Andrew Machado’s Blog

Technology, Web 2.0 and Social Media

Archive for category Brand Advertising

Booyah Adds Location Based Ads to MyTown

Feb 25

Posted by Andrew Machado in Brand Advertising, Technology

I’m a huge fan of MyTown.  I’ve written previously about how fast the application feels when using it on my iPhone, but what I’ve discovered in their new 2.1 version of the product blew me away.

1.  Location Based Advertising

We’ve seen this before with FourSquare, but what makes MyTown special is they can offer the user special items and powerups in the game themed around the advertiser.  See the example below for H & M.

MyTown by Booyah H&M item

Notice the small Ad in the dialogue box for ‘The Blues’

2.  Dynamic advertisements mid game without affecting gameplay experience

If you click ‘The Blues’ button a dynamic ad slides nicely in from the bottom with a very clear close button.  It pops in at lightning speed which is imperative with advertising like this.

mytownhmclosebutton

Can’t wait to see what they do next.

Tags: , ,

Comments

ShareThis and Mashable.com making sharing permanent while you read

Feb 22

Posted by Andrew Machado in Brand Advertising

If you take a look at any article on Mashable.com today you’ll notice they have ShareThis buttons on the left hand side of the article.

sharethismashable

Whats most interesting to me is if you continue to scroll and read the article the share buttons scroll with you down the left.  Personally I’m all for pushing share buttons on users, but in this inelegant way I’m wondering if it does more harm than good.  See for yourself below.

Tags: , ,

Comments

50 Cent Discounting his new CD…like every other musician

Nov 9

Posted by Andrew Machado in Brand Advertising

I have written previously about musicians discounting their CDs and releasing albums early online hoping to pick up sales.

50 cent is now joining the masses and discounting his Deluxe CD to $9.99 on iTunes this week.  Keep in mind he is also releasing the CD a full week early on iTunes exclusively.

50centselfdestructdiscount

Now one would speculate this is to drive sales.  I’m in another camp.  I think its to get the good people of iTunes to sink money into an album that is most likely terrible.  Reviews for this album probably will not come out till this coming weekend, giving 50 a good shot at making some sales before the bad reviews start piling in.  Not one song he’s released from this album has even charted Top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sorry 50 cent your time has come and gone.

Tags: , ,

Comments

ESPN Pushing the Envelope with 30 for 30 Series

Oct 7

Posted by Andrew Machado in Brand Advertising, Personal

I love Movies.  I love Sports.  I love when a channel like ESPN takes something as basic as sports and reminds me of why I love their channel.  For the next 30 weeks every Tuesday ESPN will be showing a unique documentary on a key moment in sports over the last 30 years.  What is really great though is the hook which is every single one is directed by a popular Hollywood director.

espn-30-for-30

I just finished the first episode Kings Ransom about the great Wayne Gretzky trade from 1988 where the Edmonton Oilers traded him to the Los Angeles Kings.  It is directed by the great Peter Berg.  If you haven’t heard of Peter Berg highlight his name in this post and click the i icon.  He is a brilliant director who has handled the great series Friday Night Lights (movie as well as TV show.

tmm

Probably my favorite part of this is the sheer amount of footage and knowledge shown in this first episode.  To be honest I had no idea Gretzky was traded and to hear about how he helped negotiate the deal fascinated me.  In between stock footage you see brief glimpses of Wayne today with Peter Berg discussing moments of the story.  Overall I can not give it a high enough rating.

The Bad

The fact I have to set my DVR to record each and every episode.  ESPN how could you blow this?  Currently my cable guide lists it as simply “Kings Ransom” which the cable box can not decipher as the first in the 30 part series.  I’ve written Bill Simmons on Twitter and I pray they get this fixed.  For 30 weeks I’m not sure I can keep up telling my guide to record the next one.

What Stories Are Coming Up?

The Band That Wouldn’t Die - The story of the Balitmore Colts being moved to Indianapolis in the middle of the night.  It is directed by Barry Levinson

Muhammad versus Larry - When Ali fought Holmes it was a huge moment for boxing.  Relive it with Albert Maysles directs this one.

Winning Time: Reggie Miller versus The New York Knicks - Reggie Miller, The Knicks and Spike Lee.  Oddly enough Spike Lee is not directing this one (hopefully he’s been banished after that awful Kobe Bryant piece he did).  Instead we get Dan Klores behind the camera.

Tags: , , ,

Comments