Keyword ‘product’

Marketing

When marketing (and Santa) isn’t enough

by Andrew Swenson
Andrew and Santa

yes, I'm really sitting on his lap. yes, it was a little awkward.

While I was traveling home last weekend from Dallas, a few artificially bubbly college kids in festive hats asked if I wanted to take a survey. In exchange for my trouble, I’d get my photo taken with Santa and $20 off my next flight.

You know how that ended.

I quickly found out that Southwest Airlines and Microsoft had teamed up to offer “Holiday Photos on the Fly,” a promotion mainly for Windows 7. The sales pitch came in when I watched one of Santa’s elves take my photo “to the Cloud” for editing with Windows Live.

Business Practice

A case for rethinking product and brand

by Andrew Swenson

image credit: jhritz

Although I originally submitted a variation of post below as an entry for the Social Business Edge 4×4 Slam, I’m fairly certain the presenters for the event have been picked, and this particular entry wasn’t selected.

That’s okay. It just means I get to share it with you sooner:

Rethinking Product and Brand

Product has historically been branded as a combination of physical properties, supporting service, and symbolic value: the Lexus has leather seats, is covered by a substantial warranty, and perhaps above all else, is a symbol of status.