Topics for 1/3/10 Show

Here are the proposed topics for this week's episode of The BeanCast, and as usual we'd love to hear your thoughts and questions.

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This week's panel will be Chris Baccus (The Auto Marketing Blog), Bill Green (MTLB), Steve Hall (AdRants) and Erik Proulx (Please Feed The Animals).

TOPICS

The Transparent Turnaround: I’m fascinated by the whole approach that Domino’s is taking with their new ad campaign. Because it’s not really even an ad campaign, is it, Steve? What’s unusual about what their doing? Even though the key is a product remix and a statement-type ad campaign, isn’t this really a social media campaign? Isn’t their real objective to promote trial and then to create online buzz? What about the irony of them taking such an approach after getting so burned by social media in the last year because of that notorious YouTube video? Maybe one of the most surprising elements is that this campaign that is largely absent of concept, creates such a positive brand impression. Is this something other brands should be taking a cue from? Are we surprised that Crispin is behind the effort? Where do they go from here? This type of effort is more of a launch effort — it can’t be sustained, right?

Content vs. Distribution: Now I know that Jonah Bloom disagreed with the piece in Ad Age about a year ago predicting that distribution would eclipse content as the power players in entertainment, but recent fights between cable companies and cable networks might highlight a shifting balance. What’s different about the recent troubles over contract discussions, Bill? Hasn’t this always been an issue or is it more pointed now? What’s most troubling about cable companies locking out networks? Can we really say they are monopolies when there are other options like satellite? Does this mean that media buyers will need to be thinking more about cable buys as opposed to network buys in order to get the reach they need?

The Community Manager Option: In light of the fact that we have the maker of the Lemonade movie with us, it’s only right to talk about alternative career options for the out of work ad professionals. And Ad Age offers a glimpse this week of a career for out of work copywriters as community managers? What’s interesting about this story, Erik? I always thought of community managers as being underpaid, college grad jobs? Are companies really adding enough importance to the role now? Is this really what companies mean when they are out to hire their “social guy?” Meanwhile agencies debate whether they need social media departments and the press is questions whether anybody wants to be friends with their Butter. What’s the future of roles like social media manager or community managers? Can community be manufactured or can only certain brands with natural community hooks make a difference here?

The Half-Billion Dollar Snub: So yet again a small tech company snubs a Google offer of way too much money. No one knows yet why Yelp walked away from Google’s half-million dollar offer. Any guesses, Chris? It was never clear to me exactly what Google’s plan was, Bill. Why did they make this offer in the first place? Who else could want Yelp more?

Is the Jingle is Back?: Well an art form largely considered dead a few years back is coming back. The jingle seems to be making a resurgence. Is there a renewed interest, guys? Is this story just making a lot out of a few efforts like Subway and Gap? When does a jingle make sense?