Chevy Commercial: Come and Get It?

One of my favorite bands was Badfinger. I'm not very superstitious, but it appears this great band was horribly cursed and couldn't achieve the level of success people expected in spite of being handpicked by the Beatles to be the first group after them on the Apple label.

I was delighted to "hear" the latest Chevrolet commercial with the Badfinger hit "Come and Get It." Sure, it would have been better if they had used the actual group and not some commercial covering and it would have been better still if it had been a song written by them and not Paul McCartney (no offense, but I actually like the other Badfinger hits better than this). But still, this was very exciting, even though I'm not sure if any of the members make a penny from the commercial since the performance is not by them and the song was written by someone else.

Any way, I'm watching this commercial, which is about the great deals you can get by buying from Chevrolet at this time and next thing you know I'm singing it (with jeers and boos from family members) and I remember lines not used in the commercial. "Did I hear you say that there must be a catch? Will you walk away from a fool and his money?" Hmmm, no wonder Chevrolet didn't want you to hear the rest of the song. After all, the viewer might wonder who the fool is? Any way, I like the spot, but I wonder if I am the only one who knows the lyrics who are watching those commercials.

Maybe Chevrolet should stick with simpler spots where they control the content, like the one above.

Walmart's Continued War on Poverty

I'm an unashamed Walmart fan and have sung its praises in numerous blog posts over time. The company's latest ad campaign only continues to highlight the positive impact the company is having on the personal economies of people everywhere.

Why do I love Walmart?

* Because it is the country's largest employer with over 1.3 million receiving paychecks thanks to the company personified with a smiley face.

* It reduces poverty in developing countries without spending a single US tax dollar, thanks to job creation by the business super power around the globe. Walmart pays more than the industry norm in those countries and are developing the future consumers of US products. Americans like to complain about the jobs we export and goods we import. The reason the US imports more than we export is because we can afford to. The last time we had a long term trade surplus was during the Great Depression, which is not an attractive proposition. If we want foreign countries to buy our goods, they will have to be richer. Walmart is leading that effort.

* The result of making goods at a price that is a fraction of what they would cost in other parts of the world saves US consumers $2,500.00 a year on average (see video). This is an incredible savings for US consumers. Furthermore, Walmart keeps competitor prices in check as well.
Walmart remains my hero in the market place.

I get tired of the negative remarks against the retail giant and appreciate saving every dollar I can when I go shopping there.

Lee Bollinger's Big Surprise

I wrote this post as I watched events unfold on TV. Columbia President Lee Bollinger is giving Iranian President Ahmadinejad the public tongue lashing he has long deserved.

Beginning with a warm introduction, Bollinger followed with an inventory of questions that highlight the threat Iran is to the world, including the US. Furthermore, he listed the numerous Human Rights violations the Iranian regime is famous for. Bollinger ended his series of questions by stating that he didn't expect Ahmadinejad to have the "intellectual courage" to answer the queries.

I was shocked. So was the Iranian President who basically countered that Bollinger had "bad manners" according to Iranian standards. The wonderful thing about it, Ahmadinejad spent much of the address countering Bollinger's well put attacks.

So why did Bollinger get tough? I can only speculate, but a few thoughts came to mind:

* He probably got a little tired picking up newspapers and seeing that providing this forum was the equivalent of giving Hitler a forum, giving the President's view of Israel and the West. I'm not sure if that is how Bollinger wants to be remembered.

* I'm sure he has personal disdain over the views of Ahmadinejad. How could he not?

* Maybe it was a planned "set up." An opportunity to take the Iranian president to task with an unusually large audience to watch both in an auditorium and TV.

* He was probably influenced by personal relationships. I'm sure family, friends, and business associates raised questions about the wisdom of such a decision.

* This is my opinion, but the most important reason is that "money talks." How many alumni of Jewish descent threatened to pull the plug on the institution? How many veterans who saw their band of brothers killed at the hands of Iranian terrorists protested? How many supporters of the university who experienced little pain directly from the Iranian monster, but had abundant enough common sense to not tolerate such a choice by the university?

I doubt seriously that Bollinger received "common sense," but instead was influenced by "dollars and cents." I guess we should be glad that, at least on one small level, Bollinger did the right thing. It would have been so much better if he had done the right thing for all the right reasons, which would include not giving this dictator any audience at all.

Geekipedia from Wired Magazine

I just got my new Wired Magazine (which, for some odd reason gets to my house about a week after it hits the newsstand -- a source of irritation to me) and it included a supplement called "Geekipedia." This glossy magazine is, essentially, a glossary of all the neat terms that the modern geek should know today.

I'm a little afraid to talk about it. Some of these items, I'm sure, are common knowledge to many. But at the risk of looking stupid, here are a few things I discovered.

* There is a Fake Steve Jobs (see video). There is some guy on the Internet that tells people how Jobs really feels about the latest technology. He is not nearly as polite as the real Steve Jobs.

* This guide includes the best summary of energy alternatives I have seen yet, including liquefied coal and the subtle difference between cellulosic ethanol and corn-based ethanol. This is a great source that includes why an energy could be the source of the future and why it may not make it.

* Web 3.0. This concept is still somewhat nebulous and I notice that the Geekipedia is refraining from going into detail on the subject, but it is one more concept that everyone will be talking about in no time. Many have just finally figured out Web 2.0!

I enjoyed my guide and it makes me wonder how I got by without it. However, in a few months, Web 3.0 will be solidly defined, but I won't know it from this magazine. Furthermore, there will be numerous new terms added. It makes one ask the question, why even make a print edition of the wild world of geek language? Wouldn't it be easier to make it purely online?

2007 Forbes 400

The World's financial elite have become more elite over the last few years. It wasn't very long ago when you could get in the Forbes 400 with less than a billion dollars. Not anymore, the poorest guy on the list is worth $1.3 billion.

Here are a few other interesting facts:

* "The collective net worth of the nation's mightiest plutocrats rose $290 billion to $1.54 trillion."

* "Nearly half of the 45 new members made their fortunes in hedge funds and private equity. "

* "The biggest gainer this year was Kirk Kerkorian, who padded his fortune by $9 billion as shares of his MGM Mirage (nyse: MGM - news - people ) casino outfit rose 135% over the past year. "

* "The youngest member of the Forbes 400 this year is 33-year-old John Arnold, a former Enron trader who now runs hedge fund Centaurus Energy and has amassed a $1.5 billion fortune."

* Number 1 remains Bill Gates (who was temporarily displaced by Carlos Slim for a few months)

* "The oldest member of the list is potato king John Simplot, who is 98 years old and worth $3.6 billion."

* "Seven members of last year's list have died."

* Fifty people couldn't keep up and either lost a significant amount of wealth, couldn't keep up with the higher threshold, or were surpassed by others.

I always enjoy Forbes annual list because if gives cause for ponder and cause to always hope about next year. Enjoy Forbes's interesting slide show.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

YouTube 101...A Good Idea?

During today's Houston Business Hour, Thursday co-host Mike Gray of Exit Complete Realty and I often watch the news during breaks on our program. You would think much of our discussion would have been on the recent arrest of OJ Simpson (YAWN). But instead, YouTube 101 at Pitzer College was the focus of much of our discussion.

It seems like one of those many silly ideas that pops up often throughout academia and such an idea is easily dismissed due to lacking substance. Unfortunately, it doesn't have to be. I feel a program such as this could have serious potential. Imagine if such a show focused on the following:

* Examined some of the tragic stories related to YouTube of kids filming kids beating each other, or adults giving toddlers marijuana to smoke, or even the silly teen trying to look like a Star Wars character and who has to deal with the long term social consequences of such a decision.

* Examine the ways YouTube is used for guerrilla marketing. I think of Andy Valadez of Marketing Dynamics and a regular participant of the Houston Business Hour who has made YouTube an integral part of his marketing. People can attract millions of people to their message without spending a penny on the distribution of that message.

* Discuss how YouTube has become the first major television network of the 21st century and will change the way people view all media in the future. They may be doing such, but I can only imagine the limited scope this course will take. YouTube is changing the way all media is conveyed.

Instead, rumor has it, the YouTube class will look at the most "interesting" videos each week and students will be asked to write reports on these subjects. I have my doubts the most serious themes will be examined and it appears this course will be a modern form of basket weaving. At some point I want to get the professor on the course and see if they are discussing the important issues surrounding YouTube or will it be just another opportunity to blow some time online.

Waiting on the Fed

Everyone from Wall Street to Main Street seems to be holding their collective breath in anticipation of the Fed's decision on interest rates. Will it be a quarter or a half? We know it will be something, but will it be enough?

Theory has it, less than a half will be an absolute disaster and the market will return to its recent dumping ways. Wall Street desires a major impetus to get the market going again and the economy moving in the right direction.

The trouble is, Wall Street doesn't operate in such a black and white manner. In spite of how "big" the Stock Market seems and how "important" Wall Street projects itself, it is really like any small neighborhood where people spend a great deal of time simply talking. Once the euphoria of the half a point settles in, people will start asking questions. "Wow, one-half, does that mean that the economy is in worse shape than we initially thought?" This kind of discussion could put them back on the roller coaster.

Still, the market wants it and, short of one-half, it is likely to go back to its ugly ways we have seen over the last month. But people should not be fooled in thinking that there is a simple panacea to stock market problems.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

In the News: NBC becomes TSN

What if you woke up to the following headline: "NBC Becomes the Today Show Network?" Read more of this intriguing, if not authentic, story:

It's official, the National Broadcasting Network is becoming the Today Show Network. According to a spokesperson, the company's name is reflecting the realities of the network. On every evening after midnight NBC's airwaves are dominated by infomercials. At 7, the Today Show kicks in and continues to around lunch time. It is only a question of when, not if, the Today Show takes over the rest of the network...

It sounds silly now, but until a few years ago the Today Show was only two hours long. Slowly, it played around with a concept called "Later Today," but that was quickly shelved in favor of maintaining the continuity of the popular early program. Earlier this year they decided to extend the show to 11 AM starting in September. September is here and, true to their word, we have four hours of programming.

The Today Show works so well for NBC for several reasons:

* Personalities. Among the friendliest on TV and certainly with the best chemistry.

* Technical quality. NBC treats their morning show like a real program. They recognize that it provides a ratings bonanza and they honor such by making it very attractive, visually.

* Most important, it is a very high end infomercial to support the vast product line of its parent company, GE. Today belongs to NBC, which belongs to GE and its companies include iVillage, appliances, entertainment, financial services, aviation, etc., etc., etc. Virtually every hour has something from the vast GE empire and you will hear their disclaimer. Because of the shear promotion of product, Today can't help but make money.

Fortunately for NBC, the show has high ratings as well and is an excellent example of taking marketing to new and very creative heights.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

Coke Banks on Consumer Ignorance

Let me preface this by saying I'm a Coke fan. I've sacrificed more than my fair share of healthy teeth to my favorite drink. But today I saw something that I hadn't noticed before. In the "cold drink" machine at the radio studio I noticed that the one time 20 ounce coke is called the .5 liter coke.

.5 liter. It sounds big. I mean think of those huge 2 liter bottles. One-fourth of that amount should be huge. In fact, they even put the .5 liter in big print to give that impression. I knew from the size of the bottle that it shrunk, regardless of the packaging. How much smaller? Around 20 percent, going from 20 ounces to 16.9.

I think Coke is probably right, most won't notice. They won't notice because they are too busy, regardless of confusion about the metric system. I'm not picking on Coke either, I'm sure they are not the only ones taking this approach. It is just an interesting example of marketing at work and spinning a potentially bad thing (smaller bottles), into a good one.

How to Market to Houston Businesses

Secret: This article will work in almost any city, but even the title is a part of the marketing strategy. At the time of this writing most of my clients are in Houston, I want them to find me in a simple Google search. I think you get the idea.

The way people market today is predicated on factors that really didn't exist just a few years ago. You would almost think that someone would have told many marketing businesses that they have no legitimate reason to exist with the advent of the Internet. Or, at the very least, they should make it clear that there expertise doesn't include the Internet if such is not the case. Ironically, some of the largest and most prestigious lag far behind in developing Internet based strategies.

I believe in the convergence of media. I believe some people like some sources of information while others might prefer a different means. I like everything; audio, video and (I'm old) articles. Some like TV, but increasingly many prefer to watch TV online (as Rupert Murdoch likes to say, "when and where they want it."). My firm uses TV, radio, podcasts (video and audio), articles, blogs, etc. to reach audience for our clients. With over 100,000 unique viewers and around 1 million hits each month, this strategy is working.

The hardest people to reach are business owners. It is quite common for them to work 10 hours plus, but still want to be kept informed. These individuals are quick to turn the page at the first sign of an ad, flip a channel at first sight of the commercial, or spin the radio at first sound of a break in their programming. My answer to that problem is simple. Get your message across when people are listening and watching. The group I describe as "the Accumulators" demand such.

I produced an audio about this important demographic group and I have been told by colleagues that recognizing this group and developing strategies to reach them can make or break a business. I have been encouraged to more vigorously spread the word on it, which is why I am writing this post.

I was recently interviewed by Robbie Adair of the Media A-Team on the power of the convergence of media (an essential element in reaching Accumulators) and want to invite readers to watch it here. Until people understand the importance of a multi-media approach and the role Accumulators are playing in the economy, they are going to find acquiring business a much more frustrating proposition.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

Remembering September 11th

Everyone remembers where they were on September 11th. In my case I was watching the Today Show and Matt Lauer announced the first plane crashing. Because of the enormous size of the building, Lauer actually first thought the plane was a small private one. He soon realized it was much more and what happened was far from an accident. By the end of the day it became evident that the US was under attack and at war.

I personally doubted that we would be in the solid position that we are in today when it comes to the over all sense of security, our economic prosperity, and over all sense of well being. I felt on that day that the clouds of fear and terror that seem to cover that day would be with us for years to come. When I think of how little harassment we have faced since that time in this country, I have to conclude the war on terror is working. Furthermore, it makes a great deal of sense to keep the war "over there" rather than retreat from that region and move it over here.

I'm not trying to get political, I'm trying to remind others that we were on the defense six years ago today. At this time, we are on the offensive and that is a much more secure place to be.

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Oprah Winfrey Gets Political

Let me preface this by saying that I absolutely respect Oprah as a media personality. In fact, I can safely say she is the most successful at what she does than anyone I know. Her show is now over 20 years old and it remains among the most highly rated and, I believe she is the highest paid celebrity.

There are reasons for her success, and these are just a few of them in my opinion:

* She makes sure her visual presentation is better than anyone on day time TV. Her sets are amazing and very inviting and makes watching the program very enjoyable.

* She has excellent guest selection. After years of cultivating relationships she is able to get some of the best show participants a person will find on television regardless of time of day.

* She doesn't insult the users intelligence. She is smart and her programming highlights that, making for excellent viewing. She has even made "book clubs" popular again.

* She has remained remarkably apolitical. We are all pretty sure of her political leanings in the way she throws softballs to those with a liberal bias and tries to nail conservatives. She is, however, at least willing to have conservatives on her program. I personally believe this last characteristic is one of the most important reasons. I remember being told that you don't want to talk politics or religion with friends and she has been very careful when it comes to this area.

Until now.

Just recently Oprah endorsed a candidate. Something she hadn't done to date. She has come out in support of Barack Obama who is among the most liberal of the Democratic candidates (I put him just after John Edwards). Many are suggesting that her endorsement won't matter much, since they both appeal to the well educated and more affluent constituencies rather than the broader population that John Edwards has pursued so passionately. I disagree, I think she will help Obama reach a group that Hillary Clinton thought she had in the bag -- upper middle class and well educated women.

Time will only tell whether Oprah will make that big a difference. Time will also tell whether such a move hurts her TV program. She has accumulated a lot of capital over the years, but there is no place that is quicker to lose it than in the world of media.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Order Oprah's and other great programs and books by clicking here. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

Sex, Advertising, and Hamburgers?

Carl's Jr. Hamburger company created a storm a couple of years ago with its commercial featuring Paris Hilton. Essentially it looks like she is making out with the car she is washing and there is no display of any burgers until the end in which she has, what appears to be, an intimate moment with beef and bun.

The response of the news media was the question, is this a bad decision? News stations discussed locally and nationally the merits of the commercial. It was viewed by hundreds of thousands on YouTube and other video sites, and was discussed over lunch by middle aged men across America. Of course, not any lunches I attended, but you get the point.

Recently I noticed on Fox News that Carl's Jr. is at it again. In the latest commercial the focus is on the new "flat bun" hamburger they have. In the "I'm Hot for Teacher" tradition of Van Halen, the class and teacher sing about the burger in a most provocative way and the news network see it as future indicators of our culture's decline. They also wonder if it is good for business. Obviously it is for Carl's, whose stock out performs McDonald's and they keep making commercials like these.

What the news networks don't understand is that companies can run such spots for a very limited time and have national attention over night due to the viral effect of people spreading the word on it. They can make a fortune off spots at the fraction of the air time budget necessary in years past. In fact, I have never seen a Carl's, Jr. commercial except on the news and on YouTube (after seeing it refereed to on the news). That may be the very thing the news networks don't like about it -- such companies really don't need the networks to be successful.

That is the power of the Internet as a marketing force and it is among the many elements of the future of marketing.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h.

Fred Thompson Finally Jumps In

General Douglas MacArthur said that wars are lost because countries do "too little, too late." Having had worked on many campaigns over the years, I can actually say the same thing about elections.

As we sit following the formal announcement by the former Senator from Tennessee, Fred Thompson, I find myself asking the same question. Is it too late for him to get traction? Will his delays look like reluctance rather than deliberation? Does he lack the time to build the necessary machine to win in 2008?

I have spoken favorably about a Thompson candidacy both here and at Redstate.com. I will likely get on board now that he has made it official, but he makes me very nervous. He makes me question his level of confidence going into this race.

I'm hoping people perceive him as staying "above the fray" and even looking "Presidential." Once he faces a group of candidates who have undergone the expenditure of large amounts of money and have faced extensive scrutiny, we will see how much his star shines (no pun intended). Largely left untouched by opponents, former Governor Mitt Romney has described him as a "walk on" candidate who is showing up a little late in this process.

We will begin to see how the candidate fairs now that he has formally announced this week.

I Felt Like the Media Elite

I have been doing talk radio for decades, including national shows, but rarely do I feel like "the media elite." I admit, the new time and five days a week is great in terms of size of audience (on CNN 650), but starting a show at 7 AM feels more like day labor (except at night because it is still dark).

Well on Tuesday, Mark Pantak got word that some Houston Texan cheerleaders and Houston Rocket Power Dancers were going to be at the Sports Radio 610 morning show with Andre Ware and company. There program is right across the hall from mine. Now on Wednesday when Allen Robinson and I got there to do the Sports Business Edition, I noticed Marc Vandermeer and Andre Ware were looking unusually sharp. Sure enough, right after the show, a crowd of lovely ladies filled their studio.

This morning I had to harass them a little bit, since they looked much more casual today (especially Andre, who was wearing shorts, t-shirt, and a tennis visor). They assured me it was "because of the TV cameras there for the event." Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre.

Any way, as I left the studio and saw this group, I thought it was nice to be a part of the so-called "media elite." But then I realized, I was in the wrong studio.

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Not All Sports Business is Big

When most people think of sports business they think of the athletes who make tens of millions (and with multi-year contracts, hundreds of millions) of dollars, massive stadium deals, and billionaire owners. All of these things are true, but sports business doesn't end here. Underneath these obvious benchmarks of an industry are thousands of other businesses of various sizes that make up sports business.

There is the huge infrastructure of businesses that support professional athletes:

* Sports medicine. Helping athletes over come injury or even learn how to prevent many of them.

* Transportation. Airlines, buses, limos and more.

* Catering and event. Professional sports means events and there is a huge infrastructure businesses that support such.

In addition to those who support professional athletes, there are numerous companies that help those who want to reach the major leagues that depend heavily on sports dreams.

* Your local sporting goods stores.

* Clothing companies that supply uniforms.

* Numerous businesses that depend on the goodwill created by supporting a local team.

Today Allen Robinson and myself had the opportunity to interview Danny Arnold of Plex, a local company with three facilities that help in sports training and medicine. Danny's clients include professional athletes, such as Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros, Charles Woodson of the Greenbay Packers, and Shaun Rogers of the Detroit Lions. But they also include 11 and 12 year olds who dream of being great athletes or the adults in their 40s who want to live longer and better than previous generations. Each of these are a significant part of what makes up "sports business."

So the next time you want to disparage sports business as merely big business without regard to others, think about the many businesses that make a living on the quality of life hopes and big league dreams of others.

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Blog/Video: Geico Does It Again

Geico is one of my favorite companies. It has chosen two key themes that matter to consumers when it comes to insurance -- ease of use and price -- and have provided creative ads as the vehicle to get that message across.

We have had geckos and cavemen (so successful they are becoming the theme of an ABC TV show) and now we have some of the most famous fictional characters from TV being caught up in conspiracy theories. The Flintstones, Cabbage Patch Kids, and now Jed Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies have been caught up in serious accusations of secrets and money saving that have only recently come to light. You got to love this stuff!

Geico understands that today's sophisticated consumer isn't interested in merely being informed when watching a commercial, but to be entertained. Geico has this down to an art form. The only down side to the new Geico spots is that they require a little more thought than some of the other ones mentioned. But only a little and after you have thought about it had a hardy laugh, you might want to compare prices on your insurance.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h.