Miss America Who?

I am sure many of you who follow my blog may be asking who is writing this. Well briefly, my name is Shana Pawlowicz, I am a recent addition to the 44 North crew and a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Another interesting fact about me is that I am also a contestant in the Miss Oshkosh Pageant. I have been for the last three years.  Just call me the little engine that could, "I think I can I think I can". But all laughs aside, I feel as if sometimes people have a view of first the Pageant system as a whole and then two the Miss America Organization. And one question that always seems to pop up is, is the Miss America system still relevant?

You might be wondering why I would asking you this on an advertising blog. But to me it is a great question that those creative minded people should try and tackle. In recent years the Miss America Organization has been shuffled from network to network. Trying to find a home and substantial ratings. While I believe part of the reason the ratings have fallen for Miss America is due to the fact that we bring our children up in a society that glorifies mistakes, tragedy, and bad behavior instead of appropriate role models, healthy choices, and selflessness. I also believe that a large part of ratings declining is the lack of publicity leading up to the event as well as Miss America's year long reign. 

In 2006 it began to revamp its new image with a new home, Las Vegas. They also jumped the reality t.v bandwagon, which personally I feel was a huge mistake and am happy they have not continued on that path. But with TLC as its home for the last two years I have felt they have dropped the ball on advertising as well. Rarely have I seen advertisements for this weekends competition. Yes I did say THIS weekend. In order to increase ratings an effort must be taken on the networks part to increase awareness of the televised event and Miss America as a figure herself. Increase advertisements, increase appearances of Miss America with other networks, and get the word out there of all that she does. 

So to me the question is not so much is it relevant anymore but are we willing to make it? We need to decide what kind of messages and role models we want to send out to other generations. And while many have their opinions on pageant girls, I challenge you to do some research and see just how much the Miss America Organization does, not only for those who compete, but for their communities in general. While I can not speak for every single contestant within the system I will say that it is a system I believe in and have seen change lives. 

So the last question really is, what do you think should be done? What is the best strategy in saving a timeless organization. How do we revamp such an organization?  

Social Media vs Traditional Media?

Last night I was watching the Vikings vs Saints game, at the same time I was also cruising around on Facebook. It occurred to me that I really did not even have to have the game on to know what was happening. In a matter of seconds after certain game turning points occurred there was a new post up. There were opinions on Favre, the refs, specific calls, it was almost as if I was getting a summary of a game that I was watching with my very own eyes. So with that said, it is clear that social media has become a very powerful tool in an advertisers tool box. But with such a powerful tool that is often times much cheaper than advertising through traditional media, does this become a case of social media vs traditional media?

While more than 50% of all adults use some sort of social media (texting, blogging, Facebook, etc) a whopping 85% of 18-34 year olds say they use some sort of social media. And according to a recent survey conducted by Forrester Research, more than 50 percent of marketers are increasing their spending in social media. But do these statistics mean it should be one form versus the other? I really think if companies were smart they would see social media just as it is, a tool. Albeit it's a great tool, it's still a tool. It is not the whole tool box, merely a part something bigger. Advertising needs to be a well rounded effort to get your message out there most effectively. This includes a wide variety of forms of advertising. Advertising is complex and its important to find which tools will be most effective in getting your message out there. I believe heavily in social media, but I also believe its important to not put all your eggs in one basket.

So with Pepsi announcing its absence from this years Super Bowl in favor of a more social media based campaign it will be interesting to see how they fare. But I guess we will save that discussion for Wednesday.

Advertising that really jumps out at you

"After Avatar, movie making will never be the same" I'm not sure who said it, or where I even heard it, but it made me think is that true? I had seen previews and to be honest wasn't overly excited by it. But every single person I have talked to has been in complete awe over it. Is my lack of excitement for the movie because I have yet to experience the 3-D phenomena? Well if 2009 is any indication, the 3-D experience has everything to do with it. In  2009 seventeen movies were released in 3-D with four of them landing in the top 11 grossing movies of '09. So now only one question remains. Will this 3-D experience have any effect on the advertising world?

Pepsi seemed to be the first to jump on board to the 3-D trend. During last years Super Bowl Pepsi debuted their SoBe Lifewater and Monsters vs Aliens 3-D commercial. But is this 3-D trend going to be in our everyday lives? The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas thinks so. CES claims the gadget to watch this year are the 3-D TVs. And with ESPN and Discovery announcing 3-D cable networks, these 3-D commercials could be here sooner than you think. 

So after all my research I must say I am incredibly concerned. My main issue being, if I already had trouble fighting off cravings of Dominoes pizzas, 3-D is going to make this nearly impossible now. Great...

I'm with CoCo

After hearing so much from Monday's blog, I felt it would be interesting to do a follow up. I have been sent multiple videos of the Conan vs Leno battle and thought that this must be the best coverage NBC has had in months. It is apparent I was not the only one who felt this way. The Today Show did a piece on the battle and found out that in fact NBC has had its highest ratings in months. So with so many digs at NBC's expense is this a smart move on their part or not?

My other question involves the support that surrounds Conan, or CoCo as he's known to his followers. You can find rallies to attend to save him, polls, and even Facebook pages adoring his beloved flaming orange hair. What happens now with Conan. He is getting paid to leave his time spot and has made it clear he will not stick with NBC. I wonder if another station will be smart enough to pick him up or if this will really be the end of a comedic genius? In any case I felt it would brighten every ones day to see some of the best digs surrounding the controversy. So sit back enjoy and pray that this is not the last we see of CoCo.

Leno vs Conan

I'm sure that by now most of you have heard about the NBC's big blunder involving Jay Leno and Conan O'Brian. And for a while I took Conan's side of the ordeal. First because I felt for him, thinking he would be moving on up and then to have it ripped away. Second because due to my generation I find his comedy more to my taste. Finally, I mean aside from my odd sense of attraction for red heads, how could you not just fall in love with his antics and glorious locks. Anyways I digress, so until recently I have been on Conan's side. This was until I ran across an article in The New York Times. David Carr brought up an interesting point. This whole ordeal is over ratings issues, and advertisers upset about getting their moneys worth. Well its not Conan's, Leno's, or even NBC's fault. Its ours.

Everyday we are bombarded with news, gossip, video crazes. We can hear it on the radio, google search it, find a clip on youtube, find tweets and facebook statuses, get updates from your phone. We are virtually being overloaded with information. So when the end of the night comes and you are looking to wind down, you no longer want to go to Leno or O'brian for their commentary on todays events, at this point it is old news and usually overkill. And if you did happen to miss something on their show, you can just YouTube it.

So the real question that NBC as well as all of the other networks have to ask themselves is how do we get around the technological factor that could be ruining television advertising? While the older generation are most likely to always have a nice big t.v in their household, I know plenty of college students who opt not to pay for cable and just watch everything online. So perhaps NBC should take a better look at how they can really fix this issue. Leno has a bit of an older following and thus his show probably did look like it had more viewers. But is this truth, or just a skewed set of results that doesn't contain all of the factors?

I will say all of this has really made me interested in seeing what transpires in the next couple of days. As well as wanting to check up on what kind of jokes each will have on each other through it all. I guess only time will tell.

All Dressed Up With Nothing to Wear

As an add on to yesterdays post I thought it would be interesting to discuss what is appropriate attire in the office setting. After reading multiple articles I have found plenty of contradictions to the black and white dress code of dressy suit and closed toed shoes. As a recent graduate just entering the professional world I can understand the dilemma of what or what not to wear. Here are some tips for dressing to impress in the 21st century.

• Practicality- If you are working on Wall Street expect to be dressed a bit different than someone doing outdoor sales. You want to make sure that while you follow your companies dress code that it is also functional. Especially if you will be doing a lot of running around.

• Know Your Company- With many creative jobs opting for casual attire to express individuality its important to know what your company expects. While its better to be overdressed in comparison to underdressed, you want to make sure you fit the culture/environment of the company you are applying for. Try to do a bit of researching of the company dress code before you interview for a company and before you start work there. Its important to get off on a right foot.

• Rules of Thumb- No matter how relaxed your company is unless it is a strip club or bar do not show any body parts you would be embarrassed for your grandma to see. Ladies put away those low rise pants, miniskirts and plunging neck lines. Men stay away from showing any chest hair, no one and I mean know one wants to have questions of if you are part werewolf running in through their mind.
  
  
  
• Grey Area- Here are some items that have become normalized in today's business attire, but are also ones that should always be double checked with each companies dress code. Shoes seem to be a big grey area. While for the most part closed toed shoes are a must, recent trends have made question marks in many female minds. Peep toed shoes show a tiny bit of the foot, and are neither open or closed completely. Also women it is important to keep note of the height of your shoe 4 1/2 inch stilettos may not send the right message at work. Sleeveless shirts are also a question for females. Men, again with the hair issue, lets not go there. My last grey area are shorts. It has become more common for women to wear shorts in the work place. Make sure those shorts are to the knee and of a dressier fabric. And men, do I even have to bring it up again? I think you know my answer on that one guys.
  
  
  
  

So those are just some of the do's and don'ts of the professional world. It is a very hard subject to tackle. There are so many categories of what you should or shouldn't do in the professional world. Try to keep things classy with a twist of flavor. You want to stand out but surely not in a bad way With so many once upon a time taboo items becoming common day, this is not an easy task. In the end the best way to fight any feelings of uncertainty is like always, research. While it may be a pain, in these tough economic times, it will pay off.

What Message Are You Sending?

After meeting with a friend last week she almost exploded with the news that she had to show me a picture of a Barbie she saw. While I thought that was a bit odd since she is 24, I went with it. After seeing the picture she showed me it was no wonder she almost exploded.

The "Back to Basics" Barbie line, while for the most part is not overly shocking, there is one doll in the line who crosses the line. This corporate meets down on the corner Barbie, makes you wonder what kind of message are we promoting and to whom?

As those in the industry who are in charge of sending a message and making sure that our target market not only receives that message but that, that message is ingrained in them, I just have to ask what is our responsibility as advertisers? Should we lose our morals in order to make a buck? I know this has been a dilemma since the dawn of advertising, but it has really made me think.

Now don't get me wrong, while I know the proportions of Barbies are off kilter I don't think all Barbies are bad. I am that little girl who owned just about every Barbie thing imaginable, including the three story house equipped with working lights and elevator. And I was never compelled by the Barbie I played with that I should have her proportions. The clothes however were a different story. I wanted a beautiful red gown or pretty high heels just like Barbie. So now for me to see little girls take their half naked, corporate cleavage Barbie out of the box is appalling to me.

This isn't the first time that Barbie has found herself in the light of controversy and she also isn't the only one receiving flak. Dove's campaign to showcase just how much the media skews advertising images is a very powerful one combating the advertising message of "This is what beautiful looks like". So why not take a note from Dove and as advertising professionals take the responsibility of spreading the message that normal people are beautiful too, and live extraordinary lives.

Its never been so evident to me that our choices make a difference than by hearing my four year old family friend say "Well Barbie likes those clothes she's always smiling"

Who Says Money Can't Buy You Everything?

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and of course don't forget the newest addition to Mount Rushmore's important figures- ABSOLUT VODKA! Well no I'm not really serious about ABSOLUT VODKA being carved into Mount Rushmore, but it has achieved a star on the walk of fame.

In a recent attempt for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to finance renovations and upkeep to the walk of fame it has decided to get corporate sponsors in on the action. For about $1 million your company can have its very own star. While even the celebrities who are nominated must pay $25,ooo for their stars production and upkeep I can't help but think that this beloved tourist attraction has become something taken over by companies and may no longer be apart of American culture. So far L'OREAL and ABSOLUT VODKA have become "Friends of the walk of fame" but with the Chambers goal of $5 million in funds to renovate the walk of fame, you can be sure there will be more companies eager to get their star.

So has corporate America gone too far this time? Has it taken away a little bit of the prestige of having a star? I guess as someone in the Advertising field I can see both sides to this story. While the all American girl in me says that no way should a company be listed among the greats like Frank Sinatra or Bette Davis, the advertising side of me says why not?

In order to obtain a star on the walk of fame a nominee must meet one of five criteria in order to even be considered in the running. The criteria for receiving a star consists of the following: professional achievement, longevity of five years or more, contributions to the community and the guarantee that the celebrity will attend the dedication ceremony if selected. I can sure think of some well known companies that could very well fall under some or all of those criteria. So why then you may ask am I still upset that a company can have a star? I guess it is just a bit disheartening to think that an American tourist attraction would sell itself out. If this really is about helping to restore the famous tourist attraction I just don't see why the Chamber didn't decide to pursue other avenues in raising revenue. I mean think about it, it is the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Tons of stars and starlets are at their disposal to come help out in the effort to raise money and not only help to restore their own star but perhaps make an appearance, sign some autographs and promote a new film or CD.

The bottom line, as it always should be I guess, is don't be surprised by anything and of course there is a price tag on everything. So next time you are in New York don't be surprised to see the Statue of Liberty wearing a new dress Sponsored by DKNY, or Lincoln to be wearing a pair of new Nike's in the Lincoln Memorial. Oh yes corporate America... the sky's the limit!

I Love Money

After the holiday season which has become more glorified by spending and what you are receiving then by its religious origination, the question my colleague brought up "Can you love money?" is a quite valid one I thought. 

While I'm sure this topic has been debated before, the topic was brought to me by an article a colleague had read by Bob Burg.  In my opinion, Bob made a great argument for why someone would say that it is not possible to love money. But where I disagree with Bob is that while he believes it is impossible to love an idea, I believe it is possible.

Not only do I believe that it is possible to love the idea of money. I believe that is what the majority of people actually fall in love with, as opposed to the physical cold hard cash. How many times have you seen people who did everything in their power to become wealthy thinking that it would boost their social standing and thus their happiness? While I am sure some people are tickled pink that they have a nice new Corvette or a house that they could get lost in, I do believe a lot of it is rooted in the idea that being of a higher class will make you happy, and to achieve that higher class means more money. 

As for Mr. Burgs philosophy that you can not be in love with an idea. I give him the argument of love itself. I know plenty of people who are actually in love with the idea of love. They are blind to the fact that the person they are in a relationship with is an egotistical, selfish, manipulative liar. They do however thrive on the idea that being with a person, any person, means that they are no longer alone. It perpetuates their idea that they will now be able to get married and live happily ever after, even if that won't be the case, the idea of it all is like a drug to them. They are in love with the idea of love. 

So to me yes I guess it is possible to be in love with an idea and in this discussions case with money. The idea of money and what it may bring is what keeps people moving ahead day after day hoping to catch their big break, hoping to find the pot of gold, hoping for that lucky day when they can say "We're moving on up..."