Innovation research/news site PSFK.com recently published their Good Brands 2009 Report, a list of 2009’s top 10 global brands that are doing “good” in regards to innovation, environmental responsibility and social collaboration.
While the brand names weren’t surprising (chances are, you’ve seen them on a list or two already), but the insight is really fresh. We can learn a lot from these brands and PSFK’s research. I recommend downloading it, reading it, and posting it next to your computer for inspiration.
Tomorrow’s great brands will be much more than a product offering and a sales pitch…they will innovate with great thought leadership and design; they will interact with their target markets by building dynamic, transparent communities; and they will work towards creating a more sustainable environment.
If you ask us, it’s the future of brands. It builds trust in a much more memorable, meaningful and authentic way than a clever $10 million dollar ad buy. It’s much more holistic. It keeps brands fresh and it holds brands accountable. It’s going to be hard work if your company’s heart isn’t in the right place.
The commercial, which is a follow-up to this one (a failed attempt at trying to do what the Chinese did at the Beijing Olympics), is trying to make us feel warm and fuzzy about Palm Pre. I think it looks like an overindulgent, overproduced, undercreative campaign. Read the full story
In Fuelhaus’ opinion, Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong brand is the freshest and most innovative brand out there right now. That’s why it’s no surprise that they would be the first to develop a unique way to spread support and awareness via Twitter. Capitalizing on the ingeniously simple, authentic and wildy successful yellow wristband campaign started during Lance’s previous Tour de France rides, you can now add the wristband to your Twitter photo and continue to share the love.
With a simple visit to their site and a little information, you’ve got yourself a yellow wrist band supporting Lance Armstrong’s Cancer Foundation and his return to the Tour. The yellow Livestrong avatar follows in the footsteps of the organic response to the recent Iranian riots, where Tweeple began to turn their profile photos green to show support of free and fair elections in Iran.
On a marketing front, The Livestrong avatar is a great way to spread brand awareness on Twitter without being tacky.
If you’re a Twitter user, you’ve probably gotten unwanted tweets from companies trying to sell us with some transparent, scammy sales pitch. Twitter is new skool. It sees through the scam. The old skool adage of “any exposure is good exposure” is finally being challenged. We make our own rules and we can show our distate in an instant “unfollow” response. It may change, but, for now, scammy sales pitches in 140 characters or less is DAMAGING to your brand. If you’re going to Tweet, make it topical, meaningful and authentic to your followers (your tribe).
“Fuelhaus assisted my organization with a large re-branding after a merger of 4 different agencies from across the state about four years ago and we've been working together ever since. I highly recommend Fuelhaus. They are my favorite company to work with and I always look forward to seeing what they'll come up with next.” by Jennifer Root, Sr. VP of Marketing ByDesign Financial Services
As a branding agency, we find that education is a big part of our job description. 
