Everyone wants to be the next Internet sensation.  Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame.  And in “Generation YouTube”, this is easier than ever.

However, not many people know how to make something that sticks.  Keeps people talking.  Something that surpasses 15 minutes.

An example of how simplistic the humor of our society is, is the “Annoying Orange” on YouTube.  To keep it short and sweet, the Annoying Orange is a talking orange that is, well, annoying.  And he has lots of other fruit friends that find him somewhat annoying as well.  And yet, this simple concept has garnered over 1 billion views on YouTube and over 10 million Facebook fans. 

How is it possible that something so juvenile and somewhat idiotic manages to capture the attention of so many people?  The answer is simple.  They stand out from most because they create their own content.

The simple fact is that an original idea is what garners people’s attention, feeds their curiosity and keeps them coming back for more.  It doesn’t seem to matter if the idea is top notch; it just has to be novel.  That is what people want in today’s society. 

Innovative, raw and pioneering ideas.  That is what makes this crazy Internet world go round.

We all think that we know what we want.  Or at least, we like to think we know what the other sex wants.  Women think all men think about are women and men think women are always thinking about them.  Turns out, neither are thinking about the opposite sex THAT much!

Social media monitoring company NetBase analyzed a year’s worth of online conversations — 27 billion conversations in whole, and the number one thing that women want is not love, marriage or children… It’s ice cream!  But don’t get offended guys because you’re not much better!  The number one thing men want are cars!

Through various sites such as Twitter and Facebook, this study was conducted and this is what people are talking about.  People aren’t discussing politics or the opposite sex via social networking sites.  They are talking about what their favorite ice cream is (Dairy Queen won by a landslide) or what kind of car they want (a GT Premium Mustang convertible…weird, right?)

However, the study showed that men and women aren’t that different.  The top 3 social wants of men and women were exactly the same : ice cream, cars and pizza!  It’s 2012 and we are in the center of the most technologically advanced age of human connectivity and this is what men and women want the most out of life?

Say what you want about our modern world, but it clearly is the simple things in life that bring people together.

There’s an app for everything these days.  10 years ago, they didn’t even exist.  Today, people use apps for anything from checking stocks to playing games with friends.  They use them to stay up to date on news and navigate their way around the city. 

 What apps have you downloaded to your phone recently?

 If you answered, “weather related apps” you are among the majority. 

Surprising, right?  With all the talk about Social Networking apps like Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook you would think these would be the most popular.  Or at least game related apps like Angry Birds or Words with Friends would beat out…the weather.

According to a recent poll on Adweek.com, whether or not you need a rain jacket is more important to people than music, sports or finance apps. 

Is it that people are starting to get bored with always being so constantly connected? Are people really starting to just care about more practical, day-to-day uses for their phone?  Are people angry with Angry Birds?

The weather is important for how we dress and what we plan to do with our day, so perhaps this is the smartest use for our “smart” phones.  Fifty-one percent of the population says it is. 

What do you use your smartphone for the most?

Everyone gets excited for the Super Bowl.  Good food, friends and of course adult beverages.  But everybody knows that half the draw of the Super Bowl is the amazing, over-the-top commercials that air throughout the four hours of game time. 

However, viewers were most likely let down a bit this year by the commercials.  In past years, it was obvious the company behind the ad campaign spent millions upon millions UPON MILLIONS of dollars to basically get a giggle or show the viewer a little skin.  Instead this year, viewers were met with slightly dull, mediocre ads that, while they still got their product in front of the consumer, didn’t demand their attention like they had in past years.

Super Bowl ads of old would go huge.  Be as in your face and risqué as humanly possible.  If it didn’t make you think “Wow! I can’t believe they did that!” they weren’t doing their job. 

However, this year it seemed that companies almost didn’t want to stand out.  They didn’t want to push the envelope in fear that it might cause an uproar or make us question “Why would they waste money on that in times of such economic struggle?”

In fact, that is exactly what they were trying to do.  Fly under the radar.  Not upset anyone or try to make people think that their company would ever waste money.  The ads were more practical and efficient as opposed to loud and precarious.  In a way, that sounds good right?

Wrong.  No one remembered them.  They flew too low.  The lack of luster in the Super Bowl ads this year shows that we are in fact still in an economic struggle.  The mundane-ness of the ads proves this.  Once we start seeing those risky and outlandish ads we know and love so much, we will know we are on our way to economic upturn.  Until then, I guess we’ll have to settle for sensible.

Ever have the feeling you’re being followed? 

Someone tracking your every move?

Taking note of the things you do and the things you like?

What if I told you this could be a good thing?

Every move you make on the Internet is documented and recorded.  Companies spend billions of dollars every year to acquire this information from third parties to be able to target their advertising towards you more effectively.  Your “personal data” is like gold to advertising companies.  It helps them target every individual as if they personally know you and know what you like. This also allows them to offer you deals and freebies for products and services you use.  Sounds like a great deal, right?

This could be a great idea if it didn’t seem like such an invasion of privacy.  Many consumers feel uncomfortable telling Big Brother personal information such as your current location data.

But what if you could control the information being given out about you, organize it and benefit from it?

What if you could use your data as currency?

It’s starting to happen.  Legally companies can only get the information you are willing to provide so, it behooves them to entice you with deals and offers.  Things such as free frequent flyer miles would be very appealing to someone who loves to travel and airlines would know whom to target through this collection of data. 

However, the market still needs to get much bigger for consumers to be able to get great value from their data.  According to an article in Adweek this could take as long as five more years before it gets big enough for consumers to begin to care.  We think it will be sooner.

So, until the market is big enough that the consumer can truly benefit from divulging their personal information, its simply going to creep everyone out.

How many times have you been playing around on Facebook, avoiding doing work, and you notice a special little “Like” button on the top of a company or group page?  Chances are, most of us have.  You may have even clicked that “Like” button because, well, you like this company or group.  Why else would you be looking at their page?

But did you know companies are taking the number of people who “Like” their site and using it to present to investors and advertisers, much like showing them their website’s monthly unique visitors or click through rates?  However, some are worried that companies are fraudulently acquiring these “Likes”.  

They are offering incentives such as freebies, coupons and giveaways for you to “Like” them.

However, people have been fooled into “Liking” companies thinking they will get something for free, when really there are hidden fees associated with these offers.

This has apparently become so common that the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division is beginning to crack down on these practices and forcing companies to be more specific and add clarifications to their offers.

While the NAD is not shutting down this activity completely, they are keeping close tabs on it and if your company does not clarify the terms of “Liking” them properly, you could be reported to the Federal Trade Commission.

Whatever happened to people just “Liking” you for you?  

In today’s society with Twitter and Facebook, we are constantly telling people what is on our minds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Are we really that interesting that there is someone out there who wants to know our inner thoughts and plans for the day as we are thinking them? (I.E “Great work out at the gym! Headed to Starbucks for an iced latte! Great morning!!! :)

 No.  We are not. 

However, this new wave of communication has opened up an avenue for people to converse on a different level.  It’s called blogging (ever heard of it?) and almost everyone is doing it.  But what sets apart the people who are using it for business related purposes and those who just want yet another platform to simply talk about themselves?

I will tell you, via my blog!!

The fashion industry has always been somewhat, how do you say, snooty.  Now, they are turning to bloggers to help their business become more relatable and down-to-earth.  Bloggers give companies like Kate Spade and Oscar De La Renta a “people’s voice” and allows readers into their world with a form of communicating that reaches readers on a more personal level.  It makes them feel as if they are a reading a friend’s diary (albeit a very wealthy and fashionable friend) about what is going on in their world today. 

However, these bloggers are helping these brands grow, and for what?!

While blogging isn’t anything new, the idea of being paid for your outlook on life is.  Bloggers are starting to realize what a marketable entity they are and that they should be compensated for their services.  They are almost like celebrities! They have loyal followers and people that want to meet them.

Bloggers are beginning to command money for their services, and why shouldn’t they!! From personal appearances to design collaborations, bloggers are really starting to rake it in. 

Concerns from the fashion houses include giving up control of what will be written about their company.  However, a true blogger knows what will resonate with their audience.  They know what the people want!! And isn’t that why you work with them in the first place? 

So to all you cold-hearted companies that don’t want to shell out the big bucks for these mavens of branding, think of where your company would be without them.  Think real hard.

• 60’s Pop Art
• 80’s Video Game
• Bathroom Tile

Actually, it isn’t any of those. It is something much more multifaceted and innovative. It is called a QR code, or Quick Response code. But what purpose does this 80’s-game-wannabe serve? It is in fact a great marketing tool that has been implemented in both traditional and interactive campaigns.Media that has used this new device include billboard ads, in-store displays, print ads, business cards, websites and coupons just to name a few. Never again will you have to remember a website’s URL address. Scan the barcode with your smartphone and viola! It automatically takes you to that product or service’s website.Coupon clipping is a thing of the past with the help from QR. Allow your phone to scan the coupon barcode and automatically it will send you a coupon that you can then take to the checkout. No more drawers full of coupon clippings that expired years ago! But the QR doesn’t just help you acquire the best price on lemons or kitty litter this week. No, no. It does so much more! According to outputlinks.com it helps marketers measure their response rate with a higher degree of precision than ever before. In addition, it allows them to justify their budgets on different campaigns by seeing which ones have the highest return on investment. It is also a great way to tie your offline and online marketing efforts together. So, the next time you are flipping through your favorite magazine or newspaper, try and spy one of these barcodes. Scan it and see where it takes you!

It used to be that newspapers and magazines were great places to advertise.  Everyone read the morning paper and there were magazine stands on every corner with pages and pages of someone selling something masked in a glossy, colorful package. Now, the printed newspaper is becoming obsolete and magazine sales are down.

Today, the majority of advertisers are on television.  In your face, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week people are exposed to the newest, best, priciest new item that if you don’t have it, you’re out of the loop. But what if advertisers are spending billions and billions of dollars making their TV ad funnier and more creative only to have people distracted by something else?

An article in ADWEEK revealed that 86% of mobile internet users are on their devices while watching TV.  So, how many eyes are actually seeing your ad on TV?  If phones are winning over your audience’s attention, then why not advertise there instead?

Not everyone in the world has a TV, but according to ADWEEK, in 2010 the number of mobile subscribers surpassed 5 billion.  To set that in perspective, the population of the world is 6.8 billion.  So, is it safe to say that cell phones may be the quickest, most effective way to reach your audience?

With the increase in sales of smartphones over non-internet capable phones, people are using the web exponentially more to retrieve all their news, weather, gossip and entertainment.  This has opened up a whole new avenue for advertisers to place their ads.  It hasn’t taken off like television has in the past – yet.