Bailey’s try’s new approach for holiday ad campaign

Bailey’s liqueur has had the same slogan “Serve Chilled” for three years but is now changing it due to a halt in sales growth. To help them in this endeavor, ad agency JWT was hired.

JWT determined that the reason the “Served Chilled” slogan did not work globally was because it could not be translated. The slogan only worked in English. To remedy this, JWT recommended the slogan “Listen to your Lips.” This slogan is intended to persuade Bailey’s drinkers to finish their bottles and purchase a new one. This new ad will run on television, magazine, and billboards.

Pirate PR

In the "you're not going to believe this" category, PR Week reported back in October that a pirate group started doing PR. I guess we can all get familiar with the kinder, gentler side of people who hijack $30 million worth of cargo.

Turn about is fair play. Now a company of pirate hunters hired a firm to do PR for them. I wonder which side will win the PR war?

Local CA Campaign Focuses on Water Conservation

The PR and marketing firm Cook & Schmid is helping the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, 48 square miles of the San Diego area, help educate their residents learn more about, and actually carry out, conserving water. The plan started on October 13.

Some of their tactics included surveying the residents on their general knowledge of water conservation and making a "H20 Running Low" logo that is displayed on all water bills distributed in the San Diego county. Since the campaign started the water use has been down 7% this month.

I think this campaign is smart. Water conservation is important and even though the tactics performed by Cook & Schmid aren't massive, they seem to getting some people's attention. I like how the Olivenhain Municipal Water District website shows people how the water restrictions are only going to become worse over time. Something like this, I feel, would speak volumes.

Mark Cuban facing SEC charges

I'm sure everyone has already heard about Mark Cuban and how he possibly faces SEC charges and jail-time. He saved himself $750,000 by selling his Internet-search firm Mamma.com shares because of information he promised to keep confidential. Mamma.com's Chief Executive, Guy Faure, called Cuban saying he "had confidential information" for him. Yet, Cuban posted an email of the transcript where Faure acknowledges that Cuban didn't explicitly agree to keep the content of their conversation confidential.

I heard on the radio that Cuban could face the same charges as Martha Stewart with insider trading. However, Stewart lied to the Federal Grand Jury that caused her prison time. Cuban has yet to be questioned by the Federal Grand Jury. At this point, it is more of a civil case than a criminal case. He is in the position to be fined substantially, but without jail-time if he plays his cards right. His fate is in his own hands.

KFC becomes the "Official WIng Sponsor" for Super Bowl XLIII

Kentucky Fried Chicken announced the first-ever sponsorship agreement between the chicken chain and the National Football League to make KFC's world-famous chicken wings the "Official Wing Sponsor" of this year's NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl XLIII.

"The sponsorship includes rights to depict the NFL shield and the Super Bowl XLIII logos on KFC's Wings buckets and on 32 oz. NFL promotional drink cups and other packaging, as well as television advertising, online presence and in-store signage." Consumers who purchase a 32 oz. drink will have a chance to win one of several NFL prizes including a trip to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida in 2010, flat-panel TVs and NFL.com gift certificates.

"It seems only fitting for America's favorite chicken wing to sponsor America's favorite sport on the game's biggest stage," said Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC. "It's exciting for KFC to have 'wing season' news to share during the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl."

The KFC chain sells more chicken wings than any other restaurant.  The Super Bowl is the peak of the wing season for the company with Americans eating more than 90 million pounds of chicken wings during the weekend of the Big Game. 

This is a brilliant partnership for KFC and the Super Bowl. It will increase exposure for both KFC and the Super Bowl and award those lucky people that buy the  32 oz. drink with once in a lifetime incentives.  These incentives have been popular with other fast food chains like MCDonalds and Subway, it's about time KFC joins the trend.  Also, what can be better than football and wings?! YES PLEASE! 

Facebook Pulls off Pages

"Facebook said on Friday it had removed several pages from its site used by Italian neo-Nazis to incite violence after European politicians accused the Internet social networking site of allowing a platform to racists."

Facebook does support the free flow of information, but these particular pages violated their terms of use. Theses neo-Nazi pages had made threatening remarks to Italian Roma, which are gypsies.

Simon Samuels, a man interviewed for the article who works for a Jewish human rights group, suggested that Facebook should try and create a technology to help filter out "hate speech."

I think it is good that Facebook removed the pages, although Facebook gives a free flow of information, if someone or groups are being threatned the company should step in and take action.

Auditude Lets Myspace Welcome Videos!

As many of you know, there is a problem with people posting pirated video and t.v. snippets on Youtube.com and MySpace.com. These postings are suppose to be taken down as soon as possible so that website builders cannot be held accountable for its unauthorized use. Well now, MySpace has found a solution called Auditude. Auditude technology automatically identifies user-posted segments of shows, then weaves in advertising for copyright owners and tells viewers whose program they are watching.

"Instead of copyright holders chasing down television shows video posted on MySpace pages and then demanding clips be removed in accordance with US law, they can let Internet users be delivery channels complete with advertising."

Obviously this is a great solution for these videos and mySpace users as well and I am excited to see where this leads us in the future.

it girl public relations

It Girl Public Relations, a leading Public Relations agencies in L.A., announced their partnership with the Los Angeles Music Awards and The Hollywood F.A.M.E. awards.  

This event is the longest running red carpet event for independent musicians and Film Makers.  It's been running for about two decades, and is responsible for providing a platform of acknowledgement and entertainment for local talent in L.A. 

Al Bowman, the founder of Los Angeles Music Awards, chose It Girl Public Relations to handle the media and celebrity outreach for the much anticipated event.  

For an event such as this, a good PR firm is obviously extremely necessary.  In order for it to remain one of the main outreach sources for new artists and up and coming talent.  

Iams celebrates 10 years of holiday campaign for pet adoption

Iams Pet Food is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its pet adoption campaign, "Home 4 the Holidays," with the help of Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman. The campaign, in partnership with the San Diego County-based Helen Woodward Animal Center, includes online outreach, traditional media relations, and a new sports-themed challenge. Online, Iams is using Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and its Web site to get the word out about the campaign, said Kris Parlett, external relations specialist for Procter & Gamble Pet Care. Iams is also testing a partnership with two NFL teams—the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns—for the "Cats versus Dawgs" competition, monitoring completions on the field and adoption completions at local animal shelters. Running from October 1 to January 5, the campaign encourages consumers to adopt animals from their local shelters, with a goal of providing 1 million homes during those 12 weeks. As of November 10, there were 291,394 adoptions.

Social media is mentioned all over now a-days. Facebook, MySpace and YouTube are the new websites used for advertisements. Besdies the help of these networking websites, Desperate Housewife, Felicity Huffman, would be a reason enough for most of America to adopt a puppy. I may not speak for everyone, but it is always nice to see a celebrity mentioning adoption. I am all about adoption of puppies who need a home. Iams has a great campaign going on for their 10 year anniversary, "Home 4 The Holidays."

Save a puppy, adopt!

Gillette to team up with EA Sports

Gillette is teaming up with EA Sports to create awareness about the shaving brand. The Gillette-EA Sports Champions of Gaming tournament will offer winners the chance to play against sports celebrities like Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. Through gaming, Gillette hopes to promote brand awareness with 18 to 34 year-old males.

Porter Novelli will act as the head agency and focus on branding. The agency is also taking advantage of online new media tools. Players are now able to trash talk competitors through an online virtual press conference.

I think this is a pretty smart idea. Gaming has a huge male following, so what better way to promote to guys than to team up with a huge game developer?

Trojan Encourages Youth to 'evolve' in Web Effort

http://www.prweekus.com/Trojan-encourages-youth-to-evolve-in-Web-effort/article/120156/

Times are a changing. Trojan is steering its message and brand towards the youth through social media and the Web. This condom company recently kicked off its largest online initiative, “Evolve One, Evolve All,” in partnership with MTV. They hope to provide young US consumers with a place to discuss sexual health in an engaging environment. Media outreach will include entertainment and media trades, and pop culture bloggers. It is going to target social networks with funky widgets that users can download from the site and upload to myspace, facebook, etc. How clever! I'm sure the youth population spread the message of safe sex much more than spreading diseases. It's about time.

Starbucks Focuses on Community

http://www.prweekus.com/Starbucks-focuses-on-community-with-RED/article/120456/

Starbucks recently annoucned they are expanding their social responsibility and commitment to the community through its partnership with RED. RED is an organization that works to eliminate AIDs in Africa. The PR for this partnership is traditonal media relations, online outreach, in-store marketing and events. The online outreach will focus on Starbucks website and JoinRed.com.

The campaign will come up with ways for Starbucks customers to donate to the Global Fund. From November to January 2009 Starbucks will donate five cents to the Global Fund from Starbucks holiday drinks.

Cindy on Palin

Potential first lady Cindy McCain recently came to the defense of Gov. Sarah Palin claming that the media had been too harsh, unfairly criticizing the vice presidential nominee.
The usually poised, Barbie-like McCain showed a different personality with CNN’s Larry King commenting that Palin was not to blame for the poor ratings of the Republican Party, but rather the media.
Unfortunately, in a world where the peoples opinions are influenced by Saturday Night Live sketches and You Tube clips, the “Queen of Beers” is absolutely right on this one.
The Tina Fey/Palin sketch boosted SNL ratings to the highest in 14 years! The problem is it contributed to the overall attitude towards the hockey which trickled down to highlight clips and commentaries from CNN, FOX, and many other major broadcasters. In this day in age, SNL can make or break anyone.
Aside from being ridiculously stunning for her age, it is great to her that Cindy McCain also understands the powerful role that even comedic media plays in shaping our political landscape.

Student-run PR agencies provide hands-on experience

Real world lessons are taught as students across the country explore the PR industry by contributing to student-run PR firms. PR Lab, Boston University's student-run PR agency, is one example of a success story. Last May, PR Lab put together the Eighth Annual Taste of Beacon Hill, an annual event that promotes the neighborhood in Boston. Tickets were sold out ahead of time, and the public response was greater than ever.

The agency is open to undergraduates and grad students in the school's communication department, and students receive academic credit for their work. PR Lab's goal is to replicate a real PR agency and send students into the industry ready with necessary experience. This semester, the firm consists of 35 students and 16 clients. There is also a volunteer-based firm on the BU campus affiliated with PRSSA, called PRSSAgency.

Other colleges that have student agencies are the University of Georgia, Indiana's Valparaiso University, and University of Southern California. USC's TriSight Communications charges their clients $250 per semester, which gives students more experience with budget management. They also offer classes on the business of PR.

I think this kind of hands-on experience is necessary before going into the real world of public relations. I love that our PR Campaigns course is similar to this idea of a real agency. Bobcat Promotions is Texas State's student-run PR agency, but unfortunately, I never hear too much from them. They seem to be somewhat successful, so far, but if they branched out more and promoted around San Marcos or surrounding cities, perhaps they could receive more clients. I'm not sure where or if Bobcat Promotions even meets on campus, but I like the idea of having a separate meeting space for the agency - in an office or some sort of outside environment providing a professional feel. I also think that USC's idea of learning about budgeting and business PR is important and should be taught everywhere.