Google, Yahoo and other major Internet advertising companies are developing new ways to tailor ads by tracking users' online history -- and can even auction off individual customers to advertisers in the few milliseconds between a person clicking a link and the page appearing on their screen. But with Internet advertisers increasingly adept at targeting individuals based on the digital bread ...

Anheuser-Busch InBev is betting that a digital online reality show its global chief marketing officer describes as "American Idol" meets "Survivor" meets "football" can help the company use the FIFA World Cup to transform Budweiser into the Coke of Beers. A-B execs offered a preview of the show, to be called "Bud House," and their plans for this summer's World Cup, ...

Facebook has announced to its partners that in the next two to three weeks, the "Become a Fan" concept for branded pages will be replaced with the more prevalent "Like" button and brands will no longer accumulate "Fans," but "Connections" instead. This change narrows the list of actions available to Facebook fans, and consolidates the bulk of interactions fans will have ...

The outdoor industry, like all traditional media, suffered a difficult 2009 -- full-year ad revenues were down 15.6% to $5.9 billion, a $1.2 billion drop from 2008, according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. But outdoor executives are banking on 2010 to become a rebound year not just in economic confidence but in accountability too. Eyes On, the industry's long-anticipated ...

Attention! OgilvyOne unit is on the hunt for "the world's greatest salesperson." All you need to do is persuade some foolish sucker into thinking this brick is the cat's meow or perhaps just the best thing ever! Check out their YouTube campaign and find out if you have what it takes to sell a red brick and win BIG!

How the Old Spice pitchman went from NFL obscurity to internet fame. He was a little-known former NFL wide receiver and relatively obscure actor, but appearing in Old Spice ads has made Isaiah Mustafa something of a cult celebrity, joining the advertising-famous likes of Billy Mays and the Dell Dude. Now better known as "the Man Your Man Could Smell Like," ...

US Airways passengers who check in online will now find more than a seat assignment and group number on their boarding passes. In time for the spring-break travel rush, the Tempe-based airline started including advertisements, weather and other tourist information on the boarding documents. Several of its major competitors already do so. Initial advertisers on US Airways' boarding passes include airport ...

Neuromarketers use sophisticated brain-imaging technology to test consumer response and help clients fine-tune their strategies. Do you ever get the creepy feeling that advertisers know how to put a lump in your throat, inspire subconscious brand loyalty, or make your mouth water? Just wait: It could get worse. An emerging technique called neuromarketing that uses brain scans to measure human response ...

Sarah Palin used to say the only difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom was lipstick, but now she might hope that advertisers didn't take that line too seriously. Sarah Palin, seen here on a recent episode of TLC's 'American Chopper,' will get her own Mark Burnett-supervised reality show. Sarah Palin, seen here on a recent episode of TLC's ...

Random acts of spanish in my mailbox... Quite often, my front door is littered with door hangers and my mail slot is filled with samples of everything from Swiffers to sanitary napkins (which I find oddly similar in texture, but that's another story for another day). The "real estate" on these pieces is often a 50-50 split between Spanish and English. ...

How the author of Permission Marketing used online savvy and smart self-promotion to become a speaker, writer, and blogger in demand. Thousands of authors write business books every year but only a handful reach star status and the A-list lecture circuit. Fewer still—one, to be exact—can boast his own action figure. Last December, the Seth Godin Marketing Guru, a 5-inch plastic ...

Do men really need their own weight-loss programs? The two leaders in the industry, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig, have targeted men with programs apparently tailored to their unique needs. Working under the premise that "men approach weight loss differently," Weight Watchers for Men offers a "customized online system built for men, just men," according to the program's Web site. Jenny ...

The health-care reform debate might have essentially ended with Sunday's historic House of Representatives vote for passage of the bill, but the legislation will nonetheless have residual effects for the advertising industry. You thought the ads for health-care reform were over? Think again. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents more than 1.6 million union workers, ...

New packaging, integrations with Lady Gaga, EA aim to show product's snappy identity. It may have seemed strange that the first look at Miracle Whip's new packaging came with Lady Gaga's controversial "Telephone" video. But the brand has been working hard to develop a snappier identity and remind 18- to 35-year-olds why they enjoyed it spread on sandwiches in their childhoods. ...

Smartphone maker created a market, then lost it. A fan explains how to win it back. Aug. 29, 1999. I had just "gotten off the boat" at the San Francisco Airport to study business in the land of opportunities and choices. My first adventure to the grocery store highlighted it all. I wanted "plain" milk and had the choice of low-fat, ...

It can be a powerful weapon in any company's strategic planning arsenal. But it can also backfire. Steve McKee offers five essentials to consider. My colleagues and I conduct quite a bit of market research, both for our own company and on behalf of our clients. We've seen it used both for good and for ill. Here are a handful of ...

Green marketing has become ubiquitous in our post-"Inconvenient Truth" world, and consumers aren't always buying it. Some consumers simply don't embrace the "the hippie tree-hugger thing"; these consumers aren't the ones we're talking about here - they may never change their high-fructose corn syrupy ways. No, we're talking about the 20% to 30% of Americans who are health- and wellness-minded and ...

Fact: Women make up nearly half of Major League Baseball's fans. MLB is partnering with Victoria's Secret's PINK brand to take aim at young women during the 2010 season with a new fashion line featuring the logos of 11 clubs, including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels. The VS ...

Using data and observations gleaned from recent consulting projects and a extensive industry-watching, Judy Franks, founder and president of The Marketing Democracy compiled the following top 10 trends to help integrated marketers navigate the choppy waters she expects to see in 2010. The top 10 trends for integrated marketers: 1. Less will get done until we learn to do more with ...

Google Voice is still in Beta, but I was lucky enough to get one of their early limited invitations to try out the service. I finally started using it this month, and I can see it being a great tool for job seekers. First, what is Google Voice? Google Voice is a free VOIP and voice mail application offered by Google, ...