Musings of a Marketer is a popular blog covering creative marketing, best advertising efforts, best design pieces and more

March 4th, 2013

A viral video that sells

Here’s a quick story for a viral success. You must have seen at least one dash cam video from Russia. They are som many, we start seeing ones specifically made to promote products.

Here below is a viral video made by the Russian agency Smetana. The video features a talking hamster toy, who repeats sounds after you. The car is stopped by a policeman who is then trolled by the hamster. The video is hilarious, it has collected over 1.5 mln hits on YouTube, and the load of simultaneous visitors to the the online store selling the hamster, crashed the store’s website for a while.

Enjoy the video here below:

Share on Facebook

November 1st, 2012

I Wish That There’s No Death For Children (Kaysyn Kuliev)

I came across this video shared by one of my Facebook friends. The lyrics were written by my compatriot – Kaysyn Kuliev – one of the best poets of his time (1917 – 1985)… One of the best poets ever, if you ask me. Just couldn’t help trying a lame translation. I couldn’t find the poem in the original – Balkarian – language, so I had to use the Russian version. At least the vid will be more understandable to my English-speaking friends… ‘Cause it needs to be understood, really… Enjoy

I’ve seen it all in days and nights of life,
I’ve tasted all the grief that I’ve been given,
And if there’s any good to which I’ll ever strive,
I’ll wish that there’s no death for children.

I know my dream will never come to be,
I know that Death will take them with no mercy,
Still, I will not stop to repeat:
I wish that there’s no death for children.

A tree will never bloom again in spring,
If there’s no dream that winter ever ends,
A simple thing’s impossible to bring,
If I’m in doubt that world is in my hands.

I see the world as is: no colors changed.
I see my life as is: as God has given,
And yet I know, my dream is all arranged:
I wish that there’s no death for children.

P.S. Thanks, Infectme, for the video.

P.P.S. Today is Kaysyn Kuliev’s birthday, by the way…

Share on Facebook

August 29th, 2012

Evencki: Size Does Matter

I am sure that we all have heard that saying applied to almost anything, however, it is exceptionally true when it comes to bed linen. If your linen is too loose or too tight, it will definitely affect your sleep, and remember a good night’s rest is priceless. Although, many linen sizes have become standardized, some of us still have some pillows or comforters that we just cannot get a perfect fit for, no matter how far and wide we search.

But search no more, ’cause my friend Karolina at Evencki will make custom linen to exact specifications that you provide and you can get a perfect fit made specially for you. You can also select the style, color, or material that you would like to use with your linen. Also, she offers the option to have your linen monogrammed to truly give an original look. You no longer have to waste time searching for the perfect fit for your linen. With Evencki you can do everything online from the comfort of your home.

You simply select what you would like your linen to look like and Evencki will take care of the rest! Go check out the nice user-friendly website – you should find it useful if you like a good night sleep or just a little rest on a couch

Share on Facebook

July 24th, 2012

Fruit And Vegetable Carving by Dimitri Tsykalov

Russian-born artist Dimitri Tsykalov, who lives and works in Paris now, does amazing carving job with different fruits and vegetables.

I’m guessing, with these skulls his Halloween parties are visited by lots of curious fans

Be careful when visiting his website, though, ’cause these skulls are not the creepiest works in his portfolio…

Share on Facebook

July 23rd, 2012

Som Sabadell Flashmob: Beethoven Salutes Bank’s Anniversary

We see flashmobs more and more often these days. But this one seems pretty moving – I’m not sure is it the choice of music or something else, but I was seconds away from tears

This even was arranged by Banco Sabadell in Catalonia, on its 130th anniversary. As many as 100 people Vallès Symphony Orchestra, the Lieder, Amics de l’Òpera and Coral Belles Arts choirs participated in the flashmob, and they really did an amazing job performing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. I wish I could witness that

Have a look and enjot the event below here…

Share on Facebook

July 16th, 2012

Wassupbrothers’ Amazing Cute Handmade Creatures

You MUST check out the amazing cute creatures that my very good friend Olga at Wassupbrothers creates out of fabric.

Not only they are cute when you look at them – each of them has a cute personality!

Olga makes them with her own hands, and obviously puts a lot of heart in it. Each of her “kids” has a name, and you can even tell their nationality – in case they are so many that they need to have different languages Look at the French prince owl Olivier, or an Italian Bernardo, or even a Hawaiian owlet (with no name yet, but certainly with a character).

Just drop by her Facebook page, like it if you like it, and you can shop for the cuties here at Etsy. You might think one can’t buy a friend, but you shoul still stop by, ’cause there are regular giveaways from Olga.

Oh, and look how much they love photoshooting

Share on Facebook

July 3rd, 2012

Facebook and the Case of the Missing Dislike Button

This is a guest post by Agnes Hollyfield. A very brief info about her is presented here below, if you need more, please, let me know, I’ll try to get you in touch…

Picture Courtesy of Barracuda Brigade (http://barracudabrigade.blogspot.com)

I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. I suspect I am not alone. I cannot remember a time before sites like Facebook. I started my account when I was still in college which dates me. To be sure, there are many positive aspects to having a Facebook presence including the ability to:

Keep up with friends
Learn new things
Share items of interest
Find interesting people and organizations to follow
Engage in conversations
Play games, enter contests and find special offers or coupons
Keep up with family members who live far away

Today, because of Facebook, I am able to see how people I used to know are doing. It is pleasant to see their successes. I follow some people who are facing serious challenges, and Facebook gives me a way to let them know I am tagging along for the ride.

If Facebook had been around when I graduated high school and college, I would have had the opportunity to keep up with the people I knew much more easily. The same is true of friends I had when I lived in other places. These people are lost to me, but that does not have to happen again if I move in the future. The people I know now are my friends, and I can take them with me wherever I go.

Facebook also presents serious concerns including:

Addiction
Leaving posts that create problems
Getting into verbal altercations
Revealing personal information unintentionally
Posting something you end up regretting years later
Being out there for the world to see including future potential employers and friends

The last two are my greatest concern. There are many reasons why this is true. Many people start their Facebook accounts when they are teenagers. These children post things they may come to regret as they grow up. They will grow up, but Facebook will be there forever.

I have some serious issues with the Facebook business model including:

There is no way to contact them
They change things and do not tell users
The website is not particularly user friendly
They have weird requirements, but they do not explain them
They can clobber an account without warning
Users are at the mercy of Facebook
There is no Dislike button

It is the last one on the list that gives me the most heartburn. YouTube has a Thumbs Down (Dislike) button. Why can’t Facebook? There are a lot of things I dislike, and I would appreciate having a way to express my opinion. If there is a business online that has been nasty to me, I want a way to let them know. It does not seem fair to not have a Dislike button. It makes things lopsided. Someone may have 200+ Likes but, if a Dislike button existed, they might have garnered 600+ Dislikes. Without a way to express a negative opinion, the number of Likes is relatively meaningless.

I think I know why Facebook does not offer a Dislike button. If they did, they would have to have a presence of their own that included the opportunity to Dislike them. I think they are afraid of what would happen. After all, as I said, it is a love-hate relationship.

Agnes Hollyfield is an online instructor with The College City. She is a social media junkie, but she does not let it run her life. She enjoys keeping up with friends and family, but she really wants a Dislike button.

Share on Facebook

April 5th, 2012

Thermosaurus From Artlebedev

How would you like this heater at your place? Check it out at Artlebedev Studio.

Share on Facebook

February 7th, 2012

Shadow Art From Rashad Alakbarov

Rashad Alakbarov, the artist from Azerbaijan, builds up some incomprehensible sculptures. They are so at first sight, but they start making complete sense once you look at their shadows. Amazing!

Share on Facebook

February 2nd, 2012

Moon Games By Laurent Laveder

The French landscape astrophotographer and astronomy journalist Laurent Laveder presents some cute ideas on how transform the otherwise ordinary Moon (if you can say that about the Moon) into more down to earth objects.