Try it here:

http://pagespeed.googlelabs.com/#

Speed is becoming an issue as more and more people browse with smartphones. So, getting your website to run a little faster will definitely put you at the head of the herd.

Damn, not only do they have illegal drugs, but it looks like they’re on sale, too.

“What do ya mean, ya scurvy dog?” asked the pirate.

“That wooden leg? You didn’t have that before.”

“Aye,” said the pirate, “a cannon ball took me leg.”

The bartender said, “What about your hand?”

“Cut off in a sword fight, so I got fitted with this hook.”

“And the eye patch?”

“Arrr, one day at sea I looked up, and a bird crapped in me eye.”

“You’re kidding,” said the bartender. “You couldn’t lose an eye just from bird crap.”

“It was me first day with the hook.”

Thanks to Jeff Deckman for the essence of this great observation.

What was wrong with Gap’s new logo? Apparently everything, according to vocal Gap loyalists who unleashed their collective fury on the retailer’s Facebook page. The trusty old logo (on the left) was ditched by the company in favor of a stylish new logo (on the right)…  For a few moments, that is.

Gap quickly announced it had made a mistake and reverted to its familiar white serif type on dark blue background.

There’s nothing right or wrong about a logo (designers can jump in here), but if it has been etched into the hearts and minds of loyal customers, companies would best tread carefully before changing it. 

For anyone who believes that c0nsumers do not pay attention to advertising, the Gap episode clearly argues otherwise.  They do. They develop loyalties and relationships with brands. Furthermore, today’s social-media-connected consumers can voice their opinons immediately.

Was the whole thing a clever ploy to create buzz for a brand in decline? Probably not, although it certainly did put Gap in the news, generating tons of free publicity. For daring companies with slumping sales, the lesson could be that such a rebrand (whether or not it meets with consumer acceptance) might just be a great strategy.

Now, with every project I take on involving Marketing, Advertising, Public relations, Creative direction, Copywriting, Brand building or Brand strategy and planning… I look back and thank Miss Gershkoff for the really handy typing skills and sweet teaching style, and thank Carl for the genius two-man ad agency that operated solely between practice sessions on those funky manual typewriters at SHS.

“What’s that? Look, your government leaders have more vital issues to work on, like extracting a big fine from you nice young people unless you buy health insurance. So stop this silly ‘job’ stuff. Just get ready to fork over some extra dough to us. And don’t tell me you can’t borrow from your parents; they’re loaded.”

Sincerely,
The President

Check out INAFJ.ORG

With a knowing grin and nod of my head,
This writing before me was clearly of gold and not made of lead.

The column by Jason Fried is at Inc. Magazine. The subject: B2B writing and how many companies squander communications opportunity on generic writing; while others, like woot.com run with the opportunity to shape a corporate personality that sets them apart, and that creates rapport with their customers.

Jump over to the article on Inc. and check it out.