I grabbed some images from their site, pounded on my keyboard and will send this to my New Media Protégé, Swat Khan for posting before bedtime tonight. Or I’ll have to find some Ambien.

2009 is the 150th birthday of Brinks, a deeply established brand.

2009 is when Brinks changed its name and abandoned their brand equity.

Hello? Is anyone home?

What’s with the background? Isn’t one of your brand attributes the protection of human lives?

Which name and logo conveys the feeling of safety and security for your family and your home? Will the two blue curved shapes above and below the word VIEW cause the bad guys to run from your home as they did when they saw the old name and logo.

Brinks = security, period.

Everyone knows that in their gut, except for the Brinks management team.

Let’s reminisce about the Brinks brand and their messaging. I remember a TV spot from years ago showing the vault door closing, causing a huge, strong, metal on metal locking sound. It was almost shocking, but it was true to their brand – security.

Let’s look at their key image and their new brand voice. Does it make you feel more secure?

When I saw this ad I thought of 411, not 911.

What happened to the tough looking uniformed security guard protecting my family? Is he no longer politically correct?

If Mr. Smiley represents the new Broadview brand image, along with their ten minute logo, I will rent the largest safe deposit box at my bank and keep my valuables there. The kids won’t be very comfortable, but it’s for their own good. It is also much cheaper than Mr. Smiley’s protection.

Does anyone have an explanation for this name and brand image wrong turn?

As an independent consultant, I rely on email and GoToMeetings as communications portals to my clients and associates.

I clipped the email From and Subject lines from Outlook and pasted it below.

I was very upset by this shocking Subject line; however, I was hoping that I would find a way to instantly reactivate my domain name. When I opened the actual email this is what I saw.

After viewing this offensive and insulting Deactivation Notice, I read on to find a way to reestablish my domain name. It turns out that this is simply a renewal notice informing me that the first item must be renewed by September 12.

74 DAYS FROM THE EMAIL DATE!

Clearly, the Network Solutions’ Mis-Marketing Department felt that this is an appropriate brand voice for a first notice, to advise clients that they have 74 days left to renew.

Network Solutions’ marketing gurus have yet to realize that they are no longer a monopoly.

I called Network Solutions and was told rather rudely that one files complaints online. After completing their form and clicking send, a notice came up telling me to not expect a reply.

I called back and after speaking with several people and being very insistent, I finally spoke to an executive in customer relations. I told him that I will be relocating my domain names. Apparently I was not the first to complain and to part company with Network Solutions. I was told that following significant complaints, I received the “toned-down version”

The executive shared my outrage about the notice and asked me what he could do to change my mind. I told him that I would not demean my message by asking for money or free services. In fact I spent two hours on the phone with Network Solutions providing them with pro-bono branding consultation.

He then gave me his email address so we could stay in touch if I thought of something. The next day, I received at my request a payment reminder from American Express to be sent 10 days prior to the due date. I don’t always get my snailmail, and often get others’. I sent the American Express reminder to the executive at Network Solutions to enlighten him that there are kinder yet still successful approaches to reminding clients of impending payment due dates.

As it turns out, Network Solutions did give me something of value, without realizing it. They gave me a topic to open discussions about the critical importance of a company’s brand voice being synchronized to their brand.

I invite you to share your experiences with misaligned brand voices or your comments.

Some companies are turning to Online Survey Firms who recruit participants to complete a given number of surveys by offering incentives. Crap in, crap out.

I am unable to find empirical data proving or disproving my position on online survey results. I am hoping that you will be able to enlighten me and cause me to change my thinking.

I believe that online surveys are the best invention to date for improving one’s self esteem.

Most if not all computer users have heard the rumors about Big Brother and the web.

They believe that Google knows the name of the owner of all computers and is collecting data by collecting their search queries.  It is happening now. A significant feature of Web 3.0 is the ability to collect and use of such data. “We want to be able to provide the most appropriate results based upon your search history.”

So when an online survey asks for your household’s income category, why click $25,000 to $30,000? Why not click $75,000 to $80,000? Don’t you feel better about yourself already?

Even if they are not that paranoid and signed up for an incentivized survey program, they have provided the survey firm with their name and contact information. They must wonder how their answers will be used and shared. Either consciously or subconsciously they believe that they have the ability to upgrade their demographic profile. It may even help them to land a better job.

So naturally they answer questions in a manner consistent with their fantasy self image. They will select the answers in a manner to best represent their new demographic profile or to achieve their individual (and unpredictable) agenda.

Your thoughts?

Near the end of the spot, the advertiser prominently displayed their URL and a voice-over pronounced it clearly.

What struck me as odd was that the URL had nothing at all to do with the product, its name, category, or even its benefits.

I had to write it down so I could visit the site. Sure enough; the site was for that product. I studied it at all angles, any connection to the product, name or benefits whatsoever – no, easy to remember – no, grabbing topspin from a well known URL – no.

What were they thinking?

Is it important for a B2C URL to have some type of nexus to the product or service?

I have always wondered why drivers of vehicles displaying their company’s brand, are not trained to be considerate drivers. I suspect that the rationale for branding their vehicles is that it is free advertising. However, free sometimes has a significant cost.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been cutoff, or not given common courtesies by drivers of vehicles splattered with company or product logos. I often coach client’s employees about the reason for and the use of their new “brand-voice.” According to Michael Eisner, a brand is made up of thousands of little gestures.

I received one of those thousands of little gestures when a van next to me, with a large product logo on the side, veered into my lane and caused me to slam on the brakes. I honked my horn at the driver of the van and he rolled down his window and gave me a gesture. His gesture was to stick his hand out and raise one finger. I wonder how many people saw that gesture and the van’s logos. I have never bought that product again.

Is it a risky tactic to brand company vehicles, when you cannot ensure the courteous “brand-driving” and the behavior of your “ambassadors of good-will” at the wheel?