Maxim Mag to Build Testosterone-Friendly Nightspots

Maxim magazine plans to build a chain of Maxim-branded lounges that could host promotional events for the magazine but would mainly serve as a gathering place for after-work and late-night partiers, according to AdAge. Previously, Maxim has extended its brand into radio programming and consumer products (remember Maxim’s hair dye for young men?).

But this is a bit more ambitious and, perhaps, risky, as history has shown with certain big-dream brand extensions. For example, cites AdAge, the World, the WWE’s Times Square store/restaurant/entertainment venue which ultimately struggled and closed.

Sports Format Growing, Gaining Advertisers’ Respect

Between 400 and 500 sports radio stations exist around the country, and the format is growing because of a growing respect from the advertising community, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Rick Scott, president of Rick Scott and Associates, a company that helps sports stations around the country with programming and marketing, said in an interview with the paper that sports radio “takes a long-term commitment. It doesn’t come to fruition like other formats,” but it also doesn’t burn out quickly, he says. “You see good, consistent, solid numbers.”

TV Ads Ask: What Should 9/11 Become?

Nonprofit group One Day’s Pay launches a campaign, NYC Remembers, with three 30-second spots that will begin airing Friday on Time Warner Cable channels in and around New York, reports New York Newsday. The campaign seeks to avoid commercialism of 9/11, ensuring that the date is remembered by “volunteerism, compassion, and giving” rather than Memorial Day-like sales.

World Marketing Renames Seven Independent Operating Companies

World Marketing has rebranded seven independent operating companies under its own name in order to position itself more consistently as a direct marketing agency, according to DM News.

The name change will affect Ace Marketing in Atlanta, Lee Marketing in Dallas, The Rylander Company and MailTech in Chicago, Total Fulfillment in Phoenix, Diversified Direct in Los Angeles, and World Technologies in Omaha, Nebraska.

July Online Help-Wanteds Fell, U.S. Labor Market Holding Steady

The number of new online job ads fell slightly to 1,970,000 in July, from just over two million in May and June, according to the Conference Board help-wanted online data series, reports Editor & Publisher. That dip comes mainly from the July 4th holiday week, during which ad volume is lower than during later weeks in the month. These figures are consistent with other labor market data that shows the U.S. labor market is holding steady, the article says.

Advent of ‘Real Women’ Campaigns Caused by Reality TV

Dove’s campaign

The New York Times weighs in on what seems to be a building trend: using “real” women in advertising campaigns. One reason for the trend, said Nathan Coyle, senior strategist at Brain Reserve in New York, is - believe it or not - the increase of reality TV.

Advergaming Attracts Advertisers, Media General

Media General, known for conventional holdings such as The Tampa Tribune and Richmond Times-Dispatch, is diving into the advergaming business, reports the AP (via paidcontent and MarketingVox). In July it announced the acquisition of advergaming pioneer Blockdot and may be planning to use Blockdot’s capabilities to help increase advertising revenue at its newspaper and TV station websites.

Yahoo Almost as Good as Google in Satisfying Customers

Yahoo has narrowed the customer-satisfaction gap with Google according to just-released data from the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), reports Forbes (via MarketingVox): in the e-business ACSI, Yahoo has scored an 80 out of a possible 100, up from 78 last year, while Google’s score is 82. The two-point difference is the closest Yahoo has come to Google in customer satisfaction. Red Herring writes that Google has scored 82 out of a possible 100 for the third year in a row.

Media Services Agency Searches Down 48 Percent

This summer’s agency searches - as with most summers - are down, 27 percent from June to July overall, according to the most recent stats from AdForum.com and reported by MediaPost. Media services led all other categories in declines for the month, down 48 percent in July from June. Media services were one of the most active areas of credentials searches through the first half of the year.

Bravo Foods Signs Major NFL Sponsorship Deal

Bravo Foods International, maker of Slammers milk drinks, will provide product samples, set up promotional booths, house fan Tailgate Club activities, and distribute coupons at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, as part of its new, official sponsorship of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, Brandweek reports. This is Bravo’s first such alliance with a pro sports team. The terms of the two-year deal were not disclosed.