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Apparently, the latest "innovation" in advertising is offering up ad space on the bottom of those security bins used in every airport. Despite fears that it might confuse people during an already confusing moment of separating liquids and laptops into quart-sized bags, it seems that airport authorities are ready to go ahead with the plan … Read more
Let’s start with a warning … this is the "clip show" post where I recycle a lot of old material so if that causes you extreme pain, please close this window now and come back tomorrow. For all the rest of you, it’s the holidays and a quick glance around the marketing blogosphere will show … Read more
I came across an interesting viral campaign for the upcoming movie "Snakes on a Plane" where users can go online and enter names to have a personalized viral message sent to someone spoken by Samuel L. Jackson. I have seen this viral talking idea before, such as with the "7 days left" campaign for The … Read more
Searching for a movie this weekend, I cursed my way through yet another painful online experience dealing with AMC Theaters. The main problem, in their case, is that I know their brand and I have been to their theaters. And because I do, I have higher expectations from AMC. For one, I assume the theater’s … Read more
In light of Chevy Tahoe’s recent experience with consumer backlash towards their promotion run on The Apprentice, viral marketing is a hot topic of discussion in marketing circles these days. Is it too risky to do well? Should companies avoid it? Is Chevy doing the right thing by not stepping in and removing negative consumer … Read more
Rebate Phishing: The practice of luring customers online to make a purchase with the promise of receiving a nonexistent rebate check in return. Recently unleashed from the bonds of my 2-year mobile phone contract, I went online this weekend to search for a new mobile phone. Within seconds, I ended up at Wirefly.com – one … Read more
In times square this weekend, I spotted a long billboard with mathematical equations and schematic drawings along with the cryptic URL – www.beyondthedrawingboard.com. Unfortunately, a visit to the website delivers neither a new online community for tech geeks, nor an innovative new virtual drawing board for users to collaborate on. Instead, the site is nothing … Read more
Using celebrity spokespeople can be a tricky thing – especially when it comes to athletes and sports sponsorships. Nike and Visa both learned this with their ill-fated Olympic sponsorships of Bode Miller and Lindsay Jacobellis, respectively. Both turned out disappointing performances, with Bode Miller coming off as a total ass yesterday with his declaration that … Read more
Every year there are lists of the best and worst ads from the Super Bowl – and usually I look at them with frustration because they have nothing to do with advertising effectiveness … just pure entertainment. Entertainment is fine, but it’s hard to imagine that any of the advertisers in the Super Bowl will … Read more
As part of the merger between US Airways and America West airlines announced in November last year (2005), they had an intriguing new decision to make about the beverage brands that they served on their flights. America West had Pepsi and Budweiser, US Airways had Coke and Miller. Over the past decade, both brands in … Read more
Non-Obvious Thinking is my latest book about the 4 secrets of becoming a non-obvious thinker - relesaed 10/01/2024.
Rohit Bhargava is a trend curator, founder of the Non-Obvious Company and the 3-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author of ten books.
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In addition to Non-Obvious Thinking, Rohit is the author of 10 books on trends, the future of business, building a more human brand with storytelling and how to create a more diverse and inclusive world.
