Someone told me this week that years ago her university tutor postulated that social media would facilitate the return of true democracy - the real voice of the people. Well this week we’ve just seen how social media has changed the world. Obama’s campaign manager is a genius who embraced the many on a one-to-one level through a smart campaign that relied heavily on citizen journalists, bloggers, twitter feeds that kept fans updated first, fan groups, all decrying is one single, strong proposition: CHANGE.

I’m a big fan of David Meerman Scott’s blog - you can real all about exactly what can be learned from the Obama campaign. It’s also worth reading his free ebook New Rules of Marketing. Word of mouse marketing really is the way forward!

01. Aston Martin. Automotive – Cars
02. iPhone. Technology – Telecommunications
03. Apple. Technology – General
04. Bang & Olufsen. Technology – General
05. YouTube. Online
06. Google. Online
07. Nintendo. Leisure & Entertainment – Games & Toys
08. Agent Provocateur. Fashion – Lingerie
09. Rolex. Fashion – Accessories, Jewellery & Watches
10. Tate Modern. Leisure & Entertainment – UK Attractions & The Arts
11. Dom Perignon. Drinks – Champagne
12. Virgin Atlantic. Travel – General
13. Ferrari. Automotive – Cars
14. Ducati. Automotive – Motorbikes
15. PlayStation. Leisure & Entertainment – Games & Toys
16. Sony. Technology – General
17. Nike. Sportswear & Equipment
18. Bose. Technology – General
19. Facebook. Online
20. Lamborghini. Automotive – Cars

Click here to view site

An interesting viral ad for Wonderbra.  (Calm down boys)!

GOOD BRIEF = BETTER WORK

A brief is the most important piece of information issued by a client to an agency. It’s from the brief that everything else flows. Therefore it’s essential that every effort be taken to prepare the best possible documentation of what is required.

It’s in the nature of creative thinkers that giving them the tightest of parameters will often stimulate the most inventive of responses – and 79% of clients and agencies agreed that: “It is difficult to produce good creative work without a good brief”. Im sure the Calm creative team wholeheartedly agree!

The client brief can be considered the platform for a communications campaign. The better a company’s corporate or brand position is defined and the more thoughtfully its key business issues are described, the more likely it is that strategic and creative thinkers in agencies will be able to apply their specialist skills to produce great solutions.

“The whole idea is to stimulate the creative imagination, not to restrict it. Ultimately you are buying creative ideas. Procurement people can sometimes write briefs as though they were buying copper piping or paperclips. But selling is an art. It’s more like briefing an architect. We need agencies to feel inspired so they can do their best work.”

© IP for this article is fully reserved by ISBAthe IPA, MCCA and PRCA, who have co-authored and produced the above.

How cool is this?

Seriously. As a marketing tool this has just rocked our world here at the Calm Asylum. The clever little “vending machine” can be found in Japan. You can’t really buy a smart car from it, but you can get brochures and info about the various smart models.

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