AOL is reinventing itself and asserting its individuality in every possible way. First came the news of AOL becoming independent internet entity and the makeover began with redesigning of logo. Now the next revelation is that AOL will go lowercase and become ‘aol.’, pronounced as ‘aol dot’, so it won’t be an acronym anymore but will leave room for extension such as ‘aol.music’. And what is the marketing strategy and campaign plan to compete with giants like Google and Yahoo? According to AOL CEO Armstrong its marketing and advertising funds are minimal and the brand campaign is going to be very inexpensive affair.

It was in news that AOL had taken help of Leo Burnett for tweaking new brand image. AOL is indeed treading on unbeaten path with a different marketing strategy which is perfectly in place. They are investing in product and services which will speak loads about the brand and spread the word. They want to attract millions of net users with their versatility, product features, interesting sites and services. I guess this makes sense. In the online world it is enough to create a ‘buzz’ and the word spreads like wildfire. And the real worth of brand is determined by its product and not by catchy campaigns. Moreover in the times of recession there is no point in spending on packaging what can be spent on content!

Via PaidContent

Have you ever earned bonuses or some extra dough for referring people online for work? This is very much possible now with RefMob launching at the TechCrunch50 today.

This is a service that allows business owners to make hue and cry about their paid referral programs online and it also gives more people the opportunity to earn bonuses for referring people using social networking apps like Twitter and Facebook. What a cool way to do business this is! You might be wondering how the whole thing works.

Here is a simple explanation. RefMob enables people to share paid referrals that they know of for a variety of business categories. For example, the user will get bonuses for petty jobs like getting new apartment tenants or driving more job applicants to a company looking to hire. This is a novel and easy way of earning money through social networking.

The general idea of RefMob is to let the people influence the tools that they use regularly to keep in touch regularly for sharing referrals and earn money and share it between them. Simultaneously, it works well for the companies too as they can easily create a paid referral program online. Indeed social networking rocks big time!

Some people are just too obsessed with their laptops that they cannot even part from them even during their workouts. Randy Fenton from the US prototyped a unique gadget called “SurfShelf”, which can attach your laptop to your treadmill or elliptical. You can surf the internet, blog on it or watch some of your favorite videos online while you are running on the treadmill.

This is a different way of multitasking. Fenton designed this gadget in his garage from a piece of plywood so that he can get connected to the world while working out in the gym too. However, the gadget still needs to be ameliorated. There is no news about its price yet. While this gadget may attract you, it is still better to properly concentrate while running on the treadmill and not pay attention to working on your laptop.

I wonder why some people just forget that there is a proper time to do everything. The next crazy thing that these people may come up with is to use their laptops while riding a bike. I guess they will only learn their lessons once they twist their legs while running on the treadmill.

Via: TechChee

Rethink Communications has found unique advertising space for selling Parissa Wax Strips. Well best place to talk about wax is a hairy back! They have actually waxed out the ad on a hairy back and made the person walk on the beaches and public places. The man also handed out free samples, gave demos and attracted curious looks. A online and radio buzz was generated too.

This is literally spreading a word behind one’s back! It is a unique creative idea indeed. Rethink Communications has done good rethinking. Such human stunts always catch eye balls and the whole thing gets much attention and publicity. Once again it might be highly localized publicity but then there is online world to spread the word globally.

The campaign is highly product relevant. Also using hairy back and beach is the best way for selling wax. This man must have generated lot of curiosity. In fact the concept is highly witty too. Hope we see more such ‘Backvertising’. One need not just gossip behind the person’s back – one can spread a good word about products too without spending a lot of money on elaborate advertising.

Via Ads of the World

The best green intentions are simple. That is somethings that true tree huggers like to believe in. Leo Goes Grr is one of them. This toy brand really is a group of zealous mothers who believe that kids deserve better. The same faith makes them nurture their young clientele in a way that the kids learn to respect the environment and the earth.

Global sustainability is top on the agenda at Leo Goes Grr but that mission isn’t accomplished without local sustainability. You can know about this and much more on the online Grreen Shop that also features several creative and eco-friendly toys made in the USA.

And that isn’t all. The Leo Goes Green website also has a Grrecycle Room where you can donate, sell and even buy used toys. Again, you have the option to participate in the Grreen Fundraisers which is a great event for your kids to join in. And they offer special discounts too.

Via leogoesgrr

Subway has become trendy ‘Subway Now’ by introducing option of placing orders by text messaging and on web before hitting the place and thus avoiding long queues during lunch time. What more can make life easier for busy executives and young impatient generation?

This is true innovation- utilizing modern technology to the fullest. Only a highly popular food joint can risk such a proposition. The food will never go waste even if someone doesn’t turn up after placing the order. This special service is already in place in Manhattan, New York. The ad campaign and web campaign guides the person to actually place an order. Such campaigns will arouse curiosity and will surely increase sales for first few weeks atleast.

Modern life is busy. Even relationships are maintained online and through text messages, so it is indeed futile to stand in long food queues when that can time can be spent longer with near and dear ones or doing some important office work. Well, old timers might argue that cooling feet in queues on empty stomach may be good for health and soul. But young generation is going to love this option of text messaging or placing order on web and grabbing a quick bite. Also it gives them good excuses to text a message or be online for few seconds!!

Via Adpulp

Quite stupendous but figures show that the number of Internet users in China is nearly equal to the population of the United States – somewhere in the area of 298 million. The figure is not really astounding if one sees it within the general scheme of things: the Chinese internet users total means that only 23 percent of Chinese use the Web. In the US, 73 percent of the entire population use the Internet. Worldwide, 22 percent of all peoples on earth go online.

Use of the Internet is one of the hallmarks of a free world that is, perhaps, why the China Internet Network Information Center is surprised that 88 million people went online in China last year, with 90 percent of them using broadband connection. This translates to a 42 percent increase from the country’s Internet usage in 2007.

The figure may seem amazing if one considers that there is such a thing as Internet police in China. The country’s government is known to regularly block web sites, even jail bloggers and writers. Internet use is restricted in the country. Nonetheless, China has already topped the US as the biggest user of the Internet. Online, China has become a ‘superpower.’ The field of e-commerce is expected to flourish even more in China.

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Via Information Week

Atkins Nutritionals has launched a new ad campaign for its once famous Atkins Diet. It seems online and print campaign is also an attempt to be “less clinical” and “more contemporary”. This also means the Atkins Diet is trying to make a ‘trendy’ comeback in the lives of diet conscious middle aged modern urban people.

The Print ads in the current issues of People, Shape and US Weekly show actress Courtney Thorne-Smith with a message – “Better Weight Loss. Better Cholesterol. Low Carb. It’s Just Better” and a tagline – “Sweet, Sexy, Science.” Online campaign includes banner ads on some sites and a blog.

Given the fact that company has faced bankruptcy once, it’s a great attempt to establish trendiness and credibility with the words in the message and tagline. The target group is clear too. But there are too many competitors selling Weight loss formulas and products. Hope Courtney Thorne-Smith will be able to convince people that one can go easy with chocolate bars and shakes and let the Atkins Diet take care of the calories and weight!!

Via Brandweek