KYC: Know Your Cow? A Marketing Gimmick or Moo-ving Message?

KYC: Know Your Cow? A Marketer’s Chuckle and a Cautionary Tale

This particular advertisement was sent to me by my degree classmate, Mr. Rajiv Nagpal. It was definitely worth a chuckle, but it also woke up the marketing teacher in me. It was a Kisan CONNECT print advertisement.  

In an age of instant everything - instant coffee, instant updates, and yes, instant attention spans (we’re talking about 1/100th of a second!) - the risk of being misunderstood is always lurking. When I first saw the tagline “KYC – Know Your Cow,” my brain, trained by years of habit and context, immediately read it as a Bakrid slaughter animal ad. Yes, really.

Luckily, I took the time to read through it and understood the concept. “Rani,” the four-year-old cow, was the star here—part of an organic farming initiative that promises rich, natural paneer. A noble idea, certainly. However, I still couldn’t help feeling that the ad leaned more towards gimmickry than genuine impact.

Will it stand the test of time like Tata Steel’s iconic “We also make steel” campaign? I doubt it. This feels more like Amul’s short-lived “ATM – Any Time Milk” campaign. Remember that one? Probably not — unless you're a marketing professor like me, who archives such things with academic nostalgia.

When marketing meets moo-scommunication!!!

Some short forms are best left untouched. “KYC” is a serious term in the banking world. So when a bank employee calls and says, “Sir, can I update your KYC?”—I’d really prefer not to pause and wonder if he’s asking about my Aadhaar card details or a cow I may (or may not) own!

Just a point to ponder. Quirky creativity is great - but not at the cost of clarity. In marketing, especially today, every second counts - and so does every interpretation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keywords: KYC advertisement confusion, Know Your Cow ad, marketing gimmicks in India, advertising gone wrong, KYC in advertising, Amul ATM campaign, Tata Steel we also make steel, marketing professor blog, organic farming ads India, shortform misuse in marketing, Indian advertising trends, branding blunders India, quirky Indian ads, advertising interpretation issues, marketing humour blog

Hashtags #Marketing #Branding #Advertising #MarketingInsights #MarketingFails #AdCritique #MarketingProfessor #ConsumerPerception #KYC #KnowYourCow #IndianAdvertising #OrganicMarketing #MisleadingAds #MarketingHumour #AdvertisingGimmicks #BrandMessaging #MarketingLessons #CommunicationMatters #MarketingCaseStudy

Packaging – The Silent Salesman

In 2002, while working as a marketing faculty at Bahirdar University in Ethiopia, I found myself in a land full of opportunity and learning, not just for the students, but for me too. Marketing was in a very rudimentary stage back then. The market itself was just entering its introductory phase, and naturally, there was very little in the way of teaching aids. No visual support, no props, and no real-world examples that students could relate to.

So, I reached out to my parents back in India and asked them to send me packaging materials — toothpaste tubes, soap wrappers, detergent boxes, and even Kellogg’s cereal cartons. Armed with these seemingly mundane items, I walked into my class. I vividly explained the difference between packing and packaging. Packing, I said, is for protection. Packaging, however, is for marketing.

A Lesson Etched in Memory: Years later, one of my former Ethiopian students approached me and said, “Dr. Anil, I still remember that class where you taught us the difference between packing and packaging. You said something I can never forget.”

He reminded me of what I had said in that session: “Packaging is the silent P of marketing – the silent salesman. When all the other Ps fall silent, it’s the humble packaging that must speak. It has to lure, seduce, cajole, and make the customer pick up the product. Once the product is in the customer’s hands, the chances of a sale shoot up. In a supermarket, buying decisions are made in a flash — and in that flash, every microsecond matters.”

That phrase – “silent salesman” – fascinated him. He pondered the contradiction in the phrase: Salesman and silent? How can a salesman be silent? Salesmen, after all, are often imagined as non-stop talkers, persuaders with overflowing enthusiasm. But in truth, some of the best salespeople I know are excellent listeners. They talk less and listen more. And in that silence, they uncover the real needs of the customer.

The Divine Design: Listen More, Talk Less. Even God, in His design, gave us two ears and just one mouth — a gentle reminder to listen more and speak less. That one class, that one metaphor — the “silent salesman” — made a lasting impact on my students. And perhaps, it made me a more thoughtful teacher, too.

Teaching Beyond the Textbook: I’ve always believed that a teacher should excite, not explain everything. Don’t be a kindergarten teacher who spells out each word. Ignite curiosity. Propel the student onto the path of self-discovery. Let the student read, question, and explore. If you create the spark, they will find the fire. And yes, sometimes, that spark can come from something as simple as a soap wrapper.

Key words: Packaging in marketing, 5th P of marketing, Packaging as the silent salesman,  Packaging strategy in FMCG,  Marketing mix packaging,  Importance of packaging in marketing,  Packing vs packaging, Marketing education in Ethiopia, Dr. M. Anil Ramesh marketing.  Real-world teaching in marketing. 

Role of packaging in consumer behavior, Teaching marketing with packaging examples, How packaging influences buying decisions, Real classroom experiences in marketing, Innovative teaching methods in business education,  Packaging design as a marketing tool, Emotional branding through packaging, Packaging case study in developing markets, Marketing teaching tools without technology, Storytelling in marketing education. 

Marketing mix elements, Experiential teaching in business schools, Visual aids in marketing education, Silent marketing techniques, Brand packaging strategies, Product packaging psychology, Cross-cultural marketing education, Packaging design in emerging markets. 

Twitter to X: The confusing rebranding exercise!

 I’m actually quite surprised by the rebranding of Twitter as “X.” Yes, Twitter had a nice feel to it — clean, friendly, and full of energy. And let’s admit it, the word “Tweet” sounded exciting. It had personality. It had charm. But for whatever reason, Twitter is now X. Just X.

And that’s where the confusion begins.The most surprising part is this: the symbol "X" — in most contexts — stands for exit. On a screen, when you press X, you close a page, you leave. So why name a platform after something that subconsciously signals “go away”?

Yes, I agree, the rebranding didn’t exactly damage the platform. People still use it. Maybe most users shrugged it off, thinking — “What’s the big deal? It’s old wine in a new bottle.” The app still works, the posts are still there, and the timelines are still as chaotic as ever.

But from a branding perspective? X is flat. It’s minimalist, yes. Simple, maybe. But is it memorable? Does it convey energy, emotion, or identity? I'm not sure. And here's the part that really baffles me — what do we even say now?

We used to say, “I tweeted.”

Now what? “Did you X today?”

“Did you post an X?”

“I saw your X (sounds like your-ex)?”

Sorry, but that sounds more like a typo or a code than a conversation. Maybe this is what happens when branding becomes too cool for its own good. Maybe simplicity won over storytelling. Or maybe, just maybe, Twitter was more than just a name — it was a feeling. And that feeling has quietly exited… with an X.

Keywords: Twitter rebrand, Twitter becomes X, X app branding, Elon Musk Twitter rebranding, Tweet vs X, Twitter new name, Social media platform rename,  Rebranding strategies, Branding confusion,  Minimalist branding,  Twitter name change 2023, X symbol meaning, Tech industry branding,  Social media brand identity,  Old wine in new bottle,  User reaction to Twitter rebrand,  Digital branding fails, Brand storytelling, Twitter brand recall,  Twitter nostalgia, Simplicity in branding, Flat branding design, Elon Musk social media,  Platform identity crisis,  Rebranding impact on users, Tweet replaced by X,  Emotional branding vs minimalism, Tech rebranding trends, Social media habits

When Cricket player Warner outscores Nitin the telugu Film Hero - The Curious Case of 'Robinhood' and Warner Mama

Check out the depths to which the Telugu film industry has plunged. The much-hyped movie Robinhood, starring Nithin and Sreeleela, arrived... and disappeared without a ripple. Despite being led by two recognizable names, the film struggled to generate minimal buzz. It was almost as if the audience collectively shrugged and moved on.

But then came the twist — the promotional campaign decided to ride on the shoulders of an unexpected savior: David Warner, affectionately dubbed “Warner Mama” in Telugu-speaking states. Zee and the PR machinery tried to inject some oxygen into the movie’s dying pulse by giving Warner all the limelight. David Warner plays a cameo in the movie for two minutes and 50 seconds. And he was reportedly paid a sum of 3 crores!!

The implication? That a cameo by a cricket star — foreign, no less — was more valuable than the star power of the film’s actual leads. What does that say about the current standing of our Telugu heroes and the sorry state of content?

I sat through this lifeless flick for over 50 minutes — painfully — before giving up. Not a single glimpse of Warner Mama until then! Maybe his appearance is strategically buried deeper in the film, counting on curious viewers to fast-forward or wait it out. But perhaps that’s the trick — on OTT platforms, you only need to watch a few minutes for it to be marked as a "viewed movie." It’s not about compelling storytelling anymore; it’s about algorithms, impressions, and play counts.

Let’s also take a step back and consider this: cricketers have rarely succeeded in films. History is full of such experiments gone wrong. From Sandeep Patil’s forgettable stint to Sunil Gavaskar’s cameo, and even Varun Chakravarthy, who started in cinema and turned to cricket — the reverse journey! Salil Ankola is another telling case — once a promising cricketer, he lost his way chasing an elusive acting career.

Not to forget others like: Ajay Jadeja, Kapil Dev, Vinod Kambli, Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar (in his biopic), Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Brett Lee, and Sreesanth. 

Their appearances might amuse fans, but let’s be honest — star value in cinema is earned, not borrowed. So here's the big question: Is Telugu cinema so creatively bankrupt now that it has to bank on a cricketer’s cameo for survival? If the answer is yes, then Robinhood isn’t just a movie — it's a mirror to an industry that’s losing its plot."

Keywords: Robinhood Telugu movie, David Warner cameo, Warner Mama Telugu, Nithin Sreeleela's Robinhood,  Telugu film industry 2024, Cricketers in movies, Cricketers turned actors, OTT view count mechanism, Telugu cinema decline, Indian cricketers in films, Celebrity cameos in movies, Brett Lee in Indian films, Salil Ankola acting career, Sandeep Patil Bollywood, Ajay Jadeja movie career, Kapil Dev in films, Sunil Gavaskar acting, Vinod Kambli film debut, Yuvraj Singh movies, Shikhar Dhawan cameo, Irfan Pathan film appearance, Warner in Indian cinema, Telugu cinema hype culture, OTT content strategies, Cricket and cinema crossover, Telugu film promotions 2024, Star power vs content quality

what's in a name and in the logo - Everything - Operation Sindoor!!!

Operation Sindoor is more than a title. It’s a visual, cultural, and emotional response to a nation’s loss — and a reminder of its resilience. The red mark of sindoor, worn by married Hindu women, becomes a powerful symbol when linked with the forehead of India, Jammu & Kashmir. But when that sindoor is missing… it tells a different story.

This video explores:

The symbolism behind the colors of the logo

A tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack

A cultural metaphor that connects grief, strength, and strategy

A subtle nod to the Indus River and the strategic Indus Water Treaty

Every frame is a layer. Every color, a statement.

This is not just a video. It’s a message.

#OperationSindoor #IndiaFirst #IndusRiver #SymbolOfStrength #PahalgamAttack #JammuAndKashmir #CulturalResistance #RedForSacrifice #SindoorSymbolism #IndianWomen #VisualProtest #EmotionalTribute #IndusWaterTreaty #MilitarySymbolism #IndianHistory #ViralVideo #ReelsIndia #InstaReels #ShortsIndia #Storytelling #EmotionalVideo#Indianarmedforces