Big Fat Zeroes

A few weeks ago Coca Cola launched a new "viral" online campaign. The campaign flopped, mainly due to the fact that they underestimated their audience. I see this happening time and again. I could go on about it, but there's some pretty good coverage at SMH.com.au and in the B&T blog. Alternatively, there's the anti-website and a couple backlash blogs.

Fab

According to this article, people make aesthetic judgments about a website in one-twentieth of a second. These judgements can drive people off said website, and apparently "there is really nothing there that tells us what leads to dislike or to like."

Should I just throw in the towel?

Genius

Yesterday I was gushing about Google Earth - today it's Google Maps. And its genius applications for advertising. Check out this Target Store. Thanks David for pointing this out.

A list of map hacks, some of them by businesses, at GoogleMapsMania and, if you're so inclined, go on the world's largest scavenger hunt with Scavengeroogle.

I Heart Google Earth

Google Earth released a much anticipated Mac version last week. I've been tinkering around with it a bit and it's pretty awe inspiring. I visited my family home in Canada, and my own here in Sydney. I even saw my car parked out the front (it looks dirty even from space!). Then I went to Moscow's Red Square, the Grand Canyon and the Arc de Triomphe.

Dynamic application, boundless opportunities. Where to start? Real estate is an obvious winner. I'm thinking first and foremost this'll be the best way to see if that hotel in Koh Samui really is ON the beach or actually a block back. And it looks like RE/MAX in Colorado and Quebec are leading the way in GE-assisted real estate sales.

If you're feeling a bit more leisurely, there's always GoogleSightseeing, whose motto is "Why bother seeing the world for real?"

Here in Aus, Adidas has recently launched a slick game to promote their participation in the 2006 World Cup Football competition. The game uses Google Earth for its interface.

The greens are also using it as an effective education tool.

To learn more, you can read this comprehensive guide, or, if you're so inclined, learn how to hack it.