Archive for April, 2010

Apple’s iAd Mobile Advertising

// April 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Advertising, Design

Apple is set to deliver a mobile ad platform by the name if iAd to one billion devices (iPhones, iPads and iPod touches). This ad platform isn’t just banners and text links. It is robust brand advertising that is as fully functional as a website or an app itself. Yes, ads that are apps within an app. iAds will be defining mobile advertising and will definitely shake up the mobile market. People aren’t searching on mobile devices, they are using apps so it only makes sense to enhance this experience. No one is happy clicking a banner and leaving their current site/app. This alone is brilliant. The ads have been hinted to be “premium” which sounds expensive. Sure they’ll make money from all this but I think it’s more for Apple to be the leader in this market. They want to to be the innovator in mobile advertising, reshape the industry and stick it to Google. Another tidbit is they’ll offer 60% of the revenue back to developers (ala Google Adsense) to help the creation of great apps on the App Store. And then HTML5! Every Flash shop in the country better be sharpening their HTML5 skillz. Anyway you see it, Apple’s new iAd is an exciting move.
Only problem is Apple will now massively once again control something else. Will they approve our anti/parody Apple ad?

Heeeeeeere’s Johnny

// April 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Personal


So finally I got the chance to meet Johnny Cupcakes this weekend as he made a stop in Miami as part of his back to basics tour. He was set to arrive at Friends With You at 6pm in the Design District. There were about 50 people in line already by 3pm and over 150 by the time he arrived. The limited shirts being sold from suitcases were great, I picked up 2 and Lauren even ended up getting one for herself. Johnny even had a limited print of 50 that was a collaboration with Friends With You that was sold out by the time I got to the checkout “suitcase”. Johnny himself couldn’t be any cooler and personal. He chatted with every one, gave each of us some personal attention and signed anything and everything. You can understand why people love him and the cult that is his brand which undeniable rocks.

Ps. Funny enough, I wore his shirt that evening and received 6 compliments from random strangers.

El Mercadito Review

// April 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Food, Personal

El Mercadito is a new, elegant mexican tapas restaurant next to Sugar Cane in Midtown (another tapas place). Great ambience, music, etc. A perfect place for a nice date or for a group of friends to have some tequila shots – which they have plenty of a selection. Everything except Patron which according to the bartender, they purposely don’t carry due to their farming practices. A move I respect without explanation. Mixed drinks were also a delight. We had “El Pirata” which was a concoction of beer, tequila, spices and pineapple. Our waitress (whose name unfortunately I can’t remember) was awesome. Honest about everything, passionate, knowledgeable, I go on and on about her.

On to food. TACOS!!! Such good tacos. You get 4 tiny tacos per order that are perfectly well balanced with flavors and spices on a corn tortilla. Specially the Shrimp. We had to even order another order of these before we left. CEVICHES was another hit. We ordered all three varieties (snapper, shrimp and mahi mahi) and all of them passed the test.

I would give them 5 stars except the GUACAMOLE wasn’t that great. We tried 3 different ones and none of them hit the spot. Rosa Mexicana’s is way better and according to my friends at the table, even I make a better one (I really do actually – pomegranates and mango – I digress).The other flaw was dessert. Highly disappointed although they were working on it and we gave them honest feedback on their Creme Burlee – Pineapple – Foam mashup. Looking forward to visiting them again real soon.

Digital Agency Personnel

// April 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Advertising, Social Media

Read a great article recently by Phil Johnson on understanding the people behind a digital agency. The post is spot-on and basically talks about the kind of people needed in today’s shops in order to stay competitive and succeed. Phil mentions the culture, personality and thinking behind digital natives like myself. Here’s a great excerpt.

Specifically, digital natives are people who have spent their entire lives using the internet as an extension of themselves, and there are some good descriptions of the attributes that these people possess. Without the influence of these native speakers, most of us are doomed to clumsily translate conventional ideas into a digital format, rather than creating original ideas unique to the digital medium. We may master the outward forms but not the soul of the digital world.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating hiring some kid that spends 80 hours a week leveling his “World of Warcraft” character. I’m talking about a specific set of traits and insights that help transform an agency into an innovative digital marketing organization. Here’s why every agency needs these people on staff.

They understand what happens under the digital hood. They see beneath the user interface to the underlying technologies. This gives them the ability to assess the true capabilities of a tool or platform and often manipulate it to their own purposes. They can define the digital experience on their own terms and not let it define them.

Digital natives have the skills to conduct their digital lives across many digital platforms with the ease with which an international traveler moves across continents. They can jump from platform to platform depending on its utility. This means that when planning marketing campaigns they can leave the beaten path to create more highly customized online experiences for consumers.

Digital natives treat their identity in the physical world and online as one entity. This makes their online personalities multidimensional and gives them better communications skills than the occasional visitor to Facebook and Twitter.

Because they conduct so much of their lives online, digital natives have a rich collection of experiences with brands in the digital world and a solid understanding about what kinds of communications are effective. With this fluency, they can expand an agency’s vision for what is possible when developing strategies and campaigns.

Above all, digital natives get gaming. It’s in their blood. As advertising and marketing agencies continue to adopt more of the principles and psychology of online gaming, all of us will need digital natives to help lead us through the maze of opportunities.

Agencies don’t just need digital natives working in technical functions. We need them working throughout the agency in planning, media, account, and creative. They need to be allowed to experiment and explore and not be forced to work within old job titles and structures. If you’re really serious about a digital transformation, these are the people who can shake up the organizational structure and push senior management to see the world in a fresh way. We’re in a business that encourages clients to take big risks on change. We should be willing to do the same for ourselves.