The Big Fat Marketing Blog

Look, we’re all under stress. On the personal front, our 401Ks are MIA and our home valuations have put an unfortunate new spin on the phrase “sweat equity.” Meanwhile our workplaces are pressure cookers, with bankruptcy filings, layoffs and salary freezes. (Not here at Promo, of course. We still keep a basket of benjamins by the coffee maker for lighting our lunchtime Cohibas.)

The point is, we as a public are getting cranky, and we may be less prone to put up with some of the things we found fun in 2007 or at least tolerable last year. And that seems to have been part of AT&T Wireless’ miscalculation in firing out text messages to “a significant number” of its 75 million user base, reminding them to tune in to the Tuesday night launch of the eighth season of “American Idol” on the Fox Network. more

If you’re a card-carrying nerd like me, then you know Wednesday is new comics day.

This is the day all the good little geek boys and girls rush down to their local comic shops and eagerly pick up the latest issues of their favorite characters’ exploits. In more flush economic times, loyal fans would barely glance at the price on the cover. Today, they’re getting more selective about what titles they’ll purchase.

An interesting blog by Brian Steinberg of Examiner.com on the topic me thinking about how much the trend is carrying over into other areas of entertainment marketing.

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Like its rival Pepsi, Coke feels that their marketing needs to make you feel good, despite the economic circumstances surrounding you. According to the article, ” The new campaign — expected to feature the slogan “Open Happiness,” according to people familiar with the matter — is the first for the Coca-Cola brand in three years. The latest slogan replaces “The Coke Side of Life.” Last year they spent $406 million on ads.

We’ll see if the ads work. The premise, of course, is that if the ads can lift you up, you’ll buy the product. US sales have slipped 3.5% recently, with its “Classic” product falling 16%.

Like its rival Pepsi, Coke feels that their marketing needs to make you feel good, despite the economic circumstances surrounding you. According to the article, ” The new campaign — expected to feature the slogan “Open Happiness,” according to people familiar with the matter — is the first for the Coca-Cola brand in three years. The latest slogan replaces “The Coke Side of Life.” Last year they spent $406 million on ads.

We’ll see if the ads work. The premise, of course, is that if the ads can lift you up, you’ll buy the product. US sales have slipped 3.5% recently, with its “Classic” product falling 16%.