Listen your way to the top

Some fantastic submissions have been compiled by Forrester for their 2008 Groundswell Awards. In the ‘Listening’ category, one submission that caught my eye was The Local Scoop from Omni Hotels.

Unlike other tourism blogs or social communities where seasoned travellers offer up advice, The Local Scoop doesn’t just tap in to what travellers are saying. Residents from each destination contribute to the forum, in effect enabling visitors to experience the city “like a local”. Travellers staying at an Omni Hotel are invited to join The Local Scoop, and can create a customized package during their stay.

Harsh times… how’s your brand doing? (My ten minute blog)

Following the AIG bailout, this NY Times article discusses how advertising agencies are now turning their attention to promoting messages of trustworthiness, long-term vision, and financial sustainability. 

If your brand isn’t already established as something tried, tested, and true, is it really going to make a difference to start promoting this kind of message now? And by the time your campaign is ready to launch, will the message still be relevant in context to the future market environment?

What’s a strong brand that says trust? For the past hundred or so years, BCAA has been a trusted brand in road assistance, insurance, and travel. Perhaps you don’t think of BCAA as being fun or sexy, but you do feel like you’re in trusted hands.

Why less is more… and why marketers need to understand this

The paradox of choice

Barry Schwartz is a professor of social theory and action, teaching courses ranging from basic psychology to economic rationality and decision-making.

His 2004 book, “The Paradox of Choice: Why Less is More” (Harper Collins) pulls together several years of musing and research over why we, in democratic societies, are fervent advocates of choice and freedom, yet are not any happier with our decisions when we are given many options to choose from. All the choice in the world, and we do not seem any better off than those living in places with fewer perceived freedoms.

Tell me something I don’t know

I’ve been at this blogging thing for a few days now, and it has given me a new appreciation for some things:

1. Blogging is time consuming. It is energy consuming. Good bloggers have their facts straight, and I find that I will trust some bloggers’ words but not others. Checking facts makes bloggers credible, but by golly can it be time intensive.

2. Good bloggers have something to say, and don’t just regurgitate the news. I can regurgitate the news. My stuffed monkey can regurgitate the news. Tell me something I don’t know. Tell me your opinion on something. I might agree or better yet, I’ll disagree and look into it.

And before I knew it, I was co-opted as an evangelist

Before my Cortland purchase, I had never done any personal shopping online. Other than internet banking, buying tickets, or purchasing class material, I had never completed a marketspace transaction completely online. It was a bit of a revelation.

I first stumbled upon Cortland while searching for plastic bag alternatives. The green design site Inhabitat was holding a back to school contest featuring Noon Solar’s creations. I would say the minute awareness took place, I moved straight into exploration.

I (Heart) Cortland

I purchased the Cortland from Noon Solar. It’s the most beautiful bag I’ve ever owned. I first read about it on Inhabitat; they were giving away this bag as a back-to-school promotion. I won’t get too much into the design details; you can read about them from Noon Solar’s website or watch the YouTube video below… I’d like to share some thoughts about the solar panel.

I live in Vancouver, and since bringing Cortland home, we’ve had cloudy and rainy weather so I didn’t get to use the solar panel right away. I have, however, used the wall-charger (included with the purchase) to juice up the power bank (also included with the purchase), and did charge up my phone and iPod using the appropriate adapters (yes, also included with the purchase!!)… all in good working order, but I was starting to get antsy about using the solar panel.