As if sending messages of what you’re doing 24/7 wasn’t enough, sharing future events and activities with friends is the latest social media thing. Plancast is a new platform that lets you track what your friends are planning to do in the future. It’s like Foursquare and Google calendar combined only this time you’re sharing future events instead of current ones.

Plancast is promoted as “the easiest way for you to share events and other activities with friends”and like most social media platforms, it’s easy to use thanks to a simple posting prompt. This location-based app lets users display updates onto Facebook and Twitter as well as sign in using either of these accounts. They can also search for friends, follow, browse and share plans with people they’re interested in.

Since a lot of personal information is available on the site—stalker’s dream—Plancast gives major importance to its users’ privacy, which is why members can limit their profiles to a select set of friends.

Plancast was specially built to avoid the inevitable misunderstanding that arises whenever friends make plans, so no more texting back and forth about what you’re going to do this Friday or the all-time-classic ”what do you mean you’re with your grandma? I thought we agreed we were going skydiving this weekend.” Fear no more, Plancast is here!

So if you’re interested in this new trend, a free iPhone app is available, as is one for Android. Don’t have an iPhone or Android phone? Go to Plancast.com and sign up. If, on the other hand, you feel it’s an invasion of privacy or it goes too far, it’s OK. No one’s judging.

Dream Factory Productions offers integrated marketing communications and technology services including public relations, social media, press release copywriting and electronic distribution. Contact us today for more information.

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Laugh with caution. We decided to share five curious ads that while attempting to promote a product or service, failed miserably. All we can really say is “what on earth were they thinking?”

“I gave in English everything what you mean! Guaranteed”

“If you had no idea what to get her for Valentine’s Day…
Imagine how overwhelming arranging her funeral would be.”
It’s every woman’s dream!

“24 Hour Service… Animal Control,”
including those annoying babies that wander around your house!

Wow – what a difference! … Isn’t that Keith Carradine?

“We took a young woman with severe memory loss
and helped her forget she ever had it.”
Now that’s quite a challenge.

Dream Factory is not responsible if you were caught laughing at work, school or the library. Contact us today for more information about our advertising services. If by any chance your ads are or look like the ones above, for the love of mankind call us immediately!

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Samsung UK offered Tiffany—and other lucky Twitter users—a free “upgrade” to a brand new Samsung’s Galaxy S. This latest Samsung campaign has been an instant hit. Everyone is talking about Samsung’s unconventional marketing strategy since it’s one of the first times a mobile company has taken such a straightforward approach. There were even rumors that it was all a scam; however, Samsung already confirmed that it’s part of a legitimate campaign launched by Samsung UK.

The mobile war is far from over.

While Apple bleeds out uncontrollably due to the iPhone 4 issues and negative buzz, competitors aim to become the next mobile giant. So far, it has worked leaving many iPhone users wondering whether the once invincible smartphone is still the best choice.

Whatever the case may be, the mobile war is far from over. Apple is known for understanding and connecting with customers in a way most companies ignore, so we can certainly expect a strong marketing campaign from them later on.

A Samsung UK spokesperson recently told Wired UK:  ”There has been a real increase in online activity from consumers dissatisfied with some of our competitors’ products. We decided to contact a cross section of individuals to offer them a free Samsung Galaxy S as a replacement, as we’re confident that once people have the phone in their hands, they’ll see how impressive it is for themselves.”

So for all you whiners out there, keep it up! You might get lucky one day and get free goodies like a Samsung Galaxy S or an iPhone 4 case… wait.

Dream Factory Productions can help re-brand your company, products or services to strengthen your image and meet the needs of potential clients while maintaining its marketing leadership in today’s competitive marketplace. Contact us today for more information about these and other marketing services.

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The popular Old Spice viral campaign that became a YouTube phenomenon wasn’t enough to boost Old Spice’s sales. That is according to advertising news service WARC.

The commercials, videos and buzz took the Internet by storm, but Red Zone After Hours body wash sales have fallen seven percent, despite the ads. So what happened? What caused the drop?

1. The ad was sending a mixed message. While the Old Spice Guy addresses “Ladies,” the tagline at the end is, “Smell like a man, man.” Make up your mind!


No one wants to smell like "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like."

2. The Old Spice brand is—and apparently will continue being—associated with older men. While the campaign was looking to target a younger audience, a lot of people still associate it with their fathers and grandfathers, which will ultimately influence their buying decision whether the commercial is cool or not. I mean, come on, the product name has the word old in it!
3. Most men would agree—and correct me if  I’m wrong here— that they prefer to buy their own body wash. The ads tried to sex-ify the Old Spice brand, which wouldn’t really appeal to most men.

Although it looks like no one wants to smell like “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” the Old Spice Viral Ads brought a lot of attention to the brand, significantly raised brand awareness and got Mustafa a sweet talent deal with NBC.

Dream Factory Productions can assist you in planning and executing an advertising campaign on a local, regional, national or international level. We can help you promote your brand efficiently and cost effectively. Contact us today for more information about our advertising services.

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Guerrilla marketing is unconventional but entertaining. To develop an effective campaign, it is necessary to have motivation, energy and a lot of imagination.

We have here five very clever and successful bench guerrilla marketing examples. Please have a seat and enjoy one of advertising’s most challenging yet influential strategies.

District 9 Bench: For Humans Only

Before the movie District 9 was released to the public, ads like the one above were put all over the streets and public restrooms of major cities like New York and Los Angeles. The ad warns that non-human secretions may corrode metal and invite people to call or visit a website to report all those who disobey.

Homey IKEA Bench Makeover

Who better than the Swedish retailer to decorate an old bench? The idea is to show people that by using IKEA furniture, they can transform the ugliest space into a more personal and enjoyable place.

Instant Ski Vacation

While in the middle of winter most people think about going to warmer places, Alberta Travel gives you a lift up a slope while providing you with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The ad even emulates skis on your feet and snow down below.

‘Extra Safe’ Credit Union Ad

This ad is from the FristOntario Credit Union, and I’m sure we all know what message they are trying to convey here—assuring members that their money is as safe as it can be. Great idea since safety plays an important role when people choose a financial institution.

Watch Your Weight Bench

As if people weren’t self-conscious enough about their weight, this gym chain in Amsterdam made this very straightforward but effective campaign where a bus shelter bench with a built-in scale broadcasts people’s weight to everyone around. I don’t know about you, but that would surely make me want to get up and start doing some crunches.

So which of these campaigns is your favorite? Have you seen or done guerrilla marketing before? Show us, we’re curious to know. Make your voice heard by joining the debate in the comment box below.

Dream Factory Productions can assist you in planning and executing an advertising campaign on a local, regional, national or international level. We can help you promote your brand efficiently and cost effectively. Contact us today for more information about our marketing services.

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It hasn’t been long since companies started offering Foursquare discounts and promotions. While Starbucks launched its innovative Foursquare promotion, other brands like Domino’s UK, Diesel and Sephora followed.

Ann Taylor embraces Foursquare.

Now, clothing retailer Ann Taylor jumped on the Foursquare wagon giving shoppers who check in to one of the company’s eight New York City stores 15% off their full-price purchase upon their fifth check in.  Mayors will receive 25% off their purchases of non-sale apparel and accessories.

You may wonder, why only NY? Well, the campaign is still in the trial phase, but if this Foursquare promotion proves to be successful, the clothing giant plans to extend the promotion to its 279 stores nationwide.

As brands become more comfortable with the use of social media, brand promotion and consumer interaction get a lot more personal. The key is to find the loop hole where social media brings an opportunity for a one-sided relationship to become reciprocal. In other words, a chance that everyone’s happy.

Are you on foursquare? What do you think about the promotion? Will this make you go to Ann Taylor more often? We’re curious to know your opinion. Make your voice heard by joining the debate in the comment box below.

Dream Factory Productions offers integrated marketing communications and technology services including public relations, social media, press release copywriting and electronic distribution. Contact us today for more information.

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Some people wonder why Starbucks marketing and advertising campaigns are so popular. Starbucks success is mainly marked by the way they convey their message—you know, how Starbucks is much more than just coffee.

Starbucks' success is based on their deep understanding of how to connect with their customers.

For Starbucks’ loyal clientèle, the coffee giant is an experience, where coffee time is a special time of the day when they can back away from all the hassle to share a moment with others, like the person behind you in line or the barista.

This Starbucks ad, for example, shows how a chain of sociable interactions are created around the need for a good cup of coffee—in this case the Starbucks instant coffee brand named Via.  The people in the video are identified by the monikers on their coffee mugs instead of by their names. They’re the people behind the “World’s Best Mom,” “Best Friend Forever” and “I Hate Mondays” mugs. That person in the commercial is you, me, the copy-guy or the neighbor, and we love that.

The key to Starbucks’ success comes from their deep understanding of their customers and their buying behavior. They want people to see they can relate to who they are and what they do. From TV ads to social media marketing, Starbucks goes beyond a simple coffee transaction and how good their coffee tastes with bread, becoming one of the biggest and most innovative brands today.

So what does your coffee mug say? We’re curious to know. Join in the debate in the comment box below.

Dream Factory Productions can assist your company in planning and executing an advertising campaign on a local, regional, national or international level. From trade show materials to creative development and video production, we can help you promote your business efficiently and cost effectively. Contact us today for more information about our online marketing services.

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That’s right, you’re not alone on this one. In fact, if you never surf the web while watching TV, you’re part of the minority.

Three out of four Americans use the web and TV simultaneously and half of those people do it every day. The results are part of a study done by Nielsen on behalf of Yahoo!.

What did they do?

Yahoo! surveyed and observed behaviors from Nielsen’s Convergence panel to gain a better understanding of simultaneous media usage.  The study also intended to find the type of content, frequency and consumer profile of those Americans who fall under the “media multitasking” category.

Ok, big deal. How can we benefit from this study?

Are you serious!? This shows marketers and businesses that consumers are shifting away from traditional media, giving them the opportunity to target their audiences a lot more effectively. By knowing where and how people are exposed to ads and other types of messages, we can filter unnecessary strategies making our campaign more effective and responsive—which in the end saves us time and money.

Show me the numbers!

1. The simultaneous use of media is frequent and growing

- Three out of four Americans multi-task with TV and Internet.
- One-half of multitaskers do this daily; 90% do it at least once per week.
- Time spent using TV and Internet simultaneously has grown 20% each year.
- Women are more likely to multitask than men (77% vs. 73%)

Time spent multi-tasking has grown nearly 20% year-to-year.

2. The media usage when multitasking is usually focused online

- More than one-half say that the Internet is the primary focus of attention (54%).
- Only 16% say that TV is the primary focus of attention.

3. Simultaneous use of TV and Internet are typically unrelated

- Only 7% report their simultaneous online surfing is frequently related to a TV show or advertisement.
- Big 3 Internet sites Google, Yahoo! and Facebook are frequently visited sites during simultaneous consumption.

[via Yahoo! Advertising]

Dream Factory Productions can assist your company in adding Google Analytics or evaluating how your current site or pay for performance (pay-per-click) initiatives are working. Contact us today for more information about our online marketing services.

Google has done it again! The Android community is celebrating—and not precisely because Spain won the World Cup—a new tool is being launched today bringing web-based WYSIWYG editor to Android. What this means in plain English is that building your own Android app is now easier than ever.

App Inventor is a web-based tool designed to bring app design to the masses.  The best part is that you don’t need to be a developer to create your own!

App Inventor let’s users visually design the way the app looks and drag-and-drop blocks to specify the app’s behavior. There’s no coding involved—only common sense, good taste and $25 to register a Market account and publish your own applications.

Potential users only need to fill out this form with their Gmail account and other basic information and wait for Google to approve it and grant access to the software over the coming weeks. Check out Google’s demo video for an idea of what to expect.

Just think about it, people will have access to your company 24/7 and receive updates on-the-go! You’ll be able to connect with costumers on a much deeper level. Instead of trying to sell your product or service, you’re actually building relationships with prospective clients and most importantly your audience.

Dream Factory Productions offers integrated marketing communications services that include public relations, press release copywriting and electronic distribution. Contact us today for more information about our PR services.

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It wasn’t until recently that The Hogwarts Express Arrived in Orlando with the anticipated opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but if you thought the Potter-mania ended there, you were wrong. The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer is out, and it wasn’t long until it was all over the web.

The new Harry Potter trailer is out, and it's already making waves.

Warner Bros is already creating buzz with the release of teasers and tiny bits of new content. The official trailer was uploaded onto YouTube less than a week ago, and it already has 3,283,004 views.

To some, Potter-mania may seem like a fad, but it contains an important lesson to the entire marketing community. One of the most important marketing techniques used in the HP books is having an interesting story to tell. What could be more natural for a brand that is itself based on the telling of stories? JK Rowling, writer of the books, has obtained in a few years what many businesses and brands strive for their whole lives—clarity and emotional engagement with the audience.

The movie is described in the trailer as “the event of a generation”—which many fans don’t argue. The last of Potter’s adventures is divided in two separate movies. The first part comes out November 19, 2010, leaving fans anxious for a whole year until the second half is released—yes, you have to wait until July of 2011 to see the rest.
What’s that? You haven’t seen the trailer? It’s ok, we got it for you.

Dream Factory Productions can help your company increase its marketing sophistication with the application of innovative strategies that incorporate online and offline tactics to maximize your marketing plans. Contact us today for more information about these and other marketing support services.

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