B(abble)log - Archives
From the very odd season's greeting from U.S. President Bush’s dog Barney to poor sad Billy Idol hamming it up to Jingle Bell Rock a few years back (My eyes! My eyes! Aiieeee!), it seems like everywhere you turn there is something new and mostly wonderful to watch. ( I suppose I should be grateful that at least the former Gen-X front man isn’t doing adverts for butter, unlike others.)
Of course, companies like to spread the holiday cheer as well. Every year Twist Image does something fun and witty. And, yesterday, I stumbled across this highly elaborate, wildly imaginative seasonal greeting from the London-based office of AKQA, a digital marketing company.
But the one that touched me the most was from Brainstorm, a brand development and communications company. Friend Ed Illig sent over the link and I was instantly captivated. On the BCause08.com site, the folks at Brainstorm share their favourite holiday memories, and as a reminder of what this season is really all about, they donate 25 cents to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, up to $5000, for every viewing. (So, go, check it out!!)
As colleague @zoonini pointed out, the site doesn’t only look nice –it’s a great use of Flash- but in a salute to usability, they've included a notification to users that there is audio. Combine a lovingly designed website and good copy that has a distinct voice (“Peek at our past and we’ll give to the future.”) with a cause and a way to make a difference and it elevates a fun seasonal video into a feel-good moment. Nice work, Brainstorm.
Stumble It! |
Save to del.icio.us | 
(Photo credit: Robbie Sproule)
Earlier today I was happily gathering suggestions for favourite and most-hated Twitter-related phrases or words, (I’ve got some good ones, and feel free to send yours along.) when I was reminded of the Yahoo layoffs as Jeremiah Owyang tweeted about a leaked Yahoo layoff script obtained by Valleyway.
Currently, Yahoo’s layoff story is slowly unfolding on Twitter. Real life excerpts of those that made it through and those that didn’t and many others just offering their thoughts and sympathies.
I took a peek at the PowerPoint slides and my own layoff experience came tumbling back to me. Close to five years ago, I had just returned from maternity leave to my job as an editor and community manager at LookSmart, and –wham-o- they announced that the Canadian office was closing. It was devastating. I remember someone saying that I shouldn’t take it personally. Why not? It sure felt personal.
Yet, the office marched through the procedures, filling out exit interviews and meeting with some sort of transition counselor who gave us all advice on creating a new resume.
So, when I saw the PowerPoint, all those carefully cloaked words leapt off the page. The words and phrases that “blandify” (yup, I made that up) the entire layoff process.
Take “I have some information regarding our organization” for example. If you guessed Christmas bonus or company picnic, you’d be wrong. “Some information” is quickly becoming code for “very bad news indeed… news you probably won’t like at all.”
So, why would Yahoo refer to layoffs as “getting fit” (which, incidentally, was voted to the Grand List of Asinine Corporate Layoff Euphemisms)?
Because words are powerful. They have the ability to hurt, anger, infuriate. How best to take a potentially powder keg message and defuse it? Make it bland.
Bob Sutton, author of The No Asshole Rule, has compiled a list of mealy-mouthed layoff euphemisms which include “adjusting to shifts in demand” and “cost improvement plans.” WordSpy also lists a few, including my personal favourite, “career change opportunity.” These all sound rather benign –potentially alluring even!– don’t they? At least they do until you’re standing on the street with your desk plant in one hand and a plastic bag of personal belongings in the other.
As a general rule of thumb: the more detached the message, the more unpleasant the news. I suppose it is to calm the nerves of the visibly quaking ones left behind under the management that got everyone into this mess. But, no matter what words you use to try to hide it, there is no getting around the brutal truth. Layoffs suck. They hurt.
For what it’s worth, my layoff was the catalyst to start this company. So, any ex-Yahoo readers, good things will come. I believe in that.
Earlier today I was happily gathering suggestions for favourite and most-hated …&topic=Personal Random Thoughts Words){kind=small}
In case you haven’t heard about the bad press Pepsi and BBDO Germany have received over its suicide themed ads, here is a little background info...
Aimed at the German market, the three-illustration Pepsi Max ad depicts “one very, very, very lonely calorie” committing suicide by hanging, shooting itself and slitting its wrist. Ultra-violent and very graphic, the ads made my skin crawl. To call them insensitive is an insult to the word understatement. A depiction of blowing your brains out is no way to sell a soft drink.
Segue to why I love the Internet, and in particular Twitter and the power of social media. I had stumbled across the ads at AdAge.com and tweeted about it. Adele McAlear noticed my tweet and responded that I should check out Christine Lu’s tweet stream for her strong words for Pepsi.
Wow. Strong (and very, very insightful) words indeed. Here’s a sample of just a few of Christine's tweets:
Question: does Pepsi know that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24 yr olds?
Question: Does Pepsi know there is a link between recession and increase in suicide rate? Does Pepsi know we're in a recession now?
Question: Does Pepsi know that there are parents right now who have no idea that the leading cause of death among teens is suicide?
Question: Does Pepsi know that the Internet, social media and online communities have no geographic boundaries? Suicide doesn't either.
Question: Is Pepsi going to spin by saying they want to increase awareness of suicide via wrist slashing ad? Public service announcement?
It wasn’t just Christine, but countless others, like Chris Abraham, one of the first to spot the ad. It’s little wonder that it caught Pepsi’s attention.
But here is where Pepsi had a shining moment. They apologized to each and every person on Twitter. Like Chris, I, too, received a personal letter of apology from the Director of Social and Emerging Media, Bonin Bough, that read:
Charlotte,Pepsico's Senior Manager for Communications, Huw Gilbert, noted that the ads had not received any complaints in the German market, but as both Chris Abraham and Christine Lu point out advertisers have no hiding places anymore. With the Internet and social media, it is impossible to contain an ad in a geographic or offline channel such as print.
I saw your tweet and I just wanted to make sure I responded personally.
We agree this creative is totally inappropriate; we apologize and please know it won't run again.
My best friend committed suicide and this is a topic very close to my heart. So again I offer my deepest apologies.
For me, it was the experience of being personally acknowledged that I found to be exemplary. As well, the personal nature of the email - the injection of my name, the way Bonin opens up and says that his best friend committed suicide, and the way he extended his personal apologies. (To be picky, perhaps he should have mentioned that Pepsi Max also regrets the decision to approve the ad, but I digress.)
So, congrats Pepsi. While the apology doesn't absolve the act, it does make it sting a little less.
Extras
Read an interview with Christine Lu here.
Chris Abraham's Pepsi Apologized to Me for its Suicide Ads.
SEO Resources
B(abble)log
Art & Life
Search!
Stuff
Categories
Advertising
Art
Blogging
Branding
Copywriting
Creativity
Email
Five Questions
Fun Stuff
Make the Frames Stop
Marketing
Online Content
Personal
Photography
Random Thoughts
Search
Selling
SEO
Tips
Usability
Visual Things
Web 2.0
Words
Archives
August 2010
July 2010
March 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
September 2009
August 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
Meta
Web Site Design | Search Engine Optimization | Portfolio | Etc.| Contact