We lost, but at least we got free booze - an M Awards Re-Cap

by Jared on May 18th, 2007

Sadly, the M Awards have come and gone and we have come up empty-handed…

Although Amanda and I had a great time overall, my company’s B2B Integrated Marketing Campaign was passed over in favor of a company whose name I have never heard of. In all fairness though, with the level of local marketing star-power that showed up last night, I would have been shocked if anyone knew of my company, either.

The evening was not a total loss, though. It appears we have found a few patterns that, like real awards shows, are too good not to do a post-game on.

1) At Marketing Awards Shows, No One Cares Who You Are…It’s Who You Work For

One of the more interesting phenomenon Amanda and I witnessed was the fact that, at the reception, no one looked at your face - only your nametag. If they didn’t recognize the company, or realized they couldn’t sell you anything, you really didn’t exist.

2) Like The Movies, Independent Marketers Have an Uphill Battle

Only one independent company had a stand-out campaign last night. The rest were large marketing and communications firms with budgets big enough to drown an elephant. The moral of the story, unless you have a campaign with a completely out-there concept, it’s a bit of a one-sided competition.

3) Just Because We’re Marketers, It Doesn’t Mean We’re Organized

Lastly, the glitz and the glamour of these awards apparently succumb to the fact that not everyone can be an awards-show host. In fact, the evening went about as smoothly as the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disney World with the awards having to be given out actually during the dinner. This proves once again that there is a fine line between marketing and operations.

In the end, re didn’t win but at least it was an honor to be a finalist. That and you can usually appeal for the winner’s free drink tickets, which can help you drown the shame of your looserdom.

20SMF Episode #60 - Suppa-Happi-Chibi-Fun Anime Marketing Expedition

by Jared on February 28th, 2007

The 20SM team heads out to an anime convention to better understand the marketing opportunity in the half-billion dollar US Japanese anime market.

Amanda conducts her first interview with the APPLEGEEKS guys and we discover why anime-fangirls love a certian type of manga.

Referenced Links:

• APPLEGEEKS - Amanda’s Favorite Web Comic
• Vidcast: Behind the Scenes - The Making of This 20SM Episode
• Boys’ Love Books - Check Out Their Interesting Titles (I smell bookclub!!!)

Listen To Episode:

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MBA Spin: The Big Grad School Annoucement

by Jared on January 18th, 2007

For those of you who are following my neurotic quest to get into a great business school (A.K.A. MBA Spin) - the big annoucement is finally here.

To find out where I’m going, tune into tomorrow’s show …yeah, yeah yeah. If you want to know how it turned out, stop whining and just get ready to download the bloody show.

Muh ha ha ha ha!

Best,
Jared
20-Something Marketing

Steve Jobs to Dithering Mac-Addicts: “Can You Hear Me Now?”

by Jared on January 9th, 2007

So, we are now informed that Apple will most likely unveil a new phone today at their Macworld 2007 conference. See Story Here>>

Because this announcement has such broad implications for 20-somethings (c’mon, what 20-something doesn’t want a new cell phone every other month?), though I will not be drooling over my keyboard from 12 PM – 2 PM EST, I will be providing some analysis on the next show. Perhaps I’ll even dish out a second post towards the end of the day if the reactions are really that spectacular.

Before the unveiling, I do have one thing to say about putting such a “killer product” on the market; If Henry Ford taught us anything about quality, its that it is produced from those who seek to specialize their trade and dedicated themselves to the quality of that one specialty.

Jobs might be able to pack all the neat tricks he wants to into this new iPhone (or whatever its going to be called) but don’t be surprised if its quality as a phone is on par with or below that of other “smart phones” (e.g. the Treo).

It’s consumerism versus quality, folks. I love my iPod as much as the next yuppie urbanite but there is a line between buying a product for its functionality and buying a product just because everyone else has it.

Apple has built what can only be described as a brand that all other marketers seek to replicate. It’s so strong, that even the hint of a new product creates demand for it. We’ll just have to see if it performs half as well as we want it to.

20SMF Event: DC Buzz KickOff

by Jared on May 8th, 2006

As a “thank you” to everyone for reading, listening and watching I want to invite all of you out for a first-of-its-kind event for 20-Something Marketing:Grand Kickoff - DC BuzzThursday, May 25, 5:30pm - 8:00pmScience Club - DC1136 19th Street NWWashington, DC, DCThis event kicks off a new marketing venture I am putting together for some DC Area non-profits including Kid Power-DC and the Washington Youth Choir. It should be a great time and I look forward to seeing all the Metro-DC folks out there!