Maybe the spammers read this blog….
I recieved an email from Dr.Fords this morning. Its written in proper English, a lot more believable then me winning the Nigerian lottery and doesn’t outright sound like a scam.
Well done spammers! Although you still need clean you list, I recieved the same email three times in ten mintues.
I’m having a hell week.
- 1 RFP due Friday
- 1 New RFP to start
- 2 Full Web evaluations due Thursday (and I just found out about them today)
- All media invoices due to clients by the 15th (that I haven’t had time to touch)
- PURLs training to be done by Thursday
- Plus all my other usual job tasks I have to do
If you are unfamiliar of what a Hell Week is at my agency check it.
Thankfully, I’m taking next week off for a few days in Vegas and some much needed non-work time.
If I liked wiskey, I would totally buy Canadian Club purely for the ads.
The campaign has been a staple with my Wired magazine for a few months, and I fall in love with them all over again each month.Both ads are excuted beautifuly to evoke the 60s with a fantastic sense of humor.
You just can’t go wrong with the tag “Damn right your dad drank it” for a whiskey.
I’ve heard that something that 1 in 5 teenage girls have sent nude or naughty pics of themselves via text or social media. I assumed that number was grossly exaggerated, however as R/GA is currently working on PSAs for “textual harassment” (seriously) they might be accurate.
This just might be funnier then the “I learned it from you” weed spots.
Hint: Pick C!
Via @agencyspy
Social Networks I will never understand
Social Networks everone should be a part of
AllState (whose commercials and spokesperson I love) is also doing some fabulous recession advertising. Their messaging is right on- “Its back to basics.”
AllState is able to utilize the fact that they started during the depression and speak to the fact they’ve survived all the recessions since then. Heck they even throw in their tagline and keep it feeling natural. Good work AllState!
There are currently two advertisers getting it right in these rough economic times. Their messaging is on target, tone is full of empathy and their imagery soothing and familiar.
First is Walmart. Internationally hated, evil, souless Walmart is coming out with some phenonminal messaging that makes this Nordstom girl actually appreciate the mega store. They’ve emphasized the value of their products, showcased items (blue ray, video games, etc) that can be enjoyed by the family, together at home. Basically falling right in linewhat a retailer shouldbe doing during a recession.
Here’s one of the ads that focuses on gift cards but keeps the same tone and messaging of the rest of the product specific campaign (sorry about the qaulity).
The other advertiser getting it right is Hyundai.
My very Southern Grandma Norton once wisely told me that “the only thing a girl can own is her reputation.” True, but hardly applicable to just women these days. Brands need to step up and listen own their online reputation becuase there will always be someone out there calling you a douchebag or a slut.
81% of consumers read online reviews before purhcasing duringtheir holiday shopping according to MarketingCharts.com and Neilsen Online. While only a fraction of consumers will post reviews or submit complaints a whole lot more will read what those people are saying. If there are consistenly bad posts and no response from you, consumers will seriosuly consider buying from you.
Do you know what your consumers are saying about you? Are you checking review sites such as Yelp.com as well as the niche review sites (like DealerRater.com for local dealerships)? Do you have a Google alert set to your brand or industry? Do you regularly check to see if Facebook/MySpace groups have formed for or against your brand? Do you monitor Twitter, Brightkite, Friendfeed and Blogs to listen to what your consumers are saying about you, your competitors and your industry?
While social media is fun, display ads easy and search is cheap, online reputation management is a bit more time consuming and harder to grasp. Unfortunately, that leaves a lot of brands unwilling to take the lead and spend their time seeking out reviews and taking control.
There should be some basic rules all advertisers follow when writing copy for an ad. I’ve started my list based on the most annoying ads of 2008 and I’m sure even more annoying and badly written ads will come out in 2009 to help me figure out 4-10.
1) Do not claim something is “valued at $XX” if no one has or would pay that dollar amount for the product service.
Education Connection/Class in my Pjs your college guide is not a $100 value if the guide was never actually purchased by someone for $100.
2) Do not use the words improved, revolutionary or better unless you can prove that the product or service has actually been improved, revolutionized or made better.
Victoria’s Secret just because you designed a new bra or panty does not make it revolutionary, you actually have to do something radically innovative to make that claim.
3) Do not speak down to consumers. They’re not idiots. As an someone from an ad agency I can garuntee that 90% of the people putting together the ads have never uesd the product or service. We like to think we know what we’re talking about but no one knows better than people actually using it. Speak honestly and clearly about the benefits.
So Blackberry Storm I think you can safely assume that your target demographic is totally aware that the iPhone has a touch screen and all the features you copied. Don’t make your consumers out to be complete idiots.
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