Between spring break, March Madness, and primary season, there’s been a lot going on outside the brand world this month. But there’s also been a flurry of new brand-building content going around. Here’s a handy recap of what I contributed to the conversation: brand-building: Steve Jobs on Brand-Building – a slide show of what Walter Isaacson’s [...]
steve jobs on brand-building
On the eve of a special Apple event, it seems the allure of the Apple brand is as strong as ever. “We have something you really have to see. And touch,” declares the invitation to the March 7th media event. Quite a buzz has been building up! I don’t know if tomorrow’s announcement will impress [...]
brand as business bit: At CES last week, I couldn’t help but feel a little like I was in Apple’s 1984 commercial. I could only take comfort in knowing that adoption of wearing glasses to watch TV will never cross the chasm into the mainstream — they’re impractical, they’re too invasive, and they detract from [...]
2012, according to the Chinese calendar, is the Year of the Dragon. In Chinese tradition, each year is dedicated to a specific animal and predictions for 2012 are for a dragon-like year of excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration, and intensity. With this expectation in mind, I’ve selected several brands to keep my eye on. They’re likely to [...]
siri vs speaktoit: a perspective on modern brand names
My curiosity was piqued by the headline of a recent article comparing Siri, the personal assistant application on new iPhones, to Speaktoit, currently available on Android phones – but not because I wanted to understand the differences between the apps. I was struck by how different the two names are – Siri: short, cute, a [...]
Ever run or cycled into a headwind? You have to work a lot harder to make the same progress that normally comes a lot more easily. Conversely, running or riding with the wind at your back is a glorious feeling. On a recent ride, I had plenty of opportunity to consider how headwinds and tailwinds [...]
mirror universe
Those of you who are Star Trek fans would have felt right at home with me the other day. I went to check out the new Microsoft store which just opened at Fashion Valley mall here in San Diego because I wanted to do a compare/contrast to the Apple store in the same mall. My [...]
when differentiation isn’t the answer
“Differentiate or die” is probably a familiar mantra to all; and there’s a well-established albeit less pithy corollary – don’t sell the category, sell your brand. After all, given the overcrowded nature of most categories, the hope of success for most brands rests on their ability to stand out from their numerous competitors. And promoting [...]
I’m fascinated by the recent flurry of activity of designer PCs. Having worked at Sony during the early years of VAIO (perhaps the first fashionable PC line, launched with its distinctive violet color and sleek features and all), it’s pretty amazing to me to see how the category has developed.
Once again I find myself writing a post triggered by a New York Times article on the mobile category. Last Monday it was about the different strategies brands are taking with their mobile application offerings. Today this post introduces some thoughts based on the piece, “AT&T Takes the Blame, Even for the iPhone’s Faults.”
Yesterday’s New York Times’ article, Apple’s Game Changer, Downloading Now, was a fascinating read. I’m not knowledgeable enough about the technology behind mobile apps to evaluate the story as a representation of the programming and development challenges and opportunities of all the different companies. But I found it a provocative report on the different brands’ [...]
Last week Ad Age announced that Anheuser-Busch InBev is holding an online contest in China in which consumers can pitch ideas for a Budweiser TV spot which will run during next year’s Chinese New Year. The only brief to the aspiring ad-makers: the commercial must include ants (a recurring theme for the brand’s Chinese New [...]
Once again Microsoft’s ad strategy is off-base. Their newest ad criticizes Apple for being expensive by “documenting” one woman’s quest to find a laptop that
I noticed an interesting juxtaposition of taglines the other day — actually it was during the Super Bowl, but don’t worry, this isn’t yet another piece about Super Bowl ads (I’ve already said my peace, as I hope everyone else has.)
more from denise
tweets
Archives
Categories
- 5 favorites on friday
- administrative
- best brands lists
- brand as business buffet
- brand communication
- brand delivery
- brand disappointments
- brand equity
- brand extension
- brand fun
- brand identity
- brand names
- brand perceptions
- brand portfolio
- brand tools
- brand touchpoints
- brand value
- brand value creation
- brands we would miss
- business
- innovation
- leadership
- marketing
- marketing to women
- packaging
- podcast only
- retail
- sales
- trends
- Uncategorized
Tags
advertising Advertising Age America's Next Great Restaurant Apple Bobby Flay brand brand as business brand building brand communication brand communications brand equity Brand experience brief brand perceptions brand touchpoints brand value BusinessWeek CES Chipotle culture Curtis Stone customer experience denise lee yohn differentiation fast casual restaurants Harvard Business Review innovation iPhone Jonathan Salem Baskin leadership Lorena Garcia marketing NBC New York Times Nike operationalize QSR QSR Magazine restaurant branding retail social media Sony Starbucks Steve Ells storytelling values