Consumers Digesting Media

"U.S. consumers last year for the first time spent more time with media that they paid for than with advertising-supported media, according to the annual Communications Industry Forecast." - AdWeek

Hmmm, so what does that mean for us? In my opinion, either:
1) Since branded digital efforts are difficult to trace, their media may have been free, but not free of ads.
2) "Room for growth"
3) Consumers are willing to pay more for something as long as we don't get in the way.

Social Media and Relationships

Communication builds relationships.

Relationships build trust.

As creatures of habit and consistency, we as consumers generally lean towards what we have already experienced - what we trust.

When it comes down to it, that's why social media is so important and influential. It allows the brand to communicate with its fanbase, and ultimately build more trust through communication. It's not about trying to reach more people, it's about trying to form a long, beautiful relationship.

Life of an Intern

CP+B Interns Rap

What are they talking about? I freaking love interning. Being able to absorb company culture, business life lessons, and network like it's your job for a predetermined period of time? I wish I could intern full time...

Entrepreneurship

My big goal, as previously stated, is to reconcile the differences I have with big business and my morals by changing it from the inside. That being said, there are two major paths I see my advertising career taking.

1) Working endlessly in the big media firm world until I climb the corporate ladder and earn a position of importance and and impact.

2) Create my own advertising agency

I recently dabbled in trying number two. Long story short, it was a bit of a failed experiment. I've lost a bit of hope, but after speaking with Ricky Van Veen, and seeing this video, I know it's within my reach.

Business Call

Ricky Van Veen is somewhat of a personal role model. He started CollegeHumor as a college student, and in the past 10 years, has come to build it into a famous brand penetrating different media such as literature, theater, and tv. I met him about a month ago, and have unsuccessfully been trying to sit down and talk with him about entrepreneurship, New York, and life since. That is, until last Sunday.

Weiser and Van Veen at CollegeHumor Live on Thursday, July 30

Long story short, to help him clear his schedule and squeeze in a meeting, I had to go pick up his business cards in Brooklyn, and drop them off at his West Village apartment around 10pm. Even though he was frenzied from packing for his LA trip the next day, he was very personable, genuine and generally good humored. He gave me some great insight and advice, which I have taken to heart.

If everything works out, Texas Ventures will be bringing him to UT to speak in November. Stay tuned!

Choose Your Own Adventure

Remember the choose-your-own adventure books?

Well, now it's in You-Tube form:

"With stabbings on the rise in England, the Metropolitan Police turned to BBDO for help, and the agency produced this pretty interesting "Choose your own adventure" YouTube campaign." - AdFreak

Google + Advertising

Going along with Ricky Van Veen's theory on the future of media, here is an example of a digital company using traditional media to launch an advertising campaign.

Google launches billboards to push its new business software via:

This comes after they launched TV spots to promoted Google Chrome back in May:



Also, want to see spoof ads? Go here.