Great Photo

Seen on the streets of Austin....


Thanks to Martin, our fab creative director here at Pierpont, for the image.

Ready, Set....BING!

In an attempt to whoop Google, Microsoft launched a new "decision" engine called Bing. You can check it out here.

Have you tried it out yet? I've read reports that it's either going to take over 30-40% of the search market....or die a sad, lonely death. I'll test it out over the next few days and let y'all know what I think. In the meantime...here's the ad that Microsoft is launching to introduce it:



My thoughts on the ad campaign: I'm not digging how Microsoft tries to tie together online searching and the current recession. Seems like their forcing an emotional response on us, and I don't buy it. Second, the commercial does a poor job explaining what makes Bing different. A decision engine? What the hell is that? And finally, the commercial fails to answer the all important question: I like Google, so why should I switch to Bing? The commercial does make some arguments about search confusion and cutting through the (crap), but when I put a key word into Google, I usually get what I want. Search confusion? What are you talking about?

Anyway, enough about search engines. I should be sleeping, but my poor veins are high on caffeine right now (damn Diet Coke addiction). So on that note, I'm off to Google, or maybe Bing, some celeb gossip.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream....

For Ice Cream!

Read an article today about how Houston's fave artery-clogging, mixin-lovin' ice cream shop, Marble Slab, is rebranding itself. Courtesy of MarketingDaily:

"This spring, the chain, which has more than 390 locations in 35 states, Canada, Mexico, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the U.A.E., will roll out redesigned packaging on all containers and point-of-purchase materials. The new containers will highlight the tagline "Find Happiness Within" and move from plastic to paper to be more environmentally friendly. "

Other rebranding initiatives include a new website that will appear more "high-end" as well as new store designs in a pink and brown palette.

Interesting. Marble Slab has always been the ugly stepsibling to other ice cream shops (think Cold Stone and the new tart places that seem to be popping up everywhere). The new brand is supposed to change this by connecting customers with the "gourmet" ice cream experience they're looking for. I don't know if I buy the whole gourmet ice cream thing, but hey, my fave ice cream is a Wendy's frosty, so I don't exactly have refined taste.

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens. Admittedly, my eyebrows do raise (just a little) about an ice cream shop trying to appear more high end in this economic climate. Given the slowing sales at Starbucks and the (relative) stability of it's blue collar competitor, Dunkin' Donuts, going high end seems like a suicide wish. I guess only time -- or a couple banana splits -- will tell.

Vroom, Vroom!

I came across an article in the NYT about Harley-Davidson and the company's recent financial woes. Seems that Harley, a classic Outlaw archetype brand, is seeing fewer of its core target -- baby boomers -- shelling out dough for the bikes. To add insult to injury, younger riders are turning to Harley's rivals. Harley, it appears, ain't doing so well.

It's sort of interesting that such an iconic brand is finding itself in such a pickle -- and it's in this mess precisely because it was (or IS) such a defined brand. The whole premise behind effective branding and marketing is to create a story that resonates with the audience and makes your consumers feel that they belong with your brand....that they need your brand. Harley's whole image was creating a "bad boys" family of bikers. But now that the economy is suffering, being a bad boy isn't enough for these men (and sometimes women) to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for the thrill of experiencing the Harley story. And because Harley defined its brand so clearly, the company is having a tough time getting embraced by those riders outside of its usual target.

I know that marketers can't please everyone, and that they have to focus on their key audience. But what do you do when your core audience -- the people you have been going after for decades -- suddenly drop your brand? How do you evolve and attract new customers without isolating your original target completely? Thoughts?

Even the happiest place on earth is, well, unhappy

Apologies for the recent downer posts, but as an unemployed chica, I gotta keep my eyes out for all things related to the economy. Check this out...courtesy of the NYT:

The Walt Disney Company said on Wednesday that it would lay off an unspecified number of workers as it revamped its theme parks after declines in attendance and revenue. The latest job cuts follow Disney’s offer last month of voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives in the parks division....Weeks earlier, the company reported a 32 percent decline in quarterly profit amid the recession.

Ick. This comes just a couple of weeks after Obama's negative comments about Vegas (and subsequent conference cancellations -- "In the last month, 30,000 hotel room nights booked for conferences have been canceled at an estimated loss of $20 million to the city, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.")

You know things are really bad when even Mickey Mouse is getting fired....

Staying positive when life throws you lemons....

Today I got word from a third employer that the job I interviewed for was put on hold. Major bummer....especially since this is the third time I have been faced with this kind of news.

Staying positive in this job market is a monumental task, but I haven't given up yet. Given that a lot of you are probably going through the same hell that I am suffering through now (or if you're not, some of you probably will be soon....although I hope not!!!) I thought I would share some of the ways I am keeping my head up during this recession.

- Set a schedule: I try to apply for jobs, work my network, etc. for at least 6 hours a day -- sometimes it's closer to 10, and sometimes it's closer to 2. But I have a general schedule in mind that I try to stick to.

- Focus on new professional interests: Since I got the axe, I've spent a lot of time developing this blog, Tweeting, growing my LinkedIn network, learning Google analytics, etc. Landing a new post is about more than just sending off resumes and emailing your old contacts. It's also about developing new skills and investing in yourself. Use this time to grow professionally.

- Make some moola: I have been babysitting and freelancing to make some extra cash. It's not much, but it helps keep my wallet a little fatter. (Or, more appropriately, a little less anorexic.)

- Excercise: This is the one silver lining to my losing my job -- I've dropped 5 lbs! Woohoo! Since I have so much extra time now, I am able to hit the gym more frequently.

- If you have the cash, travel: I am a pretty lucky cookie. After all, I was able to spend close to a month in South America without any job or income. I know that most people don't have this luxury, but at the very least, try to get away for a short weekend. To save cash, stay with friends, eat in, and just chill and relax. (Note: traveling can mess up the exercise benefit I spoke about before. Remember this post?)

- Get help: You can't do this alone -- you need a support network. Thank God I have a great family, awesome friends, and a fab therapist. If you don't have a support network behind you, get one. Go back to church. Reach out to old colleagues. Join a professional networking group. Trust me -- there are a ton of people out there who are willing to help you. You just gotta ask.

- Take a break: You don't work non-stop when you're employed, so you can't job search non-stop. You gotta give yourself a break. This is especially true during the weekends. Hang out with your friends. Treat yourself to a cheap dinner out. And have a glass of wine :) Trust me, it will help you relax. (Or at the very least, help you sleep!)

- And most importantly -- be patient. This one has been really hard for me, especially since this is my first job search where I have interviewed for positions and not gotten offers. Until recently, I had NEVER interviewed for a job that I didn't get. You gotta remain upbeat and give yourself time -- everything will work out. Or at least, that's what I am telling myself...

GOOD LUCK!

Putting things in perspective

From Gawker. (I know, I know.....I can't help it though. It's an addiction.)









Above: the stock market since 1999. It appears that we're nearing the lowest point in the past 10 years. Not good. Not good at all.









Above: But then, a different graph, tracking the good ol' portfolio from 1930. Hallelujah! Compared to the 1930s we're just peachy!

I love apples to oranges comparisons.

Wow, that is a lot of fruit.

And on that note, I'm going to click my lil' mouse on over here....

Twittering for Work

A couple years ago, one of my contacts introduced me to Lindsey Pollak. Lindsey is THE career guru for anyone under 30, and her blog (which I HIGHLY recommend you follow) is always filled with useful and relevant job search and career info. Plus, she's super sweet -- back in 2006, she spent an hour on the phone with me doling out advice about relocating to H-town, changing careers, and growing my network.

Anyway, one of her recent blog posts was about twittering for work. (By the way, if you're not on Twitter yet, get yer mouse moving and sign up now!) Willy Franzen, founder of One Day, One Job (cool site for entry level positions) gives us 50 twitter users to follow for job searching and career guidance. Naturally, Lindsey (@lindseypollak) was listed as one. (Like I said, she is THE career guru for young folks.) I was already following a handful of the listed people, but I definitely plan on connecting with more over the next few days. I'll keep you posted on the four or five I think are most relevant for marketing peeps like me.

In the meantime, good luck with your search... :) And if you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm @jenpearsall.

Recession Friendly Shopping

We all know about Bluefly, Overstock, and Half.com. Here are a few other sites for cheap peeps like me to check out!

The Budget Fashionista -- the latest coupons and deals, with tips on new sales and (inevitable) store closings. Some recent posts: 15% off at dELIA*S (great for cheap and fun trendy duds) and a code for 50% off Old Navy sale items. Also had a great post about some new designers partnering with Payless Shoe Source. Think Patricia Field shoes for $30 bucks. Sweet!

RetailMeNot.com-- an oldy but goody. I scored 15% off a wine subscription for my 'rents a few months back. Plus, Gap recently broke down and let the site post its coupons (some lame retailers -- J.Crew -- don't allow the site to post their deals. Boo!). I always check this site before I buy ANYTHING online. Other key retailers with coupons posted are Victoria's Secret, American Eagle (which I recently rediscovered -- great cheap pieces!) and even Papa John's pizza. It's also super easy to use.

SlickDeals: A forum for cheapies. If you see a good deal, post it online for others to find, or search to see what deals others have posted. Also includes a coupon section, but it's not as easy to use at RetailMeNot. FatWallet is another similar site to check out.

Invite only fashion web sites: popular ones are Gilt Groupe, The Top Secret, and Ideeli. You have to be invited to join (I am a member of all but Top Secret, so if you need an invite, let me know), but once you're in, you can score great designer pieces for up to 50% off. How do they do it? By offering only a few select items each a month -- so you have to be flexible with what you're willing to drop dough on. Also offer cool giveaways.

Any others to add?

Facebook, x2: sacrificing friends and networking

This is sort of old but interesting. Check it out here.

I saw a couple of messages about it through my LinkedIn AAF group, but I didn't investigate it until today. Seems that if you deleted 10 of your facebook friends, you'd be rewarded with a yummy whopper. Sadly, the promotion is over, so if you were looking to score some free fast food, you're a little too late.

Speaking of facebook....the other day I got a facebook message from an old roomie trying to do business with one of my old employers. He needed to get the scoop on the culture of the business, so he searched his facebook connections to see if he knew anyone affiliated with the company. And, as luck would have it -- I popped up. So he sent me a message, we scheduled a call, and I filled him in on the biz. Thirty minutes later, at the end of the call, he said he would keep his eyes open for any new ad positions that might be a fit for me. "I help you, you help me" was the tune we were singing.

But here's the interesting thing -- I hadn't spoken to my old roomie in years. In fact, we barely talked when we lived together since he was on a different floor of the house. (Yes, I once lived in a house where I had 11 -- yes, count 'em -- 11 roommates. We had the best parties EVER. Seriously.) Yet, since we're friends on facebook, we were able to connect without any of the typical "I-hope-you-don't-think-I-am-using-you-even-though-I-sorta-am" awkwardness. Facebook (or LinkedIn, or Twitter, or whatever you use) created a safe way to reach out.

I have been leveraging (excuse the biz speak, I know it is obnoxious) my social networks since I started looking for a job. So far, it's been pretty successful -- I've landed at least one interview and I've gotten my resume in front of the hiring managers for four or five other positions. I have personal, non-cyber relationships with some of the people who have been helping me, but there are others I have never met -- we're connected simply through social media. And while I can't attest to my final success rate with social media networking (I am STILL, er, unemployed), I wouldn't be shocked if it helped me land my next job.

Anyway, to close out my ramblings, I stumbled upon an article by Toby Bloomberg, social media marketing guru and author of the Diva Marketing blog. The article is about expanding your business network via social media, and the advantages of doing it online. It's definitely applicable to job seekers like yours truly. You can read the article in it's entirety here, but some of the key points are below. Enjoy!

- "Meeting" people online may be easier for shy people. (Even extroverts -- like me! -- sometimes find it easier to reach out via social media.) Connecting with people through blog comments and twitter posts is a great way to start a relationship with someone.

- The "duh" point -- social media makes it much easier to connect with friends of friends. LinkedIn is especially great for this, since your network includes three levels of connections. Before I apply for any job, I always look through LinkedIn to see if anyone in my network is affiliated with the company. If it's a second or third level connection, I'll ask my direct connection for an e-introduction. Once I get a convo going, I'll send my application materials directly to my new connection. This helps me avoid the online black hole of death application process or an overworked recruiter who tosses my resume because I didn't major in marketing.

- And one of the best parts of social media -- you can network when you want to. Can't go back to sleep after waking up at 3 am? Open up LinkedIn and network, baby! Stuck in an airport terminal for 10 hours since your pilot didn't show? (Yep, this has happened to me!) Pull out the blackberry and scan facebook for people you want to connect with. Network, network, network -- on YOUR timeline!

So....how are you going to use social media to expand your business connections?

1.20.09

We thought it would never come....

Watch with your eyes close

Leo Burnett's predictions for 2009, courtesy of AdRants....watch with your eyes closed (aka LISTEN) unless you want a migraine. And yes, I am serious.



When I worked at MaPS, we were asked by a huge credit card client to produce a report in which our complex factor analysis was complemented by the recent predictions of Faith Popcorn. For those of you who don't know about Ms. Popcorn, check out her site here. Senior management rolled their eyes, but I always thought the predictions were pretty cool....and (sometimes) spot on.

As a marketer, you have to continually balance research and intuition. The research is either there or it's not, but the instinct...that's, to quote a modeling agent, the intangible "x-factor" that some people have, and some people don't.

What do you think of predictions, be they from Leo and crew or Ms. Popcorn? Tasty treats...or overcooked garbage?

Lipstick, mascara, and the economy have a threesome

Have you heard of the lipstick index?

For those of you unfamiliar with the economic theory of Leonard Lauder, the former CEO of make-up giant Estee Lauder, here's the gist: when the economy goes sour, as it did after 9/11, lipstick sales go up. The reason? Even in tough economic times, women want to splurge and treat themselves. But they're broke, so they forgo the $200 jeans and $800 handbags, instead dropping cash on cheaper designer loot, like $20 lipsticks.

Lauder's index isn't HBS-level theory. But it kind of makes sense, especially in America, where many women (especially young, single and urban ones, like myself) have the unfortunate tendency to rack up major credit card debt on uber-luxurious and way too expensive duds. But when 401Ks disappear and employers start firing workers, even the spendthrift youth of America start to button up and watch their wallets. (Louis Vuitton wallets, natch!) Confronted by a desire for a luxury but the bank accounts of a priest, they make sacrifices: "If I can't buy the Chanel purse, then I'll just buy the Chanel lipstick." Essentially, brand name lipsticks replace brand name clutches.

His theory hasn't been holding up lately. Even though we're in the midst of the worst recession since 1929, lipstick sales are plummeting. In fact, the entire make-up industry is facing some serious financial hardships; by mid-2009, L'Oreal, the go-to drugstore cosmetics line, will lay off 500 US employees. Ouch. But there is a silver lining: mascara. Mascara sales have been up for the last few months. Why? Many analysts are crediting new mascaras with vibrating bristles for the increase. Um, weird, but I digress. Here is an article about it: http://tiny.cc/yLGcS. Is a Mascara Index on its way?

A couple months ago, I resisted dropping dough on a fab BCBG dress....but I did buy my fave Dior mascara. Now that the economy is in the dumps, what substitutions are you making? What's your lipstick index item?

DISCLOSURE (meant mostly for the 'rents and grandparents): Yours truly is a huge cheapskate who doesn't spend carelessly. She also pays off her entire credit card bill every month and has no debt....except for that damn car.