Klout: Do You Have Enough Influence to Get the Job?
August 31, 2010
I’ve got this little secret. It’s totally embarrassing. And I’ve kept it under wraps since roughly the end of 7th grade. It’s the kind of nightmare scenario you just wanna forget. (And really hope everyone else does, too.) They make movies about this brand of teenage atrocity and it usually ends with someone choking on a jawbreaker or drinking Drano.
I … {Read More}
TEDWomen: Brilliant or Belittling?
July 21, 2010
I grew up in Texas. (It’s no secret if you hear me talk). Forget the podcasts, my relaxed language is tinged with y’alls and drawls. And yes, y’all has both plural and possessive form in case you were curious. I do a pretty good job of keeping it on the down low at work, but there’s always that occasional “fixin’ to” that gives me away. Well, the thing about being a girl growing up in … {Read More}
Volkswagen’s “Fun Theory” More Strategy Than Child’s Play
July 16, 2010
DDB Sweden earned one of three Cyber Grand Prix awards at Cannes with the whimsical, yet acutely strategic “The Fun Theory” campaign. But there’s something more at work here than just clever consumer amusement. This is an example of a brand and agency engaging in the future of marketing by crafting a brand experience and bringing it to … {Read More}
Should Social Media Voice Change During a Brand Crisis?
August 12, 2010
We all had a good laugh this week when JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater used profanity over the plane’s announcement system, stole a couple of beers, and slid down the emergency slide after a passenger cursed at him. (And in a stranger-than-fiction moment was arrested by police at his home while reportedly … {Read More}
Old Spice Inspires New Trust Between Agencies & Brands
Imagine this. Your agency comes in on a Monday morning and tells you they have a proposal. Hear them out. They want to produce 180 commercials over the course of two days. They'll make the media placement with no discussion of CPP or CPM. They'll write the scripts two minutes before ... {Read More}
Pennsylvania Tourism Gets Foursquare Awesomeness Badge
The land of lush green hillsides and quaint Amish farms has now become the land of Superstars, Adventurers, and Crunks. Pennsylvania Tourism has launched a pretty incredible promotion with Foursquare that encourages tourists and locals to experience everything Pennsylvania has to offer, one check-in at a time. The objective of the promotion is to ... {Read More}
Palm: Don’t Miss a Thing
The new Palm spots are pretty hot. Simple, relevant, clever. Another great Modernista campaign. I particularly fell for "Flick" (aka "The Movies") right off the bat. The spots showcase the Palm's multi-tasking capability using a cool rotoscoping technique. I won't be turning in my iPhone for a Palm anytime soon, but you have ... {Read More}
The BrandForward Blog℠
The BrandForward Blog provides a fresh look at trends in marketing and advertising, technology and social media, with a focus
on how emerging technologies are changing the way brands connect with consumers.
Michelle Tripp is a 
creative director, brand consultant, and marketing
and social media strategist based in New York.