I love food, and I LOVE "free." On most occasions food just taste sooo much better when it's free. Fact. If you like free and you like Mexican take-out, then take advantage of NBC and Chipotles' latest partnership.
NBC's new series America's Next Great Restaurant is launching a promotion with Tex-Mex franchise Chipotle. The network is utilizing the show's Facebook page to launch a buy one get one free deal in exchange for watching the show's promo. The promotion ends on March 7.
ANGR puts 21 contestants against each other, as a panel of esteemed food connoisseurs determines which restaurant has the best concept. The cliche reality show competition set up. According to an NBC rep the winner gets to “fully savor his/her great American dream of launching his/her own restaurant chain.”Chipotle founder and co-CEO Steve Ells is one of the four celebrity judges appearing on the series.The series will premiere on March 6.
In tandem with NBC's promotion, Chipotle is also running an in-store texting promotion offering the chance for 1,000 lucky customers to get a catered burrito party. All you have to do is text "ANGR" at any Chipotle location and have the chance to win a fiesta for you and the homies.
This is Chipotle's latest effort taking the social media approach. In the past, their cause campaign "No Junk" urged consumers to forward their spam emails to their account. For every 100,000 spam messages received, Chipotle donated $10,000 to Lunch Box,a non profit organization providing resources to help create healthier food programs in schools.
I'm hoping ANGR limits the product placement for Chipotle... ohhhh wishful thinking... since that is not possible with Ells being a judge. I love brand partnerships, however this would've been the sweetest and most beneficial partnership to yours truly if it was Qdoba (yes I am biased).
Facebook released an update that changes the functionality of the “Like” button to that of the “Share” button. Now after clicking the new Like button, a full story with a headline, blurb and thumbnail will be posted to your wall. You’ll also have the option to comment in the story link. With the old Like button the story would appear only in ‘recent activity, going unnoticed by users.
Facebook spokeswoman, Malorie Lucich comments that Like is the “recommended solution moving forward,” but the company will continue to support the Share button.
What does change means for users? For publishers this can signify increased traffic to their websites, for non commercial Facebook users this change may not go over well. I think users will be more hesitant to “like” certain posts (content is shared without warning) as they can potentially spam their friends' newsfeed with repeated “Likes.”
What say you, does this change what you “Like” on Facebook?
20 unusual ways to use vodka. I probably won't recommend top shelf for any of these, but I'm quite curious about a shampoo and vodka wash.If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Ladies and Gents get familiar with Luc Carl, a distance runner, bar manager, rocker, personal trainer, semi pro-bowler, the man behind the "Drunk Diet." Luc 's Drunk Diet has been getting a lot of buzz lately, thanks to his girlfriend Stefani Germonatta aka Lady Gaga. In a recent interview the singer credits her physique to the following:
I am on the drunk diet. I live my life as I want to, and creatively. I like to drink whiskey and stuff while I am working.The deal is, I've got to work out every day, and I work out hungover if I am hungover. And it's about the cross-training and keeping yourself inspired. I have to say, I do a ton of yoga.
Luc's memoir comes out in 2012, and details his goal to lose 40 pounds without giving up his hard partying ways. Here's a sample of what you're in store for: http://thedrunkdiet.com/category/drinking/
I guess everyone subscribes to a different "drunk diet." I like to keep my whiskey and treadmill separate, but to each his own. Try at your own risk
#thatawkardmomentwhen you and your friends are having a deep intellectual conversation and the topic changes to self esteem, race and the role that media plays. Individual self awareness vs. advertising messaging. #storyofmylife
It’s uncomfortable for me because I’m the aspiring advertiser in the room filled with sociology, and chem majors who cast my profession off as evil.I’ve always taken the stance that the responsibility for the way in which we think, the foundation of our beliefs is 50/50. 50 percent lies with societal factors (media) and the other 50 comes from our familial foundation. My friends rebut that it’s more like 70/30 or 90/10. I get it, young women are very impressionable, and I’ll be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that at the very core, advertising messages are responsible for the way in which we view race, standards of beauty, sexuality etc. I’ll stop right here and spare you of all the societal and historical implications. This is not one of my politics papers.
Pepsi has been a reference point for these conversations lately. First it was their Pepsi Max “Love Hurts” SuperBowl spot, now it’s the Diet Pepsi Skinny Can.With all this hoopla, I hope this at least drives their sales.
After the “Love Hurts” spot ran during Superbowl I received an influx of texts and fb messages asking for my take on the spot. Was it rascist? Was I offended? Do I even care?
I youtubed the spot, I chuckled. It wasn’t knee slapping funny but it was funny. I do realize there was a reason to be offended by this commercial (pervading stereotypes). It’s a universal story nagging woman keeps her lazy husband in check; this commercial could have been done with a Asian or white couple and to me it would still have the same impact. It’s your choice to be offended; the racial overtones are what they are. This is very tame in comparison to things I have seen on air. Trust me, I’ve seen some pretty questionable commercials (KFC).
Pepsi presented the new slim can during Fashion Week. Pepsi’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jill Beraud announced: "Our slim, attractive new can is the perfect complement to today's most stylish looks, and we're excited to throw its coming-out party during the biggest celebration of innovative design in the world." In addition to celebrating “beautiful, confident women” the brand is collaborating with 10 fashion boutiques, providing them with a custom “Skinny Can Fridge.” The National Disorder Association slammed Pepsi saying that it takes offense, and the company’s comments are thoughtless and irresponsible: "Pepsi should be ashamed for declaring that skinny is to be celebrated.” The cans hit shelves this March.
Had the brand launch not partner with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week I doubt that there would have been this much controversy surrounding the skinny can. Nowadays restaurants boast that they serve small portions, to look out for your health.Isn’t Pepsi taking the same approach minus the Fashion Week endorsement. Seems to me they were trying to jump on the fit, healthy craze. Fashion Week perfectly aligns with the brand image the skinny can is trying to create. As with all brand partnerships, you assume the other partners baggage, and high fashion comes with A LOT of baggage. I'm sure the CMO and the good folks at PepsiCo anticipated this backlash, and they probably have something in the works to combat this right? No? Ok then wishful thinking.
Anyway, what say you? Are you offended by any of these spots?
Advertiser of the month goes toooooo PepsiCo…YOU WIN 1)you’ve successfully manged to gain my attention 2) I may consider trying Pepsi Max, just kidding …I prefer Coca-Cola ;)
Apple announced that it will enable subscriptions for print, game, and music platforms. However there will be tight controls on pricing, customer data, as well as a 30% cut of revenue. Publishers can now sell subscriptions on their respective websites, keeping 100% of revenue, and collect consumer data. Sounds good, but the catch is when a subscription originates from the itunes App store, Apple is entitled to 30% of the profit. It gets better, Apple requires publishers to offer their subscriptions to iTunes at the same price or lower than elsewhere. Coincidentally, publishers are seeing much more generous terms from Google’s Android platform. Since Apple’s announcement only Rupert Murdoch’s The Daily has opted in for this subscription plan.
In the past many magazines opted to steer clear of Apple’s ipad subscription system, which kept publishers in the dark about their own subscribers. Apple will not tell publishers who is subscribing to the app store unless a consumer specifically “allow” the brand to do so when they are prompted to share their information.
It will be interesting to see how this situation pans out, whether publishers will opt to stay with the #1 tablet platform in the market, or join the Google wave
Move over Diddy there's a new vodka poster boy in town! Belvedere tapped R&B singer Usher to be the face off their new social-cause campaign. The company's partnership with the R&B sensation comes through a program called (Product) Red where brands put a special seal on their product and donate half of their profits to six African nations to fund HIV/AIDS therapy, treatment and support programs.
There is no denying that hip-hop and premium liquor are in a blissful matrimony from name drops in songs to blatant placement in music videos.In some cases the relationship extends beyond product endorsement. For example when Circoc partnered with hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2007 he has become such a key factor in the brand's identity his role has shifted to a brand manager.
Usher's role with Belvedere will not be similar to that of the Diddy/ Ciroc relationship. President of Belvedere, Charles Gibbs states: "I don't want to tie the marketing of Belvedere through one individual because I don't think it's the way brands are built in the long term, I believe we need to be talking to a diverse group of people."
The partnership kicks off at a pre-Grammy bash where Usher will perform at an invite only concert to unveil the special-edition Red bottles which carries the message "Helps Saves Lives." The bottles will hit shelves this summer.
When you're making those summer cocktails, or gathering around the pool with friends, buy Belve! It's a win-win situation, you help fund HIV/AIDS research and feel good in the process. It just might be the best 30 bucks you ever spent.
I love food, and I LOVE "free." On most occasions food just taste sooo much better when it's free. Fact. If you like free and you like Mexican take-out, then take advantage of NBC and Chipotles' latest partnership. 
