Category Archives: Marketing stuff

Will Microsoft acquisition destroy Skype?

Posted on May 11, 2011 by markkolier

With its $ 8.5 billion acquisition of Skype announced yesterday Microsoft will yet again be put under the microscope to examine how it will manage one of the world’s most popular web portals. Skype has more than 660 million members/users … Continue reading →

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OOH – Out of Home advertising in Asia is in your face

Posted on April 20, 2011 by markkolier

After a 15 ½ hour flight to Hong Kong from Newark my eyes are tired and a bit bloodshot. The efficiency of the transit system in Hong Kong (and Asia in general) is offset by the bright lights of outdoor … Continue reading →

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A not so fun afternoon dealing with customer service at American Airlines and Verizon

Posted on April 15, 2011 by markkolier

Everyone I know that flies a lot has their own horror stories to tell. Everyone that has a mobile phone or mobile broadband service has complained about their carrier. While my experiences with American Airlines and Verizon yesterday would not … Continue reading →

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Why not a free Amazon Kindle?

Posted on April 14, 2011 by markkolier

As a sometime frustrated original Kindle owner (mainly due to the fact that they have never reached out to me since I paid the $ 399 for the now dinosaur-like 1st edition) ,the news this week http://on.wsj.com/i9NHe2 that Amazon has … Continue reading →

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Food coloring as marketing – would you eat a gray pickle?

Posted on April 8, 2011 by markkolier

</a First it was an article in the March 30th New York Times http://nyti.ms/e2p6Ry indicating that the F.D.A. Panel is going to consider warnings for artificial food colorings. There is some evidence that food coloring is linked to Attention Deficit … Continue reading →

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Brand Advertising scores with Bud Light’s campaign ‘Here We Go’

Posted on April 6, 2011 by markkolier

One thing advertising and marketing folk seem to like to do is tear down other people’s work. At times I am no different. Often I find myself watching a television spot or see a print ad and think to myself … Continue reading →

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Amazon’s music locker – a good idea that that record labels and publishers want to mess up

Posted on March 30, 2011 by markkolier

Yesterday Amazon.com introduced the concept of a ‘Music Locker’. As a longtime advocate of Amazon I have been following the development of this release and was excited about its practical nature and customer-centric approach. Amazon is trying (unlike its rivals) … Continue reading →

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At least digital tablets stop the magazine insert cards from falling out

Posted on March 23, 2011 by markkolier

Now that Motorola has its Xoom on the market, and RIM is ready to take orders for its new PlayBook tablet in April, Apple’s iPad will have to stand up to some competition after having the market all to itself … Continue reading →

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Where are the tour guides and advocates for the Travel Agency business?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by markkolier

Maybe they are on vacation. After travel agencies and travel agents themselves are vanishing one by one and have been for a long time. Like most people I had thought of this many times before although I don’t frequently arrange … Continue reading →

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The golden days of group couponing are almost over

Posted on March 16, 2011 by markkolier

Groupon http://www.groupon.com and Living Social http://www.livingsocial.com are red hot as the two of the most successful online social couponing sites with IPO’s in the offing for both companies. I’ve been getting the daily emails from both sites for quite some … Continue reading →

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