23 Aug 2006
Posted by J. Angelo Racoma as Business, Communications, Geek, Problogging
Chris Pirillo did it with his chest—his rent my chest idea seemed quite novel (probably would’ve been better if Chris were a girl
). Andrew Fischer rented out his forehead for ad space. Now Sacha Chua is tempted to sell ad space on her laptop lid, just as Stowe Boyd did with his T-shirts. Apparently, Stowe likes the idea.
There’s actually a business plan in there somewhere. People register with the company, get sent a new sticker every month that covers the lid, and take pictures to show they’ve put in on at the start and that its still there at the end of the month, and they get sent a small check. Fun!
I think it’s quite cool, too. Companies should be sure, though, to target people who frequently use their laptops in public, and not just laptop owners who usually leave their machines at home or on their desk at the office.
I think it doesn’t even have to be revenue-based, but it could be in-kind.
Hey, if someone will sponsor my coffee, snacks, WiFi connection and fare/gas every day just to get me to spend a few hours at Starbucks or Seattle’s Best, I would be all right with slapping some stickers on my V2000. I’ll be able to get some work done, get my daily caffeine fix, satisfy my sweet tooth, and probably get some extra dough.
Imagine if I spent three hours in Starbucks every day with a large “Seattle’s Best” sticker.
At any rate, revenue model or not, I think Sacha got it right that stickers on laptop lids—especially large stickers that shout out a statement—would definitely help in getting people’s attention. Who knows? You can even make friends along the way.
Want to meet interesting but don’t want to have to make the first move? Use the back of your laptop to get people to talk to you.Stickers are a great way to do that. My laptop reads “The geek shall inherit the earth.” I can’t count the smiles, chuckles, and conversations I’ve gotten out of it—and all I have to do is open my laptop!
I used to do this with my old ThinkPad, but I would probably have second thoughts about slapping on a sticker on my new Presario. Okay, it’s more than a month old. Still, the the likelihood of leaving sticky residue on my laptop lid is quite a worrisome thought. Someone should develop laptop-friendly stickers!
Hey, maybe K2 Interactive can do this, along with their regular marketing via blog ads. Or, I’ll probably work on the idea myself!
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Tags: advertising, Business, Communications, Geek, ideas, laptop, Marketing, money, Problogging | Viewed 5268 times
11 Responses
Alfa
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:24 pm
1That idea’s like the increasing popularity of ads on jeepney rooftops (i dunno what it’s called). Here in Angeles (is it also becoming the norm in Manila?), it’s becoming an extra source of income for jeepney drivers. Usually, real estate dev’t companies take advantage of such promotional idea.
Corsarius
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:26 pm
2hehe, what a cool idea. because my laptop doesn’t have a sticker on its lid (yeah, ‘custom-built’ whatever), i have the fleixibility of placing anything on it. right now i have a little “corsarius.net” sticker as a placeholder
vance
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:30 pm
3Chris Pirillo is the same guy who is working with Leo laporte and other techtv reps in reviving Techtv which will be now called UndoTV. Neways this a cool way to advertise.
Maybe using shirts since its also easy to create one using computers. atleast you don’t need to be half naked, hehe.
J. Angelo Racoma
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:44 pm
4Sacha seems to like the idea.
@Alfa, yup. I noticed that in cabs and buses here. Even the MRT is plastering ads all over the trains.
@Corsarius, I’m thinking of something larger—I think Sacha is even thinking of covering the entire laptop lid with ads.
@Vance, yup. Chris also runs the site Lockergnome and the Gnomedex event. I don’t think he runs around half-naked though—he just takes pics of his chest with the ads. Imagine that. $200 for a pic of a painted chest.
Using shirts would be better. Still, if I were to present the idea to advertisers, there must be set rules for the laptop (or shirt) owner, to ensure optimal impressions. That’s why I’d love to have my coffee and snacks subsidized so I have an incentive to go out.
vance
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:03 pm
5If i had the body why not! hahaha, you painted on yur body “Globe DSL 512 KBps for P995” hehe or “Get your Oggie Dogs at this sites: ” hehe then they pay you around P5000 pesos. If I had the body though.
mister@pinay
August 25th, 2006 at 12:09 am
6I think she need to polish the idea little bit. intead of using an ultraportable notebook why not use those giant screen deal instead with an ad that say “this dell sucks battery might explode soon.. switch to apple.. ask me how?”
Laptops Blog
August 25th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
7Advertising on Laptop Lids…
Sacha Chua seems to like the way her laptop sticker grabs attention in public.
Want to meet interesting but don’t want to have to make the first move? Use the back of your laptop to get people to talk to you. Stickers are a great way to do that…
Problogger Idea: Ads on Laptop Lids by Blogging Pro
August 25th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
8[...] Of course, advertisers should consider some things before sponsoring laptop owners. For instance, they should target laptop owners who are frequently in the public eye, and not just any person who probably leaves his laptop at home or the office. Also, participants should be evangelists in their own right–they should be able to talk about whatever they’re advertising in an honest, positive light. [...]
Xenia
August 25th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
9Oooh, if I go the way Chris Pirillo did…
Great idea, though. Just like Kitta.net and her tummy schwags.
Advertise on My Laptop » The J Spot
August 28th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
10[...] Let’s put our laptop lid advertising (Sacha, Blogging Pro, bLaptops, the J Spot) concept to the test. I’ll be speaking at the 3rd Techfactors Regional Educators’ ICT Summit this Wednesday, August 30th at the University of the Philippines (my topic is The Learning Preferences of the New Generation). The audience will consist mainly of about 200 educators in the various ICT fields from Metro Manila schools. [...]
Jonney_teb
April 28th, 2007 at 8:18 am
11Hi, my name is Jonney, I am from Zaire.
Just like your resource :).
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