Pratik Bagaria

Epic Mobile Battle Again – Apple & Google

Pratik — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:07:45 +0000

The next battle in the epic was between the Apple and Google is about to begin with Apple unveiling its iAds feature some time back that, for the first time will allow advertisers to put their ads near apps made specifically for iPhone and iPad. Apple already sold $60 million worth of iAds to companies like Disney, Unilever PLC, Missan Co, Citigroup Inc.

Apple Inc. is facing some early challenges, with some ad campaigns experiencing delays as agencies attempt to learn the new system and Apple’s tight control over the creative process. Part of the reason some marketers are experiencing delays in getting their iAds to market is that Apple has kept tight control on the creative aspects of ad-making, something advertisers aren’t used to. It also also made the creation of the mobile ads laborious, taking about 8 to 10 weeks from brainstorming to completion, which is longer than normal for most mobile ads. With Apple handling the production of the ad unit, agencies don’t necessarily know what it is capable of or how to use the technology. The iAds is designed in HTML5 technology, and Apple has yet to distribute a developer kit to agencies so they can understand how it works.

Competition is increasing as other mobile ad companies like Millennial Media and Google start to offer similar services. While Apple plans to pass on 60% of the revenue generated to developers, Google has hinted at a 50:50 sharing approach. iAds may be expensive for the advertisers, with packages starting at $1 million, it also offers them new targeting and interactive elements. Who will win this epic battle still is some distance away but innovation, creativity and better IT and Communication choices is making consumers emerge the ultimate winner.

Commonwealth – The Logo and the Mascot…

Pratik — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:13:16 +0000

Lets talk about the up coming commonwealth games – The Logo and the Masco… This 12-day game event would be the 19th Commonwealth Game. 71 teams from the Commonwealth of Nations will meet in Delhi to participate in the 12-day event.

19th Commonwealth Games Logo

The Logo

The logo of the 19th CWG is inspired by the Chakra – the Indian national symbol of freedom, unity and power. The logo tagline, Come out and Play, is an invitation to people to let go of themselves and participate in the Games to the best of their of abilities and in the true spirit of the game. It is also a call to the people of India to come out in support of the Games and play the perfect hosts.

Colour Palette

The colour palette of the Delhi 2010 programme combines two of the distinctive colours of the Delhi 2010 Emblem with the official colours of the CWG.

Green

The color that signifies life, energy and high spirits, also represents the fact that Delhi 2010 will be the first ever “Green Games”.

Purple

Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical qualities of pink, the colour satisfies the need for reassurance, while adding a hint of mystery and excitment.

Pink

The colour has been introduced to the palette adding an element of surprise and luxury of the event. It plays to the crowd and truly reflects India in all its resplendent glory.

Red, Yellow and Blue

The colours represent the ‘trinity of value’ that symbolize the games – unifying humanity (red), giving all athletes a chance to realize their destiny (yellow) and promoting equality (blue).

The Mascot – SHERA Unveiled at the end of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, Shera has become the most visible face of the event. Shera – the tiger – represents the modern Indian. He is an achiever with a positive attitude, a global citizen proud of his nation’s heritage, a fierce competitor but with integrity and honesty.

Website Domain Names in local languages.

Pratik — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:16:39 +0000

After becoming one of a handful of countries to have their own currency symbol, India is closer to joining a league of nations with website names in local language.

Icann clears India’s request for IDNs in seven regional languages; final nod likely in few months. DIT had sent a proposal to Icann in May 2010 seeking domain names in Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati.

The final approval is expected in a few months, but website registrations in regional language will being six months after the final approval.

YouTube and more directly on your TV

Pratik — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:21:53 +0000

Online Videos now on your TV screens.

Many tech companies are trying to get there online video sharing services to your TV. Watch YouTube videos directly on your TV sets in the comfort of your living room.

Here is a list down of all the companies and there services.

Apple

Apple TV box lets you access iTunes in the living room on a television.

NetFlix

It offers online streaming service on a variety of gaming consoles and media players.

Microsoft Zune

Microsoft offers its Zune entertainment service and NetFlix through its gaming console – Xbox 360.

Amazon

Amazon’s on demand video service is available on a variety of set-top boxes and DVRs.

Google

The soon-to-launch Google TV aims to bring all video content – Web or TV – to your TV screens. YouTube can also be watched on TVs thought various hardware options.

Tata Motors goes International Again.

Pratik — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:05:52 +0000

After taking its UK subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover out of the crises, Tata Motors is now eyeing on another emerging markets. India’s largest auto maker, Tata Motors Ltd., is likely to setup a Rs. 1,200 crore factory in Mexico. The plant with churn out 1,00,000 cars a year and the target market would be of South America. The assemble line would include models such as Nano, Indica Vista and the latest Manza.

Tata Manza

Officially, there is no confirmation regarding this project from the company. But given its wide project portfolio and its objective to expand its international business, Tata Motors continuously explores both what could be relevant markets and, within them, relevant business opportunities.

esbe – colouring your life.

Pratik — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:57:30 +0000

esbe started off as a personal hobby, there were several factors that gradually fertilized it into a brand. What started off as a discussion over tea, became a passion along the way.

Carry your stuff with a difference. There is a varied range of esbe bags to compliment each look you choose. Whether its to add that bling factor to your not so happening attire or just to fill in the need of carrying your goodies. Likewise, days when we adorned those plain and undramatic converse have become memories. Its time you give your feet a cool and hip makeover. Walk with a change and let the world watch out. These esbe designs will assist you to make a statement out there or else if you have ideas regarding your own custom made shoes, we willingly accept them too. Color each day wearing a tee that spells style in an unique way. Allow your mood to help you choice amongst the range of esbe tshirts designed with the spirit of youth and fun just for you. Give your own twist to fashion that suits your style completely and own them too.

So get in touch today to give yourself a creative dose or to gift warp memories for your loved ones.

Humor in Advertising

Pratik — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:32:17 +0000

Many of the most memorable ad campaigns around tend to be funny. Advertisers use this strategy to attract customers to their product. Audiences likes to be entertained, but not pinched. People will pay more attention to a humorous commercial than a factual or serious one, opening themselves up to be influenced. The key to funny advertising is assuring the humor is appropriate to both product & customer. The balance between funny and obnoxious can often be delicate and a marketer must be certain that the positive effects outweighs the negative, before an advertisement can be introduced.

The best products to sell using humor tend to be those that consumer have to think the least about. Products that are relatively inexpensive and often consumable, can be represented without providing a lot of facts, and that’s where there is room for humor. Candy, food, alcohol, tobacco and entertainment related products have proven to benefit the most from humor in there campaigns. One of the most important thing to keep in mind is relevance to the product. Another point to consider when using humor in advertising is that different things are funny to different people. A commercial that may leave one person gripping their sides from laughter may leave a bad taste in another’s mouth. The target market must always be considered. What’s funny in a client presentation may not be funny on an airplane, at a country club or in a hospital.

Humor in advertising tends to improve brand recognition, but does not improve product recall, message credibility, or buying intensions. In other words, consumers may be familiar with and having good feelings towards the product, but their purchasing decisions will probably not be affected. One of the major keys to a successful humorous campaign is variety, once a commercial starts to wear out there’s no saving without some variation on the concept. Humorous campaigns are often expensive because they have to be constantly changed. Advertisers must remember that while making the customer laugh, they have to keep things interesting, because old jokes die along with their products.

Twitter for Business & Brand

Pratik — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:16:14 +0000

Its simple, to the point and easy to use. People can stay updated with the profiles they follow.
This can really be a good platform as your news can reach the masses freely in no time. Here are few examples of how I feel Twitter can be beneficial for your website, business and brand.

A busy Finance website!

You have a nice website, through which you share all the financial & tax news. You add 10-12 posts a day. There is high possibility of the absence of dedicated news section in your website about it or even if there is such a section, it might get lost due to much data on the site. Here Twitter does the needful. For instance, you have just added a new guest column on your site. Tweet it!

Announce the new guest column. Owing to this, your followers on Twitter will be informed about the new feature and they would visit the site looking forward to that guest blog post. Which would otherwise have gone unnoticed. You just need to keep an icon on your site inorder to let your visitors know of your presence on Twitter.

A well set business with a corporate website.

You have a business and a website for the same that has information regarding your company, your product range and other details. Some businesses even have a corporate blog. Now your company website won’t be updated as frequently as compared to blogs, or the financial blog as in our example. You can use Twitter to post new happening at your company. For instance, your company has been awarded or given a new certification in that matter. Besides posting this on our website, you can also share it on Twitter by placing the link of the new page on your Twitter update. In this manner others will get an instant update about the same.

Twitter can also be a good platform to look out for people willing to work with your company. Just post an update that you are on a lookout for a new advertising agency and you will be surely flooded with responses.

Twitter for Brands

Twitter is a great way to spread the word about your brand. Its quite possible that a company has more than 1 brand in there kitty. Sometimes each brand has different products and Product Managers. Each brand can then have a Twitter account. Post about new news related to that brands, new features added etc. One can also post facts related to the brands. Advertising new plans can be done too.

To sum up all, Twitter can be used to promote your website, informing large group of people at once and also to stay updated with your industry news. Tweet On!

Follow me @ Twitter

Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2010

Pratik — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:44:54 +0000

My visit to Kala Ghoda Art Festival. It started with an energetic Street Act and infact ended at an evenly mesmerizing Rope Act by a little girl.

Below are the gifts of inspiration that I collected.

My Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

Pratik — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:43:14 +0000

Just bought this a week ago and love it. Below are some snaps of the same.

Absolutely love the phone.

Its available in Mumbai at approx. 11,000/-