Is Microsoft Onto Something?

We've been watching the semi-bizzaro unfolding of Microsoft's new campaign, which has morphed from Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld at Shoe Circus earning Big Top points to the new back-at-ya-Apple "I'm a PC" series.

Crispin Porter+Bogusky can sometimes do avant-garde work for the sake of the work, but they might be onto something here.

It's a little early to tell, but is there a subculture of PC pride out there somewhere? The Chiat/Day Mac campaign is classic, but did CP+B find its weakness by telling all the PC users out there that it's time to tell Justin Long to just shut up for a while?

Now granted, in the ad biz, Macs are the rule, and (full disclosure here), I've been one of the lone PC guys in several agencies where I worked.

In an ironic twist, I was the computer maverick.

And I've put up with lots of Mac snobbery, even though people brought me files to adjust so we could give clients documents that would work on THEIR PCs.

So--is there a PC nation out there brimming with pride that will go out and wear T-shirts and get Windows tattoos and celebrate being part of an "in" crowd?

Doubt it. In fact, I can pretty much bet that this would never happen, even if you put Mohave-powered guns to their heads.

But CP+B has reminded me (and a lot of other people), with classic strategy, that if I'm happy with my PC, I can sit back and smugly let the trendy folks do whatever they want.

Skulls and Crossbones Go Viral

Today is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. I'm not making this up.

Here's the official website. And besides being an overlooked national holiday, this is an interesting example of how even the weirdest ideas can take off with a little good publicity and the instant powers of the internet.

National Talk Like A Pirate Day has been around for a few years. It was a goofy idea that caught the attention of humorist Dave Barry, who included it in his newspaper column. That was the tipping point, and with a minimal website, the idea went viral.

In addition to the website, there are a bunch of YouTube videos, and having just discovered it today, I've already annoyed numerous friends with details and bad pirate accents.

Just shows what the power of a little good communications can do. Garr!

Learn From Some Knoxville Marketing Experts

Panel Discussion: Marketing Convenience in a Not-So-Convenient Economy

In a world (homage to the late, great Don LaFontaine) of savvy consumers, super-stores and a lagging economy, how do some retailers stay relevant? On Thursday, September 25, the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville invites you to learn how the marketing experts from area convenience store businesses overcome these challenges. Specific topics will include:

- Musings & Evolution (effects of consumer habits, super-stores, and the economy)

- Store Branding (selling and moving products in and around the store)

- Creative Messaging (finding unique ways to talk to the target audience)

- Media Placements (finding unique ways to reach the target audience)

Thursday, September 25

Peerless Restuarant

11:30 Networking | 11:45 Lunch & Panel Discussion

$20 Member | $25 Non-Member (credit cards accepted with $1.25 fee)

RSVP by September 23 to Karen at edirector@aafknoxville.com or 742-4838

Tennessee Brand Undergoing Some Modifications

Click here to check out a story about a Tennessee brand that might be making some modifications to its products. I was worried that Cracker Barrel was going to add fish tacos to its menu "in an effort to boost profits and sales at a time of intense industry competition, therefore ushering in a more aggressive period of new product news and customer diversification." But it looks like they're adding some breakfast skillets, which seems appropriate - maybe they'll be positioned as the south's rendition of fajitas. Should we consider these skillets a significant enough product development initiative to bring in bigger crowds? If so, expect to wait 25 minutes instead of the usual 15 for a table on the weekends. (The quotes are mine, but I'm sure someone said it during a meeting somewhere.)

Surveying Knoxville's Advertising Community

The American Advertising Federation is asking Knoxville's advertising community to participate in a survey about the networking, professional development and other services it offers. Click here to put in your two-cents worth (password: district7). The results will be revealed at AAF-Knoxville's Membership Drive on Thursday, October 23.

Marketing Knoxville + Oak Ridge

There's a lot of talk in the media about Innovation Valley's new campaign to boost the economic development of Knoxville and Oak Ridge. Competition to recruit new business and grow existing industry is fierce in the southeast, so Innovation Valley (a partnership of chambers of commerce and economic development agencies in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Roane counties, Oak Ridge and Tellico Lake area) is raising funds to support a five-year campaign. The organization hopes to create 30,000 jobs, increase existing business jobs by 19,000, create more than $3 billion in capital investment, increase per capita income to $45,000, and increase high school graduation rate by 20 percent. Support this Knoxville and Oak Ridge marketing initiative any way you can, and click here to read more here.

Just How Shiny Is Chrome?

Been tinkering a lot with Google's new browser, Chrome, over the last few days. It's pretty impressive in a variety of ways. It seems to be faster on a three-year-old computer than Explorer or Firefox, and the interface is unobtrusive so the page you're viewing appears bigger and more open on the screen. That's nice.

There are also interesting features like being able to surf anonymously (you can visit this blog and no one ever has to know), which is also a perk that comes with the new Explorer 8. And Chrome lets you do interesting things in conjunction with Google's growing list of online resources.

It's a serious competitor to established browsers, and if you're into web design, you've gotta start looking at how your pages work with Chrome.

Now--here's an irony. Chrome's still in beta, so maybe this will be resolved, but if you try to post to a Blogger-driven blog in chrome, it's a crapshoot as to what your finished post will look like. Fonts change for no reason. There are boxes that appear from nowhere. Colors don't always match what you select.

That's got to be a little embarassing for the folks at Googleplex.

But since Chrome is open source and there are scores of geeks already at work on tweaks, let's see where it goes. And we invite you to share your takes on Chrome with other members of the communications community. Weigh in by clicking the comment link below.

Chime in on Seinfeld & Gates

Everyone seems to have an opinion about the new Microsoft TV ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. They were created by Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Fast Company magazine talked about the relationship in this article.

The American Advertising Federation of Knoxville wants to know what you think. If you haven't seen it, view it here, then make a comment to this post and voice your opinion as a Knoxville advertising pro.

Monkeys Are The Best

So this has nothing to do with Knoxville advertising, but you have to read this story about George, the 7-week-old chimp at the Knoxville Zoo. Check out the part in Georgie boy's hair - in 7th grade (early 80s), I tried so hard to have a middle part that would allow me to feather my hair back. Lucky monkey looks cooler than I ever did.

Online Fieldtrip: Advertising Hall of Fame

If you haven't visited the Advertising Hall of Fame online, it's worth a few clicks. The site is nicely designed, and it offers a bunch of content about the industry's greats, including biographies, examples of work, audio clips of speeches, and other neat collectables.

One noteworthy omission: Bill Bernbach used to carry a card around in his pocket. He'd refer to the card frequently.

It simply said: "Maybe he is right."

Pretty noble for a copywriter, huh? Especially one that's been called the greatest of all time.

Social Network for Knoxville Advertising Pros

Get in touch. Stay in touch. Network with other pros. Be notified about after-hour events. RSVP for luncheons. Connect with National AAF. Connect with District AAF. Look at goofy photos. Add goofy photos. Write on a wall. Comment about goofy photos. Learn about some news. Tag your colleagues in goofy photos. Become a member of the AAF-Knoxville Facebook group. Join some other groups. Post some links. Be social.

Their Knoxville Ads Worked - Until I Went to Shop

I've got a bit of the new car itch. And I was hoping to scratch it a little this weekend by kicking some tires at a few Knoxville car dealerships. Why? Because their advertising in Knoxville worked - I saw the "Labor Day Sale" ads, liked the message of 0.9% and 1.9% interest rates, and decided to at least drive a few of the models that I've had my eye on.

I hate shopping for a car; I would rather go to the dentist. (Seriously, I love my dentist.) But on Sunday afternoon, I got myself psyched up and drove to the first of three Knoxville car dealerships I wanted to visit. As I was pulling up to the entrance, I could feel my blood pressure increase, then my pulse. I slowed down, started to pull in, then the gate was closed. I looked down the street, and the other gate was closed. The dealership wasn't open. So I went to the second dealership, and it was closed too. The third one? Yup, closed.

Ugh. All of that mustering up for nothing. Well, since I was out, I decided to visit a fourth Knoxville dealership. The cars it has are not within my first choices, but at that point I had nothing to lose. I park my car, get out, and am immediately approached by a sales professional.

"I'd like to drive your [blank] model with the [blank], [blank], and [blank]," I said.

"Oh, that one's out on a test drive," he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, how about another model. I like the [blank]," I said.

"We've got just one, and it's up here on the sidewalk on display," he gestured.

"Can I drive it?" I asked.

"Well, if you can wait a while. These other cars will have to move, and I'll have to get the ramps." he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, okay. Well, can I sit in it?" I asked.

He went and got the keys, opened the doors, started up the car to get the air conditioning cranked, and offered me a seat. I sat in the driver's seat, and he got in the passenger's. I looked around for a few minutes, played with the buttons, and dialed the radio to a good XM station.

"I'd really like to drive this," I said.

"Well, what if you make an appointment for tomorrow and come back?" he asked.

So I made an appointment for Monday. Then came Monday morning. On my way back out to that dealership for my appointment, I decided to first stop by the other three that were closed on Sunday.

"They're all having 'Labor Day' sales, so surely they'll be open on Labor Day," I thought. I thought wrong. They were closed. Again. Ugh. Now I'm not in the mood to return to the fourth dealership to talk the sales professional into selling me a car. Or just letting me touch one. So I went to the grocery store instead.

If you're going to advertise it, be prepared to sell it.