Ashley Ann Vaness

Google finds a intriguingly different way to showcase Chromes new features:

Speed: A faster browser means faster browsing.
Security: Shelters your computer from malicious websites.
Themes: You choose what your browser looks like.
Stability: Crashed tabs won’t crash your whole browser.
Omnibox: Type in a web address or search the web, all in one box.
Ingognito: Nobody can see what you saw online with incognito browsing.
New tabs: Shows the websites you visit most often every time you open a new tab.

I like this commercial, but the end left me questioning, “Was that really for an Amazon Kindle? How does it relate-to or portray the product?” If you miss the four-second product  placement at the beginning – it doesn’t. It took me a few views to recognize the fact that the adventure scenes the lady is going through may be apart of the story she reading on her Kindle. Without knowing that, the commercial appeared so generic that it could sub in many brand or products. Intentional or not, the commercial’s vague nature inspires a need-to-know curiosity for what the commercial is about, which is precisely what captured my attention long enough to  recognize the brand. Risky business. (In the sense that many people may not have this curiosity.)

Coca-Cola announced the new packaging designs for Minute Maid juices will be available in aisles across America during the 4th quarter of 2009 and will roll out around the world after that. The re-brand was done by Minneapolis Duffy & Partners. I predict it will be much more successful than Tropicana’s rebranding debacle that happened earlier this year.

I recently received the following email from Aldo Shoes and the subject line intrigued me enough to open the email. The subject was, “ALDO DiY Design Contest Finalists announced! Vote for your favorite today,” which most likely stood out due to its deviation from their typical lines that focus on ’shop today’ or ‘huge sale.’ Honestly, I loved the contest idea. It was simple, yet inspiring – as reflected in the design of the site as well. Every girl loves a good pair of shoes, and who wouldn’t have fun crafting up a design that represents their own individual style? Below is the email. Here is the link to the DiY contest collection, which is worth checking out: www.aldo-diy.com.

The problem with Facebook events is that they don’t make it onto real calendars, presenting two issues:

1. Events can be easily forgotten.
2. People don’t feel committed to an event, even after digitally replying, “attending.”

By volunteering in the non-profit world, I quickly discovered that people don’t actually feel invited to an event (or obliged to attend) until they have been personally invited. Facebook doesn’t create that personal connection, especially when it appears that the invitee has send the event announcement to every single person on their friend list.

Another issue with digital events in general is that it gives people the opportunity to wait before responding, in order to see who else will confirm attendance. I believe it’s very true that using a crowd to attract a bigger crowd to any event – works. If you get a low response to your event on Facebook, people may start to believe the event won’t be worth attending.

While I don’t have an answer as to how Facebook events can solve all its problems, I suggest they start by adding an ‘export to calendar’ feature.

Simple, honest, relevant copy with a great  insight about people’s desire to have a phone that gets them. I like the commercial a lot. Probably because the final line reminds me of the incredible Cadillac CTS commercial with Kate Walsh. Yet even though the message resonates with me,  it doesn’t show how the product directly benefits the consumer. Too bad. And who is HTC anyway?

Update: Upon further research, I found that HTC is apparently the third largest smartphone maker in North America. They launched this marketing campaign to make sure everyone knows that they are the company behind the hardware. Thus, the campaign is all about building brand awareness and the fact that the may LOTS of cell phones – meaning they wouldn’t show off the benefits of just one. Yes! I can go back to loving the commercial again.

Commercial Copy
It’s the first thing you see in the morning.
And the last thing you see at night.
It stresses you out.
And calms you down.
It helps you remember.
It helps you forget.
It keeps you connected.
It’s the only thing that is alway within an arms reach.
Which is why you don’t need to get a phone.
You need a phone, that gets you.
And you. And you. And you.

Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/user/HTC#p/a/u/0/5lUkF1vVudA

Verizon’s “There’s a Map for That” is smart smart smart! What is the biggest thing AT&T customers complain about? Well actually, there isn’t one thing we complain about as AT&T pretty much sucks. And the only reason so many people are with AT&T currently, is because of the iPhone. In the following commercial, Verizon capitalizes on one of their greatest assets and calls out AT&T on their biggest flaw: coverage. As an AT&T customer, I related to the commercial’s message and it made me dislike AT&T even more.

You know those rare (yet extraordinary) weekends when you have nothing on the calendar? Well, now there is a search engine, http://www.goby.com, that is all about helping you find fun ways to spend the free time you do have. The site asks, “What you would like to do?” “When?” and “Where?” You can choose to answer all three questions, or just one, for which to base your search results. The utility of this search engine is just great as you could use it for anything from planning date night, to finding adventurous things do to on a vacation.

You’ll find a categorized list of things to do in Minneapolis here.

I like the way this commercial hits on an obvious insight: when it comes to buying a car, we are all a little unsure. The commercial’s story-line tactically follows a boy through manhood who is extraordinarily confident in all he does. Except of course when it comes to car buying. Then, is just as nervous as the rest of us. While I think the commercial is smart, I have to wonder if it would actually drive me to cars.com if I was in the market for a car.