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Times are tough within the ad industry, not just for us agency folks vendors and reps are killing for a buy right now. Reps have started calling weekly to check in for updates and whoring out their rates just for a tiny bit of cash flow. 

CBS Outdoor in England has taken a different approach to the recession. They utilized their network of signage within London’s tube’s to launch a campaign which demonstrates the effectiveness and value of their space. As much as I adore digital, out of home has so many opportunities to be creative and reach a mass of people without the constraints of electronic mass media. It is definitely not included enough in most campaigns, especially tied back to digital. 

CBS Outdoor utilized their signage network within 35 Tube stations throughout London,  placing controversial images that lead viewers to the site TimeToConsider.co.uk to vote, comment and engage with the campaign images. 

The ad campaign ended on May 20th and generated millions visitors to the site, thousands of votes and 617 comments in total on the four images (shown below). 

The Brand Republic had this quote from Mike Hemmings, CBS Outdoor’s London Underground brand manager in this article. 

 ”Using a standard Underground pack, we’ve shown that Underground advertising can be central in leading opinion, debate and awareness, not just within London, but across the UK.Who knows how many conversations this has created over a pint in the pub, but the volume of online debate alone highlights how Tube ads are remembered, talked about and acted on far beyond this initial three-minute exposure.”

Well done!

I don’t know why those of us interested in digital, computers, online technical stuff are all deemed to be geeks, but I totally embrace it. Which is why I am so in love with these three geek-tastic things. 

Intel Rockstars

Start Up Gang Signs

Society For Geek Advancement

This is taking billboards to a whole new level. 

Audi told BMW it was their move and Santa Monica BMW took that challenge with a bigger more badass billboard across the street. Genius! 

Juggernaut Advertising is the agency responsible for the bold move from Santa Monica BMW.

I applaud them for not only being creative and snarky but aware of the original Audi billboard and being able to sell this to their client.

Well played, Juggernaut well played. 

Check out a video of the process below

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In honor of Good Friday when one must do good things (I’m just guessing here, its been a while since I’ve been to church), I have some PSAs that ask you to make up for your bad ways and give blood. Via AdFreak are these superbly done PSA’s for the Blood Center for Central Texas by Door Number 3. 

Small government contracts can be tough, espacially when the message is something we’re told to do on a regular basis. Everyone knows that giving blood is a good thing and it saves lives, but how many people actually take the initative to go do it?

 Brilliant creative concept and executed quite well. I’m going to give blood next week. I promise. 

AdFreak’s critique was that people who are douchebags will always be douchebags (I don’t disagree). I think the spot is for people who really don’t want to be douchebags, but have had those moments where they act a little asshole-ish. C’mon you might not be madly pressing the door close button on the elevator but sometimes you don’t press the door open button. Hey, we all have our moments. 

More of the spots after the jump. 

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I saw this spot mixed in with the usual education connection, proactive and strip tease workout spots that make up the commerical breaks on MTV in the morning. My immediate reaction was – oy someone in traffic fucked up putting an intelligent and witty spot about something important in the world on MTV.

Finally a commercial that about something important that isn’t boring, blah and stuck on A&E or History Channel. Just because I watch MTV doens’t mean all I care about is how I look or how to go to college in my PJs (I hate you education connection)! 

I love this spot and its waaayyy better then any of Al Gore’s “We” campaign ads.  

The Clean Coal spot was directed by the Coen Brothers and concepted by Crispin Porter + Bogusky. 

CP+B is f’ing brilliant (full disclosure, I have an agency crush on CP+B) .

This went viral a couple of weeks ago and I didn’t have a chance to post or write about it.  It’s such a great spoof of the New York Times spot.

Jack from Jack in the Box is my favorite brand persona. He’s hilariously human with his giant head, busy career and random friends. And the Sourdough Jack is without a doubt the best hangover cure.

Anyone watching the Super Bowl who lives within driving distance of a Jack in the Box saw his horrific bus accident. Jack suffered severe head trauma and is not doing well in the hospital.

Once you’ve wiped away the tears head over to HangInThereJack.com
for in-depth updates or you can keep up to date via his twitter (Barbara, Jack’s assistant is keeping up to date).

The entire campaign is based on the fact, that just before he was hit by the bus Jack was talking about how great it is that any item on the menu is available anytime. So those worrying about Jack should indulge and order breakfast for lunch and dinner for breakfast.

I adore the campaign, as much as it breaks my heart. Jack in the Box HQ is here in San Diego and loyal fans and Jack supporters have created a vigil in his parking spot. Check out all the pictures below.

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I finally found a cell phone campaign I can appreciate. Sprint failed, Blackerry failed, but LG I love. 

These ads sparked a hot debate on Ads of the World (where I found them), check out the site to read up on why people hate them. 

I like them because unlike Blackberry spots, LG doesn’t talk down to consumers and act like 3G phones are new. The target demo knows about the iPhone, they’ve played with their friends phones. The basics of 3G and touch screens are a given.

LG is focusing on making themselves different. Apple and Blackberry are being defined as the work phones, LG is going after those who want a cool, fast, phone without needing a job that requires it. 

Oh and for the record I Google and Addictomatic all of my dates  

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You had to know it was coming…the Superbowl ad recap. BTW You can check them all out on Hulu.  

Overall, Hyundai was the clear winner of the super bowl. They presented a clear and cohesive message through memorable (if a little boring) ads. Hyundai is going after market share in the recession through a very well thought out and beautifully executed campaign. While their ads might not be the ones everyone discussed today, they’re keeping the brand alive and in a positive light through messages that will outlast the Superbowl spotlight. 

Other stand outs include: 

1) Doritos Crystal Ball – The only spot that made me really laugh out loud. While it was a little strange and incredibly funny, the spot didn’t deviate from the brand image or try to hard. Yes, people are hating on Doritos for doing a user submitted contest for their creative (which is soooo 2007), but I say excellent work!

2) CareerBuilder.com – I hated this and almost muted it until they kola was punched. Then I was giggling fool. Punching a kola that’s wearing glasses and drinking coffee = WIN. I liked the Monster.com spot, but this spot was waaay better. It was repetitive and annoying but so are some jobs, right? So they were pretty much spot on in what they were try to sell. Side Note: In the spot break that ran the Monster.com spot, a voice over did a name mention for CareerBuilder.com while going back into the game. I don’t know how CareerBuilder did it and as a media planner I would be asking for a partial refund if I was Monster.com. If a station is not going to bother with category exclusivity within a spot break for a $3M spot, then they are clearly just whoring out ad time.

3) Hulu.com was the unexpected awesomeness. Hulu is a great service and a cool brand, but I’m pretty sure its relatively unknown amongst the non tech people. The ad was memorable, funny and pretty honest. Side Note: My favorite tweets regarding the hulu spot were ones like this from Allen. I’m sorry guy but I think you missed the point of your favorite ad, Hulu is a place you can go to see videos online. Its like youtube but with a higher quality…so maybe you could try going to hulu to view the ads? 

4) Audi (yes I know I just said Hyundai was the overall winner) but Audi had a fantastic spot that was visually stunning  and a brilliant depiction of their brand. Classy, powerful and sexy. I want an Audi A4. 

Despite the hype, the Cash4Gold spot wasn’t all that great. Ed McMahon looked so old and feeble. Plus its sad because we all know he’s really in need of money. McHammer was funny, but funny is not going to get me to do business with the scam that is Cash4Gold. Meh.

Very cool concept from Ikea!

Fact: Next to the Bible and Harry Potter, the Ikea Catalogue is the third most printed publication worldwide.