2011 Best Marketing Moments

I love year-end reviews.  It's just so much fun to recap the year and see what we've all been through, together.  So I wanted to write my own year-end recap ... to highlight what I consider to be the best marketing moments of 2011.  At least from my perspective.  So here we go, in order.

10 - OWN.  The year started off with a bang, with the launch of Oprah's own network.  Not sure it's ending with a bang, but the year sure did look hopeful at the time.

9 - SuperBowl.  The marketer's holiday as I say.  This year did not disappoint me.  We had seen previews of VW's "The Force"and loved it but we had no idea what Chrysler and Eminem had in store for us.  "Imported from Detroit" should go down in marketing history.

8 - Aflac Auditions.  2011 saw more social "media" scandals.  Aflac had its own with its "duck" talent.  The brand responded with speed and creativity, bringing us all into the solution.

7 - The Royal Wedding.  You may say that this wasn't a marketing moment, but I would say you are wrong.  This was brand Britain and brand Royal Family's shining moment.

6 - Small Business Saturday. Amidst all the hype around Black Friday and Cyber Monday which honestly got overwhelming, along comes Amex with a much more appropriate promotion.

5 - Schweddy Balls.  A great example of a brand giving a "gift" to its loyalists.

4 - Sofia Vergara for KMart.  It was a long time coming, but the first time I saw the advertising it took my breath away.  Finally a fashion brand that "gets" its audience.

3 - Bronx Zoo Escaped Cobra.  Whether by "accident" or not, this little creature taught us how to engage on Twitter.


2 - Fit 2 Fat @ Fit.  Love this guy!  Mostly because he will do whatever it takes to truly get to know his customer.  A good marketer ought to love that!

1 - Starbucks New Logo.  The logo change heard 'round the world and my most read blog post of the year.  We are still debating the merits and I still stand firm that it was brilliant.

I'd like to thank you all for reading all year long.  Here's to an amazing year of marketing in 2012.

Marketing is a spectator sport, so let's all learn from each other.  What's your experience?  Jim.

Jim Joseph
President of Lippe Taylor
Author of The Experience Effect
Professor at NYU

PS - Although I didn't write about it, an honorable mention goes to Barbie for getting back with Ken.  On social media.