The World's Best Job?

This is a cool website that you definitely need to know about. Tourism Queensland has just launched an incredibly clever marketing campaign to promote a six-month paid job as a blogger about your experiences exploring the Great Barrier Reef. It's part competition - part job search, and all genius.

The winning applicant receives a six-month contract to be an "Island Caretaker" with airfare, access to a computer, internet, digital video and stills camera, plus travel to a number of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, accommodation on Hamilton Island and a salary package of AUD$150,000. The job description requires the employee to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and report back to Tourism Queensland (and the world) about their experiences.

Tourism Queensland will organise a schedule of travel and events which could include trying out a new luxury spa, testing snorkelling gear, bushwalking, kyaking, diving and sailing around the reef. The Island Caretaker will need to post a weekly blog, photo diaries and create video updates to let the world know to promote the GBR. The three bedroom house accommodation on Hamilton Island is large enough to include a friend or relative. What more could you ask for?

Applicants are encouraged to submit an entertaining video about why they would like the best job in the world. To apply for this "job", head over to the Tourism Queensland site Island Reef Job. So if you have some time between 1st July 2009 and 1st of January 2010, get onto it as applications close 22nd February 2009. May the best man/woman win! (Thanks Justine for the heads up!)

Image: Tourism Queensland

Cool Websites: Get The Glass

Truly one of the coolest ads ever, Get The Glass is an online flash game, branded by the California Milk Processor Board (Got Milk?) that will have you spending a long time fixated to the screen. The quality of the animations and the environment feel very Myst-like, and the board-game style with mini-games interspersed is both accessible and challenging. A new bar has been set.

Image: Adverblog

Jetstar's blanket marketing

Jetstar announced today new flights to Asia from $170. I received an email from Jetstar, walked past a bus stop ad, saw a TV commercial, and heard about it on the late news. That's direct mail, outdoors advertising, TV advertising and PR. Oh, and I forwarded it to a friend - viral marketing. Pretty impressive coverage from their marketing team.

Image: Jetstar

Equal Does A DailyCandy

The Merisant Company (marketers of the sweetener "Equal" in Australia) has put together a very clever outdoor advertising campaign that is currently featuring on bus stops and phone booths in Sydney. The tagline is unmemorable (Bring Cafe Culture Home or similar), but the image is arresting. Particularly for those thousands of tastemaking Australian women who read the trend email newsletter DailyCandy.

The image is immediately recognisable as the same illustration style used in DailyCandy (see image), and is actually from the site, minus the guy and umbrella and plus a box of Equal sweetener. This brings instant brand recognition and affiliation with a favourite trend news source. And for those who aren't aware of DailyCandy, it is incredibly smart to use the artistic talents of the illustrator that brings so much life and cache to the DailyCandy emails.

Someone at Merisant's agency (DDB) should get a pay rise.

Image: Daily Candy

Great Packaging: Dunkin Donuts Coffee Holiday Cups

Dunkin Donuts has really stepped it up this holiday with it's seasonal coffee packaging. In stark contrast to the muted tones of a Starbucks coffee, Dunkin Donuts has released a winter white cup with bright pink, purple, orange and green circles containing white icons. The cups are a knock-out!

Image: Dunkin' Donuts

Cool Events: Illy comes to Soho

I am more than excited about the new temporary Galleria illy cafe that is opening September 15th on West Broadway in Soho. This is a marketing exercise to increase awareness of illy coffee, in much the same way that Target opened a temporary store in Times Square. They are offering a range of coffee, desserts, classes, tastings, art and what I am truly excited about - espresso-making tuition from some of the world's best baristas. Three cheers to Ruby's on Mulberry St who already serves illy coffee and makes a fabulous latte. I am hoping that the Galleria is a small step towards increasing the quality of espressos in New York, and I will be there for all the classes to pick up tips!

Update 21st September 2005: Great overview of the cafe and images on BizBash New York.

Image: BizBash New York