Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Manipulating Habit

A staple of our "must attend" calendar each May, Brandworks University kicked off its 2014 run yesterday in Madison with a fascinating dive into the world of habit. As much as 95% of our daily choices are a function of habit. But, just because a habit exists doesn't mean it can't be transformed.

One of the most challenging concepts to emerge from Day One of this sensationally impactful conference came from Monitor Deloitte's Bob Lurie who suggested that marketers investing huge sums to secure awareness and consideration of their product/experience are missing the point. Those efforts mean absolutely nothing to our existing customers.

If we're not consistently offering cues to existing customers that force recall of a habitual enjoyment of our product, we risk them lapsing and being ensnared by the awareness efforts of others. Just because they loved us once doesn't mean they'll love us forever.

The line that resonated most with our group at dinner..."The brand must be freshley consistent...not consistently fresh."

Can't wait for Day Two to begin.

The Drunk Before the Storm

Terri and I were downtown Friday evening, attending the Greater Madison CVB's "Tourism Stars" event. It was a great evening, catching up with our favorite photographers, convention center director, politicos and good friends.

As we headed to the parking garage, we spied clusters of college students streaming towards the State Street bars wearing shirts proclaiming "Pub Crawl 2014." Yes, it's the weekend before exams...so let's go kill some brain cells.

Not that I didn't do it, too, lo those many years ago...but, looking back, it is sorta counter-productive. You've spent all year learning this stuff and, with just 72 hours to go, you piss it out the window. Ahhh, to be young.

But, then there's stoopid...on a campus far, far away.

Where a band of fried Hawkeyes destroyed a recently installed piece of art in the University of Iowa Quad celebrating their beloved Herkey. Over 80 replicas of the Hawkeye mascot were installed last week, each adorned by an area artist. The Iowa City/Coralville CVB sponsors the destination art project and it has been a huge hit for residents and visitors alike.

And drunks...who were just blind (or stoopid) enough to miss that, of all the Herkey's on Parade, the one on the Quad would likely have the most cameras facing it's way.

And, I'm just counting the days til they bust your butts.

Audit? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Audit

We recently reported than a report by Australia's National Commission of Audit recommended halving the country's investment in tourism promotion and development.

Brand USA's Amir Eylon hipped me to the story out today that Federal Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb says they intend to increase the Tourism Budget because "it's one of the drivers of prosperity"

Robb's thinking an extra $50 million would do the trick.

A far cry from the auditor's recommendation.

They Used to be Called Chambers of Commerce

Destination Marketing Organizations have evolved a ton since the days of Elvis.

But the message is still pretty much the same, even on a Music Friday.

Beth Hockenberry Erickson (Acting CEO at Visit Loudoun) hipped me to this sensational video of the King...paying homage to the "Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce."

THE Draft

The USA Today Sports Section Tweet of the Day from the Phillies' Cameron Rupp: "Anyone else other than me ready for this draft to be over??? I mean, why doesn't the Baseball Draft get any hype?"

Answer: Ummm, because nobody watches College Baseball?

You're welcome.

Tourism is Jobs

Thanks to all my friends in Pennsylvania for the warm welcome in Harrisburg today. While you and I know it...we can never stop reminding people that "Tourism is Jobs."

And thanks to Michele Wisnesck from the Laural Highlands Visitors Bureau for tweeting it on from the #PaTourismSummit14.

Sorry I had to dash early...it's off to Loudoun County VA to do it again tomorrow!

For Whom the Bell Tolls

There is a legislative move afoot in Australia to halve its AUD $130 million tourism budget.There are also forces in play that would eliminate its destination marketing agency altogether.

A recent audit, as reported in Skift, reports out that "while tourism is one of Australia’s main exports, most of the benefits of tourism accrue to the tourism operators. There is no clear reason why significant funding should be provided to tourism above other Australian export industries."

Obviously, these are auditors that haven't the faintest idea of global economics.

Canada has also drastically reduced its funding for tourism promotion and development by roughly two thirds.

Not that anyone from those two countries' camps pay attention to this blog...but I can say quite definitively that Terri and I would have no interest whatsoever of visiting your countries and depositing thousands of our dollars into your economy without having been lured by your marketing.

In other words, without your prodding, we're just not into you.

Stop inviting us now...and we'll probably go back to visiting those countries that do lure us with their ads, rather than dream of experiencing your countries.

Just a thought...

 

Fo-Fo-Foster

Yes, it's Music Friday once again.

So, how do I make this post about music?

OK...my friend (and musician) David Turner posted up a Foster Brooks routine on his Facebook page last week, reminding me of this rare talent. The MC in the video was a musician of some note. There are other musicians looking on.

As my friends in radio used to say (and maybe still do), "Close enough for rock 'n roll."

May I present Foster Brooks, roasting Don Rickles as Dean Martin and others look on.

I dare you not to laugh so hard that tears don't come from your eyes as you watch this video.

They just don't make 'em like this any more.

Uber and Lyft

We recently opined on our concerns about the disruptive "ride-sharing" entrance of Uber and Lyft throughout America. As brevity is a (usual) hallmark of this blog, I won't go deep here...but you can get background there.

It's fascinating that management of these two online platforms keep changing their tune. That the customer can choose what to pay (thus, this somehow isn't subject to regulation because, it's just friends, y'know) to admiting they are slashing their "fares."

Fares? I thought this was the honor system.

All the more evidence that these plays are of the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing variety.

You guys can posture all you want...but you're attempting to put licensed cab companies and their drivers out of business.

If cabs were like video rental businesses, I wouldn't have a problem. I don't NEED videos.

But...Cab Companies provide an invaluable service to people who lack the means of personal mobility.

Thus...you are a threat to Quality of Life.

And you need to be regulated.