Marketing makes the world go round.. tra la la la la!

I got the news yesterday.. [about time you think eh?] The University of Malta, in conjunction with the San Diego State University, is offering an MA in Integrated Marketing Communications. This full time course will be delivered over three semesters starting in September 2008. If you need any information just send an e-mail to info.imp@um.edu.mt :)

And now.. let's blab on something else.. but ever so closely related..

The Concept of Beauty!
No.. it doesn't necessarily mean.. aesthetics or having perfect bodies. Beauty means workability and simplicity at times, as Tom Peters wisely states. Why do we cling on to complicated, bureaucratic systems? Why is it that we think complicated stuff is pleasing and worthwhile.. when in fact we can make use of less crafty and fancy things which are nonetheless.. beautiful?

Case in point.. facebook. It's a cool social utility network programme.. of that we are sure.. well.. the majority of people seem to agree at least. It allows you to customise your personal profile with a variety of unheard of applications... [some of which are really lame.. but anyway..] and all sorts of bla bla bla. However, there is one thing which bothers me and the others quite a lot.. Why on Earth do we need to invite our friends to use the applications we so desperately want to apply? I mean.. can't our friends discover applications all on their own; by their lovely little [not so little, large.. you name it we have it] self? Adding insult to injury is the fact that some of these applications just don't work if invitations are not sent out... oh the grumbles and mutters! This nuisance has caused quite a 'stir' in the virtual facebook realm, i.e.: the creation of a group against the principle of inviting friends to use applications... Hope that makes enough noise..

What I want to say is that no matter how good your marketing strategy is.. if you don't have workable products/services to offer.. well.. that might cause some troubles. People are fed up of complicated things.. we live in a super fast world with super fast routines.. we don't have time to understand how things work.. we just want things to work.. and that's it, i.e.: if you're a customer. Customers.. let the others do the thinking for you! A product has to be excellent; it needs to work well.. and it's there that beauty lies..

Beauty has to generate Vision.. not Rants! We could accept Blabs! though :P

BLABradio?!

No we're not launching a new radio station using some free online software.

Today I got a surprising phone call from Rodney Vassallo at XFM, who was interested to know more about XFM’s top position in this blog’s interactive highlights of 2007. As you may know BLAB is compiled and read by a number of media and marketing enthusiast. At the end of 2007, we had looked back at the online ideas originating from local brands. In our (humble) opinion, XFM’s Virtual Rockstar topped the list due to it being a first and also generating extensive YouTube views. As said, BLABinteractive is run by enthusiasts and not experts, even though we do our share of research and looking around. You may not agree with our top list of highlights…and please feel free to differ (You may also comment about it if you wish)

Second issue of On Deck

Today with TheTimes of Malta our friends at BMA Ltd have successfully published the second issue of OnDeck, their new newspaper supplement supporting the B&W brand. Is it only my impression that the second issue has more pages?

Computer Arts gets new layout

I hope i am not the last one to know, but UK Magazine ComputerArts has been given a new look. Take a break from all the text and statistics you may see at the office, and view this preview: http://mos.futurenet.com/resources/computerarts/Computer_Arts.swf

If you already have the print issue you may opt to ignore this post forever...and pass it on to me!

Strange comments on this blog

Over the past week this blog has recieved a number of strange comments with links which usually do not work...or lead to a test page. Kindly ignore these comments. I will :)

New McCafe at MIA (Snapshots below)

Related post: click here

The people have (already) voted!

In the latest MediaWarehouse survey, 89.7 Bay was chosen by the respondents as 'the most listened to radio station'. The above advert (which also featured in the print media on sunday) says it all! In the meantime may I take this opportunity to also point out that SALT is band of the month on BAY.COM.MT