Comments on: Five Things Alex Bogusky Should Do For Microsoft

By: Sadawitz

Sadawitz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:28:29 +0000

I just woke up to see this. Bogusky is a billionaire

By: The Smartest Guy on this List

The Smartest Guy on this List — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:21:57 +0000

All of you and writer must think that Microsoft actually stands a chance. I think before advertising, or i like to think of it as brainwashing, is a bigger problem that MS is facing. Their product rarely achieves the attention it wants. Even Bogusky can’t fix this problem. no offense Bogusky, you’re a pretty good at what you do. I mean, Bogusky may slap some cool viral videos and create advertising that hits millions of viewers, but at the end of the day what is the consumer really left with? I can only name one product that people were raving about since the inception of Windows; and it was Xbox. Not to rip on MicroSoft as i use thier products every day, but they need to be inventive, think outside of the box and create solutions that appeals to the audience on a more emotional level. Apple does that with all its products. They understand the users, understand their story, and thus, understand what would be helpful to the world. I mean, Apple’s got the world by the leash. Everyone, is wondering what is the Next “thing” with them. notice the difference between Microsoft print ads and Apple print ads these days?
It’s like a car salesman trying to sell cars vs. a little girl selling lemonade from a stand.
Apple doesn’t even need to sell the product with extraneous benefits they think the consumer really wants to know. The idea, the product, the user-experience, is just plain SIMPLE.

Microsoft’s new formula, and please take notes Bogusky is:

Help Microsoft create a product + think of the user = Trust from the consumer.

By: Frequently wrong, never in doubt » What Would Dad Say

Frequently wrong, never in doubt » What Would Dad Say — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:08:22 +0000

[...] Fast Company. He was readying a new advertising campaign for Microsoft. In good fun, I offered up Five Things Alex Bogusky Should Do For Microsoft. The VERY FIRST TIP was to feature Bill Gates in the ads. See here: 1. Feature Bill Gates on the [...]

By: Rod

Rod — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:42:53 +0000

As I read through these posts I hear a “get em” attitude and almost fear-like expression. What happened to healthy competition? I believe that since Microsoft is a software company that they should focus on making the best software. Why try to smash someone else’s success. Frankly what Apple is saying is true. Don’t give them anything to say! Make your product sound and customers will have less reason to agree.

By: centerstreetproductions

centerstreetproductions — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:45:02 +0000

I think he should go after the ’smart’ thing. There are a lot of people who are very smart, but don’t identify with Apple’s ‘creative’ side – they would rather wear the suit and tie and do the corporate desk thing. Make that cool again, and you might have a shot at it. Google and Apple have done a lot to break that down, but if any corporation can make it cool to wear a tie to work, it’d be Microsoft.

On the other hand, I’m all for jeans and creativity, so I wouldn’t buy it.

By: Dataceptionist

Dataceptionist — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:45:11 +0000

My last company did MSFT tech support, and you would be amazed at the stupid tech help calls they get.
“My computer won’t turn on”
Is it plugged in?
“oh…no”

“My computer won’t turn on”
Is there power in your neighbourhood
“no we’ve got a blackout”

….true stories.

Your Toll Free line? =that way lies madness.

By: Nonsuchworks » Blog Archive » Five Things Microsoft Shouldn’t Do

Nonsuchworks » Blog Archive » Five Things Microsoft Shouldn’t Do — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:09:24 +0000

[...] Hoffman offers some marketing advice in the wake of the news that Microsoft has hired Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the agency that revamped [...]

By: wwds

wwds — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:31:17 +0000

Blaine, never even thought of Paul Allen. For me, it is msft=gates and he has to be the one who comes in. I like the concept of a couple of “I’m sorry’s” in there, too.

By: Blain Hamon

Blain Hamon — Thu, 22 May 2008 01:38:35 +0000

[Begin shameless plug:] Perfect timing. I just posted an entry about hearing a Zune ad on the radio. Zune. On the radio. Those that hear the ad either don’t want it (because they like radio) or don’t need it (Because they already have a radio)[end shameless plug]

They have an earned image of arrogance and hubris. So let them apologize. It’s very unlikely that it’ll happen, but they could regain a lot of karma if they got Bill Gates and Ballmer making public apologies for Vista, Zune, etc. Pies and eggs are optional.

It’s interesting that nobody even thinks of the third major MSFT founder, the one who left long before MSFT started stumbling, the one now associated with SpaceShipOne and other neat things: Paul Allen. It’d be nice to have an engineer with a sense of style back in MSFT’s upper echelons.

The problem is that it’s more than just image. It’s been an image they’ve earned through more than just bad marketing. Your suggestion #2 is the best of the bunch. Pour that advertising into good tech support. Start new projects that are risky in that they break backwards compatibility the same way MacOS X did. Allow for more transparency within the organization — Not the way of the Scoble, but the way of the Mini-Msft. And give that guy a promotion, too.

On second thought, require the pies and eggs.

By: Microsoft seeks Apple-like coolness with $300 million ad campaign - VISTA.BLORGE.com

Tue, 20 May 2008 19:32:29 +0000

[...] writer of blog What Would Dad Say provides a few suggestions (for a substantially smaller price than $300 million) for a new [...]