Caffeinated posts from a copywriter/adgrunt. I write about advertising, design, astronomy, cooking, and pretty much anything else that strikes my fancy, including random bits of reference info for work purposes. You may also know me as 'that other gal' who helps run Adland. | make contact | RSS Feed | ATOM
Monday, July 31, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: Annoying auto ads ]
+ Chrysler's Dr. Z campaign is a flop according to Adage. What a surprise. The ads are nothing but annoying. They attempt to be humorous but fall totally flat. He's not likeable, funny or at all interesting. What is interesting is that he's not even German. The Guardian claims "But the emphasis on German culture is slightly misplaced: Dr Zetsche was born in Istanbul. He joined the research department of Daimler-Benz in 1976."
Personally I think it's the wrong tactic to take to try to introduce people to the German engineering in an American car. I have to say I'd be curious to see what other concepts BBDO came up with and presented besides this one. My guess is that there was something better. There had to be. It's just one more example of poor decision making - there are few times it really works to use the president, or in this case chairman, in advertising. Most often they are poor actors, and can end up hurting sales more than helping. (Of course there are examples where it worked well, like Dave for Wendy's, etc).
In other automotive advertising news, I have to say I'm thrilled that the Ford ads featuring Mandy Moore singing are no longer playing 24/7. The other ones featuring the new Idol winner (who's name escapes me, and I'm not really interested enough to do a quick google search for it) are just as annoying, and thankfully also on a lower buy - at least for now.
One thing to consider when putting ads together that seems to escape some - if you've got a massive buy with loads and loads of frequency, please please please take into consideration the fact that those of us bombarded by the music in the spot will get sick of it much much more quickly that a buy with lower frequency. There are times I just change the channel because I'll go insane if I have to listen to the jingle/music/etc one more time in an ad that otherwise I'd let slide or just tune out. There is another ad too but thankfully I cannot remember who it's for - I believe it's a local dealership spot - which falls into the same category. I'd have to say it's got to be one of the worst jingles I've heard all year long if not ever.
[ :: adgruntie :: Wear this ]
+ Gil the crab from advertising for Honda Element has his own myspace page which has a link to a cafepress page for "i pinch" gear. I have to admit I find "i pinch" amusing. Downside to the gear though is that it also has the myspace url for the crab on it. Would have been better to put that up without the url, IMHO.
Then again I've never understood the thrill some have of being a walking billboard for the most part. Sure there are somethings I don't mind advertising while wearing a tee or cap, but the whole trend of wearing tees that shout "Tommy Hilfiger" or "Prada" does nada for me.
[ :: spacey :: August Meteor Showers ]
+ Information on 6 lesser known meteor showers that go through August. I think I saw a few from this as this weekend I happened to see quite a few shooting stars, which made me wonder if there was a meteor shower going on.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: Why don't you measure this? ]
+ In this day and age everyone is screaming metrics! But there are a few things that really could use better technology, methodology and even planning and execution. Here are a couple examples:
Many who froth at the mouth at the idea of measurement tend to think Alexa is king. The problem is, it is only measuring people who use the Alexa toolbar. And only people using PCs with Microsoft Windows can do that. Alexa claims 10 million users, but no where can one find out really who is using it. If you've got people surfing using a Mac, they don't count. If you've got visitors who don't have the toolbar installed, they don't count. Alrighty.
Then there's Nielsen ratings. They only measure 5,000 households. Out of how many in the US? Currently about 109 million and almost 115 million by 2010. You do the math. Yes, I know Nielsen claims that their measurement is representative of the entire population but I'm not sure how .004587% if the population is representative. If you were doing a scientific experient, you'd be laughed at if that was your sample. So why is it OK for measuring ratings?
These are only two examples but they are huge for the ad world. Especially now with Neilsen wanting to get into online measurements, we have to question the accuracy and realiability of these numbers that we are fed.
Someone has to stand up and ask the questions. Of course, I'm doing it on a blog read by a handful of people but maybe it will get you thinking.
Before we rush ahead to patch the problem, we need to take a look at viable solutions for solving issues that already exist. Putting a bandaid on a leaky pipe doesn't solve the problem. It just delays it for a while, while other problems come into play.
I find it bizarre that so few people are questioning the path the adveritsing world is on right now...screaming for metrics when we have broken methods and models for such things. Let's improve the methods and then scream for measurement. Only then will you have accuracy and a true idea of what the hell is going on, rather than just claiming you know.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: This ]
+ therealduckie lists the top 5 things he/she never wants to see in another pharmaceutical ad.
Fab tees - series of tubes
[ :: adgruntie :: Ice cream and sandals ]
+ Ah life. It's had it's way with me. As has summer. Keeping me busy either working in front of the computer or out and about trying to enjoy the warm (usually too humid) days. It's good. And it seems that all the ad world slows down a bit this time of year, so the posts are not as plentiful. Anyways, here's something fun: McSweeneys list lust.
Friday, July 14, 2006
[ :: copy :: Big Bad Book Blog ]
+ Big Bad Book Blog provides tips and bits on writing.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: A shrewd business man ]
+ Start with a paper clip, end up with a house. Good old fashioned bartering.
[ :: adgruntie :: Long hours worse for women than men ]
+ Oh joy! One more reason it's great to be a woman in advertising. ;)
[ :: copy :: Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest Winners ]
+ Winners are here as well as the runners up. Some wonderfully horrible bits of writing.
[ :: adgruntie :: Oh, it's that time of year ]
+ NASCAR advertising is in full effect. Sadly.
[ :: adgruntie :: Get a free meal, dress as a cow ]
+ Want a free meal? Got a Chick-fil-A near you? Just dress up as a cow tomorrow and you'll get a free meal, according to their press release, as tomorrow is their Cow Appreciation Day.
[ :: adgruntie :: Born Different ]
+ Born Different is a non-profit campaign which hopes to open dialogue in Colorado. I like the way they have approached it creatively - bus coverings, posters and more feature Norman, their spokesdog which moos instead of barking. More info here. I like the animation on the website but the blurriness of it makes it lose some points. Hopefully for them, it's just this crappy computer I'm on today...but who knows.
[ :: adgruntie :: Look I too can state the obvious ]
+ When advertising takes over your favorite site, what do you do? Most people tend to never visit the site and instead just read the rss feeds. So how does that become a problem? Well, you're having advertisers pay to put their ads on your site, and that is based on potential visits, right? So if you don't end up with as many people visiting the site itself to see the ads and maybe click on them, you end up screwing yourself. Just a thought for folks to consider before turning their websites into more ad space than content.
[ :: adgruntie :: I wanna drink like a celebrity ]
+ Back in 2004, I posted on Adland about the trend for celebrities to get their own perfume. This morning I was flipping through the latest issue of Time and came across this somewhat surprising tidbit, celebrity wines. I find this a bit disturbing, much more so than with perfume and cologne.
I could see someone like Larry Bird making a sports drink or Madonna making some crappy vodka that tasted like bubblegum or something, but wine? I am having trouble having the concept jive.
Just like a brand, a celebrity can over-extend itself to the point of failure.
[ :: adgruntie :: Office spaces less like cages ]
+ Redesigning the cubical.
[ :: adgruntie :: Feeling viral ]
+ Alien drinking plants - a viral for alcohol. Damn thing won't finish loading though so I will have to go back to see who it's for and if it's crap or not.
Speaking of crap...How many euphemisms can you find in this viral for Charmin?
Viral for Peugeot where rampant ladybugs do the nasty. eh.
Channel 4 clip described on milkandcookies as: Dame Judi Dench dressed as a lobster, Obi Wan Kenobi - a tomato, Willem Dafoe, Ray Winstone, Rhys Ifans and others spreading the word that the subscription only film channel FilmFour is going free to air.
(all linkage via milkandcookies)
[ :: adgruntie :: Fallon and Senn on Fallon ]
+ I received a copy of the Fallon book by Pat Fallon and Fred Senn, titled "Juicing the Orange" to review. I'm only a few pages in so far as work has been a bit nutty. One thing I did notice that struck me as a little odd is that in the first chapter, they talk about "ad agency legends such as David Ogilvy (of Ogilvy & Mather) and Bill Bernbach (of Doyle Dane Bernbach)." Now I'm guessing that might be the work of an editor who knew nothing of these legends and was afraid others reading the book might not know who they were either. But if you work in advertising or marketing, you should know who they are. A bit of "talking down" to your readers buy including that. Plus, who now-a-days calls DDB by it's full name? If you wanted to clarify, it probably would have made more sense to call the agency DDB.
I did like this bit so far, probably because I've dealt with too many clients who have a fear of the word "creative" and see the world just like this:
[ :: adgruntie :: Does your site nav work? ]
+ A press releaes from yesterday announces Slurpee.com and a joint venture with AOL and AIM to promote their campaign "Now That's Cold." Thing is, before you issue a press release (12 days after the launch, *ahem*), you'd think that someone would be sure the Slurpee site would be good to go. Unfortunately for them, there are navigation errors. Go to some pages and the only way to get back or out is to go back to the main page. Tsk tsk tsk.
Perhaps this explains it:
[ :: adgruntie :: Online ad boom ]
+ Sorrell claims a boom in online advertising. He claims that currently 15% of his business is Internet and in 10 years that figure will double. Really, are you surprised?
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: No more CEOs in ads please ]
+ Dear Company Presidents,
I know how much you want to save funds but acting in your own ads. But, please, please take into consideration that if you cannot act, speak clearly or have an accent that is diffcult to understand, perhaps you should not appear in your ads. Perhaps the better idea would be to spend the extra money so you don't look like a fool, ruin the brand you've worked so hard to build, and waste your money. You should know the old adage, "you've got to spend money to make money". This is one area where it applies.
And especially if your ad is of the chest-pounding variety, when you deliver that (like Ford's spots) you come across as an arrogant SOB. Sure you might be fabulous, but what the hell is the benefit to me/the consumer? Chest-pounding is bad enough, but it's always worse when delivered by the CEO or President.
[ :: adgruntie :: Movies overexposed ]
+ Dear Movie Promoters,
I understand you want to get your movie out in front of as many people as possible. And you seem to think that by creating promotions with every single retailer under the sun you will be able to accomplish this. But in reality all you do is overexpose yourself and make people so sick of hearing about your lame ass movie that they lose the desire to go see it.
[ :: adgruntie :: Polyester trip out city ]
+ Trippy Levi's commercial from the mid 70s...which is sorta obvious once you see it.
Friday, July 07, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: Without words ]
+ A great spot for Sunsilk...no idea how old it is.
[ :: adgruntie :: Spec this on your pecker ]
+ Nice spec ads for condoms.
[ :: adgruntie :: I'm Bender Baby Please Insert Girder ]
+ I love love love this! Al Gore and Bender together again!
[ :: copy :: New "real" words ]
+ 100 new words have been added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Here's a sampling: mouse potato, spyware, gastric bypass, soul patch, supersize, drama queen, and unibrow.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
[ :: copy :: Change how we spell? ]
+ There is actually a group who wants to change to phonetic spelling.
[ :: adgruntie :: Arby's takes on the big boys ]
+ Arby's new ads are going straight after the competition - specifically McDonald's and Wendy's. Curious they they've left out BK...who is also known for their chicken sandwiches. Seems the chicken sandwich is the hot commodity in fast food these days. Anyway, see the ads here...click on TV
[ :: adgruntie :: Annoying auto ads ]
+ Chrysler's Dr. Z campaign is a flop according to Adage. What a surprise. The ads are nothing but annoying. They attempt to be humorous but fall totally flat. He's not likeable, funny or at all interesting. What is interesting is that he's not even German. The Guardian claims "But the emphasis on German culture is slightly misplaced: Dr Zetsche was born in Istanbul. He joined the research department of Daimler-Benz in 1976."
Personally I think it's the wrong tactic to take to try to introduce people to the German engineering in an American car. I have to say I'd be curious to see what other concepts BBDO came up with and presented besides this one. My guess is that there was something better. There had to be. It's just one more example of poor decision making - there are few times it really works to use the president, or in this case chairman, in advertising. Most often they are poor actors, and can end up hurting sales more than helping. (Of course there are examples where it worked well, like Dave for Wendy's, etc).
In other automotive advertising news, I have to say I'm thrilled that the Ford ads featuring Mandy Moore singing are no longer playing 24/7. The other ones featuring the new Idol winner (who's name escapes me, and I'm not really interested enough to do a quick google search for it) are just as annoying, and thankfully also on a lower buy - at least for now.
One thing to consider when putting ads together that seems to escape some - if you've got a massive buy with loads and loads of frequency, please please please take into consideration the fact that those of us bombarded by the music in the spot will get sick of it much much more quickly that a buy with lower frequency. There are times I just change the channel because I'll go insane if I have to listen to the jingle/music/etc one more time in an ad that otherwise I'd let slide or just tune out. There is another ad too but thankfully I cannot remember who it's for - I believe it's a local dealership spot - which falls into the same category. I'd have to say it's got to be one of the worst jingles I've heard all year long if not ever.
[ :: adgruntie :: Wear this ]
+ Gil the crab from advertising for Honda Element has his own myspace page which has a link to a cafepress page for "i pinch" gear. I have to admit I find "i pinch" amusing. Downside to the gear though is that it also has the myspace url for the crab on it. Would have been better to put that up without the url, IMHO.
Then again I've never understood the thrill some have of being a walking billboard for the most part. Sure there are somethings I don't mind advertising while wearing a tee or cap, but the whole trend of wearing tees that shout "Tommy Hilfiger" or "Prada" does nada for me.
[ :: spacey :: August Meteor Showers ]
+ Information on 6 lesser known meteor showers that go through August. I think I saw a few from this as this weekend I happened to see quite a few shooting stars, which made me wonder if there was a meteor shower going on.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: Why don't you measure this? ]
+ In this day and age everyone is screaming metrics! But there are a few things that really could use better technology, methodology and even planning and execution. Here are a couple examples:
Many who froth at the mouth at the idea of measurement tend to think Alexa is king. The problem is, it is only measuring people who use the Alexa toolbar. And only people using PCs with Microsoft Windows can do that. Alexa claims 10 million users, but no where can one find out really who is using it. If you've got people surfing using a Mac, they don't count. If you've got visitors who don't have the toolbar installed, they don't count. Alrighty.
Then there's Nielsen ratings. They only measure 5,000 households. Out of how many in the US? Currently about 109 million and almost 115 million by 2010. You do the math. Yes, I know Nielsen claims that their measurement is representative of the entire population but I'm not sure how .004587% if the population is representative. If you were doing a scientific experient, you'd be laughed at if that was your sample. So why is it OK for measuring ratings?
These are only two examples but they are huge for the ad world. Especially now with Neilsen wanting to get into online measurements, we have to question the accuracy and realiability of these numbers that we are fed.
Someone has to stand up and ask the questions. Of course, I'm doing it on a blog read by a handful of people but maybe it will get you thinking.
Before we rush ahead to patch the problem, we need to take a look at viable solutions for solving issues that already exist. Putting a bandaid on a leaky pipe doesn't solve the problem. It just delays it for a while, while other problems come into play.
I find it bizarre that so few people are questioning the path the adveritsing world is on right now...screaming for metrics when we have broken methods and models for such things. Let's improve the methods and then scream for measurement. Only then will you have accuracy and a true idea of what the hell is going on, rather than just claiming you know.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: This ]
+ therealduckie lists the top 5 things he/she never wants to see in another pharmaceutical ad.
Fab tees - series of tubes
[ :: adgruntie :: Ice cream and sandals ]
+ Ah life. It's had it's way with me. As has summer. Keeping me busy either working in front of the computer or out and about trying to enjoy the warm (usually too humid) days. It's good. And it seems that all the ad world slows down a bit this time of year, so the posts are not as plentiful. Anyways, here's something fun: McSweeneys list lust.
Friday, July 14, 2006
[ :: copy :: Big Bad Book Blog ]
+ Big Bad Book Blog provides tips and bits on writing.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: A shrewd business man ]
+ Start with a paper clip, end up with a house. Good old fashioned bartering.
[ :: adgruntie :: Long hours worse for women than men ]
+ Oh joy! One more reason it's great to be a woman in advertising. ;)
Both sexes consume less alcohol if they spend more time working, researchers said on Wednesday, but toiling extra hours makes women crave unhealthy snacks.
"Women who work long hours eat more high-fat and high-sugar snacks, exercise less, drink more caffeine and, if smokers, smoke more than their male colleagues," said Dr. Daryl O'Connor, a researcher at Britain's Leeds University.
"For men, working longer hours has no negative impact on exercise, caffeine intake or smoking," O'Connor said in a statement released by the Economic and Social Research Council, which funded his study.
[ :: copy :: Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest Winners ]
+ Winners are here as well as the runners up. Some wonderfully horrible bits of writing.
[ :: adgruntie :: Oh, it's that time of year ]
+ NASCAR advertising is in full effect. Sadly.
[ :: adgruntie :: Get a free meal, dress as a cow ]
+ Want a free meal? Got a Chick-fil-A near you? Just dress up as a cow tomorrow and you'll get a free meal, according to their press release, as tomorrow is their Cow Appreciation Day.
[ :: adgruntie :: Born Different ]
+ Born Different is a non-profit campaign which hopes to open dialogue in Colorado. I like the way they have approached it creatively - bus coverings, posters and more feature Norman, their spokesdog which moos instead of barking. More info here. I like the animation on the website but the blurriness of it makes it lose some points. Hopefully for them, it's just this crappy computer I'm on today...but who knows.
[ :: adgruntie :: Look I too can state the obvious ]
+ When advertising takes over your favorite site, what do you do? Most people tend to never visit the site and instead just read the rss feeds. So how does that become a problem? Well, you're having advertisers pay to put their ads on your site, and that is based on potential visits, right? So if you don't end up with as many people visiting the site itself to see the ads and maybe click on them, you end up screwing yourself. Just a thought for folks to consider before turning their websites into more ad space than content.
[ :: adgruntie :: I wanna drink like a celebrity ]
+ Back in 2004, I posted on Adland about the trend for celebrities to get their own perfume. This morning I was flipping through the latest issue of Time and came across this somewhat surprising tidbit, celebrity wines. I find this a bit disturbing, much more so than with perfume and cologne.
I could see someone like Larry Bird making a sports drink or Madonna making some crappy vodka that tasted like bubblegum or something, but wine? I am having trouble having the concept jive.
Just like a brand, a celebrity can over-extend itself to the point of failure.
[ :: adgruntie :: Office spaces less like cages ]
+ Redesigning the cubical.
[ :: adgruntie :: Feeling viral ]
+ Alien drinking plants - a viral for alcohol. Damn thing won't finish loading though so I will have to go back to see who it's for and if it's crap or not.
Speaking of crap...How many euphemisms can you find in this viral for Charmin?
Viral for Peugeot where rampant ladybugs do the nasty. eh.
Channel 4 clip described on milkandcookies as: Dame Judi Dench dressed as a lobster, Obi Wan Kenobi - a tomato, Willem Dafoe, Ray Winstone, Rhys Ifans and others spreading the word that the subscription only film channel FilmFour is going free to air.
(all linkage via milkandcookies)
[ :: adgruntie :: Fallon and Senn on Fallon ]
+ I received a copy of the Fallon book by Pat Fallon and Fred Senn, titled "Juicing the Orange" to review. I'm only a few pages in so far as work has been a bit nutty. One thing I did notice that struck me as a little odd is that in the first chapter, they talk about "ad agency legends such as David Ogilvy (of Ogilvy & Mather) and Bill Bernbach (of Doyle Dane Bernbach)." Now I'm guessing that might be the work of an editor who knew nothing of these legends and was afraid others reading the book might not know who they were either. But if you work in advertising or marketing, you should know who they are. A bit of "talking down" to your readers buy including that. Plus, who now-a-days calls DDB by it's full name? If you wanted to clarify, it probably would have made more sense to call the agency DDB.
I did like this bit so far, probably because I've dealt with too many clients who have a fear of the word "creative" and see the world just like this:
In the world of marketing communications, "creative" typically means "self-indulgent", the kind of art for art's sake ads that win awards but don't affect a client's bottom line. In the larger business world, creativity can be an even more pejorative word. Innovation is prized, but creativity conjures images of an improv group brought in for a team-building exervise, or empty exhortations to "think outside the box".
[ :: adgruntie :: Does your site nav work? ]
+ A press releaes from yesterday announces Slurpee.com and a joint venture with AOL and AIM to promote their campaign "Now That's Cold." Thing is, before you issue a press release (12 days after the launch, *ahem*), you'd think that someone would be sure the Slurpee site would be good to go. Unfortunately for them, there are navigation errors. Go to some pages and the only way to get back or out is to go back to the main page. Tsk tsk tsk.
Perhaps this explains it:
AOL is providing all content, creative and development for the Slurpee website. AOL is managing all aspects of the new promotional site, including the loyalty program and a custom research program to measure the campaign's effectiveness.;)
[ :: adgruntie :: Online ad boom ]
+ Sorrell claims a boom in online advertising. He claims that currently 15% of his business is Internet and in 10 years that figure will double. Really, are you surprised?
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: No more CEOs in ads please ]
+ Dear Company Presidents,
I know how much you want to save funds but acting in your own ads. But, please, please take into consideration that if you cannot act, speak clearly or have an accent that is diffcult to understand, perhaps you should not appear in your ads. Perhaps the better idea would be to spend the extra money so you don't look like a fool, ruin the brand you've worked so hard to build, and waste your money. You should know the old adage, "you've got to spend money to make money". This is one area where it applies.
And especially if your ad is of the chest-pounding variety, when you deliver that (like Ford's spots) you come across as an arrogant SOB. Sure you might be fabulous, but what the hell is the benefit to me/the consumer? Chest-pounding is bad enough, but it's always worse when delivered by the CEO or President.
[ :: adgruntie :: Movies overexposed ]
+ Dear Movie Promoters,
I understand you want to get your movie out in front of as many people as possible. And you seem to think that by creating promotions with every single retailer under the sun you will be able to accomplish this. But in reality all you do is overexpose yourself and make people so sick of hearing about your lame ass movie that they lose the desire to go see it.
[ :: adgruntie :: Polyester trip out city ]
+ Trippy Levi's commercial from the mid 70s...which is sorta obvious once you see it.
Friday, July 07, 2006
[ :: adgruntie :: Without words ]
+ A great spot for Sunsilk...no idea how old it is.
[ :: adgruntie :: Spec this on your pecker ]
+ Nice spec ads for condoms.
[ :: adgruntie :: I'm Bender Baby Please Insert Girder ]
+ I love love love this! Al Gore and Bender together again!
[ :: copy :: New "real" words ]
+ 100 new words have been added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Here's a sampling: mouse potato, spyware, gastric bypass, soul patch, supersize, drama queen, and unibrow.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
[ :: copy :: Change how we spell? ]
+ There is actually a group who wants to change to phonetic spelling.
When “say,” “they” and “weigh” rhyme, but “bomb,” “comb” and “tomb” don’t, wuudn’t it maek mor sens to spel wurdz the wae thae sound?Golly gee whiz! Just reading that gives me a headache. Just imagine - ad copy that looks a heck of a lot closer to lorem ipsum! ;-)
Those in favor of simplified spelling say children would learn faster and illiteracy rates would drop. Opponents say a new system would make spelling even more confusing.
Eether wae, the consept has yet to capcher th publix imajinaeshun.
[ :: adgruntie :: Arby's takes on the big boys ]
+ Arby's new ads are going straight after the competition - specifically McDonald's and Wendy's. Curious they they've left out BK...who is also known for their chicken sandwiches. Seems the chicken sandwich is the hot commodity in fast food these days. Anyway, see the ads here...click on TV
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