrMx5yoko9QeLS0d/s400/SamAdams_BWW_Foursquare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700672981771962386" border="0" /></a><br />Alright, I don't have the actual result numbers to verify that this duet between Sam Adams and Buffalo Wild Wings was a success, but really, how could it not be? While some brands openly beg people to check in, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter without giving them a single good reason why they should, this effort hits all the main points you need to make a Foursquare campaign (or any social media promotion) a hit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right reward</span><br />How many times have you seen social media promotions for lame rewards like, "Check in on Foursquare every Wednesday this month to get a special access code to view an exclusive online video preview of some marginal crap we're gonna try to sell you?" This reward is beer. Beer is something people want. And free beer is something that people will do crazy things to get, like help friends move heavy appliances from third story apartment to third story apartment (God, I'm glad I'm not in college anymore). If you want your Foursquare campaign to work, you need to give the people something they actually want.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right place</span><br />I'm sure this campaign was promoted elsewhere, but the touch point that touched me (no, not like that) was the handy dandy table topper pictured above. I'm at Buffalo Wild Wings drinking beer. If I come back on a certain night at a certain time, I could have that beer for free? Sold! If you're trying to inspire loyalty + repeat sales and make a slow shift busier, who better to help you out than the people who are already visiting your restaurant?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right partner</span><br />It's beer at a sports bar. If I need to explain why that one works, you might want to go back to marketing 101...or just get out more.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right time</span><br />Because Foursquare checkins include the element of time, you can not only influence WHAT people do, but WHEN they do it. I'm guessing Buffalo Wild Wings did this one to help fill their restaurants during a traditionally slow shift.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sense of urgency</span><br />Perhaps just as smart as limiting which shifts the Foursquare campaign applies to, Buffalo Wild Wings has made another smart move here- limiting the free beer to the first 20 people to check in at the desired time. That makes the campaign easy to budget for (max= cost of 20 beers) and really encourages people to compete to be one of the first in the door. If you can come in anytime after 9pm on a Friday and get your free beer, what's the rush? If you have to be one of the first 20 in the door...well...just think about all those black Friday shopping videos you see on the news.<br /><br />So, what about you? Have you encountered any Foursquare campaigns compelling enough you participated in them? Or even created one yourself? Let the world know in the comments below.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-34400765219575274612011-12-13T14:29:00.011-06:002011-12-13T15:01:01.482-06:00Smart Car copywriters borrow from another iconic ad campaign<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh9lnO7AqPd5WUKYei-MOT-8B3obgGdBpRaVMfB-qq4fopNMTFNgjc8sSSlLyfGZU9RbzVMJcLPqMp_rS01rD6Wo8usaq37PmR6PVw0_Jgdsj-62LZhuha6ZMtImB2-QuTTqLcsf3Kazr/s1600/Smart+Car+Web+Banner.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh9lnO7AqPd5WUKYei-MOT-8B3obgGdBpRaVMfB-qq4fopNMTFNgjc8sSSlLyfGZU9RbzVMJcLPqMp_rS01rD6Wo8usaq37PmR6PVw0_Jgdsj-62LZhuha6ZMtImB2-QuTTqLcsf3Kazr/s400/Smart+Car+Web+Banner.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685713054797385250" /></a><div><div>I recently wrote about how several modern car manufacturers, including Smart, have been <a href="http://sporkintherd.blogspot.com/2011/11/fiat-takes-copywriting-hints-from-vw.html">borrowing from an iconic VW Beetle campaign</a>. Based on the web banner above, that's not the only place that the copywriters on the Smart Car account have been finding inspiration.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Smart Car folks are also taking a page from <a href="http://www.duke.edu/~ajc6/7up/Uncola.htm">7-Up's classic "uncola" campaign</a>. Want a different kind of soda? Get the uncola. Want a different kind of car? Get the uncar.I will say there's a subtle difference, as the 7-Up campaign used its "un" word as a noun to refer to the product. Smart, on the other hand, uses "uncar" as a made up verb that accompanies other "un" words that allude to consumer benefits.</div><div><br /></div><div>This approach actually puts more focus on the consumer instead of the product and on actions vs state of being. And research has shown that messages focused on the audience that use action verbs (not passive being verbs) tend to be more effective.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the copywriters are certainly borrowing, but at least they're putting their own spin on it. Is it too close for comfort? I'll let you decide.</div></div><div><br /></div>Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-30296748945035514492011-11-26T12:50:00.008-06:002011-11-27T21:16:10.455-06:00Fiat takes copywriting hints from VW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WTMvT3HlmMtRYLyqCJ2D_Nocf9x9XAsnB9nw4FqvIiZm-sbn96l7RITUTG64fuGywzLokZ_UKkcpkgtOYlD2ApSmDtcZpG2W94p4_x0qRIKDjZf-DEg_GyoYySxmI3l0EBZTAtbXtlnA/s1600/Fiat500Ad.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WTMvT3HlmMtRYLyqCJ2D_Nocf9x9XAsnB9nw4FqvIiZm-sbn96l7RITUTG64fuGywzLokZ_UKkcpkgtOYlD2ApSmDtcZpG2W94p4_x0qRIKDjZf-DEg_GyoYySxmI3l0EBZTAtbXtlnA/s400/Fiat500Ad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679382725827506402" border="0" /></a><br />The Fiat 500 may be relatively new compared to the VW Beetle, but the copywriters on the account are certainly channeling <span class="st">the famous <a href="http://thinkingouttabox.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/volkswagen-ads/">Doyle Dane Bernbach ads</a> from the early '60s.<br /><br />Touting the wisdom of small. Slightly irreverent. Apparently challenging the status quo (even though there are plenty of small cars on the road today).<br /><br />And the design- a simple, modestly sized product shot, unassuming type and plenty of white space.<br /><br />VW and Mini have shown that the approach can work. I'm interested to see if "think small" can carry a third car to success, though it might be hard with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0IkmstjZes&feature=related">TV ads like this</a>.<br /><br />UPDATE: "Small" has actually supported four car models. I forgot Smart is currently running <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ZrlwT8GZ4">this ad</a>, probably because I assumed it was for the same tiny vehicle.<br /><br /></span>Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-46975243201939084142011-10-31T21:34:00.007-05:002011-10-31T21:42:16.859-05:00The sour side of in-store copywriting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jwPWUmiAx3FfvRxVxbnYiErla6lAsjSdyKNRuhmbsPJ50sUAwnxkrUtdNt4mZ1z7ZWOvZkml4fgcFmNENka8rHWbvt7TngyHH1QSDaYgsHTf7HAXXc7vojoj5PVbUF8nMswJH0a8TNV9/s1600/Vlasic_In-Store.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jwPWUmiAx3FfvRxVxbnYiErla6lAsjSdyKNRuhmbsPJ50sUAwnxkrUtdNt4mZ1z7ZWOvZkml4fgcFmNENka8rHWbvt7TngyHH1QSDaYgsHTf7HAXXc7vojoj5PVbUF8nMswJH0a8TNV9/s400/Vlasic_In-Store.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669852008172727410" border="0" /></a><br />Just wanted to share this nugget of in-store copywriting for Vlasic pickles I saw at my local grocery store. It's appropriately playful, and though not completely life-changing, makes you stop and think right before making you smile (assuming you like pickles). That's more than most in-store advertising will do.<br /><br />Plus, kudos to media on the placement.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-78394772791487145612011-10-15T13:16:00.005-05:002011-10-15T13:22:09.103-05:00Spanglish web banner writing 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YJJQ3ibuvs6VWG5s0LsLU_Cw4pvGn2FXHP0c3pYtrpl1_jBa-3FITTJHqUEMC3mE_rAK5NyUVb06pOX1JRjt96ey96ugGT0KSUn89UmSYxuPa6X1evHlBw_liAK2O9dVr0WPyqN0A1sS/s1600/Bilingual+Web+Banner.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 73px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YJJQ3ibuvs6VWG5s0LsLU_Cw4pvGn2FXHP0c3pYtrpl1_jBa-3FITTJHqUEMC3mE_rAK5NyUVb06pOX1JRjt96ey96ugGT0KSUn89UmSYxuPa6X1evHlBw_liAK2O9dVr0WPyqN0A1sS/s400/Bilingual+Web+Banner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663785637155570114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If copywriting bilingual ads is this easy, I should have started doing them a long time ago.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >For those without a sense of humor, that was what we in the industry call a funny haha joke.</span>Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-3496464312814432332011-10-03T14:12:00.000-05:002011-10-03T14:12:00.571-05:00Reviewing Long John Silver's fresh tagline<a href="http://www.ljsilvers.com/">Long John Silver's</a> latest tagline is:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Sea food differently</span><br /><br />Obviously combining the ideas of "see food differently" and "sea food" into a single thought, this tagline scores high for economy of words.<br /><br />The tagline is often used in TV and radio spots in the first person by employees, or actors playing employees, that declare "I sea food differently." The first person usage conveys the idea that Long John Silver's is not only a different dining experience, but that the company's unique way of doing things permeates every corner of the company, or what executives might call a "top-down" adoption of the corporate vision.<br /><br />All in all, I think this tagline is a win. It's short. It holds multiple meanings and something about it seems fresh, which can be hard to do in the often stale fast food category. My compliments to the copywriter.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-55298847032453367762011-09-05T15:03:00.006-05:002011-09-05T19:22:33.374-05:00No typo immunity for the Fortune 100<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IvgdASFcbBBjCaxeIkY3X_1GpgjaXRP3dwUmHcX3qMGEUFcYddK51zJcJfB9WU8xXuy77tyEThaYbn8pv6vivUP1wDszkivhlNggPpAk8izuih6hmVCK4ItTk5D16-8xbfetx3Fkw6p5/s1600/ATT_Copywriting_Typo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IvgdASFcbBBjCaxeIkY3X_1GpgjaXRP3dwUmHcX3qMGEUFcYddK51zJcJfB9WU8xXuy77tyEThaYbn8pv6vivUP1wDszkivhlNggPpAk8izuih6hmVCK4ItTk5D16-8xbfetx3Fkw6p5/s400/ATT_Copywriting_Typo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648969440646680626" border="0" /></a>It doesn't matter whether you're a small business with a few employees or a massive business with tens of thousands, it's always worth taking a second look for typos. Sooner or later they'll get you, but there are things you can do to keep them to a minimum.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Print it out</span><br />While you should do this sparingly to avoid killing trees in droves, there's something about reading words on a printed page that makes typos jump out more than they do on-screen. So, if it's a particularly important piece, like an annual report, it may be worth printing out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Put another set of eyes on it</span><br />The best thing you can do to avoid typos is to make sure that more than one person gives your piece a good read. Even the best copywriter or editor can miss something when they've been staring at the same piece for too long. In fact, when you're too familiar with the material, it can create a sort of familiarity blindness, where you're reading what you think your piece should say instead of what it really says. A fresh set of eyes can disarm this problem.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Put it down and come back</span><br />If you have the time, this approach can be almost as good as a second set of eyes. Step away from a piece for a while before editing it. It can give you the chance to look at it with fresh eyes, without all the baggage and context of writing it. Once you shed that baggage, you'll be exponentially more likely to find any typos you may have missed before.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Read it backwards</span><br />You won't catch many grammar errors this way, but it does wonders for finding spelling typos and words that simply don't belong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't over-rely on spellcheckers </span><br />Spellcheckers are notoriously unreliable. They often don't recognize commonly accepted words, they can't update fast enough to keep up an ever-changing modern vocabulary and all too often they substitute the wrong word when trying to correct for grammar. Remember, a spellchecker is a tool, and an imperfect one at that. Make sure you're using the tool and not the other way around.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-11667581840520290782011-08-18T14:28:00.001-05:002011-08-18T14:28:00.326-05:00Copywriting for mobile is like doing origamiYou start with an entire page and carefully fold it in on itself until it's small enough to fit in your pocket
<br />Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-7650149586271354632011-08-12T09:12:00.001-05:002011-08-12T09:47:36.764-05:00Does your copy carpet match your design drapes?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEh0YuzAgiwjb1tFtRHR-99i6Gs1ipeEc-am-QgircJkxcZq0o0SWPL7uv3-YdfZEVJW-4WdEQZAHL_jxeB7cq0rDb7sND8p_ZsS4MomxUTy2m9690VfPm4I6sKGr0bI0BuJwaDQhTxmQ/s1600/GDF_Robot_LandingPage.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEh0YuzAgiwjb1tFtRHR-99i6Gs1ipeEc-am-QgircJkxcZq0o0SWPL7uv3-YdfZEVJW-4WdEQZAHL_jxeB7cq0rDb7sND8p_ZsS4MomxUTy2m9690VfPm4I6sKGr0bI0BuJwaDQhTxmQ/s400/GDF_Robot_LandingPage.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639800962064383826" border="0" /></a>Full disclosure–<b> </b>I work for a company that competes directly with the company that posted the landing page I'm reviewing in this post.
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<br /><b></b>That said, you don't have to be a seasoned copywriter to see the disconnect on this landing page.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The design</span>
<br />The design is distinctively lighthearted, playing off the robot concept in the copy. Bright, upbeat colors and some pseudo-retro imagery go a long way to establishing a fun, friendly tone. I mean, who doesn't want to push a bright blue robot's red renew tummy button?
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The copywriting</span>
<br />However, if you start reading the body copy under "Request a Quote," which can be read without a microscope <a href="http://www.dontjustrenew.com/index.php?id=15">here</a>, you'll quickly discover an extremely dry, serious, technical tone. I find this truly unfortunate, since style aside, they seem to be saying the right things from a messaging perspective.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why does it matter?</span>
<br />Fun, quirky design coupled with humorless, technical copy? The disconnect between the feel of the design and the tone of the copy creates dissonance. Dissonance breaks the user's attention and can lead them to spend more time trying to figure out why the happy dance-inducing landing page they were looking at reads as dour as a puritan minister giving a eulogy.
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<br />More importantly, anyone who's spent much time in marketing knows that every bump and slow down along the way to a conversion is a barrier that decreases a user's chance of taking the action you want them to.
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<br />Making sure the tone of your copy matches the personality of your design can be the difference between a marginal page and a good page or between a good page and a great page.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What can we learn from this?</span>
<br />Make sure to give every creative element the attention it deserves. Spending all your time and attention on one while largely ignoring the other will show. It's no different than showing up to a party in a suit coat and sweat pants.
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<br />Make sure the personalities of all the elements match. It doesn't matter how well designed a piece is or how well written the copy is if they don't match. The confusion your users experience will hurt conversions every time.
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<br />Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-56275549417669629292011-07-26T19:34:00.008-05:002011-07-26T20:46:42.874-05:00A Continental video disaster on the brink of successWow. I recently flew Continental/United for the first time in many years. I found my seat, got situated and waited a thankfully short time for takeoff. Being a Southwest flyer, I expected a steward or stewardess to come out and give us a witty take on safety precautions. However, as we started taxiing to the runway, a pre-recorded video caught me by surprise. It was a disaster on the brink of success. Let me explain.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unrelatable talking heads</span><br />First, it was a talking head video. For those who don't know what a talking head video is, it's basically a video that features a single person, usually an indistinguishable executive in a nondescript suit, talking at the camera. No action. No quick movements. Just an executive, you and some talking points. There's a reason these videos have been fodder for satire for decades. They're ubiquitous, usually self-aggrandizing and rarely engaging. This video was no exception.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doesn't my logo make you feel special?</span><br />Second, the background behind the executive of this particular video was a giant company logo. Nothing says "customers first" like a monolithic reminder of who's talking at you, right? YOU WILL HEAR THE MESSAGE FROM THE COMPANY. Perhaps I'm surprised because my usual airline takes such a lighthearted, friendly approach in comparison.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Copywriting for the boardroom</span><br />Third, the language was total corporate-speak. Phrases like "co-located facilities," "earn your business" and "your having chosen us" ooze a boardroom-first mindset. They take passengers out of what will hopefully be an enjoyable (read tolerable) flying experience by reminding them that their real value is as carefully segmented revenue streams.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right message, wrong delivery</span><br />That said, the video was actually just a shade away from being a success. Despite the delivery, the video actually contained good points from a content perspective and clarified many merger questions that were probably lingering in consumers' minds. If they work on their style and presentation, this easily-lampooned video could be transformed into an informative winner.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What can we learn from this?</span><br />1) Use a relatable spokesperson. Hint: This probably doesn't mean an old white executive in a suit.<br /><br />2) Give your set/background serious consideration. Hint: Big logos are like the blind date that never stops talking about him or herself.<br /><br />3) Make sure your copywriter is writing for your core consumer, not your executive suite. Hint: If your mom doesn't know what it means, it's probably corporate-speak.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-9850783844386609632010-02-18T18:36:00.000-06:002010-02-18T18:36:00.464-06:00Quicky: Playing hard to get<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cI1u-IAw3XUe0SI7DHH6_XUiGlBoDTCBZ15xJQsJJRhUG0XDqxM1vZb5I2TYaUakHYFsiQZcCoNWo7_X6em-MepCRVV82TrltYzvPpotp69YTVAeo-_l7bmsIGxGLmfWIYJ0mUpa5KzD/s1600-h/cloverfield-poster-big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cI1u-IAw3XUe0SI7DHH6_XUiGlBoDTCBZ15xJQsJJRhUG0XDqxM1vZb5I2TYaUakHYFsiQZcCoNWo7_X6em-MepCRVV82TrltYzvPpotp69YTVAeo-_l7bmsIGxGLmfWIYJ0mUpa5KzD/s400/cloverfield-poster-big.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438595867929247938" border="0" /></a><br />Companies rarely like teasers, at least true teasers, which is unfortunate, because they tend to create a lot of buzz, circumvent traditional audience mental blocks and engage potential customers in ways that make them much more likely to open their wallets for you.<br /><br />The <a href="http://skywriters.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/want-to-market-your-film-keep-quiet-about-it/">marketing of the film Cloverfield</a> is an example of this strategy used to great success.<br /><br />Find out how they did it <a href="http://skywriters.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/want-to-market-your-film-keep-quiet-about-it/">here</a>Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-41299827333524156772010-02-15T15:52:00.004-06:002010-02-15T16:07:01.244-06:00Tagline full of fiberTaglines are a place where many companies stumble. Even when a company name is conservative or just informational, there seems to be a temptation to go a little crazy when it comes to taglines, especially when a company works in the B2B arena. This is one such example.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Company:</span> <a href="http://www.thirdcoastproduce.com/">Third Coast Produce</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tagline: </span>"Lettuce produce for you!"<br /><br />Yes, the exclamation point is really part of it. Yes, the quotation marks are really part of it. And a double pun. Need I say more? I could pick fun at it, but they probably have great fruit and veggies. While it pains me to see a line like this rumbling around town scrawled across the sides of delivery trucks, I mostly wish I had the opportunity to help companies like this develop a line worthy of all the hard work they put into their businesses.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-84294253441759803502010-01-02T14:08:00.004-06:002010-01-02T14:08:00.587-06:00Quicky: Disney gives you the chance to pop Hannah Montana's cherryEvery large company needs to hire a person with a dirty mind (or figure out which one of their current employees already does) to keep things like <a href="http://www.dlisted.com/node/33392">this</a> from happening.<br /><br />---Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-72035952255430720292009-12-29T18:43:00.002-06:002009-12-29T18:43:00.489-06:00Shorter-word thesaurus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP5G8ATcEO_MFzQawg9HULESycGGYWN41om-31jU-nmhYL9OLG7F6AUi5x2AVgW6H4nmtFEH5JICpTSaWQLqVnJlvxtVeR6dfeMk8xSrC2P19VDqlzNYIZbMCW7OLZb__UFELrhTKThyK/s1600-h/Thsrs.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP5G8ATcEO_MFzQawg9HULESycGGYWN41om-31jU-nmhYL9OLG7F6AUi5x2AVgW6H4nmtFEH5JICpTSaWQLqVnJlvxtVeR6dfeMk8xSrC2P19VDqlzNYIZbMCW7OLZb__UFELrhTKThyK/s400/Thsrs.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418496797746558914" border="0" /></a><br />That long, complicated word too long for your carefully distilled, inspiring tweet? Then <a href="http://www.ironicsans.com/thsrs/">get a shorter</a> word to stand in its stead with the handy shorter-word thesaurus known as <a href="http://www.ironicsans.com/thsrs/">Thsrs</a>.<br /><br />(disclaimer: shorter synonyms generated by Thsrs may cause confusion, loss of meaning, bland prose, flabby fingers, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:new gothic nt;" >Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia </span>and in some rare cases, loss of cultural flavor)<br /><br />Sporks up to <a href="http://copywriterunderground.com/2009/12/15/too-many-characters-in-your-latest-mastertweet-use-the-shorter-thesaurus/">the Copywriting Underground</a><br /><br />---Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-1414154731808692112009-12-26T16:00:00.005-06:002009-12-26T16:00:01.283-06:00Quicky: 34 Punctuation Inspired LogosPunctuation- it's not just for books anymore. Here's a <a href="http://spyrestudios.com/34-excellent-punctuation-inspired-logo-designs/">collection of punctuation-inspired logos</a> (we'll pretend to ignore the growing overuse of exclamation points in place as the letter "i").<br /><br />---Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-33789894427984933392009-12-23T19:42:00.002-06:002009-12-23T19:42:00.490-06:00Adweek: A tale of two Tigers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-EddZxPVwZXKhyphenhyphen7LpP6NStlwt7heT3sPwSJeCNxQHYPw73iCGsfk3IJY_t6WOXXvmJPE1iBMEyji5nHHP-4DUzVJ-BuWols8JhbSQTFLTau_WvcMqGS84Y-seD2oyoMK58O_atKAmS6G/s1600-h/tiger-woods-flexing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-EddZxPVwZXKhyphenhyphen7LpP6NStlwt7heT3sPwSJeCNxQHYPw73iCGsfk3IJY_t6WOXXvmJPE1iBMEyji5nHHP-4DUzVJ-BuWols8JhbSQTFLTau_WvcMqGS84Y-seD2oyoMK58O_atKAmS6G/s400/tiger-woods-flexing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417764518282893234" border="0" /></a><br />Adweek has naturally devoted a lavish amount of coverage on Tiger, but can't seem to make up their minds on whether or not recent events will negatively impact his image and earning potential. Here's <a href="http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/strategy/e3i4c19162f98c24488c1c26a6274b68079">one Adweek article </a>where they say Tiger won't lose image points or sponsors from the public debacle and <a href="http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/client/e3i35216ec6c2433321adb83e1a310b9484">here's another from Adweek</a> that says cutting Tiger is generating positive buzz for brands. So Adweek, which is it?<br /><br />---Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-73427278949216374712009-12-21T18:18:00.003-06:002009-12-23T14:24:42.904-06:00Quicky: Microsoft's Bing being sued by Bing LLCRead more <a href="http://techie-buzz.com/tech-news/microsoft-bing-sued-by-bing-llc.html">here</a>.<br /><br />---Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-5163772811255571782009-12-19T18:44:00.006-06:002009-12-23T14:25:55.362-06:00Irony in action: Climate Summit to create as much pollution as a small city<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgLz5Dy6fziWj6b5O_lHOHVdzVoaVq3afzJ925K-H6NHaqnk6L9Suivu5elJ7yAHRPD2M-mrcbq1RWDEk8ZLEE7T0Kx__Y3wiWunGD-aW4mFZo4MyGxOSuCD68JfYOXJGo_meV78KhFif/s1600-h/ClimateSummitLimo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgLz5Dy6fziWj6b5O_lHOHVdzVoaVq3afzJ925K-H6NHaqnk6L9Suivu5elJ7yAHRPD2M-mrcbq1RWDEk8ZLEE7T0Kx__Y3wiWunGD-aW4mFZo4MyGxOSuCD68JfYOXJGo_meV78KhFif/s400/ClimateSummitLimo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417113233546251026" border="0" /></a><br />It seems attendees of the latest <a href="http://en.cop15.dk/">Climate Summit</a> to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark have taken a page from the U.S. automaker playbook.<br /><br />While huge numbers of government officials, journalists and celebrities flock toward the northern European city, they'll be doing it in an estimated 140 private jets, and more than 1,200 limos. It's so many limos, in fact, that the entire country of Denmark can't satisfy the demand, meaning that hundreds of limos will actually be imported (driven one at a time by single individuals) from hundreds of miles away in neighboring countries like Germany.<br /><br />Evidently, these officials haven't taken any hints from the public flogging U.S. automakers endured when they <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/19/autos.ceo.jets/">took private luxury jets to Congressional hearings </a>to beg for tax payer money to save their financially strapped companies.<br /><br />All said and done, the Climate Summit has already become a public relations nightmare before the Summit has actually begun. Now it just remains to be seen if any of these officials and journalists care enough to adjust their behavior or if they will simply spew eco-speak from the podium that their actions can't back up.<br /><br />Read more <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6736517/Copenhagen-climate-summit-1200-limos-140-private-planes-and-caviar-wedges.html">here</a>.<br /><br />---Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-17687157135473480682009-10-21T17:21:00.001-05:002009-10-21T17:21:00.306-05:00Inching closer to quieter commercials<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5w-UHWVChYTGBt2hcV7mNY2j4Y_KZfW-efND3kC08zSVsnN8Lt0eAmThPyipiAj2WpXA7JmE_PnWf5T_BLPStitTUOSnZov7i7qyQxe543FTVNM2DRGRLpPslqyz6NBOlPaQEH6XrTov2/s1600-h/LoudTVAds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5w-UHWVChYTGBt2hcV7mNY2j4Y_KZfW-efND3kC08zSVsnN8Lt0eAmThPyipiAj2WpXA7JmE_PnWf5T_BLPStitTUOSnZov7i7qyQxe543FTVNM2DRGRLpPslqyz6NBOlPaQEH6XrTov2/s320/LoudTVAds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395138490756764962" border="0" /></a>While most advertisers love turning the volume up to 11 on their TV commercials, few realize that the practice actually makes us hate TV commercials and the companies in the more, making us less likely to buy their products and more likely to skip the ads entirely. Counterproductive, isn't it?<br /><br />Well, <a href="http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/57974">more progress has been made</a> toward quieting down TV commercials to a reasonable level as the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM has now passed the House Communications Committee.<br /><br />I'm sure many will fight it, but in reality, reasonable sound levels on TV commercials will lead to less muting, less skipping and less hating, which one can only assume would lead to greater ad effectiveness.<br /><br />Read more about the CALM Act <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h6209/show">here</a>.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-59401983120509967642009-09-14T19:15:00.000-05:002009-09-14T19:15:00.649-05:00One upmanship, and the lucky number 13<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBFDqXjdpojk6PdZ8xPJuWW6bnHynG2TqBjzG8bHqsp15bY6ytOtfWJv6T9js0QHwg6Rdlvh6a3cPe7Tp24WsAav3fr6aPZXIRVQeO9jFJq0-KnyuKOm4TZllRmtazlg5wj-VkUekrWoW/s1600-h/TwistedTea.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBFDqXjdpojk6PdZ8xPJuWW6bnHynG2TqBjzG8bHqsp15bY6ytOtfWJv6T9js0QHwg6Rdlvh6a3cPe7Tp24WsAav3fr6aPZXIRVQeO9jFJq0-KnyuKOm4TZllRmtazlg5wj-VkUekrWoW/s320/TwistedTea.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379935292618559938" border="0" /></a>You may not have though it possible, or at least not likely, but someone has topped <a href="http://www.tiptopcash.net">TipTipCash.com</a> for repetition in a :60 radio spot.<br /><br />While <a href="http://www.twistedtea.com">Twisted Tea</a> doesn't actually mention their brand name quite as many times, they manage to say the word "tea" 13 times in a mere 60 seconds. That's roughly every four and a half seconds.<br /><br />But how? With approved phrasing like, "Twisted tea. It's the hard iced tea that tastes like real ice tea." Evidently top quality writing is a common characteristic in ads that repeat things too much. I just KNOW they're going to set themselves apart with groundbreaking lines like, "Try Twisted Tea, it's really refreshing."<br /><br />And practically comical on top of this is the fact that a brand that looks like a slightly funkier version of Snapple is trying hard to sell an iced-tea flavored alcoholic drink to young men.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The moral</span><br />I have two suggestions. First, not a lot of 18-24 males drink iced tea or want anything that tastes like it. Second, you're definitely not going to sell it to them with the voice of a chiding middle-aged woman saying, "My husband calls it his MAN-tea." Man-tea language could help you, but not if the person saying it is making fun of her man for doing it.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-67759764992843254612009-09-10T17:47:00.000-05:002009-09-10T17:47:00.300-05:009th time's a charm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIj-No1F-BIM1K634gaF5JQgW0vYE-mthvK-ry7dXeFnZ91goJ_un8K-8LczHS02gU-a4Ag2SLK15OeZ0fKZYEdvHS7shMgfgUbh-h6Iy_B4h06I15Q2JXShhv4bojnTJXT3Bfk7CMDSAy/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIj-No1F-BIM1K634gaF5JQgW0vYE-mthvK-ry7dXeFnZ91goJ_un8K-8LczHS02gU-a4Ag2SLK15OeZ0fKZYEdvHS7shMgfgUbh-h6Iy_B4h06I15Q2JXShhv4bojnTJXT3Bfk7CMDSAy/s320/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379928218802004530" border="0" /></a>Getting people to remember your company's name is great, as long as you don't say it so many times they hate you. That's precisely the case with <a href="http://www.tiptopcash.net/">TopTopCash.com</a>, who injects the company name into their :60 radio spot an average of once every seven seconds.<br /><br />The spot starts out bland and predictable, but bearable and the whole thing sounds like it was written to be :30 long. Just past the halfway point, it becomes obvious that one of two things, or both, happened.<br /><br />First, someone clearly ran out of things to say. The entire second half of the spot merely repeats the same talking points over and over in a random and non-sensical order.<br /><br />Second, it seems that someone decided the best way to fill that space was by repeating the company's name as many times as possible. More than half the mentions of the company name are in the last 15 or so seconds with revolutionary writing like, "Again, that's TipTopCash.com."<br /><br />The commercial is so grading that I actually change the station when it comes on, and it's practically the only reason I ever change my radio station.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The moral</span><br />It doesn't matter how well people remember your name if they hate you, and though the guy who stands on a corner yelling his own name over and over will be known to all, he will be friend to none.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-38601844594233783872009-08-27T11:50:00.005-05:002009-09-04T17:28:25.191-05:00Conservative talk shows find advertisers’ limits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEvpFy6EwhGiwaFQwf-NuLm8LlUYcpbxQqT87tNoxEPqcbJ9PizA7ZmXvji8bYGVryiBVDCJkf14-6Muzz4EZdYfh1DxZcqTTjb_VzIQgwfNZY0AgVXpZhyRmRMBOArm1z_JXs5Q0En-V/s1600-h/GlennBeck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEvpFy6EwhGiwaFQwf-NuLm8LlUYcpbxQqT87tNoxEPqcbJ9PizA7ZmXvji8bYGVryiBVDCJkf14-6Muzz4EZdYfh1DxZcqTTjb_VzIQgwfNZY0AgVXpZhyRmRMBOArm1z_JXs5Q0En-V/s320/GlennBeck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377742452446054498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With reality TV and “news” programs of all political ideologies sounding more and more like fear-mongering, sensationalist pundit megaphones, I begin to believe there was not longer content you could put on TV that would scare away advertisers.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
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<br />I was wrong.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
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<br />Glenn Beck recently discovered <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090824/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_beck_s_advertisers">where advertisers draw the line</a> when he called President Obama a racist. Within mere weeks of making the comment, 33 sponsors have pulled their advertising from <a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/splash.php">Glenn Beck’s show</a>, including the advertisers with gargantuan ad budgets like Sprint, Walmart and Clorox.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
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<br />While I am a proponent of free speech, I am not a proponent of punditry parading as news, regardless of which “side of the aisle” it comes from. In an era of increasingly shocking and outrageous television, it’s nice to know there is still a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words">line of decency</a> somewhere, however far, that advertisers simply won’t cross.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41_FVwv1QeFCcISkQ4TyroBXtGcuq1GgOS2DEoe8uBc3bDJO8vaa3W-ECELZDLeABRN8Svsvj0yv0B53vyMhEYBo483Vji4SBqO_DioJqmEEHLabu1j_PeRGBL6ny8SzmKxbk9JV1joNv/s1600-h/glenn_fox.jpg">
<br /></a><meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>126</o:Words> <o:characters>722</o:Characters> <o:lines>6</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>886</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-alt:Times; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:0 2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2; mso-font-alt:Helvetica; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Courier;} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Courier;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-90055430461684738582009-08-13T18:05:00.002-05:002009-08-13T18:05:00.374-05:00Courtesy is a two-way street<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxT5rjqboj0iFd6qFHEfsNHeF9HRehcCRu1OKuyB0DeZWV5c3Nku8gfzuPERkBKKuwmnhkm0hmfVfQ2SJdnjMIUI6av4oMOxGp2Inz_2hlhUYs1WDSdYLpGTG6uk8hUrnP36pjdxoXn1Y/s1600-h/Art+Portfolio.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxT5rjqboj0iFd6qFHEfsNHeF9HRehcCRu1OKuyB0DeZWV5c3Nku8gfzuPERkBKKuwmnhkm0hmfVfQ2SJdnjMIUI6av4oMOxGp2Inz_2hlhUYs1WDSdYLpGTG6uk8hUrnP36pjdxoXn1Y/s320/Art+Portfolio.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369550601491095154" border="0" /></a>I thought it was very timely that with so many looking for work that Yahoo recently ran <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107519/5-ways-companies-mistreat-job-seekers.html?mod=career-salary_negotiation">this article</a> about how often and flagrantly those who do the hiring mistreat those looking to be hired.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To the interviewees</span><br />I'm glad to say that my current employer was anything but rude. They were kind, considerate and courteous; traits I see reflected in the way they do business every day. Often the way a company conducts an interview is the way they conduct business in general, so pay attention yourself if you're the one interviewing. You may get some valuable insights into the company you're trying to work for. If you're smart, you'll even have good questions prepared to interview the the interviewers about the company. You can ask questions, too. Even though they may lie through their teeth (as one of my previous employers did), at least you tried. If successful, you can learn a great deal about the company before you ever spend a day on the job.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To the Interviewers</span><br />I know you're busy and it seems like you have all the power, but the article I linked at the beginning of this post holds some valuable nuggets you need to keep in mind.<br /><br />1) You're not the only company this person is interviewing with.<br /><br />Despite how bushy-tailed, prepared and pumped your interviewee seems to be about your interview, it's mostly because they want a job <span style="font-style: italic;">somewhere</span>. Chances are that you're one of several companies they've interviewed with and if you treat them without respect, you can easily lose that candidate if another offer comes along.<br /><br />2) Job seekers have long memories.<br /><br />A great deal of the time job seekers are hunting for jobs frantically in a time of great need. While their interview may just be a mid-afternoon annoyance that's interrupting your concepting, to them it may be constitute days of research, preparation and expense in the quest to make sure they can continue to keep food in their mouths and a roof over their heads. If you slight someone unnecessarily in a time of need like that, they're not likely to forget.<br /><br />3) Word gets around.<br /><br />Job seekers who have bad experiences tell ALL of their friends, and pretty much anyone else willing to listen. As small as most industries are, you can have a terrible reputation with potential employees after mistreating candidates when filling just a few positions. Make it a habit and word can start to spread to other cities. I know of one company whose hiring (and operating) practices are so abismal that people are warning anyone they know not to work there, even hundreds of miles away from the company itself. That kind of negative word-of-mouth can really hurt your applicant pool.<br /><br /><br />Read <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107519/5-ways-companies-mistreat-job-seekers.html?mod=career-salary_negotiation">Yahoo's article </a>on the five most common ways employers mistreat job applicants.Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873014028112220799.post-26490077545281548922009-08-04T22:18:00.004-05:002009-08-04T22:27:41.728-05:00Twisted Giveaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFykTNyzfmFwIvnOi-tiXhd78S25lCOEJ5KXTvoyjsFOpfYN1E07TiDLBJgBdNvokcSHJ3Vm3xO_4x2O4f34lrg2YtgdXnHiYjJdpNO77UraQ5r1AsHw83iHIo7Nf-S8QHMA0wxzBWM9Qy/s1600-h/ESI07_HR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFykTNyzfmFwIvnOi-tiXhd78S25lCOEJ5KXTvoyjsFOpfYN1E07TiDLBJgBdNvokcSHJ3Vm3xO_4x2O4f34lrg2YtgdXnHiYjJdpNO77UraQ5r1AsHw83iHIo7Nf-S8QHMA0wxzBWM9Qy/s320/ESI07_HR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366316131391891474" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks to the kind folks over at allmodern.com, I get to reward you, my readers, with a sweet giveaway. Leave a comment on this blog entry and you'll be entered to win the red basket pictured here. And just to keep things interesting, when you comment, let me know what you WOULDN'T do with this delightful piece if you won it. Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:11pt;" ></span> <p><i><span><a href="http://www.allmodern.com/" target="_blank">All Modern</a> has a fantastic selection of modern furniture and home accessories from many leading designers. Part of CSN Stores, All Modern is just one of over 260 retail sites that offer a diverse array of products from Herman Miller’s popular <a href="http://www.csnchairs.com/asp/show_collection.asp?XnID=8344" target="_blank">Aeron</a> Chair to cookware by <a href="http://www.cookware.com/Rachael-Ray-C31189.html" target="_blank">Rachael Ray</a>.<br /></span></i></p>Spork in the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553566543163796092noreply@blogger.com6