Showing posts with label Creative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creative. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Follow-up to the Gap logo fiasco

So, in a previous post I talked about my biggest issue with the new Gap logo: they should not have abandoned the old design completely. They should have improved it, but not abandoned it.

AdFreak put together a list of 30 recent redesigns, which is an interesting examination of this design issue.

To me, Burger King, Cisco, KFC and UPS got it right

AOL and Kraft... not so much.




Now here's a twist on the whole issue. The exception to prove the rule if you will. See what Sprint did? They completely abandoned their logo, but with good intention. They redesigned the logo in conjunction with a major rebranding effort, supported with extensive mass media. Remember the pin-drop ads? Me too. The logo was redesigned to support that re-branding. The lesson being: if you are overhauling your brand, you have permission to overhaul your logo in support of it.


But only if you have Sprint money to do so.



Tuesday, February 8, 2011

SuperBowl Advertising Award Winners

Well, it feels like Boxing Day all over again.

So much excitement was built up about this year's SuperBowl ads, and now that it's the day after, we are left to sort through all the gifts - to spend some serious time with the best ones and to re-wrap the crappy ones and send them back.

Here is my take. Enjoy! Comment. Share. Whatever!


1) Just Plain Hilarious Award:

- Best Buy "Ozzy vs. Bieber" (I mean c'mon, they got Bieber to admit that he looks like a girl!)


1.1) Just Plain Hilarious Runners Up:

- Doritos "Best Part" (he licked the dude's pants!)
- Snickers "Logging" (the actors are dinosaurs, but if you're old like me, you get it)


2) Awesome On So Many Levels Award:

- VW "The Force" (just watch and enjoy)


3) Marketing Fundamentals Award:

- eTrade "Cat" and "Tailor" (because they realize that with advertising, frequency and consistency is key)


4) More Damage Than Good Award:

- BMW "Defying Logic" (yup, this ad defies logic - BMW is successful because they AREN'T from USA... yet they go and do this?!?)


5) What the $&%# Award:

- GoDaddy.com "New .CO Girl" (...is Joan Rivers?!?!? Some things can't be unseen)


5.1) What the $&%# Runners Up:

- GM/Chevrolet "Status" (I get FaceBook, but does anyone REALLY want FaceBook updates from OnStar?... something about that just isn't right)
- Coca-Cola "Siege" (they usually get SuperBowl ads right, but I have to admit, I scratched my head on this one)


6) Taking the 'Sex Sells' Concept WAY Too Far Award:

- GoDaddy.com "The Contract" (I'm at the point where this offends me, so no, I won't go to your site to see more)


and the winner is......


7) The Best Overall SuperBowl Ad Award:

- Chrysler "Born of Fire"

I can't believe I gave Chrysler the highest honour, but I gotta hand it to them. They get TV ads. They understand that with this medium, you have to make a compelling brand promise, make it memorable, and glue it to your brand. I see too many ads that say something funny, but not compelling. I see too many ads that are so generic and bland that I have forgotten them before their 30 seconds are up. I see too many ads that are well done, but we forget who made them.

Chrysler got it all right.

They made a very strong statement, and they made it because they know that if they are to survive, they must appeal to the audience to whom the statement was directed. They made it memorable by conjuring up a new concept - that Detroit is back - and reinforcing it with a striking closing tag line: "Imported from Detroit". Finally, they imbedded the Chrysler brand in your memory by spending a good portion of their 2 minutes on the logo, including a fairly impressive, lengthy shot of a Chrysler grill.

It may not end up saving them, but given the challenges they face and the objectives they were surely given, this is the best possible execution. And it's better than the rest.


Soooooo....? Agree? Disagree?



Sunday, December 19, 2010

Small Biz Tip: uber-simple landing pages

Do you want more from your email and social media marketing efforts? First look at your landing pages.

Most of what you do online - especially email and social media campaigns - include links back to your web site. You have most likely designed the best campaign you can to encourage people to respond - to click on that link! But have you spent as much time designing your landing page as you did designing the campaign?

A landing page is the web page people "land" on when they click your link.

But what happens next?

That's the key to effective online campaigns - making that 'next step' as interesting and as effortless as possible.

If the browser lands on your Home page, they still have work to do. They have to navigate through the site to find the offer / product / information that inspired them to click-through in the first place.

If you ask the browser to do more work to find what they're after, they most likely won't. So all your efforts to inspire them to click-through are wasted!

Design a landing page that points them directly to the topic of the originating link. If you're offering a 50% discount on wrapping paper, create a page with a huge image of wrapping paper, a huge confirmation of the 50% offer, and a huge "Buy now" button. All they have to do is click the button - no real effort required. If you directed them to your web site and made them find the gift-wrap section, you're asking them to do too much.

Here's an example from Staples. If you were so inclined to click the link on the email for a refurbished computer, optical mouse or printer paper, you're only one more click away from having the product in your shopping cart. Simple. Effective. Effortless.

That's how you increase your chances of online marketing success.

LESSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS:
  • Every link you put out there through your marketing efforts should have a dedicated landing page.
  • Those landing pages need to be simple, obvious and effortless.
  • Don't forget to use web analytics to track campaign effectiveness (how many people land on the page; how many of them click to buy; how many of them actually buy and so on). Contact me for more information about web analytics tools and how to implement them (I don't sell them, so it's not a blatant pitch).

YOUR TURN:
  • Any favourite landing pages... or bad ones?

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

5 web site designs that rock

I'm a web design minimalist. Less is more on Home pages, as these 5 demonstrate.

www.web2mobile.ca













www.apple.com













www.sethgodin.com













www.diyseo.com













www.twitter.com














TAKEAWAY FOR SMALL BUSINESS:

S.I.M.P.L.E.


YOUR TURN:

Any you want to add?

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

My new favourite web site

www.customink.com. In particular, I like the "lab", where you can design custom apparel.

I found them through a Google search, and loved them right away. I'm making some custom t-shirts and the site is terrific. Here's why:
  1. Everything you need is right in front of you. Through the clever use of tabs and icons that serve as link buttons, you never need to navigate away from the page - always keeping your t-shirt design right in front of you.
  2. It's clean, but not bland. That's a significant accomplishment.
  3. All the functions are obvious. If you find yourself asking "I wonder if I can...", the answer usually presents itself to you before you finish the thought. Terrific user experience.
  4. You get exactly what you want. Promotional gear, exactly how you want it. And you can order 1 if you want.
  5. They use words that everyday people use in everyday conversation, like "talk to a real person" and "super rush delivery". It's just nice to see a site that doesn't pretend to talk down to you.
  6. Great main navigation: Home | Products | Ideas | Lab. That's it. Simpler is better.
  7. OK, this next one isn't related to the site design at all, but it has to go on the list. Sorry. Their tag line is "You think it. We ink it." Does it get any better than that for the product they have? Genius.

(WEB DESIGN) LESSONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS
  • Simple is good
  • Clean is good
  • Tabs and buttons that keep you on a page as opposed to links that open new pages are great for enhancing the experience. You don't want people to get lost on your site. The "lab" on this site looks (to the user) like one page, yet you can do all kinds of things.
  • Put yourself in the customer's shoes, and imagine they are considering or buying your product in person. What would they want to see and do? Take that, and replicate it on your site to the greatest extent possible.
  • Use words and phrases that people actually use when they talk.
YOUR TURN:

What are you favourite sites from a design / user experience perspective?

What Rogers' $10-million fine teaches us about advertising

The competition bureau has ruled that Rogers Communications has misled consumers with advertising that claims their new Chatr service is more reliable than its competition's services. It was found that despite Rogers' claims in their advertising, there was no discernible difference in dropped calls between their service and the ones offered by new entrants. This was deemed to be misleading and unduly damaging to the competition, and could end up in a fine of $10-million or more (if the judge agrees to retribution for consumers).

Now, Rogers is certainly being held up as an example, and it's easier to pick on the big boys, but it does bring to light some important lessons that small businesses and marketers should remember as you advertise:
  1. Don't make a claim you can't support. Simply saying that your product is "the best" without backing it up is lazy and, it would seem, potentially costly for you!
  2. If your competition is making claims that you know they can't support, you have an avenue for challenging their claims.
  3. If you do have data to support your claim, make sure it's good data. Rogers is fighting this ruling, but I wonder how valid their data is. Don't just go ask 3 of your friends if your pizza is the best pizza they've ever tasted then call it the "Best tasting pizza in _____" (makes you wonder how many dentists were actually surveyed to support the claim "4 out of 5 dentists recommend ____" - perhaps 5?).
  4. Be specific with claims. Don't say you have the best pizza, say you have the best Hawaiian pizza East of Hawaii. Helps your product stick out in the consumers' minds.
  5. If I read/see/hear one more company claim to have "the best quality, price and service", I'm going to... You can't be all 3!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The top 2 rules for advertising


Rule #1: Advertise where your customers shop


Rule #2: Make that ad stand out from all the other ads


Rolex puts both rules into play with this clever ad on pgatour.com










See what they did there? They advertised on pgatour.com, since (presumably) male golfers are their target audience. And to stand out from the other online ads on the site, they did three things. First, the hands of the watch move in real time (take my word for it). Second, the ad shows the time zone you're in and compares it to the time zone of the tournament you're watching. Third, their ad showed up when I clicked on tee times. Get it?

It's a very atypical ad, in a good way. Noticeable. Clever. Well done Rolex.


LESSONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES:

Well, to reiterate:
  1. Advertise where your customers shop
  2. Advertise cleverly; creatively

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Gap goes too far with new logo

This is Part 1 of a 2-part blog about Gap and their recent logo redesign. Part 2 will refer to their execution of the logo refresh. This post discusses their new logo choice.


I am a strong believer in the power of branding and the importance of a branding "refresh". I think, though, that Gap may have missed the mark a bit.

I am mostly interested in your opinion! But first, here's mine:

The first step in a logo redesign, as a part of a branding refresh (logo design is but one of many elements of a branding initiative), is to consider the status of the logo and/or company. For most companies on the planet, a creative new logo with a fresh new look can set a company apart, draw new attention to the business, start conversations and cause refreshed interest in the brand.

There is a handful of companies, though, whose logo has reached iconic status. Nike. Apple. Pepsi. Microsoft.

It is my opinion that Gap is... or was... on this list.

Once you have this status with a logo concept, don't mess with it!

It is possible, and even advisable, to delicately modify or update a logo as part of a branding refresh. Apple removed the rainbow colours, but kept the shape intact. Pepsi overhauled their typeface, but maintained the red/blue sphere.

Gap went a bit too far. They maintained (although somewhat diminished) the blue square. But to me, the uniqueness of the typeface is what established their iconic status. They have abandoned that altogether. They even went with boring old Helvetica font!
Refreshing an iconic logo as part of a branding initiative - OK. Abandoning an iconic logo - not OK.

Imagine Nike abandoning the swoosh. Bad idea, right? Why, then, did Gap abandon the key elements of their iconic logo? To me, they went too far and have created a negative brand experience.

TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:
  • When was the last time your business went through a branding initiative - an exercise in establishing (or modifying) your reputation in your market? Chances are you're overdue!
  • Your logo is not your brand. Your brand is the series of thoughts, impressions and feelings that are associated with your company name and logo. Do you know what they are for your business?
  • Execution of a branding initiative is perhaps the most important part - more on that in Part 2!

NOW TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THE GAP LOGO!



Tuesday, July 13, 2010

When this happens, I'm ashamed to call myself a marketer

I choose to believe that most marketers are good.

Most believe in accurately, appropriately and professionally representing their brands in order to generate genuine demand based on valid product value.

Then this happens, and it tarnishes our reputation.

The decent among us step out of our comfort zone and curse them.

This company is assuming, or at least hoping, that consumers are stupid.

This is a scratch-and-win (looking) card which appeared in my mailbox today. You are meant to believe, like with any other scratch-and-win game, that if you uncover a certain result, you win the corresponding prize.

Not so in this case.

In this case, you are CERTAIN to uncover a "winning" pattern. Once you do, you "may" win one of the listed prizes. All you have to do, of course, is call the "prize hotline" to find out what you CAN win.

I'm sure this company (they never reveal themselves, interestingly) is hoping that people say "Sure! Let's call the number to see what I won!" Hoping that the customer does NOT read the fine print.

I read it.

First of all, the prizes listed are "available at the outset of the game; prizes diminish as prizes are awarded" - their way of saying 'we can decide who gets the best prizes'. How are prizes allocated you ask? Well, they are "determined by the company's master list" - their way of saying 'we can assign you whatever prize we wish'. Oh, and if the prize is "unavailable, sponsor may substitute" - their way of saying 'you may not even get one of the prizes you were expecting'. Then, in order to claim this mystery prize, you need to agree to a "product presentation". Ah, yes, of course I do.

OK, so now on to the odds of winning: 1 in 800,000 for the grand prize (but don't forget, it has probably been preferentially "awarded" to someone else, or the prize may have been magically substituted for something else); 875 in 1000 (that means almost 9 out of 10) for the hotel stay. Ah, that's where they get you. You are almost certainly awarded the hotel stay "prize". They lure you with the thought of a free vacation, then force you to endure their "presentation" - the ensuing barrage of pressure sales tactics for whatever it is they're pushing (which is never mentioned, by the way).

Makes me want to puke.

Who is oblivious enough to fall for this?

More importantly (to me), how do the marketers that conjured up this scam sleep at night?

They have no integrity. No morality. No professionalism. No dignity.

Sadly, they can call themselves marketers, as I do.

I am ashamed to be associated with them by any description.


So endeth my rant for the day.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Direct mail can work... except when it looks like this!

Direct mail is making a comeback.

When you hear of the term "junk mail" today, you're probably thinking about the junk you get in your email inbox. Believe it or not, junk mail used to actually refer to... wait for it... MAIL!

The ease and affordability of email made it the golden child of marketing, but also made consumers an easier target for junk email. But as consumers become more spam-filter-savvy and as corporations block more and more unidentified inbound email, marketers (at least the progressive ones) are returning to direct mail, and getting much better at it.

There is still less promotional mail than in its heyday, but some direct mail packages are personalized, sophisticated, impressive and in many cases compelling (inspiring the marketer's desired response).

However, as much as I applaud marketers for their clever return to direct mail, I cringe when I see stuff like this (click on the image) in my mailbox.

This company really tried hard. They went door-to-door (no postage) and tried to deliver a compelling message. I still don't know what that message is, because there is NO CHANCE I am going to read this.

Neither are you.

TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:

Please, if you're considering a return to promotional mail, remember:
  1. Keep it simple (which means SHORT)
  2. Make it pleasing to the eye (my eye needs to be drawn to it, but not overwhelmed)
  3. Include an offer that is really hard to turn down or ignore. No more "10% off online orders" or "save the tax". It may seem like a lot to offer, but it's truly not enough. Give away something valuable for free (no free fridge magnets!) or consider the deepest possible discount without having to declare bankruptcy.
  4. Think about the last item YOU got in the mail that inspired you to act in some way. What made it so effective? Can you use that tactic in your program?
  5. Make it easy for them to act. A simple phone number or url (acme.com/mailoffer for example)
  6. Once is never enough. Send multiple mailings. Remember that people need to hear something 6 or 7 times before they actually HEAR it. Oh, and never send another mail offer to someone that's already responded! Pay attention to the details.
  7. Ask for feedback. Ask friends, colleagues, family members if they would be compelled. Don't try too hard to measure the results - direct mail often just build brand awareness. But you can get opinions about your program and work on improving the next one.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

CIBC fixes its direct mail program

A short while ago I posted a brief criticism of CIBC for sending me a direct mail package that tried to convince me to sign up for a card I already owned.

Well, just like McNain before it, CIBC has been influenced by the power and reach of my blog (what's the punctuation for sarcasm again?) and has dramatically improved its direct mail program.

As this photo attempts to show, they not only figured out that I already have the card, but they suggested I visit a LOCAL establishment (which is saying something, given that I live in a town of 33,000) to earn extra loyalty points.

So, it appears that their database and direct mail marketing staff has figured out exactly who owns what product, AND has established marketing partnerships in each cardholder's home town.

Now THAT'S direct / 1:1 marketing.

Marketers take note.


TAKEAWAYS FOR YOU:

  1. If you don't have this level of detail about your clients, get it.
  2. If you do have it / once you do get it, USE IT.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Burger King ad - do you like it?

In this ad, Burger King comes right out and admits they stole their new idea from an existing McDonald's product.



I like the honesty and creativity. I like the bravery. I like the fact that their sticking an idea out there and saying "deal with it". I like that they're trying to stick out from the crowd.

There are lots of reasons it's a terrible ideas as well (imagine you're BK's ad agency, and you decide to pitch an idea where you admit on TV that you stole an idea from McD's - oh, to be a fly on the wall), but I'm on the "like it" side.

You?


TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:

  • In heavily competitive markets (anyone know one that isn't?), you have to give someone a reason to buy from you as opposed to your competition. BK took a stab at that by offering theirs for $1.
  • Copycat product marketing is essentially admitting that you are lesser in some way than your competition. Just be aware of that and address the issue accordingly.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Credit where credit is due - they fixed their mistake!

In an earlier post I called out McNain TV for creating possibly the worst flyer in history (NO contact information - had no idea where they were located or how to reach them).

Seems they have realized the error in their ways. Their most recent flyer clearly displays their locations, phone numbers and web site. I'd like to think they read this truly influential marketing blog and discovered their blunder in the post and corrected it immediately, but I'm sure they figured it out on their own. After all, it couldn't have been that hard to notice an oversight like that!

TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:
  • Proof read, proof read, proof read.
  • Have someone not connected to the project look it over. I'm sure someone from Accounting would have said something about missing contact information.

Monday, March 22, 2010

It has started: the death of web sites as we know them!

Check out this online ad for Heineken Light

















Notice anything odd?

1) Prominence of Facebook link
2) ABSENCE of any Heineken brand web address

Not even the slightest reference to www.heineken.com.

This is not the only example I've seen lately. Many brands are using Facebook as their landing page for ad campaigns. And it's not limited to online campaigns - I'm noticing this development on TV too.

Wow.

The power of Facebook.


TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:

Get a Facebook page... NOW! If you have one already, use it more!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Irresponsible advertising - Ford's turn

In recent posts I've called out BMW for irresponsible advertising (talk about one car, show a picture of another, and pass them off as the same car) and Ford for competing with itself.

Well, time to talk about Ford's irresponsible advertising.

In this ad, their headline is: "Ford sweeps North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards"

So, how would you interpret that? To use the word "sweeps" implies that several awards were won, across several categories, and from several reviewers.

But no.

They had one car that won one award in one category, and one truck that won one award in another category. That's HARDLY "sweeping" the awards, as the headline claims. Plus, you can't tell who awarded these titles.

They're clearly trying to create an impression that they win all kinds of awards for their cars by stretching the truth and using carefully selected words to deceive the audience.

Sadly, it's probably working (because the ad itself is so boring that it's unlikely that anyone, other than me, will read the copy).

Doesn't mean it's not irresponsible.


TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:
  • Don't try to be something you're not. Let your product/service do the talking.
  • Maintain your integrity.
  • Maintain your ability to look yourself in the mirror.

Your brand reputation will thank you.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

How to give yourself a BAD reputation

I talk a lot about the importance of effective brand management to my clients, because it's arguably the most important element of your corporate marketing.

Your brand is the collection of words, thoughts and impressions that pop into the consumers' mind when they hear your name. Everything you say or do reflects either positively or negatively on your brand. You could have the best advertising in the world but if your brand image is poor, you won't be successful.

Case in point: McDowell Ovens.

They make bread crumbs. At Sobey's at least, they have great shelf space which, for packaged goods companies, is one of the most important marketing strategies.

But look closely at the package: "For all your bread crumb uses."

Wow - what a revelation! Here I thought I should use bread crumbs for non-bread crumb uses! (that's sarcasm, in case you didn't catch it)

Packaging (and specifically, what you put on the package) is also a key marketing strategy for packaged goods companies. They had an opportunity to write anything they wanted on their package, and they chose that ineffectual statement. This packaging decision damages their brand. All the good they did for their brand by obtaining key shelf space is undone by their packaging laziness.

I bought a competitive brand.

THE TAKEAWAY FOR YOU:

The lesson for ALL businesses (packaged goods or otherwise): please, please, please look at ALL you do (from packaging to answering the phones) and consider whether you are enhancing or damaging your brand reputation.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Any other examples of exceptionally poor or exceptionally effective packaging?

Monday, February 8, 2010

Here We Go - 2010's Best SuperBowl Ads (and worst!)

Here are my choices for the best SuperBowl Ads in 7 different categories, including "Best All Around Ad" (at the end)... ENJOY! COMMENT!

1) Most Humourous

Winner:
~ Career Builder - "Worst Seat" (the look on her face is priceless!)

Honourable Mention:
~ KGB - "Sumo"
~ Bud Light - "Book Club"


2) Most Effective (at getting the message across):

Winner:
~ Google - "Parisian Love"

Honourable Mention:
~ Coca Cola - "Hard Times"
~ Audi - "Green Car"


3) Worst:

Winner... er.. Loser:
~ Boost Mobile - "Boost Mobile Shuffle"

(Dis)Honourable Mention:
~ Dr. Pepper - "Little Kiss"
~ Miller High Life - "Little Guys"


4) Blatant Teaser to Drive Web Traffic:
~ GoDaddy.com - "News"


5) So Much Promise, But Failed to Meet Expectations:
~ eTrade - "Girlfriend" and "First Class"


6) That the...?!?
~ Taco Bell - "Poem" and "It Rocks"


And the winner is.......


7) BEST ALL AROUND AD

Winner:
~ NFL - "Best Fans"

Runner Up:
~ FloTV - "Moments"



So, what do you think?!?!?

Friday, January 15, 2010

Avatar as an examination of marketing

According to BoxOfficeMojo, Avatar has grossed more than $1.4 BILLION, and counting! There is no definitive answer at the time of writing this, but production costs for the movie appear to be close to $300 million, and marketing costs close to $200 million.

So, here's a question (for which there is probably no answer):

How much would the movie gross if they had spent less on marketing? Or more on marketing? How much would the movie gross if they had spent less on production (presumably weakening the quality of the product)?

This is a very common question - one that we grapple with all the time. Will more marketing lead to enough sales to earn our money back? Is the product good enough on its own to be successful without extensive marketing?

And here's another thing business owners and marketers need to keep in mind: It's possible that the movie would have grossed, say, $1.25 billion with no marketing, putting them $50 million ahead of where they are now (saving $200 million on marketing but earning $150 million less). Would that mean the marketing was a waste? It's tempting to say yes, but think of all the awareness for the movie and for James Cameron and for Fox that was generated!


All marketing has benefits beyond its direct impact on sales.


Remember that as you consider investing in marketing.


Your turn: What's your guess about the box office sales with more (or less) spending on the product or on the marketing?

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Auto industry ads suck, and this auto exec knows it!

There are a few bright spots in the auto advertising business (see Porsche), but for the most part, auto ads suck (see BMW). I have often written/spoken critically about advertising in this industry and to my delight, someone inside the industry is speaking my language.

I am referring to Scott Keogh (Audi CMO), who recognized the fact that most auto industry ads are bland, programmatic and ineffective. Audi broke out of the mold this year in a risky, but crucial attempt to be different, to be memorable, and to be successful.

In this video (it's 8 minutes, so I'll summarize) he gives 3 examples of some truly creative creative that helped Audi stand out in the sea of blandness:



  1. A powerful campaign (with impactful imagery) that espoused the virtues of clean diesel and defiled traditional fuels and the oil-producing Middle East.
  2. A decision to "buy-out" all the TV spots on the three major US networks during Obama's inauguration... but to also agree to simply sponsor the newscasts and run them commercial-free!
  3. A documentary, produced by NFL Films, about the Audi racing experience at Le Mans which they pitched (successfully) to ESPN... before they knew how they would finish in the race!

These are three risky, even radical, approaches to advertising in an otherwise tedious market. In advertising, taking a risk is hard, but it's the best way to create impact.

Turns out that Audi's market share is up, and their profits are growing (that's right, I said profits)! Coincidence?

Another topic I write/speak about often is the importance of creativity (see Apple), and this is a shining example.

Well done Scott and your Audi Marketing team.


Your turn: What are your thoughts about auto ads?

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Creativity counts - just look at this Mac ad

In my marketing seminars and engagements I preach the importance of creativity. Marketing ideas, and in particular advertising ideas, need to stand out and make you notice. They need memory glue. They need to be different.

There are lots of examples that work, and this Mac ad is a recent example.















Most online ads take up one location on a web page. Most have some kind of animation. Mac took it one step further by buying TWO prime locations on the page, but then also integrating the ads so they work together.

In this ad, PC leaves the right-hand, vertical spot to participate in what's going on in the horizontal spot, while Mac watches (I'd show it to you, but the ad rotates so if I sent you a link, you might not see it).

Genius.

That creative thinking about how to make people notice really works.

Most ads are noise. This ad is memorable.

And that's the whole point: how can you think creatively about how you advertise or market your brand that makes it truly stand out from the noise?

Think Diamond Shreddies

Think Bic razor billboards (click to view).


THINK CREATIVELY


Your turn: what are your favourite ads that truly stood out from the rest - that were truly creative?