Just what I've been looking forrrrrrr

Finally! I have something I actually can sit down and point out!

Have you seen the Verizon Commercial, "There's an app for that?" You must have, because they only show it every 4th ad on television. Well. They were. Guess their timing for the spots was poorly picked. WHY?! Because when this ad ran and ran and ran (along with another ad-- the Droid phone for Verizon), I thought to myself for weeks. Gee, the almighty AT&T sure is slow to respond to such blatant attacks on their brand and phones. WHAT are they waiting for!?!?





It turns out. AT&T picked the BEST time to retaliate. That time is now, beginning in this part of the country last week. I have to say, I am very impressed. This here, Thanksgiving week-- better yet, the week of BLACK FRIDAY, and they release these ads.

The only thing I find ridiculous is the use of Luke Wilson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjwBHqa6lZI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrx2qEoND5I

Ring Around the Rosie

I have found some extensions to my post about print and blogging-- the one here.

AdAge posted an article about the FTC's new endorsement rules, and it affects bloggers.

I understand why they are doing it, but if you read the end of the article where it says:

"Can I still give product to traditional outlets such as radio, newspapers and magazines?
Yes.

Why?
Ask the FTC"

Clearly they see the blogosphere as something inherently more powerful than traditional media. WHY? Are bloggers really that much more influential that a newspaper or radio personality touting their experience with products they were given by the brands to try and endorse? I know when I hear the voice of the FAT FAT DJ on the radio telling me to try some weight-loss pill even though I cannot see the results for myself, I totally believe it! HA!

ohhh boy.

In other news. When I was in college, every fall we would try to go to the corn field maze. Check out the site here at The Maize. AND THE MAZE IS AMAZING THIS YEAR!!!

via The Maize

Then I found an article about a corn maze in Massachusetts that did theirs with Stewie and Brian from Family Guy!! Check it out here

Bahda bababa....

I'm Lovin it.

Last time I wrote a big thing about Starbucks, this time I've delving into the world of McCafe. The way I viewed McDonald's while working at the agency and the global perception may be a bit different. Both good and bad, but mainly just different. The amount I enjoyed just doing work and being able to be a part of something on the account really transitioned over to the brand for me. It created a little more respect for the brand in my mind so to speak. Because I mean, I know what McDonald's is, I know they aren't really revered or respected for some of their characteristics. But in an advertising way, I think they do a marvelous job. They also show phenomenal social responsibility through multiple charities.

Maybe I got a little too close to be clear, which is a rookie mistake I'll bet. The Nash Attack commented about how she thought the current McCafe ad featuring Dwele, were not a real representation of the demographic, but instead a depiction of what others think African Americans want to see. I liked the ad, but thinking about what she said really got me to thinkin'. So I looked youtubed some McCafe commercials from around the globe and read up on the comments.



From what I can tell looking around on the Internet, Dwele is quite popular. The hip-hop, jazzy style is very in.

On the other hand, there are some McCafe commercials that I absolutely loathe. They insult the consumer in my opinion. "Hey if you're a regular person, then just come on in for some McCafe coffee and forget all of the uppity lingo of brands like Starbucks". But the thing is-- they characterize the regular person as an uneducated, uncultured, ignorant moneyless dumbass that buys McDonald's because it makes them feel more on their level. I'm sorry. If I were a brand, I'd be aiming a little higher, or at least making the consumer feel like they have some sort of chance to be someone. Here:



via a Boston Globe article
There's another one that's worse. Since when can't an intellectual person be cultured and a penny pincher? It's supposed to be a joke, I get it, but let's talk about a brand that did it WAY WAY WAY better than McDonald's-- Dunkin Donuts.



It's funny. It pokes fun at the competitor without poking fun at the consumer. And how can you not love a commercial narrated by John Goodman? Haha!

Anyway, this morning I tried the free sample of Starbucks Via that I received. It's good, for instant coffee. But I definitely can taste the difference. I made sure to drink a cup of regular coffee prior to consumption of the Via just to be sure. It definitely has a instant twang to it, but really isn't bad!! If you're one of those working people that rushes to work in the mornings, I'd recommend it.

For Every King A Crown

I saw an AMAZING ad for Crown Royal during the commercial break of The Tonight Show with Conan O'brien tonight and I can't find it online! It goes with the campaign in the ads below.

I'll write more about it when I find it.

The Middle Ground

I'm sorry, did anyone else think Vertical Horizon had fallen off the planet? I know I did. Apparently they have a new album out, and some of the stuff isn't too bad! It may be the 90s child in me, but I quite enjoy The Middle Ground



Speaking of grounds. Ad Age is featuring an article on Starbucks' new product today. The instant coffee called Via.

The chain is expecting between 8 million and 10 million consumers to visit its 7,500 company-run cafes in the U.S. and Canada to participate in a taste test that runs Friday through Monday. Participants will receive a "thank you" card good for a free coffee on their next visit, and $1 off their purchase of Via at any Starbucks.

They are doing an all out attack on various forms of tradition and social media. This includes inviting all of their facebook friends to the taste testing event.

Here's the Ad, I couldn't embed it.
Starbucks Via Taste Test Ad

The best part is when the guy stands up in the middle of the town meeting and says "I can't taste the difference!... I CAN'T!" hahaha

I think it might be the smartest thing they've done in a while. My friend Nash and I have long seen Starbucks as a dying brand. It just got too big too fast, and you can go to a Starbucks location and watch the place kill itself. And the thing is, I know I read an article where they brought in their original guy and were trying to 'get back to their roots'. Remember when Starbucks used to be a warm inviting place, with comfy chairs, plenty of space, with intelligent, hardworking, kind employees, and the strong aroma of fresh ground coffee? Today it's a place that is over cluttered with it's POP items, overpriced mugs, stupid anecdotes and quotes strategically place all around the store, and incompetency. Everyone I've talked to about Starbucks tells me the biggest difference they see is in the service. No one wants to go to a coffee shop with 6 people working behind the counter trying to make coffee for 3 people and still managing to ruin the orders. I remember that was a big reason we used to go to Starbucks. They made your coffee lickety split, and without too much hassle.

Another problem?
Those print ads with the anecdotes and facts? They have a tone of arrogance that I don't see any of middle America being fooled by. They try to relate to their customers and say "Hey, we're friends here." To which I say-- When have we ever been friends? You sell me overpriced coffee and you sell it HARD. Too hard. You're pretending to be my friend to make more money. So fail fail fail with the print ads.



But here's where the Facebook thing comes in. People actually feel some sort of connection to the company, not just because they are friends with them on Facebook (because we all know how fake that can be) , but because they are getting some sort of tangible feedback with the invites and the offers. Capitalize on that while it lasts because nothing is good forever.

So sell your instant coffee and get people away from your store while you try to piece it back together!!

Yet. Even So. Are they behind McDonalds in the taste test concept? Struggling to reel their customers back in as more and more head next door to McDonalds?

Let me tell you two personal stories about this whole thing:
When my dad and I were driving to Lbk more recently, we stopped at a Starbucks to get our morning coffee fix. There is a sign (on the door at 8 or 9 am mind you!) that says, 'We will only be open from 2pm to 6 pm due to lack of employees" WOW. FATAL mistake. There was a McDonalds RIGHT NEXT DOOR. We watched several people try the Starbucks, realize it was closed and head to McDonalds, including ourselves.

Second. When I was interning at the Ad Agency, I volunteered to help with a lot of PR events on the McDonalds account. In one case, we were set up outside of a baseball game, giving out free samples of McDonalds McCafe Iced Coffee. Talking to people, connecting with people, getting them to try the product. There was no mention of Starbucks, or being better than them, it was just straight up-- "Check us out". That was over a month ago, and here comes Starbucks with their taste tests. A little late starting if you ask me.

Until next time! Hope they come out with syringes with which you can just inject caffeine right into your bloodstream. WHOO!

Patrick Chewing

Let's talk about Snickers, (Mars). If you read this new AdAge article, Marketing: Mars Consolidates Brand Advertising Creative for 2010.

The most significant change under Mars' new plan is the return of the $30 million U.S. Snickers account to Omnicom Group's BBDO Worldwide from sibling TBWA/Chiat/Day, New York.

TBWA had handled Snickers' creative since 2006, and earned numerous creative awards for work under former top creative Gerry Graf. Its most recent iteration of the campaign, "Snickers Speak," was introduced under the office's new head creative, Mark Figliulo. The theme was a language dubbed "Snacklish," with outdoor executions telling customers to "Get a Degree in Snackomonics" and TV spots featuring rapper Master P and retired basketballer Patrick Ewing.

WHY on God's green earth would you change? The current ad campaign is phenomenal. And don't just believe me, here are some backups:

Let's All Just Agree the Snickers Ad Campaign Is the Best

It's a Snickers Ad By Any Other Name


Can't wait to see how this works out for Mars.

Here is a photo from my weekend in CS. More to come later on that trip.

We've Heard It All Before, And EVERYBODY Knows.

I guess...

I absolutely love this RAC mix of John Legend's Everybody Knows. If one artist consistently sings like he's singing because he loves music, like it's flowing from his heart, that artist is John Legend.





John Legend- Everybody Knows (RAC Mix)

I consider myself to be a decently confident person when it counts. Most of the time. Usually. I'm confident in the things that I know I'm good at-- confident almost to a fault. But in other areas in my life, I'm not always so sure about myself. It's something I'm trying to let go of. I think the need for Ego boosts, encouragement and reassurance can be healthy, not all the time, but sometimes. The expression of those things can be through actions and if it's important, words. It really reassures a human being of -'Hey, I do something that makes a difference'. Maybe you don't change the world, or save one, but maybe you make a difference for one person, two people--whatever. It's validation.


It's kin to that whole idea that if you simply acknowledge someone you pass in the hallway at work or on the streets, you could really make a day. It's the thing advertisers want to elicit through advertising-- that warm feeling that maybe the world isn't such a cold doomed place after all, and that you as the consumer have a position in it. The ideal feeling. It's the kind of feeling when you walk outside during Christmas time-- the warm smell, the cold air, people bundled up and with those they love.

Can you think back and remember moments of complete peace and bliss in your life? Because not having a job or a place to live or being angry with your current situation can best be healed in one of two ways: thinking about those wonderful times in the past or getting up and making new memories create that sentiment. I like both.

I slide off into advertisements I see lately. Hasbro and Mattel with ads about reconnecting with your family in tough financial times and playing games; having a Family Game Night and even food commercials that feature families spending more time together. What is it about situations like this that bring everyone back down to earth and simplicity? Especially in the past decade when money is ever important?

At Tech, we used to have game nights, they were some of the best nights. I remember specifically the Winter two years ago-- the time it snowed from Friday afternoon to Sunday night every weekend for like four weeks. Weekends stuck in the dorms, when we were forced to entertain ourselves with everything from video games, board games, to snowballs. We weren't happy to be stuck inside with no way to go anywhere, but we had FUN.



I've just remembered how last year, an external hard drive containing photos documenting all of these things, crashed. And the full fledged photographer in me sheds a serious tear. Someday I will have gathered the exorbitant amount of money needed to recover these files.

Anyway. I'm off to CS this weekend to enjoy the company of friends.
And in final news: This weekend is the Tech vs UT game... the daunting day approacheth...



He's ready, are you?

Shimmery Summery

For most people I know, Summer 2009 has ended. Some have started fall classes at various universities, and a select few are off to start their new jobs. Select few. One to be exact.

But real summer isn't over yet, it's still lovely outside, everyone should enjoy it!

Most recently, I finished my internship at the ad agency uptown. Overall I want to say it was a good experience... really just more of a necessary one. My internship was in account services, and in this position, I figured out that I loathe account services. Kudos to anyone that has the ability to handle a client with precision and grace, because I would kill the first stupid ass client that crossed me the wrong way. So it was a learning experience for me! When I first graduated I really was unsure of the direction I wanted to take in the industry. I knew I was creative, I knew I WANTED to be in creative but I really didn't think I had the skill necessary to dive right into it out of college. I should have been a graphic design major or at least minor. But you know! Have the degree now...

I digress. After being at the agency, I realized there are a multitude of different positions in creative, and not all of them require immediate expert level experience.

Whenever someone asks me where I want to end up in advertising, I tell them my interest in music branding and that I want to be an art buyer. But not until last night, when I submersed myself in everything advertising did I see just how much I want to be an art buyer. So now I have a pin pointed goal!

So, the job search continues...

I found an interesting article on AdAge today about women in creative. Creativity Knows No Gender, but Agency Creative Departments Sure Do :

Despite all that, women have succeeded in becoming creative directors in advertising agencies. And research has sifted out the traits they share: great creative talent, a competitive nature, resilience and an outgoing personality. They are politically astute, primarily focused on career and/or childless.

Well that puts a damper on things... I know I say I hate children, but I always think I might have some one day...

Ew. ha.

Let's talk about that game DJ Hero. It's like Guitar Hero right, only you use a turn table to scratch through mixes done by legendary DJs, I assume there is a free style mode too? Check it out here:

and a video:



My point about mentioning this?

B and C TOTALLY had this idea first! Over a year ago, they had this idea for a hip hop rap type version of guitar hero, only they wanted to call it Urban Legend. B says playing DJ Hero would make me a traitor. I want to look at it this way, really this game is more of a DJing game, and less of a rapping game. So they still have a chance! But let's face it, their idea of the game will be created eventually.


Lately, despite the job situation, I've been so... effervescent. Bubbling over with joy. I don't know why. You know, things in life really go much better when I am just able to let go and take everything a little less seriously. If i don't over analyze or jump to conclusions, things go my way. I am so much happier too. Just going with the flow for a little while. I am trying to continue thinking this way, every once in a while I lose it, but so far so good!

I leave you with a photo, OF THE ANGRIEST MAN IN THE WORLD!!!!

In Advertising...

I've been bored at home lately so I began watching season 1 of Mad Men. It's a pretty good show so far.



Today I was reading this AdAge article , which talks about VW dropping Crispin Porter as it's agency. That's all well and good, I thought the efforts and campaigns of late were horrendous.

What interested me was one commenters nod to Bill Bernbach. He posted several quotations fromt he legendary advertiser; they are good reminders of what we should be striving for in this business-- (antiquated or not, what works, works.)

"1) The most powerful element in advertising is the truth.

2) Word of mouth is the best medium of all.

3) It is insight into human nature that is the key to the communicator's skill. For whereas the writer is concerned with what he puts into his writings, the communicator is concerned with what the reader gets out of it. He therefore becomes a student of how people read or listen.

4) Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make.

5) You can say the right thing about a product and nobody will listen. You've got to say it in such a way that people will feel it in their gut. Because if they don't feel it, nothing will happen.

6) Forget words like 'hard sell' and 'soft sell.' That will only confuse you. Just be sure your advertising is saying something with substance, something that will inform and serve the consumer, and be sure you're saying it like it's never been said before.

7) Just because your ad looks good is no insurance that it will get looked at. How many people do you know who are impeccably groomed... but dull?

8) No matter how skillful you are, you can't invent a product advantage that doesn't exist. And if you do, and it's just a gimmick, it's going to fall apart anyway.

9) Our job is to sell our clients' merchandise... not ourselves. Our job is to kill the cleverness that makes us shine instead of the product. Our job is to simplify, to tear away the unrelated, to pluck out the weeds that are smothering the product message.

10) Advertising doesn't create a product advantage. It can only convey it.

11) Advertising is fundamentally persuasion and persuasion happens to be not a science, but an art.

12) Properly practiced creativity must result in greater sales more economically achieved. Properly practiced creativity can lift your claims out of the swamp of sameness and make them accepted, believed, persuasive, urgent. "

I only hope that one day I am able to actually put these things into practice by actually working at a real agency...not just interning.

The Holistic Approach.

"People's use of the internet is an extension of who they are offline. The interests they pursue offline will be what they seek online as well. Marketers should approach online consumers from a holistic approach. Instead of thinking of just eyeballs looking at a computer screen, marketers need to understand the complete individual they're targeting. What do they like to do offline? What gets them jazzed? How do they look for information? What kind of media do they like?"

Jackie Rousseau-Anderson - Forrester Analyst


via an AdAge article about a survey of American consumers showing Internet use leveling out.

It's what I think advertising should be, an attack on all fronts if you will. Although attacking makes it sound a little more morbid than I'd like. You catch my drift.

Here are two of my favorite ads right now. One is the extended Microsoft Bing! commercial; they show it at movie theaters prior to the film. (And don't think Bing is that great, but their ads are.)




The second is from the 'Go Forth' Levi's campaign. Levi's is a classic brand, and I've always loved their advertising. Bring back the blue jean 'craze'! I mean. Jeans are something today that are ingrained into all style. You can wear them in SO many situations. Dark, light (in any variant of wash!), short, long, ragged, holy, fringed, skinny, wide leg, etc, etc... That said-- who doesn't sell jeans these days? Levi's needs something to set them out as not only a brand of jeans, but THE brand. Maybe not over designer jeans, but Today's American's jean company. I think this campaign is a big step toward that, influencing the youth. Yet, does the lack of mainstream popularity hold some sort of mystery to the brand? I don't see why they aren't more popular. This campaign makes me want a pair.



Levi Strauss leads the apparel industry in trademark infringement cases-- it's amazing what you can find online http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=registration&entry=1139254

EDIT: I found this Adage Article while still surfing around for details on the campaign. Read the comments, I think it's amusing that the target audience commenters really did enjoy the concept, while industry naysayers and the older generations of agency workers believe it's crap. Guess we'll see.

Advantages.

Let me tell you why the internet is one of the most amazing things to happen to humanity.

When my mother was my age, if you wanted to know something instantly, something obscure-- do you use the traditional media??? Think about it. It's the progress of communication. Writing letters that were delivered on horseback, reading huge volumes of books in the library, the postal service, mail traveling on boats...etc. You have newspapers, television, magazines, and telephones with which to get your information. BUT the Internet. Is. Instant. (Same goes for cell phones).

I was watching a rerun of Conan O'Brien tonight, and Seth Green was one of the guests.
He was telling one of those lame boring celebrity anecdotes. I guess that's all they do on late shows, that and promote their newest project. Anyway he was telling about an encounter with Jack White, and said that JW asked him "aren't you the cha-ching guy?"

I thought to myself, "hmma...what is that from?"

Unable to place it, I youtubed it and came up with this;




Wow. haha. Regardless of the serious hilarity here, my point.

I'm able to find out anything about any one, any event, any location, ANYTHING instantly!! Vast amounts of knowledge, at my fingertips. THRILLING.

I LOVE Being a Nerd

link

I was sitting at home this afternoon, chilling out, watching something on television. During the commercial break an ad for Bush's Baked Beans came on, and as I watched it, I realized I was analyzing every bit of the commercial. So I had to come in here and find out what I could about the brand and it's history, as I judge the commercial.

Here's a time line I found via the Bush's Web site. Bush Beans
I'll highlight it

So Jay Bush, the actor in the commercials is an actual family member. And as far as I can tell this business has always been a family owned business. I think that brings a lot of loyalty and respect to the brand. People see something that is still thriving from it's deep roots and they feel the need to stick with it as well.

The basic concept of each ad stems from a 1995 ad with Jay Bush and his dog Duke. The ad actually won a Gold Effie that year.

I actually think the dog is such a crappy middle-American appeasement that mocks the national intelligence, or no, just underestimates it. But maybe the dog provides the necessary recall for the brand.

So to me, keep it in the family, ditch the fucking dog. But what do I know, it seems to work! Do they seriously need to do as much advertising as they do, just to maintain the market share? It's beans for fuck's sake.

Here's the ad:

Enough Creativity to Light Your Mind on Fire.

This is without a doubt the most innovative ad I've seen in a long time. It's a video projection on the side of a building, an ad for HBO

read about it via AdAge here: Voyeur