Logoku Tests Knowledge of Corporate Logos

Here's a game to challenge your logo smarts. Launched in late Summer, Logoku, is a game in which players guess the name of the company behind a given logo using clues such as the company's slogan, number of employees, location of headquarters, ad agency and other identifiers. name the company before using too many clues nets a higher score. Try it. We did. We failed.

The N's 'South of Nowhere' Promoted With Metrocards

Hopefully targeting more than just homeless teens who don't own a television, Marketing services agency Mr. Youth LLC and nighttime teen network The N have teamed up to reach teenagers on the streets of Manhattan to promote The N's South of Nowhere. Today, Street teams, accompanied by a fleet of branded Vespas, will offer $4 Metrocards, which, as a side benefit, is a very good thing for a homeless teen, along with South of Nowhere-branded Metrocard holders to teens heading south on the subways. The street teams, outfitted with chest-mounted TVs, will be positioned outside of downtown subway stations along the N subway line, along with visiting nearby high schools and commuter train stations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Friday, November 4th. The N's South of Nowhere series premiere will air on Friday, November 4th at 8:30 p.m. (ET).

AOL Acquires MusicNow

AOL has acquired music company MusicNow and has launched a new music service called AOL Music Now which will offer .99 cent downloads and subscription plans. The new service adds a al carte song purchase, subscription portability and is web-based

CBS Begs For 'Threshold' Viewers, Offers Ad-Free Shows Online

In an effort to build viewership for its entry into the already over-crowded mystery alien genre, CBS will offer three episodes of Threshhold online without ads. Each episode will be available at the completion of its Friday, 9PM airing.

"We think that the traditional network run will always be the primary broadcast, but this is an opportunity to recruit viewers that may not have experienced the show yet or (provide a chance) for those that missed an episode to get caught up," said Chris Ender, senior vp CBS Communications Group. While true for now but with the proliferation of downloadable shows, the model may, forever, change.

Billboard Breaks Rules, Takes Advantage of Situation

Going against every rule regarding type size and the appropriate number of words a billboard should carry, LA's KNZ 1070 has acknowledged the fact that traffic is so bad, normal rules regarding billboard readability don't apply. Since the city's commute is often fraught with crawling speeds and periods of dead stop, KNZ 1070 figured people had plenty of time to read a billboard filled with long copy so that's exactly what they did.

The billboard copy takes drivers inside the head of an outspoken and very talkative individual. The kind of person that chats you up on a five-hour airline flight across the country. After drivers take the time to read this individual's opinions and observations, they are left with a choice. Stay informed with the KNX 1070 traffic report or continue to read the ramblings of their new traffic buddy. We think the choice is clear. And we like when norms are broken. See full sized images here and here.

Study Examines Word of Mouth, Sees Growth

While word of mouth has been around since humans could open their mouths and it has been the most highly trusted source of information for most anything in most any category, it is now becoming a marketing practice. The Word of Mouth Marketing Association has been set up to foster and guide marketers who are endeavoring to listen and participate in the growing number of conversations taking place on blogs, chat rooms, forums, IM and good ol' face to face spoken word.

eMarketer, in association with WOMMA, today, released a study called "Word of Mouth, The Stats, Surveys and Substance Behind the Buzz which is jam packed with facts and figures about the segment such as the enabling influence the Internet has had on fostering word of mouth, the confirmation that friends and family have been and always will be the greatest influencers, the power word of mouth has in 9 business segments, the demographic makeup of those most likely to become influencers and engage in word of mouth, how blogs and blog readers can influence the flow of word of mouth, seven tips for a successful word of mouth marketing campaign and ten reasons why WOMMA and eMarketer think word of mouth will become an important and integral component of any marketing program.

Not to be accused of simply dumping facts on the industry and running, WOMMA has launched a weblog called Word of Mouth Basic Training which will contain "how to" articles and is tied to the organization's upcoming training event in Orlando which promises to educate attendees on how to best use word of mouth as a viable marketing element.

Playboy Gets Verbal In Viral

To promote its UK website, podcast and blog, Playboy has launched a a viral which, while containing no nudity, might raise your blood pressure a bit if you use your imagination.

Dunkin' Donuts to Launch Caffeine Crazy Customers

Next week, Dunkin' Donuts will launch a new ad campaign that focuses on the things people do to get their caffeine fix. Thirty second spots will highlights efforts such as a woman, stuck in traffic with co-workers, who left the car, walked a mile to a Dunkin' Donuts, then returned to the car for the rest of the ride to work. Radio, print and outdoor will accompany the campaign.

While they may already have thought of this, Dunkin' Donuts should launch a site or a blog where people could share wacky tales about their quests for caffeine. Amusement for readers. Fodder for future campaigns.

McDonald's To Save McRib With Boneless Pigs

In a last ditch effort to convince people boneless pig meat is a good thing, McDonald's has launched the MicRib Farewell Tour. Apparently, the McRib was popular at one time but the company is considering dropping the product unless people respond to the promotion which consists of a microsite where fans can find out where and when McDonald's is serving McRib, get McRib trivia, write McRib Haikus, submit their own McRib photos, download official McRib t-shirt decals and send phone messages to fellow McRib fanatics. They can also sign the "Save the McRib" petition and explore the BPFAA (the Boneless Pig Farmers Association of America) website, bonelesspigs.org, a fictitious organization that promotes the good will of boneless pigs. Hmm. OK. Why spend all this money if the product is just going to be dumped? Oh wait, silly me, they're not dumping the product, they're renewing demand by making us feel sorry for a bunch of boneless pigs. That's it.

The Wilford Brimley-like videos are pretty funny though.

Oxygen Network Launches Missing Person Effort

Oxygen's new series Relentless is a true crime show about women who keep pursuing justice even when society gives up. The episodes revolve around cases that have been solved. An online extension of the show is a social networking project, called SpeakUp, designed to help locate a missing woman, Daniel Imbo. Daniel is a 34 year old mother of a small child and was last seen Feb 19, 2005 in Philadelphia.