Google gets lenient with keywords

BusinessWeek reports

Starting June 4, marketers in about 200 countries will be allowed to purchase rival trademarks as keywords to trigger display of "sponsored search" ads on Google. Honda, for instance, could bid to have one of its ads displayed when a consumer searches the term "Toyota." In recent years some companies have sued Google or the competing company, saying the practice is a form of trademark infringement.

India is on the list of regions for which Google will not investigate the use of trademarks as keywords. However, I'm not sure whether this will spell huge changes in the SEM scenario in our country. Many advertisers in India already use keywords that are rival trademarks to display their ads, as you can see in the example below:

Reputation is not built on fine print

Banking behemoth State Bank of India (SBI) is causing quite a stir in the home loan market with its 8% fixed rate product. New applicants are being offered home loans at 8% for a year.

Now SBI's ads are not exactly Cannes material (as you can see in the pic here) but one thing that stands out is the clarity with which the offer is presented without resorting to sneaky fine print. There is no attempt to hide the condition that the rate will be reset after a year.

When you've got a product like this, it's quite tempting to trumpet the big promise and shove the caveats under the carpet. Kudos to SBI for resisting the temptation. Being honest and upfront is key in Marcom, especially when you're looking to sign up customers for the long term. Is it a surprise then that SBI features among the world's 50 most reputed firms?

Maximum bang for the billboard

What message do you put up on a billboard above your storefront? Your toll-free no.? A clever line? Your web address?

NakedPizza--a pizza joint in New Orleans--thought different, reports TechCrunch.