Best Commercials of 2008

The biggest trend in advertising in 2008, according to this MSNBC Today Show news clip with Association of Independent Commercial Producer's Matt Miller, is consumer engagement. This involves off-beat humor, pure entertainment, an emotional connection, and the ability to share the commercial with family, friends, and colleagues.

On-Demand Magazine Printing

Ever wanted to publish a magazine?

Now you have an opportunity.

MagCloud using HP Indigo Technology provides on-demand "vanity" magazine printing (see www.magcloud.com). Printing costs are 20 cents per page plus shipping, and all you need to do is upload your PDF file. Magazines are printed in vibrant full color on 80lb paper and saddle-stitched.

Here's a link to a New York Times story about how students at the University of California, Berkeley, used MagCloud to produce a fashion magazine.

What other applications do you see for on-demand magazine printing?

If you decide to try out this service--leave a blog comment and let me know how it works and what you think.

Pizza Hut's Twinternship

Super Ads

For once in several years, I did not keep track of Super Bowl ads.

While the game commenced, I was sitting in a web site training session wishing I could watch the ads...er, I mean, the football game. In the process of going home, though, my priorities changed. Instead of watching the game, I napped until the end of third quarter.

Apparently, I didn't miss a whole lot of the game. Thanks to the Internet, I didn't have to miss this year's advertisements.

Some wonder if Super Bowl advertising is really worth it. Yes, says the headline of the January 26 Advertising Age issue, the Super Bowl is well worth $3M a spot.

Instead of a marketing extravagance, writes Jeremy Mullman, "The Super Bowl presents not just a huge platform with astounding audience numbers where consumers actually lean forward to watch your ad," but "it also pays surprising ancillary dividends in awareness."

This awareness yields press coverage, driven word of mouth, and "stamped traffic" to web sites, Mullman says.

"Most importantly, for the right company, it can establish a relationship with key consumers and sell products."

So--enjoy your dose of Super Ads. Smile. Laugh. Groan. It was money well spent.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Pulling the Plug on Brand Loyalty

Declare Yourself

VP Debate - SNL Style

To appreciate this clip, you also need to watch the Weekend Today clip about the SNL skit.