Global Sindhi

Facebook, Orkut, Big Adda, hi5, Ringo, MySpace, and the list goes on. A new social network for a new month. The social network boom has by all means taken Social Media and the internet usage to new heights. With the demographics of internet users strikingly widening its horizons to encompass more and more of the younger generation, housewives and other non-users of the internet to hook themselves onto this additive craze, Social Networks are largely responsible for this exponential growth.

Younger generations, housewives, and other non-users now struggle to drag themselves away from the computer screen, busy as they are browsing through the photos of Karan’s birthday party last evening. Platforms such as Ning have now given the lay man too, an opportunity to go social via digital mediums. The integration of various social media are now allowing the common man to not only create his own personal social network, but also populate the same and monetize it via the means of culitvating ‘cult’ networks via the same. The only challange, is conceptualizing a business model that will sell. One that can self-populate and hence, serve to be not just a social network, but a self-sustainable, lucritive financial platform for the host.

Recently, I was followed by a GlobalSindhi on twitter. How they found out I was a Sindhi, I have no idea. How they found me,  have no idea. How they followed me, I have no idea. What was their objective? Do get me to click on thier URL: http://www.globalsindhi.com

And it did!

Global Sindhi is a community based Social Networking model deviced and developed in order to unite Sindhis globally.

GlobalSindhi.com is a Social Network Dedicated to SINDHI’s

It’s an initiative to unite Sindhi’s globally

“Find the who’s who of the Sindhi community and interact with them, Take your business to new heights globally, Make Sindhi friends, have fun and interact with likeminded Sindhi people. There is something in here for every Proud Sindhi.”
However, noble as it may seem, the cause to untie the world’s Sindhi’s, this makers aim is obviously commercial. Notice the slutty use of advertisments on even the home page, stooping to the level of incorporating google ads into the footer of the home page:

Google ads on Footer

Further, the integrated ads from the Google ads box on the home page can do enough to scare many Sindhis away from joining the social network all together!!

Check Related Links!!

Sindhi Matrimoney?

Scary as it seems, one begins to conclude that the network was created either by or for the pupose of:

1. An old Sindhi aunty who wants to hook all the Sindhi boys and girls up in the world
2. Some one looking to monetize community marketing with the Sindhis (scoring on first movers advantage here). Just need to capture the right markets.
3. Desperate to commercialize the business venture as ratings don’t prove the network as a web based platform is doing too well at all!! (Don’t miss the inclusion of both Share tabs)

YP now has competition baby!

Grappo Fizz!!

“So grappo, what’s your story?” “Well, you guys evolved from apes. I evolved from grapes!!” Appy Fizz and Grappo Fizz – Two cool dinks to hang out with.

The Brand Extension of Parle Agro’s Appy Fizz to launch Grappo Fizz has created a new segment in the aerated fruit beverages market with the introduction of a fizzy grape drink labeled Grappo Fizz. At the moment, no such product  segment exists in the market, giving Parle a formidable first mover advantage in the segment.

The product launch advertisment campaign is defintiely eye catching as it manages to pick up from exactly where Appy Fizz left off with its ‘A cool drink ti have out with’ campaign. The Grappo Fizz ads take coolness to a new level with a strategic continuation of the Appy Fizz TVCs. Grappo Fizz, positioned as Appy’s cooler cousin from the fridge, takes a dig at his evolution. The lame humour creates a direct association with its TG, the urban youth, that is more than familiar with and accustomed to getting entertained by such PJs.

The ad has managed to target and appeal directly to its TG with charismatic creativity, consistency, humour, and wit. Creativeland Asia has continued the campaign through a second TVC that re-emphasizes Grappo’s coolness and gives you more reasons why you would want to hang out with him.

The creation of Appy Fizz and Grappo Fizz is a classic example of personification of brand personas depicted via ad mediums. Although this is a theoretical concept, the ‘Cool Drink to hang out with’ campaign has set the standards in brand personification in the TVC space. Correctly possitioned, Fizz has created an instantaneous and effective connect with its audience. Grappo, the UK call center returned, rapper cousin of Appy, emerges from a fridge, reming us again, how cool he is.

OMD doesn’t stop at creating awareness at the TVC level. They are shortly scheuduled to indulge in BTL activation through mass sampling activites at colleges and other ‘cool places to hang out at’. Along with the traditional activity, OMD goes a step ahead in investing in a microsite for the brands to further the interaction it has with its  TG. With the summer sweating down our necks, Agro can be bound to see a new dovoted cult of consumers who swear by the Fizz brand for more than just one reason.

With an interesting campaig, it will be fun to see how Grappo accalmaitizes to the Mumbai heat after his return from the UK call centers and whether of not Mumbai is in the mood for his UK rap!!

ADVANCED DIGITAL NETWORK

Tata Indicom’s new Advanced Digital Network campaign with its ‘Hello, hello ‘ range of ads is making waves in the telecom advertising sphere. With a simplistic yet so effective campaign that focuses on its USP, Advanced Digital Coverage, Indicom couldn’t have better captured the common man’s discomfort with its Hello hello strategy. With a simple, everyday problem that man faces in communication India, Indicom has harped how its network frees you from yet another additional stress that burdens our already tired shoulders.

India is a nation that makes use of its telecommunication. With reports stating that India could well be on its way of creating records with the highest ever recorded percentage of urban cell phone penentration in the world, Asians are just generally obsessed with ‘keeping in touch’. The same is reflected in cell phone rates which have exponentially crashed over the last 10 years. From an alarming 16 Rs. a mintue for an incoming calls, users now get paid 10p per minute via Virgin’s new ‘Get paid for receiving’ Pricing strategy.

Mike Zoozoo and Chika took O&M and Nirvana Film’s advertising for Vodafone to a new level. Yet, Indicom, with its simplicity and straightforwardness has managed to boast of its USP with a simple, real-life ad that the common man indetifies with. No usage of animation, figurines or mascots has overshadowed the brand core for Indicom with its life-like everday setting, related characters and realisitc situations.

A defintie eye-catcher with its simple communication strategy communication beautifully through a simplistic, yet witty ad.