For retailers and, to a lesser extent, manufacturers, pricing’s taking on a whole new dimension. Old: cost to manufacture/cost of goods plus markup equals wholesale/retail. New: run it through the price optimization program while you sit back with a Starbucks triple mocha latte and a Krispy Kreme.
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In remarks before a captive audience, Microsoft founder Bill Gates predicted Tuesday that five years out, newspapers will have nearly faded from existence as digital devices — readers, phones, computers, big screen displays, etc. — overtake print as a delivery medium. That forecast was made May 8th, in front of the 8th annual Strategic Account Summit of Microsoft’s global advertising partners.
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This is what we’ve been able to discern from the few tea leaves scattered about. Change – big change – seems to be waiting in the wings for The Motor Company as demographics, competition and environmental regs continue to shape HD’s destiny.

Might this be the year for the beginning of the end of the air-cooled twin? With two BT radiator – in-frame coolant? – displacement versions ready to go, probably.

Big Daddy, with 2450ccs of tub-thumping water-cooled torque, would seemingly raise the bar quite a bit. And if this be the year, one coupled with the dropping of six popular models – ST (3), DWG, FL and XL883 – it would open a huge chasm between the original and the clones from the marketing and technology perspectives.

These changes could also signal a larger focus on touring rather than cruising, and if so then another seeming nod to the aging of the profile.

That’s the view from the front porch rocker. We’re saving the goat entrails for a group slam.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation president Tim Buche announced a new campaign to help curb injuries and fatalities with soon to be released web content on YouTube and Break.com, local market PSAs and a targeted short aimed at drivers ed programs across the country.

While different factions argue over the percentage increases in death and injury against registrations, actual numbers continue to rise. Given increasingly crowded highways jammed with drivers text messaging, coordinating their GPSs and scrubbing through their iPods while rolling along in cruise-controlled comfort at 85 mph, it’s not getting any safer.

Add in the steadily deteriorating condition of most of the worst roads and interstates, and it’s a cinch we need all the help we can get. Find out how, from the source.

Fact: 32 per cent of commercial airtime is devoted to commercials.

Fact: if we can skip through them, we do.

What’s to be done? The traditional model for ad base rates stems from program demos and ratings. The new model could switch to ad content based ratings instead. In other words, if networks were paid by ad favorables instead of gross program viewership, then it’s a whole new ball game.
Look for networks, working with rating services, to start factoring ad content as rated by viewers. Result? Ads with high positives get better position. Got a crummy ad not even your mother likes? It won’t be dragging down the program content with it if this new plan works out.

Advertisers whose ad content is graded highly by viewers wins. If you’re tired of Head-On and Depends, then their future could be in your resourceful hands, so the next time you get a chance to zap or view, make sure it’s a dog before you skip.

Budweiser’s celebrated $30-million push into internet media over at bud.tv is a looker for several reasons. Rich content defined, it may well be a glimpse at the immediate future of the internet, at the expense of the networks and cable. It’s certainly a lot easier to remember “bud.tv” than to keep track of every over-the-air and cable program sponsored by Bud if you’re hooked on their message. If it’s this good in the beginning, it’ll only get better down the road.

tip: check out the fake celeb salon spoof — then think of that the next time you’re forced to choose between bottled or tap in front of strangers.

That nearly half of e-mail subscribers purchases are influenced in their decision making by e-mail? That’s a qualified summary, conditional on the kind of content received and the relevance of the content. But it’s too large a percentage to dismiss as irrelevant, regardless of the actual number cited.

Keep in mind thats a measurement of subscribers, not just receivers who may be on a forward or broadcast list. But regardless of what’s parsed, one major conclusion is that ignoring your web visitors by not capturing data and sign-up info and then following up with rich content media delivery may be sacrificing a significant revenue stream.

Yesterday’s Ad Age Daily contained the disturbing news that only 21% — twenty-one percent! — of marketers (clients) would recommend their own agency to others! This dismal revelation was joined by the equally distressing stat that fully 76% had no way to measure their agency ROI.

Measurement’s a great concept when you’re trying on shoes but considerably less useful when it’s time to pick shoe style or color. Conclusion? Shoe doesn’t fit — should have measured more carefully. Shoe looks ugly — next time take your wife along and don’t trust the salesman.

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