Alf's Blog

Teen Body Image & The Smart Marketer

From USA Today-- "In the largest study to date on adolescents' views of their bodies and their use of hormones and supplements, one in eight boys and one in 12 girls reported using such products in the past year to improve their appearance, muscle mass or strength."

"Based on a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 adolescents, the study, out Monday in the journal Pediatrics, shows a high rate of concern about body image in both boys and girls and finds that teens who worry about body image are much more likely to use hormones and dietary supplements to try to enhance their physiques."

Recent media coverage has focused on American's size increase, both adults and teens, and obesity has been named a national epidemic. Somewhere in the middle of the fattening of American, and teens using drugs to get skinny or muscular, there must be a middle ground. A smart marketer will find a new focus and present the teen market with healthy, appropriate role models and cultural icons. If Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta Jones can make millions while sporting curves, well…there’s a big message.

It's all relative...

By Kevin Frank, humerous illustrator

A Deeper Look at Contextual Ads

Mark Glaser details the good, bad and ugly of contextual ads from Google and Yahoo. His article takes a look at embarrassing juxtapositions that have plagued contextual ads on media sites and blogs, and explains how they can fit well with commercially focused content. He provides a deeper look at the pros and cons of AdSense and ContentMatch.

If Only Marketers Ruled The World

If marketers ruled the world, perhaps prayers would be answered.

Things I pray for: A Starbucks location that doesn't blast the reader or laptop user with death-by-decibel sound…airport doors that open automatically…soup always served piping-hot in restaurants…and receipt-dispensing gas pumps that never run out of paper. I can wish, can't I?

After all, if the marketplace is smart enough to invent and exploit Post-It-Notes and Velcro, it certainly should be able to find a way to serve a decent cup of coffee on an airline flight.

Read more suggestions for idea-seeking marketers.

Finally...the truth caught on film

Someone has answered the age-old question of why men and women have two hands.

Why women have two hands...

Why men have two hands...

Secrets Down Under

Specialist travel agent, Austravel, has relaunched its website as it shifts online marketing to the center of its promotional efforts.

The new site is at the heart of Austravel's strategy for increasing market share and brand awareness. The company is trying to showcase its new re-branding campaign, which focuses on a theme of sharing secrets--and who doesn't love to be in on a secret? Which restaurant is the best kept secret in town? Where do the locals shop? Anyone who travels can relate. Further content and functions will be launched later in the year, including a forum where consumers can share their own travel secrets; a relaunch of the site's booking system and a section to create detailed itineraries. The site is being promoted by e-mail to 80,000 people.

Tech Vision

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other executives, all part of the Washington-based Business Software Alliance, met with congressional leaders and members of President's Bush's cabinet last week to lobby over Internet security, foreign trade and protections against software piracy.

The group also met with AP reporters to discuss future technologies and Internet safety. Among the technology discussion points was a car that could detect if you had too much vino with your veal. In the future, your car might not start if you're drunk--and perhaps it will even call a cab for you, notify your spouse and reschedule business appointments early the next morning (apparently the vision includes a hang over).

The future is certainly wide open for the tech industry but before my car calls a cab, I wish someone could figure out how to effectively eliminate spam, and develop a remote control that gives proxy over cell phones and Blackberrys--picture it: meeting participants enter a room and the facilitator, before opening comments, can hit a button and all wi-fi devices are disabled--that's a vision for the future.

Small Expectations = Growing Market

Woot, a web technology clearning house, is quielty building a following with one of the most quirky sales models we've seen. New products are announed each night at midnight, and are available for purchase until the product sells out or 24 hours has passed, which ever comes first.

Equally interesting is their FAQ. After reading through this piece you'll have no doubt about what to expect from this company. An example of honesty on the front-end...a novel idea.

As I wrote in a recent column, marketers should never forget that the portal to the customer will often establish the perception of the brand. How I'm treated on the phone, on-line or as I cross the threshold and enter the store will invariably play a major part in defining my future opinion of and relationship with the brand.

Having little expectations for customer service or support seems to work in the world of Woot, and it works because the company makes no promises otherwise.

Dean's Intent

Are Dean’s comments choreographed to bring attention back to the party, or is he completely marching to his own drum? Analysts, critics and the public-at-large seem to have differing opinions related to the Green Mountain State Governor’s intent. With leading democrats crying foul and retreating from their newly elected mouth, there certainly does seem to be confusion among the ranks. What do you think—is Dean effectively diverting media spotlights from the Bush administration and current events, or is he acting on his own agenda?

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