Google has released a special data layer for Google Earth that supposedly uses a Santa Radar to track the location of Santa Claus and his fleet of reindeer. Seems like it was also there last time, but this time one can download the data layer to track all the houses that he covers on his trip.
To use the radar, first you’ll need to download Google Earth if you don’t have it already. Then you’ll need to download and open the Santa Radar data layer.
A Snapshot:
Enjoi 
Ah…! A post after a real long break indeed
With the festive season around, let me dedicate this post to X-mas (related marketing). With many companies realizing the potential for the sales surge they can achieve these days with out of the box ideas and newer media options available, ideas is actually the key, everything else is in front of you to cast it.
1. 
One option that really excites me is that of YouTube. Since google lapped it up, it has shown some real good options to companies to market themselves or to advertise their products. It knows that the key to better viewership is making people have the feel good factor. They have already done their own part, now the companies are coming up with options to YouTube. There will be contests all round the year and all managed, paid by companies. Google has already done a lot of research on non obtrusive display of their fame – Google Ads, and its used very effectively in YouTube. People can join in as plain viewers or as directors, have own channels, people can reply to the video posts with text or video and hell lot of options. Coming back to X-Mas, YouTube has joined hands with Coca Cola to co-market Holiday Wishcast, a mini-site based on YouTube service which allows visitors to upload and share their video greetings.
While many videos have been uploaded by Coke itself, it allows users to send their own videos with following graphic appearing on right side:
Not to mention, the popularity of this greeting browser has been enormous! And its not just Coke, many other companies like Levis, CBS, Logitech are now having their own channels and mini-sites with YouTube.
2. StarBucks
Another hype this winter is on interactive websites. Microsoft has launched an online competetion for innovative ideas for its US retail interests. But what caught me was Starbucks’ online Christmas campaign: it’s Red Again. It really makes the feel of Christmas coming to you. You can send personalized cards to your friends and you can explore (and share) Christmas traditions from around the world. They have done a lot of sequences to make the view non monotonous.
The campaign includes a “cheer pass” that tracks how far the “chain of cheer” has gone. Participants are encouraged to visit It’s Red Again to share holiday stories and create greetings.
3. Adding Indian Flavor
No comments, just see this marketing effort
http://cw.swivelmedia.com/tivo/working/rev3a.html
I log on to my Orkut today evening on diwali day, and guess what is the surprise ?? Orkut Invites are no longer needed in order to sign up for Orkut !!! Its open for joining for one and all from front page !!!
There has been a mad rush lately to get the Orkut invite, which some people had time of their life selling on eBay or distributing through chats, playing the mating game all the way. But no more, simply goto Orkut homepage and click on Join Orkut link or log on with your Google Account.
This will give more traffic to Orkut and will give competetion to MySpace, with which ironically Google had a deal for advertising. Also read from insideorkut blog that Google is now allowing Orkut users to choose who they can get friend requests from based on language.
Sorry guys, i know u all will miss the brazillian beauties 
Had a discussion with fellow batchmates on toothpaste market in last few days, and that invariably reminded me of the summer experience and the learnings that i got. Specifically the launch of Close Up with Calcium Minerals. Now that is one brand which has managed to get a stronghold in Indian toothpaste market.
Toothpaste market is divided in two dimensions: fluoride and gel. While the former is basically bought as a family product and is having (perceived) benefits of strong and white teeth; the latter is looked for fresh breath and personality enhancement. Because of this the fluoride market is basically targeted at families, parents (with concern on children) and gel market is targeted at youth.
Now lets take the case of HLL coming out with a Calcium Mineral with Milk variant of Close Up (CloseUp Milk Calcium). This was the first time,the format called ‘Core-in-Sheath’ consisting of a white paste core surrounded by a gel was used in India. Anyway a visit to market and you wont find many people trying out the variant. Many retailers soon found this Fast Moving Consumer Good to be actually a slow mover!
But why did the product fail to register in mind of consumer? many argue that there is a need for gel and flouride mix paste and that is very evident from the success of such variants launched earlier. But then the crucial points are:
1. Who is attracted by the combination?
2. Who is the prime consumer of gel pastes?
When you try to answer, you will see an incongruency. The Close Up consumer is looking at freshness, and adding milk isnt really a great idea for fresh breath! So the idea isnt very appealing to him/her. Yes if you launch a new variant with lemon, mint or Eucalytus, it strikes the vibe as they too stand for freshness. And who is the right customer for gel pastes – youth, and you get them by showing product usage as one which increases either the self image of him/her or that leaves his/her impression on others (basically inc appeal)
Now look from fluoride’s POV. Customer is mainly the buyer for family, so cost, basic benefits of strength, no cavities and ‘jhaag’ are the strong pullers. What’s the perception now that what happens if one doesnt brush? One will have cavities? thats basic puller? (which also explains the large market share of dhishum dhishum paste – Pepsodent as compared with market leader and the old horse – Colgate). So now if you also give benefits of freshness to this user, does it make sense? Of course!!
So thing is such a variant of gel and white should have been launched under the name of Pepsodent by HLL. A problem of wrong targeting, indeed.
