WSJ: NBC Super Bowl Ads to Cost $3 Million

By MATTHEW FUTTERMAN and SUZANNE VRANICA
May 6, 2008; Page B8

The Super Bowl has always been a tough ticket, but now NBC is telling advertisers it will cost them $3 million just to get into the game -- for 30 seconds.

COMMENTS

• Guess it is not to early to tell people how much $$$$$ they need to get to run ads
• Especially when we are talking $3 million for 30 seconds
  
• "It represents a price increase of more than 10%, roughly double the usual annual rise."
• How are they going to convince marketers that this is reasonable?
• Is there going to be some ads on the website [included in the price]?
• This would be helpful if it brings additional exposures and dwell time on viewers.
• Gonna be interesting to see how buyers react to this.
  
• Are they under the gun to buy time no mater the price?
  
• How is effectiveness per dollar spent going to be measured?
• The key for the marketer is a profitable response; profits generated must greater than the investment.

What are your thoughts?

WSJ: Coke, Pepsi Bottlers Try New Sizes To Boost Sales

By BETSY MCKAY

May 2, 2008

Hoping to pump up soda sales, several U.S. soft-drink bottlers are testing alternatives to a convenience-store icon: the 20-ounce bottle.

MY THOUGHTS

• Lower prices are better price points for consumers
  
• Smaller package may have better results on buy 2 promotions
• A variety of sizes to meet customer demand is a good thing
• Some consumers do not want 20oz
• 16.9oz was the glass bottle size back when I was a child

What are your thoughts?

horsepigcow.com : Tweeting for Companies 101

April 21, 2008 – 4:58 pm

Why Twitter?

Twitter can be an amazingly powerful platform for connecting to your community as well as driving traffic to the various properties you want people to go. Having an event? Tweet it out! Launched a new bag? Tweet it out! ...

My thoughts

If you want to learn more about Twitter read the rest of this article by Tara Hunt. Highly recommended.

You will probably become a follower of hers on twitter too. Her book was referenced in an online presentation [see link below]. That's how I came across her Twitter screen name.

The book does not come out until late this year.

Here is the link for Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Whuffie-Factor-Capital-Winning-Communities/dp/0307409503?ie=UTF8

You should find the presentation by Pistachio [Laura Fitton] that references Tara Hunt here. This should be the morning lecture.

"The ABC’s of Self-Motivation"

Some interesting things to ponder here.
HT: Ian’s Messy Desk

FOCUS ON THE GOAL

This sign was in the window of a business that had recently closed. They came to the realization that you have to focus...

• Satisfy & delight customers [They will come back and tell their friends too]
  
• Deliver value [Customer gives you money and gets something even more valuable, your product or service]
  
• Create a profit [or at least break even]
• Do not try to be everything to everyone
  

PIZZA MARKETING

Was in Jet's Pizza for some slices. The box had two messages. These were both new. Didn't get these with pizza last week.

First, a carry out menu was included. They want to sell more then just slices of pizza to me.

Second, a small note similar to a Post-It note was included. It was informing me of a new product.

Product name: New York Style BOLD FOLD PIZZA.

These messages got my attention.


QUESTIONS

How are you getting your customers attention?
How are you communicating with your customers?
What is your message?
Is it effective in increasing sales and profits?

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

Peter F. Drucker on Leadership

"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes."