Today is the first anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, the government’s program to combat childhood obesity.

To mark the occasion, the First Lady unveiled a new series of public service announcements that will run on-air and online.

Created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ad Council, the PSAs aim to provide parents and caregivers throughout the country with information to help them make healthy food choices and increase physical activity.

Check them out after the jump and let us know in the comments if you think they’re effective.

–written by Brand Channel

A very smart client spoke to me recently about agencies. “I look for people who make sense to me when they speak,” he said. “If agency people come in and do anything that isn’t rational in relation to my business, I stop listening, discount them immediately and look for polite ways to show them the door.”

Has this ever happened to you on a new business call? You sense the prospect is drifting and is looking for ways to say, “Thanks very much, don’t call us, we’ll call you.” I know I have had that feeling dozens of times. On the other hand, you probably also know how good it feels when you and the prospect are on the same page and the energy level in the room is high. You and the prospect are “cookin’.”

That great feeling comes from your agency “making sense” to the prospect or client. The groove you enter into feels great and is very powerful as a relationship starter and confidence builder.

You must learn how to “make sense” to all of your clients and prospects. Most important, you have to teach this to all of your staff.

Following are some quick suggestions for making sense in front of a client or prospect.

1. Forget your ads, your portfolio, your agency, your credibility. It’s all about them and how you can help ease their pain.
2. Most clients don’t give a rip about ads, brochures, TV spots, radio commercials and the like. They really care about their issues, which focus much more on things like distributors who won’t stock their products, dealers whose personnel are not incented to sell the product, or even their own sales people who feel they don’t make enough commission on this particular product.
3. Remember, all prospects and clients have pain somewhere in their marketing world. If you can ease some of that pain, or at least understand it, then you start making sense to them. I don’t want to bring up a sore subject, but Bill Clinton understood our pain, was elected by us twice and saved once.
4. Have a working knowledge of the client’s industry.
5. In addition, try to understand your client’s position within their industry. This helps you understand their daily plight.
6. Teach your people to put in perspective the specific assignment they are talking about with the client. How does this assignment relate to the whole picture? Where did this assignment come from and where is it going? How does it fit within the client’s total marketing plan?
7. Along some other lines: dress appropriately when you see a client; speak well; write correctly; shake hands firmly; and NEVER EXAGGERATE! Clients and prospects see through that in a New York minute.

–written by Second Wind

So which was better — the game or the ads? This year, the game might have been slightly better, but not by much. Regardless, this year’s crop of ads were good (although not great), and still better than last year’s (but that’s not saying much).

GO STEELERS! Granted, they are not the EAGLES. Yet as fellow Pennsylvanians we feel it is right to support our state.

Image: Sportsnewscaster

If the game is not really your thing, at least tune in for the zanny advertisements that have the blogosphere buzzing. For a sneak peek, check out Ad Freak. It is guaranteed to make you laugh!

Despite security concerns, more consumers are using mobile banking services. These consumers represent a unique demographic niche that cuts across traditional age and income categories. Banks that target users of mobile banking services will enjoy strong profits from loyal customers and grow market share as acceptance of this service grows.

According to a recently published report by Nielsen, about 13.2% of U.S. households are already checking their bank accounts on the run. To do so, consumers are using both mobile phones and other devices. The growth rate between Q1 2010 and Q2 2010 was as follows:

* Mobile Phone (+.1% now at 20.8%)

* Other Mobile Device (+1.6% now at 13.2%)

In general, mobile banking consumers have more money and higher net worth than average as these figures show:

* Average Deposit Balance – Phone Access $53,138

* Average Deposit Balance – Mobile Access $64,303

* Average Net Worth – Phone Access $317,113

* Average Net Worth – Mobile Access $341,017

Apart from having money, most mobile bankers tend to fall into the following behavioral categories:

Social Texters – This primarily younger group, ages 18–24, makes up nearly 20% of mobile bankers and uses the service to check on balances.

Mobile Office Workers – This group, ages 35–54, has the highest rate of Smartphone ownership, is image-conscious, and uses mobile banking at a higher rate than any other group.

Country Club Communicators – This group, ages 45–64, has plenty of money, tends to be well-educated and adept at using Smartphone technology. Loyal to a primary bank, this group uses multiple banking services.

(more…)

Made in France, Cîroc vodka has what importer Diageo likes to call “liquid credentials” — it is one of the first vodkas made from fine French grapes, mauzac blanc and ugni blanc, and it is distilled five times.

Tony Pettinato

But what really sets this brand apart are its street credentials.

Sales have skyrocketed since Diageo in 2007 partnered with hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has described himself as a hybrid brand manager, chief marketing officer and spokesman.

“In the African-American community, he has a lot of influence,” said Megan Metcalf, editor of Wine & Spirits Daily. “He did a good job of reaching out to them, and from there it sounds like they had more Anglos in other markets jumping on board.”

Sales jumped 41% to $6.8 million in the year ended Oct. 3, according to SymphonyIRI, which excludes Walmart, club and liquor stores, and bars and restaurants. Diageo says the brand grew 552% from 2007 to 2010 and has replaced Belvedere as the second-ranked vodka in the “ultra-premium” category.

Demand has surged this year partly in response to Cîroc’s first line extensions, which include coconut– and red-berry-flavored vodkas.

(more…)