CK's Blog

More Movies! Enough Market?

I caught this in David Pogue’s NYT column. MovieBeam, a new movie-delivery mechanism, has emerged on the scene, backed by media and tech heavies’ Disney, Intel and Cisco.  It’s a wireless--hence the “beam” name--set-top box that will leave your wallet $200 lighter, but, hey, you’ll be richer from all the movies you never-knew-you-wanted (but want when they’re right at your fingertips). It doesn’t require an Internet connection and it’s cable-company agnostic.

According to Pogue’s article: “You connect the MovieBeam player directly to your TV set. Then, whenever you're in the mood for a movie, you choose from the list of 100 movies on the player's hard drive. Preposterous as this may sound, there's no monthly fee and no minimum; you're billed only for the movies you watch ($4 for a new release, $2 for an old one). You can rewind, pause, fast-forward and replay a movie you've bought — for 24 hours from your first glimpse of the opening credits. Each week, seven or eight new movies magically show up in the player's list, pushing an equal number of old ones off to movie heaven.”

In his column, Pogue asks the same question I have—with the 400+ movie-delivery sales channels, ranging on-demand (through Time Warner Cable), in-the-mail (via Netflix) and down-the-street venues (a la Blockbuster), can Movie Beam find a market…especially since it requires consumers to fork over a couple-hundred bucks?

The company boasts it bests all the incumbents: video-on-demand is a small selection; Netflix is a few movies at a time sent in random rotation; and, once at Blockbuster your movie can be out of stock—plus, you’ve got to wait in line, only to schlep to the store to return the darn thing. Which, if it’s a dump of a movie is a rather resentful walk, eh?

I'll likely blog more on MovieBeam in the coming weeks, because of the marketing implications, naturally...couldn't possibly be due to my being a movie junkie.

Pogue’s full article is right here.

Chicks Still Got Game (but no play)

Seems the boycotting over the Dixies dissin' Bush isn't affecting sales of their latest album so far, though they're still having a devil of a time gettin' play by many of the radio stations that banned--and burned--their CDs back in '03. Their album soared to #1 on country charts and the Billboard 200, as reported by the AP.Both charts are based on sales, rather than radio airplay.

The band's lead pipes, Natalie Maines, did apologize for bashin' Bush and then said she regretted doing so. Hmmm...maybe she could apologize for apologizing?

While the group's album is rumored to lean more to the "pop" side this go 'round (note: pop-music listeners skew far more liberal than country ones), according to Wade Jessen, director of Billboard's country charts, "There also might be a certain amount of support that may have been thrown their way by folks who are a little more liberal and that maybe never bought a country album in their lives but want to show their support."

And what better show of support than the good 'ol greenback, eh?

Regardless of whether they gain back radio play, the marketer in me is intrigued to see how this plays out, and wonders: Can the public let bygones just be? And, if not, will they continue to gain momentum into new markets, or is this a one-shot sales coup?

My southern momma loves "The Chicks" (she's working on forgiving them); she also likes Bush (I'm working on forgiving her).

Buzz 'o the Beach: Coney Island pegged for a (marketing) makeover...

For all you NY'ers--and those that travel to this great city--this could be BIG news. As reported in CNN, the legendary, much-mocked and far-too-long neglected Coney Island is slated for a billion-dollar makeover. Final plans are hoped for July 1st, then the city needs to give the nod for construction to begin as early as July '07.

As fan of Coney's beach and boardwalk, I've always been baffled that so many NY'ers who've lived here, scores of years longer than I, have never made the two-buck pilgrimage down the F train to Neptune and Surf Avenues. But as marketer, I've been completely confounded as to why others haven’t seen Coney's potential--especially since it's one of the remaining pieces of NYC real estate left to be developed, and one of the few true NYC beaches (and no, it's not littered with hypodermic needles as urban legend and Law & Order would have you believe).

But 2 questions loom LARGE:

#1: Will it really happen? Capital investment rumors in this storied block of beach circulate every couple of years. But what's so promising this go 'round is the developer, Thor Equities' CEO Joe Sitt, is well-heeled in turning risky real-estate ventures into really attractive propositions. And Sitt is a Brooklyn native, to boot--so there's a personal interest at play.

#2: Will the 'new' Coney reflect the 'old' Coney's personality? While the Cyclone rollercoaster, Wonder Wheel and Parachute Jump are already designated landmarks, the plans for a high-end hotel (potentially shaped like a rollercoaster), water park and retail outlets signals a change in image, along with the landscape, will surely ensue—but I understand Sitt has guaranteed local merchants a spot in the new hot spot. Smart move.

And speaking of smart moves: here's a shout out to some smart marketing (bravo!) on Joe Sitt's part. In The Origin of Brands, marketing gurus’ Al & Laura Ries write: "Big companies tend to see things the way they are. Entrepreneurs tend to see things the way they could be." Seems Joe Sitt has that entrepreneurial vision.

All told, if the ‘new Coney’ lures tourists to visit more than the Empire State Building and Times Square, this could be one of the new century’s newest turnarounds (psst: you don’t need to wait for renovations for a reason to visit Coney, the one-of-a-kind Annual Mermaid Parade happens on June 24th this year).

Leave it to Disney to hatch the golden egg...

Arguments of big bang, the evolution of man and Jesus' celibacy notwithstanding, here's one that today's CNN says we can finally put to rest: 'twas the egg that came first, the chicken thereafter.

According to CNN: "Put simply, the reason is down to the fact that genetic material does not change during an animal's life. Therefore the first bird that evolved into what we would call a chicken, probably in prehistoric times, must have first existed as an embryo inside an egg."

And yes folks, it does have a marketing spin: the debate-debunking research was sponsored by Disney to promote the release of the film "Chicken Little" on DVD. Leave it to marketers to spin eggs into box-office gold.

Btw, who knew there existed 'eggsperts'? Check out the full article here.

Does Web 2.0 hold Bucks for B2B?

Being that I've by and largely morphed into a B2B marketer over the last decade, who works the tech, interactive and media circuits, this question is being shot to me--and at me--from every client and colleague. The quick answer is we need to first get past the 'linear-profit-model' mentality of every century before this one, and look to the more creative, circuitous patterns of buzz and buzz influencers. And we definitely need more time and perspective.

But that doesn't, or shouldn't, stop the questions. It just leaves me lacking solid answers. So I'm passing the buck and hittin' up several experts in my upcoming 'Web 2.0 B2B Series' in which I'll have the divine pleasure (thanks, guys!) of interviewing industry notables including: Technorati's chief David Sifry, social media guru Paul Gillin and the PR podcaster execs travel near and far to workshop with, Spinfluencer's Eric Schwartzman.

I'm looking to publish the first installment over the next 3-4 weeks. If you've got burning questions you want to make sure I ask...send 'em on over!

Ideas aren't limited to one person...why should awards be?

Hollywood hails Oscar. Broadway guns for Tony. Mad Ave covets Clio. This blog boasts the smart guy on the right.

Why are you giving awards? It's more recognition than award, but the award makes it special. I'm giving them because working in this wonderful profession I know how much a thank you, a nod and a note of recognition means after slaving over complicated strategies and tedious tactics.

What are the awards for? A wide range of achievements: smart marketing spans brilliant ideas, clever strategies, successful programs and ingenious tactics.

What's the criteria? It's an unscientific, completely subjective award system. There really are no rules. No that's not true, I just instituted two: you can't nominate yourself and I can't give one to myself (but I do want one).

What do winners receive? Recipients get a write-up, the opportunity to be profiled in my interview series and a "That was some smart marketing!" e-mail from yours truly. No statuette or door prize at this time.

Who can participate? Everyone. I can only be in so many places and brilliance is in so many more. If you want to nominate someone for the smart marketing they've done, please send me a note detailing who's worthy, why so and what remarkable idea, strategy, practice or tactic they've accomplished. If I agree, you'll receive full and complete recognition for recognizing them.

How often do you grant these? Well, how often does brilliance strike? I assume there will be months with a few winners and months without any. That's just the ebb and flow of ideas.

Thanks for making this profession so dynamic--and now, more rewarding,

- ck

p.s.: Stay tuned: my money is on some non-marketers winning awards, too (we marketers aren't the only ones with marketing savvy).

CK's Interview Series: What, Who & Why.

What is your interview series? Idea-rich Q&A segments with marketers and our markets. Featuring candid feedback, each segment includes 3 - 6 questions.

Who do you interview? Some of the smartest marketers around. But right alongside are my Q&A sessions with bloggers--they may not hold the title of marketer, but they're producing savvy marketing initiatives nonetheless. Academics and analysts too, as they give us the facts (and dispel the hype). I interview the BIG names, but also bring you names you've not yet heard--but need to be listening to.

Why are you doing these interviews? 3 reasons:

#1. so we don't just talk amongst ourselves (and so we listen): Everyone is talking to the marketers, but we also need to listen to our market. I'll be speaking with marketers, but I'll also be chatting up bloggers, podcasters, academics and analysts.

#2. for the love of democracy: Unknown talent, emerging technologies and new methodologies are equally important, yet far less recognized by mainstream media. Citizen media should work to correct that gap, not reflect it. In this blog big names don't matter, BIG ideas do.

#3. it gets me out of my blog: It's too easy to spend all our time in the blogosphere...in our own blog! These interviews get me out of mine in search of new talent and techniques, which I then bring back to readers (which keeps me true to my blog's mantra of listening, involvement and ideas).

Access all interview segments here. Ideas for an upcoming segment? Send 'em on!  Want to be pinged when new interviews are released? e-mail me. Got feedback? e-mail me here...be it good, bad or indifferent, I promise I'll listen.

Where...oh where...were YOU marketers?

In my Mad Ave Journal column this week, I discuss last week's Syndicate conference--that was jam-packed with information....but oddly void of marketers (wtf?). The write-up is below but...you gotta vote here.

Just off of last week's Syndicate Conference held right here in the BIG apple. Boasting legends, luminaries and social-media stars from Technorati, Buzzmachine, Linux Journal, ZDNet, Rocketboom, Brightcove, Mommycast, Spinfluencer, The Content Wrangler, SNP, Denuo and many, many more.

Attendees spanned syndicators, aggregators, bloggers, buzz analysts and podcasters but, where...oh where...in the Web 2.0 world were all the marketers? Last time I checked, isn't NYC the so-called marketing capitol of the world?

So we marketers that did show got handed a world of hurt. My on-site polling results are bleak at best: seems marketers are "in denial", "don't get it", "think it doesn't affect B2B markets" and "treat bloggers like suits", since I gather enough of us are sending them 3-page press releases as a buzz-building tactic. Oy!

But the no-shows' loss was this girl's gain. With no moshpits of marketers to claw through, I freely chatted up CEOs, best-selling authors and thought leaders. Talking was good, but listening provided the real payoff: when bloggers realized I was genuinely interested in their beefs, and far outnumbered, I was afforded an unbridled, unhindered Q&A with some of the most influential people in the disruptive era--from which I'll be publishing insights shortly. Stay tuned.

Come to think of it, with the large, loyal following bloggers have amassed--in but a handful of years--I might even say they're some of the smartest marketers I've met. So while the show most definitely lacked marketers, it hardly lacked marketing savvy. The next Syndicate Conference is October 24-25 in San Francisco. I hope more marketers will show (if not, all the more opportunities for me).

As for this week's burning question: What HOT reason do you have for NOT being where your market was? Cast your vote here!

CK Disclosed: My Blog's Mantra

In the spirit of transparency and full disclosure, I disclose this: All content, thought and time that goes into my blog is driven by 3 principles.

Probably best to start from the beginning, which leads me to #1...

#1: Listening. Marketing is about listening. When people ask me how to be better marketers, I tell them to become better listeners. Since new media gives us new ways to listen, this blog serves as a feedback tool.

So when I'm asking questions through polls, posts or interviews, just know my agenda is less about talking, more about listening--and, ultimately, about learning, which leads me to #2...

#2: Involvement. My blog features practices from some of the smartest marketers around. But right alongside are clever strategies and stealth tactics from persons whom may not hold the title of marketer, but they're producing savvy marketing initiatives nonetheless.

That said, I promote the well-known marketers along with the up-and-comers. The A-list bloggers with huge audiences and the B-listers with passionate communities. After all, Galileo and Columbus had small followings in their time, but they sure had BIG ideas, which brings me to #3...

#3: Ideas. Ideas are the currency of the new economy. Ideas make the world and this blog go 'round. I reference the ideas, posts and articles of others', as much as I do my own. But I'm just one little marketer in a BIG ol' blogosphere: so please send ideas my way. I'll be sure to give you credit.

Thanks for listening, contributing and participating,

- CK

P.S.: Got feedback? Send it on! Be it good, bad or indifferent...I promise I'll listen.