Lady Gaga's Marketing Mania

Lady Gaga is all over the place - from her music to signing million dollar marketing campaigns. This month she signed deals with some very successful companies - both Google and Starbucks. That makes her a must see where she'll be next kind of gal.

Maybe it's just that Google and Gaga run of the tongue easily. She just signed a 10 million dollar partnership with Google Chrome to be the "face" of the new laptop line coming out this summer starting June 15. Gaga is already the star of the Google Chrome web browser commercial. Watch the video here.

Also, starting this month, the world's largest coffee shop chain will partner with the megastar for a large-scale online promotional campaign. The plan is to have Lady Gaga will engage with fans in a scavenger hunt across Starbucks' numerous digital proprieties, such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare. The campaign will run through June 3, and coincides with the release of Gaga's new album, "Born This Way." Scavenger hunt participants can collect prizes, stream the new album, download new songs and watch exclusive videos from the in-store digital networks. Another brilliant PR campaign both both businesses.

So, what's with everyone wanting to be tied to her? The fact is Lady Gaga is possibly the most in-demand artist currently worldwide. This is for several reasons: She's got an army of fans, she knows how to attract attention, She's reportedly engaged in the deals that carry her name, and she's not shy about working with anyone. Another reason, her label-Interscope-shares in the revenue gained from such partnerships through a 360 deal with Lady Gaga. This makes perfect sense as to why everyone wants a piece of her. Don't be surprised to see her popping up a lot more throughout 2011.

Royal Wedding: PR Firms Jump Right In

Press releases have come flurrying in once the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton this week.

Within minutes of the announcement that Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged to be married, PR companies across the country jumped into action by using the engagement to publicise their travel clients. Here are a few of the travel offerings and wedding related press releases the couple has received thus far.

Kate and William: Dublin's on your doorstep, says Irish Ferries

"To celebrate the news that William and Kate are to marry and live in north Wales, Irish Ferris is offering the happy couple free crossings to Dublin."

"Dublin's bright lights, great 'craic' and top class shops are less than two hours from Anglesey, where William is based," says Irish Ferris Declan Mescall.

This makes the Irish capital closer and easier to reach than London's West End - perfect for Kate's girly weekends when William is flying, or a romantic break for the couple themselves.

Irish Ferris is giving Kate and William unlimited Holyhead to Dublin travel, in Club Class, as long as they live in north Wales."

Royal retreat fit for a King

"Finally, it's the news we've all been waiting for, Prince William and Kate Middleton have announced their engagement! Following the recent royal proposal in Kenya where should the couple celebrate their honeymoon? Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa in the Philippines, of course!"

Celebrating the Royal Engagement

"Today's announcement of the royal engagement is a cause for celebration, not just for the royal couple and their family, but fro the whole of England.

The engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton is wonderful news, and all that Visit England join the rest of the country in congratulating the young couple on their impending marriage.

The happy couple have yet to announce the location for the ceremony, or the honeymoon - and although traditional locations such as Westminster Abbey have been suggested, there are many other options to be considered.

Attached: 10 Alternative Locations for the Perfect English wedding."

With news of a royal wedding, try amaging retreats for your very own special day

"News of a certain engagement today will get many thinking of their own specila day and Amazing Retreats can offer a venue to make you feel like royalty! From a Scottish Castle, which has played host to many a celebrity bash, to country manor houses and even a fort in the Soleng Amazing Retreats has secluded wedding venues aplenty!"

Following in the footsteps of Prince William and Kate Middleton and propose to your loved-one in Kenya

"Folowing the exciting announcement of Prince William and Kate middleton's engagement, Kuoni has selected a range of romantic Kenya holidays that provide the perfect setting to propose to your loved-one."

Calling all Kate and WIlliams to Ten Manchester Street, Marylebone

"Ten Manchester Street is offering all engaged couples called William and Kate a complimentary afternoon tea with chilled bottle of champagne."

Complimentary Room for Newly-Engaged Couples at The Landmark London

"Marylebone's regal 5-star hotel The Landmark London are offering any couple who have become engaged in the last month a free night's stay at The Landmark London complete with a bottle of chilled Champagne in the room to celebrate their engagement."

Fit for a King - free overnight stay and spa treatments at The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate

"For happy couples that have become engaged this week - The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate, a 43 acre woodland retreat and luxury hotel are offering a free overnight stay and a his and hers spa treatment."

Really? McDonalds Facing Lawsuit Over Happy Meals

The Center for Science in Public Interest is giving McDonald's up to 30 days to stop promoting toys with the purchase of their Happy Meals, saying that the company is contributing to the obesity epidemic that the country is dealing with.

As for McDonald's they insist that "getting a toy is just one part of a fun, family experience," said spokesman William Whitman.

"Tempting kids with toys is unfair and deceptive, both to kids who don't understand the concept of advertising and to their parents, who have to put up with nagging children," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in Public Interest.

My personal opinion is that parents should be responsible and take control of deciding what their children eat. When I was five, If I had the choice, I would have eaten a McDonald's Happy Meal every day, but my parents of course didn't allow this. I can see the Center for Science in Public Interest's side, but cannot agree with their call to action. There are a lot of other fast food chains out there doing the same thing, but because of McDonald's size and history of success they are getting blamed for consumer's great lack of self control.

Toyota Grapples with PR Bungles and Tarnished Brand

Toyota Motor Corp -- one of the most savvy car brand-creators in Asia is floundering. Since the company has been faced with an unprecedented recall of millions of vehicles, rivals have been swooping in on its customers. The motor company has created a PR nightmare by consistently playing down the recurring complaints of unintended acceleration, breaking the cardinal rule in crisis management: assume the worst.

My PR background says that people want to know what's going on and that Toyota should fess up and take full responsibility, be empathic to the victims and their families and be in control by outlining the problem and how they intend to solve it. Right now, Toyota President Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, has not formally addressed the public or media on the recall problems. Even when they announced the recall initially, they shouldn't have just said "We're going to do a recall." They should have explained what was going on. Also, there should have been a heartfelt apology from the top.

Through November, the company continued to blame loose mats for the problem. That has eventually spread to a potential problem with accelerator pedals, and U.S. safety regulators are now renewing efforts to re-confirm whether the electronic throttle control system could have been at fault.

At a news conference in Nagoya n Tuesday,the first appearance by an executive form headquarters since the recall expanded last week, there was no deep bows, a standard fixture in Japan when a firm declares it is responsible for its mistakes.

Now, the problem seems to have spun out of control. At a more recent news conference, a Toyota executive in charge of quality, Shinichi Sasaki, said part of the reason Toyota decided to use U.S. auto parts maker CTS's accelerators was to help contribute to the local U.S. economy. That was not what customers want to hear, especially when tragic memories of the car crash incidents are still fresh.

So, what has Toyota done to reach out and communicate the problem with its customers? Toyota ran full-page ads in major U.S. newspapers on Sunday alerting consumers to the recall and production shutdown. Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., appeared on U.S. TV and expressed regret for worrying drivers of its cars. Lastly, they are conducting a very extensive recall, which shows they are taking the recall seriously.

Since this issue with Toyota, U.S. motor company's sales have been up. Toyota's sales have slipped 16 percent and it could fall further. They have lost an estimated 20,000 in sales after it stopped selling eight models because of the defective gas pedals. Ford announced that its sales have rose 25 percent, Hyundai said sales rose 24 percent for the month, GM said its sales increased 14 percent and Nissan rose 16 percent.

Global Business Basics

Recently, I listened to a very good speaker from Carlson Companies who talked about conducting global business. This is a hot topic right now with most large companies growing internationally. No matter what type of company you work for, before you do any sort of business internationally or with others of a different culture, you should read and consider the checklists below.

The Global Business Executive's Checklist:

• Do now assume that customers speak English or share your cultural heritage
• Find their home city on the map
• Master the pronunciation of names
• Learn their country's PERSIA (Political, Economic, Religion, Social, Intellectual and Arts)
• Contract the service of an interpreter
• Get advice from others who work in that country

Global Imperative: The key to sustained profit

• Global thinking
• Patience and perservance
• Respect
• Long range perspective for results

Importance of Branding vs. Generational Changes

How important is it to create a company or product brand and then stick with it? I'd say very important, because all of the big brands have done a great of doing this. In most cases, just by seeing a popular brand's logo, colors or trademark statement will make you think of their them or their product. But, what happens when your company or product has been around so long that your brand doesn't market well with your target audience, and you must make changes in order to gain their interest. I'd argue that is equally as important.

I read an interesting article in The New York Times Business section today about the Walt Disney Company's new product. For decades, the Walt Disney Company has kept the $5 billion dollar image of Mickey Mouse frozen under glass, fearful that even the smallest changes could tarnish the brand. However, the Walt Disney Company is concerned that Mickey has become more of a corporate symbol than a beloved character for recent generations of young people. Now, Disney is taking the risky step of re-imagining him for the future.

The first step in Mickey's transition will appear next year when a new video game, Epic Mickey, in which the formerly squeaky clean character can be cantankerous and cunning, as well as heroic, as he traverses a forbidding wasteland. At the same time, in a parallel but separate effort, Disney has quietly embarked on an even larger project, to rethink the character’s personality from the way Mickey walks and talks, to the way he appears on the Disney Channel and how children interact with him on the Web, even what his house looks like at Disney World.

This week, the project got even more excitement to start after the announcement that, after 20 years of negotiations, the company has finally received the blessing of the Chinese government to open a theme park in Shanghai. This will potentially unlock a new giant market for all things Mickey.The Disney executives are moving carefully, and trying to keep a low profile, as they discuss how much they dare tweak one of the most durable characters in pop culture history to induce new generations of texting, tech-savvy kids to embrace him. Disney executives will keenly watch how Epic Mickey is received, to inform the broader overhaul.

While Mickey remains a superstar in many homes, particularly overseas, his popularity has not grown, but stayed stationary. This has resulted because of the new generation of Americans, those who grew up with Nickelodeon and Pixar. They know him, but may not love him. Domestic sales in particular have declined: of his $5 billion in merchandise sales in 2009, less than 20 percent will come from the United States.

I have no doubt that Disney will do a good job rebuilding the Mickey brand. The Walt Disney Company is has a long history of meeting their customer's wants exceptionally.

After some research, here are what I believe are the best branding tips for any company or product:

• Defining your brand. Defining your brand is like a journey of business self-discovery. It can be difficult, time-consuming and uncomfortable. It requires, at the very least, that you answer the questions: What is your company's mission? What are the benefits and features of your products or services? What do your customers and prospects already think of your company? What qualities do you want them to associate with your company?
• Stand for something. People latch on to something they can understand and appreciate.
• Integrate your brand. Branding extends to every aspect of your business--how you answer your phones, what you or your salespeople wear on sales calls, your e-mail signature, everything.
• Do what you say you’re going to do. I know it may sound like common sense, but one of the primary drivers of brand loyalty is a consistent experience.
• Realize that you’re not in control of your brand. That’s right, you only set the direction for your brand. Your actual brand image is determined by your audience.
• Branding is as much about your people as anything else. Never forget that the best interactions come from one-on-one conversations between executives, employees, suppliers, and customers. Employees that want to help and do the best job possible go a long way.