WIN: Moonwalker for SEGA

Perhaps the best example of using new media to promote a brand and increase sales is featuring the King of Pop in a video game. This not only benefited SEGA with great sales of video games, but also with Michael Jackson’s brand as a person who would define the culture of a generation.

Take a look at a clip of the video game here. Just ignore the obvious humor that he’s saving children and enjoy the awesomeness of the game.

FAIL: Pepsi

The soft drink industry has a pretty standard formula of mentioning a celebrity to try to relate to its audience and Pepsi was no different when it tried to use Jackson to sell its product. There’s nothing special about this endorsement, except for the exorbitant amount of money they paid Michael.

To watch the ad, click here.

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Today we continue with some more practical networking tips.

Karma is your friend.

Whether you believe in it in your daily life or not, karma is definitely relevant in social networking. Give and you shall receive. You become much more successful by creating a giving reputation than a self-serving one.

Also, when someone’s good to you, let them know! The thank you notes that you write to your colleagues are just as important as the ones your mom made you send out after your birthday parties.

Relax, smile and be positive.

No lie, social networking events can be a little intimidating. You’re putting yourself out there! But just showing up is putting you ahead of everyone who didn’t go.

Even if you’re hurting or had a rough day at work, smile and don’t say anything too negative about yourself or your job. Everyone gripes, but keep it to a minimum so no one thinks you’re a drag.

Whenever conversations get tough, remember, there’s always the weather!

Warning: this could potentially be NSFW!

All I need to know about social media, I learned from being @the_swine_flu

Yes, this was pretty funny. And who doesn’t love Tina Fey!

But let’s be honest, you learned a little something too. Let’s recap:

Ways to effectively use social media…

1. Get a good name
2. Brand your profile
3. Be provocative
4. Join the conversation
5. Follow your target market
6. Stay positive
7. Collaborate
8. Share your acheivements
9. Diversify
10. Host an event
11. Encourage participation
12. Give back
13. Ask the crowd for help
14. Location! Location! Location!
15. Get personal
16. Beware the competition
17. Don’t forget the press
18. Measure

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“Networking tips” could possibly be a phrase you hate by now. I personally loathe it. It rears its nasty head in my email inbox multiple times per day via the various online services I’ve used to apply for jobs in the past.

How could all or any of those emails have practical advice designed for the sane person (this excludes those who send singing telegrams/fruit baskets/elaborate personalized artistic creations to potential employers)? Here are the basics that I’ve gathered from my time in the field, divided into multiple installments for your reading pleasure.

If you are jobless, consider what you can offer the community.

You’re unemployed, but that doesn’t mean you have nothing to bring to the table. What is it that you want to do? Offer up your services for free, or introduce the people within your network.

Don’t cut off communication because you got your dream job.

Nothing leaves a nasty impression on someone like abandoning your relationship with them when you get what you want.

Skip the whole groveling-back-begging-for-forgiveness part; keep in contact with the people in your network. You never know when you’ll be able to help them or when you’ll need their help again.

Stay tuned next week for the next two tips!

We are but a mere 7 day forecast away from Ad2’s April event, “Derek Said It Would.” On that fateful Wednesday evening, Ad2 members and non-members alike have the privilege of joining what WLWT’s beloved chief meteorologist has to say about his meteoric rise to local celebrity status.

Derek Beasley was hired to WLWT’s staff as morning meteorologist in 2005, but was quickly promoted to the station’s chief meteorologist position a little over a year later. His discussion on the 29th will cover how the station consulted professionals to better market themselves, which eventually launched the powerful, catchy “Derek Said It Would” campaign.

To brighten your day with the enthusiasm that can only come from a weather forecast, try this on for size: http://www.wlwt.com/video/14407192/index.html

Get the behind-the-scenes story of the marketing and the latest forecast LIVE from the WLWT Studio on Wednesday, April 29 at 6 p.m.! Members can RSVP to Ad2cincy@gmail.com by April 28 at 5 p.m., while non-members pay a mere $10 in advance at adclubcincy.org/events. At the door, members pay $5 and non-members pay $15.

And don’t forget! The Gold Star Chilimobile (yes, that’s a real thing, not just from your wildest dreams) will be on location making it rain cheese coneys on all who attend.

All in all, the “Derek Said It Would” event precipitates to be a pretty sunshiny occasion.

Thanks to the 50+ people who came out on that windy, drizzly Wednesday evening!

For those of you who missed out, here’s a little recap of what happened and some fun facts that the victors of the Crash the Super Bowl contest revealed:

- The Herbert Brothers kicked it off with a reel of their work so far and the media reaction to their Super Bowl victory. They really had the nation talking!

-Their home town of Batesville actually, not even kidding, threw them a parade upon their return home and made that day (February 24) Joe and Dave Herbert Appreciation Day. What do you have to do to get that honor here in Cincinnati?

-The burning question: how much did it cost? About $2,000. Costs included the vending machine (purchased from E-Bay), specially designed glass for the vending machine that was to shatter on impact, and food for the cast and crew. As a word of advice when feeding a crew that’s working for free, Dave told us to, “Feed them filet mignon if you have to.” However, after winning the contest, the #1 rated Super Bowl commercial and the $1,000,000, they paid the cast and crew plentifully.

-The snow globe that crashed through the vending machine in the commercial was actually a duct-taped bocce ball that they snagged from their parents’ house. Try pausing the commercial just before it hits the glass and you’ll see the real face of the “crystal ball.”

-Neither of them attended any sort of film school and have no plans to…ever!

-The Super Bowl fortunes gave Joe and Dave the opportunity to hire themselves. They’re now working at pitching their first movie out in Hollywood. Any plans to uproot and leave Batesville? Not if they can avoid it, but who knows what the future holds?

-For many years, the brothers have been crafting a board game and with their recent fame, they’ve been able to release it. It’s called “Triviathon,” the trivia game where you can win without knowing all the answers. Want to know more? Check out http://www.jeezlepetes.com/index.asp.

- And yes, we all got free Doritos.

If you missed this one, make sure to hit the next Ad2sday happy hour at Nicholson’s on April 14 at 6 p.m. We will be having a beer tasting plus some other specials. And then for our April program…

You know the song…

You know that face…

Join Ad2 in the studio at the WLWT station with Derek Beasley on April 29 at 6 p.m. Get the latest forecast from Derek, so you can tell all your friends that “Derek Said It Would.” Or invite them to come along! All are welcome to join us for this special evening with Derek.
Check our website at www.ad2cincy.org for more information.

Perhaps it was your favorite Super Bowl commercial of 2009, perhaps not. But either way, you have to give some street cred to the guy that nailed his boss where it hurts with a snow globe.

Now, your friends at Ad2, Cincinnati State ADCLUB and ADCLUB Cincinnati join forces to give you the opportunity to meet the local celebs that created this masterpiece of Super Bowl advertising. These geniuses, the Herbert Brothers, are actually seasoned veterans of the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl competition. Check out their first ad to make the finals in 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdQNcmnNZEU

When Doritos announced that the contest was back on for filmmakers in 2009, Dave and Joe Herbert dug out their notes from 2007. From that list, they resurrected the idea for Free Doritos! and a star was born. As a refresher, here’s their winning ad, Free Doritos!

http://www.doritosvote.com/playcommercial.asp

Note that in both commercials, some of the same actors appear. As another point of pride for the area, the actors are all local, too. In a competition with other leading entries from LA and New York, the greater Cincinnati area has really got something to brag about in the advertising world!

So how do you get the hookup to attend this soirée? If you’re an Ad2, ADCLUB or Cincinnati State ADCLUB member, pre-register by March 23 at 5 p.m. by sending an email to ad2cincy@gmail.com. Not a member yet? You can go to Free Doritos! for $10 by registering online at https://store.adclubcincy.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/PWDA.woa/wa/product?pageId=5659&storeId=7&productId=1974.
Or you can purchase the Nacho Cheesier Ad2 half year membership for just $38! The membership will get you into all other Ad2 events for free, which promise to be action-packed in the coming months. Join today at https://store.adclubcincy.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/PWDA.woa/wa/product?pageId=5659&storeId=7&productId=867.

And don’t worry — this isn’t just for advertising professionals. Anyone is welcome, so go ahead and invite your friend who laughed the loudest at your Super Bowl party.

So don’t waste an opportunity to meet some small town guys who made it big! Hear more about Free Doritos! and the Herbert Brothers from the horse’s mouth at Cincinnati State at 6 p.m. with a reception including appetizers, beer and wine to follow at The Summit of Cincinnati State.

Will you be attending Free Doritos on March 25? I think that’s a yes!

Want to show off your creative excellence in front of Cincinnati professionals? Enter to win this year’s Student ADDY Awards Competition. The Student ADDY’s is an awards competition that recognizes exceptional advertising created in Cincinnati. It allows work to be viewed, judged and presented in front of professionals. Get recognized and build your resume! Please visit www.cincinnatiaddys.com for categories and how to enter.