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Ecommerce for Technology Vendors: Maximizing Your Online Channel

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:40:16 -0800

Ecommerce for Technology Vendors: Maximizing Your Online Channel

Step 1 to Becoming More Productive at Home

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0800

To me time is the most valuable commodity we all have in life. Some have more than others but as a whole, people aren’t all that great with it. We create devices or tools with the original intent of shortening tasks only to have them balloon once they’re applied (smart phones come to mind). I’m going to write up a two-part series about how to be more productive day-to-day without being too rigid or process driven.

Let’s Get Started
I’m a big fan of productivity, process and efficiency. As a project manager, I’m lucky enough to work in a field where those skills are so obviously part of my day-to-day. Like many people though, my body loves habits and repetition. Over time the line starts to blur between what’s a necessary task and ones we do out of mindless repetition. To compound the problem everyone values certain tasks differently. If you’re a clean freak are you more likely to value vacuuming than a person who cleans once a year. Looking for a solution?

Step 1: List out the 5 Most Unproductive Things You Do
It might be hard to admit openly but we all have open loops or inefficient tendencies. It’s not about doing a lot more, it’s about being more efficient with your time so you’re free to do other things. Below is a short list of some typical unproductive tasks at home which of course could be longer. Do any of these sound familiar?

Commuting - The average commuter spends 12 full days a year in transit. How do you compare?

Getting Ready / Winding Down from Work - How long does it take you to shower, apply make-up (for the women I assume), eat, get dressed, and check emails? How long does it take you to unwind from work? 30 minutes? 2 hours?

Browsing the Web - It can be constructive and incredibly informative but if you’re like me you waste hours a week just surfing without purpose (one of the habits I’m trying to kick).

Social Networks - Did you know the average user spends 55 minutes a day on Facebook? How much time do you spend using twitter after you factor in efforts required to split away from what you we’re doing before that tweet? Keep in mind, we’re not good at multitasking.

Television - How many shows do you watch a week? According to Nielsen the average American watches 4 hours and 49 minutes of TV a day. This number astounds me but after factoring in morning and evening news plus a weekly show almost nightly you’re set up right for 3+ hours per day.

Housekeeping - I know you’re probably thinking that this shouldn’t be on a list of unproductive things but you likely spend hours a week cleaning, dishes, laundry and general home maintenance. Just because a task is inherently productive doesn’t mean you’re efficiently executing.

I’ll post some potential solutions to the above issues in a follow up post but feel free to come up with your own list and see how you stack up. Just think of what you could do with that spare time.

Superbowl Commercials 2010 - Taco Bell and... Charles Barkely?

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:59:00 -0800

As a Canadian we get tortured with bad ad after bad ad. Thanks to the internet I get a chance to take it all in. So far not good though.

Taco Bell “It Rocks, It Rocks” (…no it doesn’t)

I’m assuming this is to pay off Charles Barkely’s gambling debts..? What was Taco Bell thinking? Moreover, how does this sell product?

The Challenge of Reviewing the iPad

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:46:49 -0800

There seems to be two distinct groups that make reviewing any Apple product or service a nightmare. Apple fanboys and haters. They both suck. Fanboys love everything with a bitten apple on it while haters typically rip any launch because of pricing or lack of features. Worse still are the ones who pretend to hate something only to turn hardcore bullish only days later (or vice versa).

The iPad is a perfect example of this.

I’ve followed people on twitter who have gone from labeling the product as an “epic fail” (comparing it to the Newton) to saying the iPad will “revolutionize the industry”. Ok thanks, Nastrodamus but what does that mean? In my eyes only a handful of products or services have “revolutionized” anything. The car, television, the internet etc. Sure, it sounds great to say that about an iPhone or an iPad but let’s get real, they are iterations in a long (yet fast) growth in technological ubiquity.

My Useless Review

I can’t speak for all consumers but I’m just not sure where I’d fit this in on my typical day. I walk to work so I’m fine there. I’m an iPhone guy so I still have access to much of the same tools and apps. I have a Macbook at home so to switch to anything else would be a downgrade (and boarderline stupid). If I read a lot of books I’d surely pass and pick up a Kindle (e-ink > screens). If I gamed I would either keep using my iPhone so I don’t need to carry more than one device.

There are those who could immediately benefit though:

Doctors and practitioners
Those who don’t have a smartphone or laptop
Tradesmen or niche jobs where a full screen is ideal
Commuters who scan over typing (otherwise netbook)
Fanboys of course…

iPad vs. Kindle

I’d just like to add that this isn’t a war. The slate industry, like all industries will become fragmented. If you’re a big reader of books then the iPad is a drain on the eyes and battery life. If you want a more interactive experience with the web, video or gaming then the Kindle is about as useful as a brick.

Let’s not over think it.

Top 5 Japanese Game Show Ideas

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:58:13 -0800

From digital toilets to robotic sex puppets, the Japanese are just plain awesome when it comes to thinking differently. So I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they also have some odd, yet amazing game show ideas.

For those of you who loved watching MXC I bring you a few more wonderful game shows. You can find plenty more on YouTube.

5. Human Tetris

4. Playing Soccer with Binoculars

3. Having Fun in Groups

2. Human Bowling

1. Pitfalls

Time for a Re-Brand?

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:49:00 -0800

Stumbling by this restaurant in Vancouver, I just had to snap a picture. I’m not sure when the name was developed but I hope it was before two girls and a cup.

P.S. Their chocolate ice cream is delish.

Microsoft Store Employees Crank Up The Douche

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:01:51 -0800

This reminds me of grade 6 when my choir teacher thought it would be “cool” to put a rap together in front of our parents. I chose to be sick the day of performance. Unfortunately I wasn’t sick for our rendition of the Rembrandts Friends Theme. I still feel sick to this day.

Anyway, could you imagine working at Microsoft and having to choriograph this crap? I’m still trying to figure out how the Manager bribed employees making $10/hr to line dance in a public place.

Next step, pissing themselves in the Apple store.

Turkish Ice Cream Man

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:46:24 -0800

This guy puts on a good, yet unsanitary, show. I’d love to see a bank teller or garbage man do something similar. How longer before someone shoots him?

Jesus Fish 2.0

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:39:06 -0800

This makes me want to buy a car.

Banned Ikea Commercial

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:23:56 -0800

…And I’m still trying to figure out why?

The Golden Age of Video - By Ricardo Autobahn

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:19:49 -0800

Great little montage video. Enjoy.

Mathemagic to the extreme!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:56:00 -0800

Arthur Benjamin considers himself a “mathemagician” due to his love of magic and math. The latter will be more obvious in the video below. He makes rainman look like George Bush.

Thank you again TED.

Vodafone Symphonia

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:56:53 -0700

I love this kind of stuff. Great direction.

Somewhat reminds me of the Honda “The Cog” Ad years back.

CSI Sucks But You Suck More For Watching It.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:22:27 -0700

If you like shows that are repetitive, unrealistic and filled with bad actors you’ll love CSI. Then again when I look at their ratings you probably are a fan (have you no shame?)…

Anyway, I always found it funny how in detective shows always find a way to gather important clues from photographs in ways that make my head hurt. Well here are a couple spoofs. Enjoy.

How to Shoot an Anvil 200 Feet in the Air

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:11:45 -0700

Why do I have this feeling like someone has tried this and died? In either case, check it out!

Steve Ballmer, YouTube Loves You

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:30:36 -0700

Just to continue the shit-parade on Microsoft, I thought I’d share a few great YouTube videos of Steve Ballmer, CEO of ~~Crazyville~~ Microsoft. For those of you who haven’t been lucky enough to witness him in action, get your popcorn ready:

Ah-Yeah, Developers remix! Never has it been so cool to program. Let’s party like it’s 01101010101110.

Now, let’s Domo-Kun that bad boy:

Does your cat look like Hitler?

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:12:36 -0700

The internet is becoming really, really niche. Want proof? Check out CatsThatLookLikeHitler.com

From their site:

“Does your cat look like Adolf Hitler? Do you wake up in a cold sweat every night wondering if he’s going to up and invade Poland? Does he keep putting his right paw in the air while making a noise that sounds suspiciously like “Sieg Miaow”? If so, this is the website for you.”

I’m just waiting for a meme video of Brad Pitt from Inglorious Basterds.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m on the look out for Nazi cats. I WANT MY SCALPS!

Why does Microsoft suck at everything?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:57:55 -0700

I shouldn’t be all that surprised to see Microsoft suck at something but please tell me how a director missed that rather obvious stove clock in the background? The actors managed to produce a 6 minute video in an hour-and-a-half. Bravo. They also managed to bend space/time to get the right takes.

Its as human-like as a robot wearing a potato sack… PARTY!

P.S. Vista sucks.

Top 3 Door Fails

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:08:58 -0700

#3 - Oops. No glass.

#2 - Like a moth to the sun…

#1 - Full steam ahead!

Pringles Asks Agency to Prove Ads Work

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:06:06 -0700

It had to be a tough pill for ad agency Grey Global to swallow. No more billable hours. Instead the proof better be in the pudding… potato pudding.

According to Bloomberg.com: “Instead of being paid for hours clocked devising promotions for rice potato chips or crispy cracker sticks, Grey earns an undisclosed fee upfront and add-on payments for sales and market share gains.”

It also sounds like P&G and Coca Cola want to do something similar moving forward. Is this good or bad for the Ad industry? My answer: Yes.

The good news? It forces advertising agencies to develop campaigns that generate return on investment. The bad news? Cat fights. Lots of them.

Before, marketers held the final say on what went out the door. It was their brand and money on the line so they held all the cards. But what happens now? If agencies are just as financially responsible for the success of a campaign then who should make the final decision? Being part of a few pitches in my career it’s safe to say that the #1 idea of the agency almost never aligns with the #1 idea preferred by the marketing people. Murphy’s Law perhaps?

In the end it’s a good thing if it forces marketing and agency people to be more accountable while working together to come with a communications that illicit a response.

Recent Work From Around the World

Advertising Agency: Grey Hong Kong / Grey Singapore

Advertising Agency: PnT, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Advertising Agency: Grey Hong Kong