Jessica Knobbe

So my some of my friends and I were sitting around the other night talking about Google Wave. I have just recently activated an invite and frankly, I don’t get it.  So I asked all these really smart people who are Twitter evangelists, Foursquare embraces and possessors of the latest IPhone gadgets: “Have you figured out a way to use Google Wave yet?” 

The answer in short- no.  Not one person has figured out a rational way to use wave in their daily life.  The consensus was unless you work somewhere with offices around the globe that is super techy where everyone would be required to have it installed, maybe I don’t know someplace like Google for instance, it just doesn’t make sense.  So, what is Google going to do?

We have the answer.  Turn this thing on it’s ear and instead of trying to get young techy hipsters engaged, go for the Boomers.  Ok, ok, I know it sounds crazy but hear us out. Boomers are a huge piece of the population with disposable income that craves things made just for them.  So adjust a few things to make Google Wave the perfect tool just for them.  Start filming the tutorials with Eric Clapton or Who songs in the back talkin about their ggggeneration.  A commercial combining Viagra and Wave showing a couple in bathtubs on the shore, watching the waves crash in from the sea and using Google Wave on their laptops.   

Ok, maybe not. But Google better think of something we all just wave goodbye to Wave.

Are you kidding me? So if you haven’t read this yet Microsoft pulled out of it’s original deal with Seth MacFarlane after they looked at the content of the show Family Guy which apparently included “riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest.” 

Uh yeah.  That’s one episode.  I’m sorry but, really?  REALLY?  They are claiming they chose to partner with the show based on audience comp data and and (this is great) “creative humor” but apparently no one took 30 minutes out of the day to actually watch the show.  Its syndicated, it’s literally on all the time.  It’s out on DVD.  Heck there are even ripped episodes on YouTube.  And probably the assistant outside your office or the guy in the graphics department has watched an episode or two, why don’t you ask them?  Now Microsoft looks more curmudgeonly then usual and is fitting into Apples “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” stereotype perfectly.

Lesson: Be careful what you decide to tie your brand to without proper research.  Just because you have data reports doesn’t mean they are the full story.