Dr Pepper to Add $30 Million to Ad Budget

Between 2008 and 2010, the beverage company's marketing budget increased 25%, from $356 million to $445 million. In 2011, execs say they'll up spending by another 5% to 6% or $25 million to $30 million.

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Honest Tea Tests the Honor System

Honest Tea set up unmanned pop-up stores in cities nationwide where passersby could purchase bottles of tea based on the honor system – though with cameras watching discreetly. Chicago was determined to be the most honest city where 99 percent of consumers paid for each bottle taken, though only 86 percent of those in New York, found to be the least honest city, did the same.

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Google+ Is Exploding -- and Could Actually Hurt Facebook

So Google+ obviously has some traction. Just a few weeks after its launch, Google CEO Larry Page revealed that the nascent social network already had 10 million users. But will it ultimately blow up enough -- and matter enough -- to become a problem for Facebook? Simon Dumeno thinks so.

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Learn 7 Ways to Kick Google+'s Social Media Tires Now!

TRENDS: Vitaminwater's New Bus Stop Ad Let You Change Your Mobile Devices

Vitamin Water's new "You're Up" campaign stresses that the drink can give you a quick energy boost while you're scurrying around on a busy day. It has installed battery-powered public USB ports in bus shelter ads that proclaim the drink is an "Alternative Energy Source," allowing you to recharge mobile devices while you're waiting for your ride.

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10 Signs You Need A Social Media Detox

There’s no denying that social media has revolutionized the way that we interact with one another, but it’s also turned into an obsession for many of us, taking over all areas of our lives through incessant check-ins, status updates, likes, shares and more.  A fun new infographic from Column Five explores the obsessive habits that sites like Twitter and Facebook often lead to help you answer the question, ‘Do You Need A Social Media Detox?’
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The Start of Something Different

Name of Company/Competitor: Nestea
Name of Campaign/Spot: The Start of Something Different
Date Launched: 5/19/2011
Description: The TV spot 'The Perfect Day' tells the story of two people seizing the day and taking on new challenges.
Media Details: TV

Summer Time is Pepsi Time: Santa Dancing

Name of Company/Competitor: Pepsi
Name of Campaign/Spot: Summer Time is Pepsi Time: Santa Dancing    
Date Launched: 7/1/2011
Description: Santa is enjoying a Pepsi, instead of Coca Cola,  on vacation saying "Summer Time is Pepsi Time".
Media Details: TV

Summer Time is Pepsi Time: Uncle Teddy

Name of Company/Competitor: Pepsi
Name of Campaign/Spot: Summer Time is Pepsi Time: Uncle Teddy     
Date Launched: 7/1/2011
Description: Uncle Teddy, the Polar Bear, is drinking Pepsi on his yacht shouting "Summer Time is Pepsi Time".
Media Details: TV

7 Essential Aspects of Word of Mouth Marketing

Researh has found word of mouth to be 8.5 and 30 times more effective than other media.
Berger’s ASPECTS breaks down the word of mouth process into seven factors against which marketing initiatives can be designed and tested.
1. Advertises Itself
2. Social Currency
3. Practical Value
4. Emotion
5. Common Ground
6. Triggered7. Stories

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Pandora Targets Men With SoBe Lizard, Supermodel Kate UptonLaunches first in-tuner animated video ad By Ki Mae Heussner

To promote SoBe's 'Try Everything' campaign, Pandora is launching its first-ever in-tuner animated video ad on its website, but only for a targeted group of men between the ages of 18 and 29.Like other ad campaigns on the site, Pandora said, the SoBe ads are triggered on a song skip or station change, so you know there’s some involvement on the part of the listener.PepsiCo, which owns SoBe, and Pandora declined to comment on the cost of the campaign or the estimated reach. But PepsiCo said the 'Try Everything' campaign is SoBe’s largest in years and its first trademark campaign in more than a decade.

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Tea Talk

The diversity of the four brands within the PLP portfolio—Brisk Iced Tea, Lipton Iced Tea, Lipton Pure Leaf Iced Tea and Tazo—perhaps best illustrate the strength and advantage that Pepsi’s tea business has in the market, namely, a tea for every taste. Mary Barnard, vice president and general manager of the PLP, says “We’ve done a lot of work recently just to segment the brands and we really feel good about this portfolio." The article below shares information about the growing tea market and PLP strategies.

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