tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959366955147554862024-03-13T02:28:20.726-07:00Ad Vice & Virtue by Anne MurataMostly marketing & some personal insights on the good, the bad and the ugly. From social media to social situations, we've got ideas on just about everything.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-73442841835389793332022-01-22T15:29:00.003-08:002022-01-22T15:32:03.502-08:00The reason we don't want to change.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We
humans are slow to change and grow. I think pretty much all of my friends and
associates would love to be more awake and aware. If for no other reason than
it just makes better sense financially, physically, and socially to know
more--to be more aware. We make better choices the more awake, (or,
"woke") we are. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
problem is not that we don't want to change and grow.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
problem is we're afraid we'll change and diminish.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It's the DIMINISH feeling that has us second guessing our choices. It's a fear-based idea,
of course, and has no reality at all. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">However,
if we all had it all figured out all the time, we'd never eat factory farmed meat and
processed foods again. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But hey. Here we are at Applebee's. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Palatino;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-58489705601522580662021-08-17T00:56:00.004-07:002021-08-17T00:56:46.239-07:00I Think We're Building a Better Mousetrap<p>The return to business as usual in the years of Covid is just not happening, at least it's not happening as we envisioned it. Hopefully, we're all finding slower, smarter ways to work. Without excessive time behind the wheel, putting wear and tear on our infrastructure and our environment. As a species, we're wising up. I think. I could be totally wrong, but I'm a believer. HA! </p><p> One thing I know:</p><p>It's a good time to hire really good people. The good ones are looking for "more conscious" jobs, more ways to "make a difference." While I put quotes around these phrases, I am in total agreement with them. It's the only way to do business. <br /></p><p>One thing I know:</p><p> The prices on food and necessities are through the roof. But then, when you think about it, we don't do nearly the running around, the partying that we used to do, pre-Pandemic. So we spend in fewer places. There's good and bad there, too. </p><p><br /></p><p>Just wanted to check in. Post any business questions you have in the comments, please.</p><p>Much Aloha</p><p>Anne<br /></p>Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-57262644905056232142021-04-23T16:10:00.008-07:002021-04-23T19:59:30.778-07:00<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What I Know So Far. </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that we are in the biggest business and personal global flux I've experienced in my lifetime on this planet. (We're all fluxed up!) Granted, I wasn't really aware of WWII, and I've forgotten the awful '60s (if you remember, you weren't really there 😄). The country, the planet, all of us seem to be reeling, rearranging ourselves. Some hunkering down for good and some hunkering down for ugly. Life is choice. You get what you put out there. I also know I don't make the rules. It's beyond my pay grade. <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that Angels are real and will
work with you. I think that’s their main objective, at least for their work here on Earth. And I also know that it's their pleasure to help if we just call them, give them names and directions, the 411, ask graciously for their help. I call on the four power Angels, the Archangels. I made up a little song when the kids were little about "Michael on the right, Gabriel on the left, Uriel in front, and Rafael behind. We got Angels, Angels everywhere watching over us." That ditty empowered my kids and I'm sure the Angels felt good about being recognized. Or at least, I thought so. 💗 <br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that when you need an answer and turn to
see a blossoming tree showering its beautiful blooms outside your living room
window for the longest time, I know that’s a sign from God, the Universe, the great Spirit, whatever you call that good energy. That’s a message of love showing you how
abundantly blessed you are, how part of a glorious dimension you are. That we are not alone, as they say. That’s what I know. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that somehow, I’m
learning to heal my body, revitalize it daily. Every day in every way, I'm learning to accept my physicality, my aches and pains, my pleasures and delights, all the same, with a grain of salt, as they say. When I'm emotionally tiptop I'm great, and when I'm emotionally raw or sad, I'm still OK because I'm understanding it more. Growth can be painful. Chemicalization (when you're growing, taking in a new idea and making it yours) can be even physically painful. The ego does not want you to understand this. I know this. <br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me know what you know so far--if you have anything good you'd like to share. <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Aloha<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNokBcc_d1bMwyJ4beDMPqObcDI1KOYr-c6hzSRjUUn5PnBYunRj8Qb4LcJIqjzsOaS0jJmNV3T-_8gBXnAeiHgbpED-ZVelmpekq5qvBndzTaNok071kpKKpu_zZRd1kt1LFC7c0zzmL/s960/Anthony+Waimea+waves.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNokBcc_d1bMwyJ4beDMPqObcDI1KOYr-c6hzSRjUUn5PnBYunRj8Qb4LcJIqjzsOaS0jJmNV3T-_8gBXnAeiHgbpED-ZVelmpekq5qvBndzTaNok071kpKKpu_zZRd1kt1LFC7c0zzmL/w674-h480/Anthony+Waimea+waves.jpg" width="674" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Waves at Waimea Bay. North Shore, Oahu<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span></span> </span></span><br /></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-73155876896158736362016-10-23T15:04:00.000-07:002016-10-23T15:35:30.907-07:00Ready for Hillary, Already<h2>
</h2>
I blog because I can. I eat because I must. I exercise because I'm ashamed not to. I die so that I may live? I don't know. I try to be existential about everything, including this never ending acrimonious election and I die. Inside. A little each day. Enough already. <br />
<br />
Last blog I posted was 2012--about wanting THAT acrimonious election dirt-digging to be over. Sigh. I sighed then. I sigh now. <br />
<br />
I loved what Oprah said to the audience in a recent video interview. And I paraphrase: "I know you may not like Hillary, but so what? She's not coming over to your house!" Indeed. She's the most experienced, prepared, knowledgeable presidential candidate probably ever. And she works for women's, children's and family rights. So, let's get over ourselves, 'Murica, and follow the advice of the TV show host apparently everyone loves--Oprah. Not Drumph. He's only planning, preening, posturing, selling, dividing Americans to gain reality show market clout, anyway. Knowing he's losing, crying "rigged" at every opportunity, he's also busy hustling his new TV channel idea to homeboys like Roger Ailes and friends. Win or lose, we'll still have the Donald. I die. <br />
<br />
Never have we sunk so low as to call women despicable names, just to gain voters. America's rascism reared its ugly head with the Obamas in the White House. Now, with Hillary Clinton our next president, watch out ladies. It's gonna get nasty out. Donald said so.<br />
<br />
#ImWithHer <br />
<br />Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-4761210776999231852012-10-25T17:58:00.001-07:002012-10-25T17:58:08.309-07:00We Can Do This.
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hoo
boy! Will we all be glad when this is over. Come on November 6th! I'm sighing
already. Bu bye acrimony. Hello pal-imony Friendship, alliances, once again
moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the posturing
and pandering finished for a while. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
don't know how politics became such a blood sport, or when. I always paid
attention, but it never really seemed this petulant. I mean a candidate can't
say, "Where's the loo" without idiots putting it on a YouTube
mash up video. Stop already.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Truth
is, these two guys just aren't that interesting. Not that it's their fault.
They're charming enough, got enough facets. I'd be happy to sit with them at
dinner. But enough already. We know too much about them. A little discretion,
please. They've been dissected as much as we can, now let’s move on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's move on to
ending world hunger, to world peace, and to our lightness of Being. Let's make
our concerted efforts be about bettering a person or a people, a species or a
place. Or a planet. How about a planet? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
can do this. We can recover from this horrid and seemingly never ending
Presidential election of 2012 and think, write, speak and do greatness again. After all, we’re Americans.
It’s what we do. </span></div>
Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-51179677878522160642011-06-21T10:34:00.000-07:002011-06-21T21:21:33.580-07:00OMG! The System is Corrupt!I woke up this morning with this urgent message screaming in my head. I was writing copy as I stretched. Must blog. Must lash out the only way I know how. Must do something about our broken political system. Yeah, as if I can. As if any of us can. I stopped trying to do that when I switched majors in college at 18 years of age. A degree in political science wouldn't do it. Even then, I saw the brokenness of our country, our world. And my inability to change it.<br /><br />And so I gave up and became an advertising major. I can control what people like and dislike, I figured. I'm good at persuasive writing, creating interesting, fun ads and news stories that move products and services. In particular, I know how to entertain through advertising. And then I became disillusioned with that, as the conglomerates bought up everything media and the whole ad game changed, not for the better.<br /><br />And always, I meditated and mostly pretended to live a Zen existence, as if it didn't matter what the idiots in Washington or the monsters in Bahrain did. But even with meditation today, I find I'm compelled to speak out, call out the idiots in Washington. And the monsters among us.<br /><br />It's a broken system. People, we need to start screaming "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." People are losing their homes to banks while bankers claim $9 million bonuses. Each. Each year. From tax dollars we've given them, because they were "too big to fail." And we continue to foster the "trickle down theory" of giving tax breaks to the top 2%, the Kochs and the GEs. While the silent majority (yes, we've become those fools again) eats it. And pays for it. Find the error in that picture without being an economist. It's not hard.<br /><br />We continue to war when in 2011, we've had a long enough history on this planet, for even the dimmest witted of us to see that war only begets more war, more awfulness.<br /><br />The mean, greedy bastards who make millions sucking off the American political system want to cut "Obamacare" and Medicare and everything else that even halfway portends to good social services for our citizenry. While we pour trillions into a war machine that only cripples our young who serve and those upon whom we wage this incessant madness.<br /><br />We are a corrupt government. We are no better than Egypt. In fact, the economic disparities and social inequalities are scary similar. And I'm afraid that economically, we're closer to Greece. Or Rome, when Nero fiddled. Arrogance is going to do us in.<br /><br />I think I understand why Americans are so fat. We overeat because we're trying to escape this crude, unequal system under which we live where the middle class is taxed to death. Where we borrow to the hilt from those to whom we give aid, like China. While the Cheneys and the Department of Defense contractors continue to profit on war that only destroys everything.<br /><br />I'm mad as hell. I'm going to meditate now.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-736724556004449842011-03-13T23:47:00.000-07:002011-03-14T00:08:37.304-07:00Chrysler, Audi & "Badvertising"I'm watching auto companies waste even more money. This time, on "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">badvertising</span>": Advertising that misses the mark, that's not consistent from medium to medium, that's created by a handful of agencies. Splintered messages. Nothing focused. Nothing that's going to move a lot of product.<br /><br />From the flap with @<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ChryslerAutos</span> dropping the F bomb on Twitter, after the (I think) brilliant use of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Eminem's</span> brand to relaunch Chrysler during the Super Bowl, I'm amazed at how many snafus and guffaws the advertising industry makes today. Methinks it's because the big agencies are too big. Purchased by conglomerates, like all media related industries today. And thinking social media too small to fight for, to keep it under their roof. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wieden</span> & Kennedy does brilliant TV for Chrysler, but some obviously clueless company is tweeting? And tweeting poorly. W&K should be handling the entire account. That's the way ad agencies used to work. And we'd fight to keep all the biz under our one roof. So everything matched.<br /><br />No so, today. Social media has gotten away from the good, creative agencies. They either don't understand it or they think it's insignificant. It's not. It's imperative. And it needs to be wrapped into the overall branding efforts, along with the TV, print, online, out-of-home, etc.<br /><br />Audi's recent big deal at the Super Bowl, where they were going to make a huge statement with social media, was a disaster. And they didn't. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">retweeted</span> our Hawaii blogger who was in their social media contest and never once looked at the Audi advertising. Didn't even know it was for Audi, really, as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hashtag</span> was something really stupid like #<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ProgressIs</span>. Had not a clue what it was even about. And Audi's tweets are boring, product placement only. So I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">unfollowed</span> them.<br /><br />Ad agencies need to get their acts together and be the full service marketing arms they once were. The creative and the clients are suffering.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-15010416575677573402010-09-19T17:15:00.000-07:002010-09-19T17:17:51.848-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Injury</span><br /><br />In the morning you took pretty pictures<br />before you told me you were leaving<br />that night. And then you went away<br />very quickly to someone I didn't know<br />but had prayed for. The father of my children<br />and a best friend closed the door on so many<br />years of never looking back. How strange<br />I thought that life would give me this<br />pain I would never recover from nor want to.<br />I will always remember you before the injury<br />and afterwards for how fiercely you fought<br />to live whole again. You never left the children.<br />You only left me.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-65273263088556725752009-07-19T13:09:00.000-07:002009-07-19T14:03:08.579-07:00Love is StrangeI have been given great chances to love on this planet, in this life. Some were not-to-be-missed white-hot relationships and some were truly great loves. Some I've blown mightily. Some I've made magnificent. But always they've been felt at the deepest level. And they've all been important, historic, and shaped who I am. I bless all of these great loves of my life. And to borrow someone's great line, all of them were you.<br /><br />But there's nothing, nothing that even comes close to the love I feel for my daughter and my son. My son because he's my first, my sought after, my soul longing to express itself in a new first creation. And he's so amazing. So insightful. He's like talking to my smarter self. I feel his great love, his compassion and understanding of life, which he's slow to express in his maleness, but it's there and it's deep. And sweet.<br /><br />But ah, my daughter, my daughter. What kind of love is this? Love for myself, perhaps? We're so different, and yet so alike, in so many ways. Letting my son go to college and on into his own life was torture for me. And now, letting her go is agony. Missing her beautiful looks, her warmth, her calm intelligence, her fabulous wit, her simple beingness in the room with me. Watching her flower into her potential. I'm missing that.<br /><br />To love this greatly is to feel so much. Sometimes I almost think it's better not to have loved at all. But it's not. It's not.<br /><br />Maybe I should get a dog.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-81790924581519124612009-06-23T23:23:00.000-07:002009-06-24T07:26:54.913-07:00Social Networking Du JourErika <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Engle</span> and I were actually having a "live" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">telecon</span> tonight. She, the star "Buzz" biz columnist for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Me, a marketing director of Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, a very fun, fascinating and "chicken skin" museum/visitor attraction at Pearl Harbor (#1 destination in HI).<br /><br />Just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sayin</span>...the social community explosion is both heartwarming and almost overwhelming. The incredible closeness we've all attained and grow hourly via this "cold" electronic medium. Wow, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kazillion</span> of us are on board with it. Fun, informative.<br /><br />It's all about community, shared interest, and what we in Hawaii would call, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lotta</span> Aloha." Planet-wide. Not to wax too sweet, but I think it works. Example: Iran online. How we've grown from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Obama's</span> using the web to covering Iran's election. What if we'd been tweeting, etc., this heavily when Bush was first elected? Actually some were. Actually glad I wasn't. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">TMI</span>.<br /><br />Stay tuned and if you watch TV, watch Stephen Colbert's hair grow.<br /><br />Aloha <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pumehana</span>Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-40442632310578464272009-06-03T09:28:00.000-07:002009-06-03T09:36:11.256-07:00Friends Indeed<span style="font-family: georgia;">You'll find them tweeting and giving good face, blogging and phoning it in by text. But today in this very fast paced media-centric world, we're communicating more than ever. It's interesting the shift. First we hid behind email where we learned to share very little since it can be used against you. Then with the new social media, we're sharing our deepest razor cuts in the morning and our late night laptop exploits. And we're writing again. I love it. <br /><br />Many of us who were born communicators, majored in it and then made it our life profession, do it well. And we often do it with a purpose. Our clients, our companies where we're the communications pros, have great pages and info, of course. We're building biz brand and we know it. <br /><br />But everyone else is just having fun and sharing stuff. And I like it, a lot.<br /><br />The more we share, the more we have. <br /><br />Aloha pumehana<br /></span>Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-11402653585127227452008-04-21T23:21:00.000-07:002008-04-21T23:28:53.679-07:00Agencies Need to Sell Ideas. Just Ask Jay.The landscape is changing so rapidly in the ad biz. From the growth of new media to the predicted (it'll never happen) death of traditional media, entire ad agencies are now involved in the creation of ideas. It's no longer just the crazies in the creative departments who get to play with the big ideas. Today, ideas come from such formerly staid departments as media and brand strategy, for Google's sake!<br /><br />Agencies have even renamed some of the jobs within their halls. For instance, the account people who previously were considered the nemesis of the creatives have been relabeled content managers, project managers, engagement managers—anything but boring account guys and gals, the suits. Because big ideas come from them, now, too.<br /><br />And of course, agencies today are trying to figure out how to make money in this brave new world.<br /><br />In the '80s, agencies started getting bigger, buying up the promotional agencies to keep on top of the trends and look competitive to their clients. Today, it's digital that's driving the conglomerates to purchase hot interactive shops to add to their menu of client services. But bottom line, agencies have to figure out how they're going to get paid for this new media and the expensive new players they've added to create it.<br /><br />Which brings us to selling ideas instead of hours. Why do that? Well, Staples' "Easy" button campaign was created by their agency McCann. A very big idea. A successful media campaign. Staples' sales continue to soar. The campaign has legs. Staples is now manufacturing and selling Easy buttons instore—an additional profit item and awareness generator. And what did McCann get? A creative award or two. Some billable hours. Less than 15% media commissions, I'm sure. And the right to say, "That was easy." At least until Staples hires a new agency. <br /><br />Always the innovator, Jay Chiat of Chiat/Day pioneered the selling of ideas instead of hours back in the '70s. Jay believed in taking on a new brand like the strange little Japanese Honda being introduced to America and writing his contract so that his agency received a percentage of Honda's success. Jay counted on extending a brand's reach through ideas so creative that everybody made a lot of money. And great brands were built. So at least when the client fired him—and they always did, eventually—at least he had a sizeable chunk of their success. <br /><br />Maybe today's agencies aren't that sure of their work. Or maybe they think they must devise a different model since it's "different times." But it's not really all that different. Great work is great work that builds great brands across all media—traditional, new, soft, experiential, digital, you name it as it comes along. So why reinvent the wheel? <br />You want to make money, just channel Jay.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-22325812750774727022008-02-16T14:36:00.000-08:002008-02-16T14:37:51.689-08:00Your Rights. Use 'em or Lose 'em.While we have a revolutionary, history making election in progress, the US Senate just passed a bill Tuesday night, 2/12/08, granting retroactive immunity to telecom companies that helped spy on Americans, without a warrant. <br /><br />Fun stuff, huh? Congress just sanctioned the single largest invasion of privacy in American history. So much for the Constitution which our officials in Washington were elected to uphold.<br /><br />But it's not over, if Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont and others in Congress have their way. And if we speak up. The Internet makes it oh, so easy to do, too. Senator Leahy urges citizens to email your home state Senators and Representative and ask them to insist on a House-Senate conference that produces a fair FISA bill. <br /><br />To get email contact info on your senators and members of congress, I like this link: http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html<br /><br />According to Leahy's email message Friday, 2/15/08, "We may have lost the first FISA fight on the Senate floor this week, but I'm not backing down -- and neither should you.<br /><br />President Bush and his allies blocked our efforts to improve civil liberties protections and remove telecom immunity from the bill that passed the Senate. Without those fixes, the Bush-Cheney Administration's FISA bill is unacceptable.<br /><br />There's still time to fix FISA and do it the right way -- providing the balance we need to protect national security, preserve civil liberties, and refuse retroactive immunity to phone companies who went along with Bush-Cheney Administration lawbreaking. But I need you to join me in speaking out, right now, to make sure we get a fair FISA bill."<br /><br />So speak out now or forever hold your peace. No, I mean, really, hold your peace. Your wires and wirelesses just might be tapped.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-73559894671030755562008-02-09T14:12:00.000-08:002008-02-09T14:17:58.617-08:00Gals, Reach Out & Touch the Glass Ceiling.The equality of women in the workplace has been an important and debated issue forever. Today, even in an industry as progressive as advertising, most ad agencies fall way short of fair hiring and promotion practices. <br /><br />This is blatantly apparent to any reader reviewing the work and the credentials of the winners posted monthly in Creativity magazine, a sister publication to Advertising Age. While the editor is female, there is seldom a woman's name attributed to any campaign, awarded ad, spot, or Agency of the Year lineup of principals. In a year, you can count on one hand, the number of women even mentioned.<br /><br />According to DIMA@NYU quoting AdAge.com, ("Human Rights Commission Releases Agencies' Minority Hiring Goals," 2007), on January 11, 2007, 15 advertising agencies in New York City released the first set of goals pledged to increase minority hiring and retention. They were all major ad agencies. This pledge was the result of The New York City Commission on Human Rights' probe into their hiring practices. However, there was no definition of minority and each agency chose their own percentage of minorities to be hired—all different numbers. <br /><br />"One agency executive said the working definition is 'non-white' (meaning that white women won't count toward the goal)." Huh?<br /><br />This is only the tip of the iceberg. When it's an industry that caters heavily to women consumers and a city as progressive as New York being held accountable, there's definitely more to uncover here. I find it fascinating that this is the status quo today, when skilled men are growing older, fewer men than women are entering college, and women in the workforce are younger and represent a large percentage of the employed. <br /><br />In the '70s and '80s, in response to the glass ceiling, it became the thing for women to found their own ad agencies, doing some of the most pioneering advertising that's ever been created. Adrienne Hall (who just passed away on February 7), Joan Levine (Adrienne's partner), Janet Marie Carlson, Mary Wells Lawrence (first person to take an ad agency public)--these were my mentors as I opened my little-shop-that-could in LA. But the boys were my inspiration. The boys who would hire me, but wouldn't give me the title or tithe to go with the talent. So I gave it to myself and Medlin & Associates was born. I loved that baby and it grew to be a thing of beauty. <br /><br />Gender discrimination is happening at some of our biggest and best companies, too. According to the Global Learning Resources, Inc. web site ("No Women at Apple's Top?" 2007), "Over 77% of women between the ages of 35 and 44 are working today, versus about 39% in 1950. Similar increases are found at every age level. It should be the dawn of the age of women if you look at the impressive statistics and trends." But company employment statistics prove otherwise. <br /><br />In 2008, when the first woman ever is running for president of the United States of America, surely there should be more CEOs and CDs named Shirley.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-54035042271423661612008-01-26T20:46:00.000-08:002008-02-16T13:48:10.869-08:00Si Se Puede. The Election Continues.Let me preface this by saying, my intent is to remain unbiased as I continue to post my comments on probably one of the most important elections in history. I'm a political animal, always have been. I can't help it. I find it fascinating. That said:<br /><br />Another primary, another great Obama speech. The man is unbelievable. I can feel him channeling Martin Luther King, JFK, RFK and yes, Ronald Reagan as he works his magic at the podium and in front of the cameras. His numbers in South Carolina today, Saturday, 1/26/08, were amazing. As was Caroline Kennedy's New York Times endorsement of Barack Obama as the candidate who most reminded her of her father. Heavy words of praise, for sure.<br /><br />Yes, today, the state that started the Civil War gave Obama a more than double win over Clinton. A true smack down for the Clintons' recent race-as-politics issues. I think it clearly proves voters are beyond these hateful tactics and want to move in a new, cleaner, more wholesome direction. We're so over that old school stuff. <br /><br />It was surprising to me that Edwards made such a poor showing in the state he calls his own. But it's culling-of-the-Democrat-candidates' time, folks, and we all know that everyone wants to ride a winner. Edwards is a powerhouse with great ideas—actually, he is the candidate with the most substantive ideas for lifting America out of our dire straits. And he has done much to help push the two front runners in the correct direction. He's smart, decisive, and extremely instrumental in whatever change happens in November. You gotta give Edwards his kudos for that. When asked hard questions, he gives real answers and not platitudes. Refreshing, but it won't get him to the White House, I'm sure. Whether he's running, pushing, or simply hoping for a position in the next cabinet, he's doing something. At great expense to him and his family. Nobody rides for free. <br /><br />Watching the returns on BraveNewFilms.org I was inspired to see the numbers of viewers and the percentages of Boomers, near Boomers, and older who were online and participating, while the younger viewers were posting comments saying the older generation was "out of touch" and didn't understand "the issues" confronting our country today. Obviously, BraveNewFilms is a young, hip, progressive site and their coverage should naturally skew to the younger generation. But the older generation is still way interested and involved. And very much a web-savvy group, as noted by the numbers below. (I would say this is a heads up to web marketers—but you already know that.)<br /><br />Today's South Carolina Coverage/BraveNewFilms online viewer numbers by age:<br />Under 21: 6%<br />21 to 30: 22%<br />31 to 40: 14%<br />41 to 50: 17%<br />51 to 60: 24%<br />61+: 17%<br /><br />To me, this substantial number of older viewers (58%) could say that younger voters simply aren't as interested as their older counterparts in election results. Not true. As election returns show, the younger constituents are turning out, getting involved, and voting in the primaries in unheard of numbers, which is a great sign for us all. Keep it up, Millenniums. We need your voice and your ideas. We need real change in politics and in the direction of this country and the world. You bring that to the table.<br /><br />As for the Republicans, I don't even go there, as it's a mind-numbing blur. Staying the course. No change, no deviation. Business as usual. As if the American people aren't rising up and screaming for change. Do these guys even poll? No matter which candidate is in the media spotlight at the moment, the Republican candidates are not giving up the battle cry even if substantial numbers of Americans are tuned out—and switching horses. Good for change; bad for them. Also interesting that CNN had so many Republicans on camera today when they didn't even have a Republican caucus. "Equal time?" Whatever. And it wasn't just FOX doing this.<br /><br />Finally, "Si Se Puede" is the Spanish translation of Barack Obama's mobilizing cry, "Yes, We Can." Which will be Obama's next move—to prove to the Hispanics that we are one people, one America. (His mantra.) More on that as we continue with the most exciting and important election we've had in generations. Or as one 30-something California voter stated, "It's the first time I've ever had a reason to vote in a Primary." Let's hope we all do.<br /><br />Film at 11.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-30179656848597347242007-11-30T02:17:00.000-08:002007-11-30T10:36:37.669-08:00ICSC Goes Holiday. Good News from Retail Gurus.What an evening I just shared with friends and colleagues in the retail and shopping center industry on Oahu, Thursday, November 29th. It was the annual International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) holiday gathering. This year the event was hosted by Ed Kenney of Downtown, the restaurant in the Hawaii State Art Museum. The best and the brightest attended. Bringing to market the new and the most fabulous retail ideas from the movers and shakers in Hawaii today. How? Through cocktails and pupu, of course. <br /><br />Doug Smoyer, the czar, was there. Also Fred Noa, Jessica Fodor, Al Cottrall, Todd Hedrick, Bill Brizee, Ann Kutaka, Dave Erdman, Rod Tam—to name just a few. Barbara Campbell—our ICSC State Director did an amazing job. Sharon James, Matt Derby, Diane Bruce of GGP—what a gift to be with them and to have them provide so much fun for the event. There were just too many good folks to call each out, individually, so if I've not mentioned you, please forgive me. The stars were out. And I was blinded by the light.<br /><br />The good news is the new developments. From what I learned tonight from the heavy hitters, our new developments are being so carefully designed to be eco friendly, transit friendly, family friendly, on all islands. As in, if you live in Kapolei, you should be able to work in Kapolei and not drive three or more hours each day. The Second City—remember that concept? Well, it's happening finally. <br /><br />The shopping center development and marketing folks have their work cut out for them on all islands, but they have a good game plan. I feel confident they'll make it happen.<br /><br />Happy Holidays. Film at 11.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-41068524510572492432007-11-21T00:56:00.000-08:002007-11-21T00:58:55.120-08:00Happy Thanksgiving Every Day.Thanksgiving. What a wonderful time to reflect on who we are and what we really cherish in life. <br /><br />I wish you all the most wonderful holiday season. And I wish for all of us—the US, the planet, and all of us inhabitants of this beautiful Earth, a season of reflection and remembering of how important we all are to one another. We can't do it without one another. <br /><br />May every day be a day of thanksgiving for what we have and for what we wish to become. And may we always remember that we are in this together. <br /><br />Aloha mai kakouAnne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-59784552063566742422007-11-16T20:34:00.000-08:002007-11-17T11:45:15.221-08:00Online, Bloggers, & Social Media, Oh My.Time was (two years ago), an advertiser could advertise extensively in traditional media to reach the target audience. A company and its ad agency could research, write the plan, produce brilliant creative, buy the time and the space. Pay the price. And gauge all of this by CPMs (cost per thousands reached by your message), CPHs, etc. Today, it's all about new media, folks. And a chance to break out of the box. And gain so much more.<br /><br />Online media and blogs give you a cultural heads up with your respective target audience. They deliver a passionate audience, interested consumers who pass things on to other interested consumers. Viral marketing is so impactful. We're talking word of mouth endorsements, here. You're talking with people who appreciate being talked with and and not to. They get it that you and your product are listening more to them and talking less. Plus, this allows you an invaluable online, immediate research tool via the web.<br /><br />Bloggers and bloggettes (my word) allow a marketer a connected audience, one-on-one conversations, people who actually are interested in your product, a social audience. This consumer is with you. Talking to them is so 15 minutes ago. Talking with them is so now.<br /><br />For new information on this, visit webpronews.com's latest coverage of the Las Vegas "Blogworld & New Media Expo" at http://videos.webpronews.com/2007/11/13/blogworld-and-new-media-expo-chris-brogan-of-podcamp. Or just go to webpronews.com and search. Go for it.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-28706216224474546632007-10-27T14:39:00.000-07:002007-10-27T14:42:21.581-07:00When It's Time to Change the Channel.When the ways of the world get you down, it's time to turn off the computer, lose the remote control and cancel your subscription to whatever is bringing you bad news. Truth is, we're only going to get more of what we concentrate on. I'm not making this stuff up. You get what you expect. And when the fear mongers get to us, we sometimes forget we have the power to focus on the good, and to change things. <br /><br />Not to denigrate television since it's a huge part of my business, but the other night I found I had been watching way too much because I was feeling way too down, after turning it off. Was it the California fires that got me so locked in to the talk shows and the bad news which I normally avoid like the plague? My family in LA is out of harm's way. Why was I not counting my blessings instead of obsessing? <br /><br />It's the nature of the beast. And by the beast, I mean that part of me that needs to calm down, breathe, and think bright thoughts, as my Roxy shirt says. Global warming, war, immigration, and human rights won't be solved by watching more talk shows or BraveNewFilms.org. However, it would help to use less electricity, waste fewer trees, plant a garden, and take a bike ride to the beach every now and then.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-75975357732668116452007-10-16T11:30:00.000-07:002007-10-17T18:53:56.397-07:00Months of Political Madness Ahead.The host of presidential contenders is overwhelming, as is the drivel that historically surrounds much of their ad campaigns. The anticipation of the sheer shameful dross that is the upcoming onslaught called presidential political advertising is enough to make most folks not only roll their eyes, but grind their teeth. Come Election Day, we're all going to need some really good orthodontists. <br /><br />Sadder yet, is the fact that one single candidate can spend more to finance an election try than a Third World country's total gross annual product.<br /><br />According to Nielsen data released yesterday by The New York Times, Mitt Romney is way ahead of his Democratic and Republican rivals in ad spending. So far this year, Romney placed 10,893 political ads, mostly in Iowa.<br /><br />No other Republicans came close. Rudy Giuliani has run 642 spots, on radio only. John McCain and Fred Thompson only began running ads last month. McCain in New Hampshire and Thompson on national cable.<br /><br />On the Democratic side, Bill Richardson placed 5,975 ads, more than any of his rivals. Barack Obama placed 4,293, and Hillary Clinton about half that.<br /><br />Clinton’s campaign Web site, hillaryclinton.com, has attracted the most visitors, 759,000 so far. Obama’s site is close behind, with 749,000 visitors. Nielsen also reported that 71 percent of all the ads were placed in Iowa, and nearly 95 percent of them ran on local television.<br /><br />Stay tuned for the gory details. Film at 11.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-10930765877039435652007-10-15T17:52:00.000-07:002007-10-17T18:55:36.195-07:00How to Weave Your Web.Whether you're a newbie or you've been online forever, small business owners are too busy minding their stores to successfully navigate the complexities of buying and managing their own online advertising, whether it's pay-per-click, banner ads, call-based solutions or ROI measurement tools. <br /><br />Businesses need a turnkey, fully managed software solution with a reputable company that supports interactive advertising with predictable pricing and guaranteed results. Pricing and results are the key words here. <br /><br />Most companies provide any or all of these services: Search Engine Marketing, Display Advertising, Internet Yellow Pages, Directories & Submissions, Call Solutions, and Landing Page Creation. <br /><br />Your ad agency or marketing consultant can direct you to some good companies and oversee the execution of your program if you don't have that expertise in house. It's a marketing tool you can't afford to leave out of your mix. Experiment with a small online campaign to begin with and build it from there as your budget and comfort level grow.<br /><br />Go to netratings.com, to the "Press Center" and click on the 10/10/07 press release to see September's latest data on the Top 10 Web Sites, brands, and advertisers by company. The information is fascinating and will show you the power of the web done right.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-78969720559577782792007-10-15T16:25:00.000-07:002007-10-15T16:29:53.283-07:00What's "News" About It?It's crazy today how national television news programs have allowed themselves to become little more than star gazers or infomercial vehicles for selling products such as Ann Coulter's books. What's even crazier is that we—and the conglomerate giants—allow it. After all, there is revenue to be made here, oh you captains of the broadcast industry. American Express pays big bucks for their commercial airtime, remember?<br /><br />But beyond losing revenue and boring us to death with all the hype, self promotion and constant sensational e-tainment, it's a huge disservice to the American people who actually need credible, fast, current sources of broadcast news coverage. Televisions are everywhere but there's very little real news anywhere.<br /><br />Is it any wonder that the people have taken over via the Internet to post news and keep one another informed? The Internet, which continues to receive a larger and larger slice of the advertising dollars each quarter. And is considered the best vehicle for "experiental marketing" of a product today. While television ad revenues continue to slide.<br /><br />Wake up broadcast companies. This is pretty basic Marketing 101.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-395936695514755486.post-31565848837586333352007-10-11T16:40:00.000-07:002007-10-17T18:55:59.708-07:00When Good Ads Make Bad Sitcoms.The "Cavemen" ad campaign for Geico car insurance was truly inspirational. Created by The Martin Agency of Richmond, VA, it was great as a :15 or :30 second chuckle. And it also proved that great creative advertising no longer has to come from the big cities. <br /><br />The ad campaign also did the client a great service by leveraging itself further as an innovative media and creative research tool. Martin created "The Gecko", "The Cavemen" and several other very humorous TV campaigns and ran all campaigns, concurrently, on different media in different markets at the same time. They were able to test the effectiveness of the creative execution as they were airing them. A brilliant marketing move. I applauded loud and long.<br /><br />However, the newly launched television sitcom "Cavemen" can't quite cut it. What's next, "The Gecko" cartoon show on Comedy Central? Good try, agency. Really, really would have been the bomb--had "Cavemen" not been such a bomb. You can't take a very clever 15 second idea and make it sing for 20 minutes (or more, depending on number of commercials). <br /><br />It's just not that funny.Anne Muratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18215894737510930732noreply@blogger.com3