Nerd Stalker

Dr. Michael Solomon discusses the roles of brands in the "Freemium" world  By Dr. Michael Solomon We are  exposed  to 4000 to 10,000 ad messages everyday. There’s no doubt we’re all assaulted by brand messages that scream to us on billboards and screens, from within TV shows and movies, and even on Post-It notes and refrigerator magnets. Most of us live in a state of sensory overload. We are exposed to far more information than we can process. That means the fight for your attention—or what some marketers refer to as an eyeball economy—gets tougher all the time.   That’s essentially the statement that one version of the popular  freemium  ("free" and premium") business strategy makes to marketers. Sure, a freemium often delivers additional functionality for a fee compared to what the free version does. But for many the real attraction of an upgrade is the chance to shop, play or work in an ad-free environment. When consumers are willing...

By Adam Witty and Rusty Shelton The battle to create brand recognition is taking place in a media world that’s noisier and more crowded than ever. That’s why some entrepreneurs, CEOs and professionals have come to realize that they can set themselves apart by looking beyond the corporate brand and instead building their personal brand, positioning themselves as an expert and leader in their industry and marketplace. It’s a path that such luminaries as Rachael Ray and Dave Ramsey used to much success, says Adam Witty, CEO of Advantage|ForbesBooks ( www.advantagefamily.com ) and co-author with Rusty Shelton of  Authority Marketing: How to Leverage 7 Pillars of Thought Leadership to Make Competition Irrelevant . “Although what’s called ‘authority marketing’ isn’t used as much as it should be, it’s not new,” Witty says. “More than a century ago, P.T. Barnum understood how to generate buzz around his name and get the press to report on his every move, which led t...

The Annual Brand Prize Looking for Destroyers of the Status Quo - Submissions due July 14 Photo courtesy of The Brand Prize The Brand Prize has been driven by a mission to elevate progressive startups in North America through an annual contest, open to anyone with a solid idea and vetted business plan. Partners Skyrocket and the The Red Academy have partnered to provide a prize which includes a comprehensive branding identity and website package, valued at $40,000.

In this episode we talk to Daniel about how the advertising industry has totally changed on a massive level. We discuss specific points where ad strategies and failing and conversely how one can course correct and leverage better ideas to win. Daniel Brian Cobb is an Emmy Award-winning advertising executive, keynote speaker, and business strategist who has partnered with some of the world's most remarkable brands for nearly three decades—such as Disney, Warner Bros., Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola. Cobb founded Daniel Brian Advertising (DBA) with the intent to reinvent the marketing industry. Cobb's motto is, “better brands for a better human condition”. He also serves on the board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, CA-based Missions, and Me And Angel House Orphanages. He is the author of, "Surfing the Black Wave: Brand Leadership in a Digital Age".

WIRED's Data Attack Series Reveals the History of DC and Marvel Films DC vs. Marvel (Photo Courtesy of Conde Nast Entertainment) You need to create a Super Hero startup. Since 1978, DC and Marvel have released 69 live action films and in the next 4 year years 19 superhero movies. We spend over 27.6% of our discretionary income on Super Hero flicks. Both brands have over 17,000 super heroes in their IP vault. That means they can make films for a long time. Between the two brands, Marvel was the phoenix which declared bankruptcy in late 1996 to being a Disney conglomerate flagship today. Marvel has released over 75 films, shorts and series since 1978 which is considered the start of the modern super hero era. DC , like Marvel, started in the 30's and now is a flagship brand of Time-Warner. DC has released over 60 films, shorts and series since 1978. Check out WIRED’s popular digital video series,   Data Attack , reveals the history of  DC and Marvel films in stop mo...