make the logo bigger

Luscious lettuce. Tantalizing tomatoes.

2009-11-09T15:48:00.004-05:00

How often do you get to see French fast food porn? Not often! From McDonald’s: I give you Le M. Avec bacon—sans bacon. If you must know, the song is Camel (Nosaj Thing Remix) from Flying Lotus.

(Via luckthelady.)

Wanted: Social Media Czar.

2009-11-09T10:00:00.008-05:00

Compensation: Peasant. Saw this listing on Talent Zoo and had to share with my audience. I just had to!

__________________________________

Social Media Specialist – Freelance / Virtual

Our company is looking for a smart and experienced professional to serve as our Social Media Specialist. Since 1996, our company has united qualified professionals with top hiring companies. Over the years, our services expanded to include a leading career website where visitors post and find jobs and share advertising and media news, trends, and hot topics.

In this role, you will be deeply involved (obsessed really) with social networks, blogging, and online communities. You should understand the integration of social media from a marketing, customer care and public relations perspective, have experience monitoring and posting online, and be able to help develop overall strategies and rapid response plans and procedures. You will create buzz and excitement about our company in a smart and strategic way using good judgment and diplomacy.

Responsibilities:

Daily updates and monitoring of our social media pages & accounts

Regular monitoring of external social networks & blogs pertaining to our industry.

Responsible for all posts/comments on particular topics or in response to other posts/comments

Constantly communicate constructive and innovating suggestions on how to use social media tools/sites to increase our voice to market.

Required Competencies/Skills:

Bachelor’s degree required or comparable experience.

Experience in marketing, preferably utilizing social network tools and platforms to achieve clear business objectives.

Familiarity with developing and maintaining social media networks and relationships.

A subject matter expert on social media tools — knows them, has used them all, understands differences, benefits, etc – and has ability and patience to educate internal audiences.

Major passion for this as a day-to-day job and will think creatively about how to use these tools and will proactively seek out new tools as they come onto the radar (e.g., Unisfair, Mozes, etc.).

Excellent communication skills; ability to work with multiple contributors at various levels.

Public relations experience, a plus. Planning and developing strategy around campaigns.

[ The best part ]

The position begins immediately; 2 hours/day; $10-12/hour, DOE.

__________________________________

A whole $12? Hmmm. I don’t know. I might have to think about it. The office of Czar doe sound like a lofty title. And it is tempting, the chance to work virtually, in my pajamas. I mean, “Planning and developing strategy around campaigns” for $12 an hour does seem fair, and maybe I shouldn’t complain... in times like these.

Yeah. I’m gonna apply. I mean, blogging qualifies me, right?

Grandpa is having flashbacks again-you offended?

2009-11-09T02:12:00.003-05:00

When I saw these new spots from Kayak.com over the weekend, I actually thought it was funny that gramps might be losing it. Yeah, he was telling a story that seemed real, until the destination board behind him started up, then it came off like he was back on Normandy. (The other spot features a French motif.)

Few things came to mind. One is that it felt a little odd that they were running this so close to Veteran’s Day.

Second, the son is selfishly more focused on a vacation than hearing about dad’s service, let alone respecting it. If I was mildly offended by anything, it was that. Creative license taken in this case anyway because no dad talks like that to his kid about his time in the service, least not in my experience.

Which leads to discussions I’ve seen already where people seem divided into three camps over it: 1) People like it and aren't offended, 2) People don’t like it and aren’t offended and 3) People aren’t offended, but they don’t think the spot is funny. (Credit to someone from Kayak for coming on YouTube and answering critics though.)

Whether dot com brands should be depending on traditional media to get the word out is another issue. Many post-bubble brands built their business online first without heavy support from TV, radio and print to help them grow. Only now at the end of their first decade or so in business do you see more of them flip that script and go the “traditional” route.

(And here, maybe Kayak wanted to stand out and assign a “voice” to the brand in the face of increased competition on the travel sector, who knows. So, why not turn to TV.)

That sets up another dynamic.

For a few years now, brands living in the online space have started to focus more on providing something of practical value to surfers/users/customers. Forget shiny happy TV—help me online and improve my daily life with sites that put function over form, and I might become a loyal customer in return.

Google. Amazon. Zappos. Even established brands now see value in providing something of extra “value,” even if that value is entertainment: Nike Plus, Domino’s pizza tracker, Liberty Mutual’s Responsibility Project, etc. These sites move beyond having just a simple campaign because they help(ed) you do something useful.

So when I see Kayak move to TV and run their brand through the traditional ad agency filters of “insight” followed by “clever attempt at execution of same” followed by “memorable tagline,” it feels odd.

Those three ingredients are there in this spot for sure, but the one underlying factor that is the only real benefit for them is that mass media delivers a lot of eyeballs at once. Because of that, I question if the “idea” part of the agency equation works the way it once did for this generation of brands, given this thought:

Anyone who used Kayak.com to this point (including me), only knew it from the online space. My experience with it was straightforward and without clever ad campaign. I would go there, punch in some dates, then get back some options. Done.

TV didn’t have to tell me how to feel about that.

But now, it does. Or is trying to in these gloomy, spots. (Which is another disconnect. While not everything has to match, Progressive Insurance has established a consistent look and feel between their TV and online.)

With the Kayak spots, the agency approach to show how clever they can be creativity masks the simplicity of the site’s function. This is why Google works. It’s stripped-down interface does one thing: Helps you find whatever. Fast.

Yet, watch, when they ramp up their existing ad efforts even more, you can bet the spots will be more complicated than that real-life function that just works. This is where the disconnect will ultimately happen. Other have said this in different ways but ultimately:

The message of your :30 is likely at odds with my customer experience.

I realize too it’s a double-edged sword, in that, TV can also reshape perceptions. Orbitz may strain credibility with flying Stephen Colbert dude, but those spots made you forget their horrible beginnings and those annoying, endless pop-up banners from hell. (Almost.) Phoenix University too where once annoying banner orgy has now become merely respectable branding campaign.

Still, for all the talk of traditional vs. digital divides, the relevance of mass media like TV in building brands is where it needs to manifest itself, not in the number of Flash devs an agency has.

“Sent from the Defense Minister of Israel’s mobile.”

2009-11-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

Israel has announced a plan to start using cell phones for incoming missile alerts. Was thinking, why could we not do the same thing here, but with Amber alerts nationwide? I hate spam, but I could see some good coming from it.

“It’s a European shoulder bag—for his balls.”

2009-11-08T10:07:00.012-05:00

Based on a series of recent spots which can only be called as the continued pussyfication of American men, I changed my mind about an old post. Sorta. Not the “men are idiots” part, because at times, we are. But the dude in the Progressive spot above is popping up more and more: Mr. Just Let Me Sit Here and Take It.

Like the husband and wife mouse slayers below. The spot melds both themes perfectly, even though for the most part it’s men who are usually the first ones called by their dramatic significant other, our hero below gets the evil eye. (Click to go to Ortho for the spot.)

Then there’s my favorite BMW certified pre-owned spot with Hillary stunt double. Would she be a pleasure to live with? Oh, you have no idea.

Or maybe you prefer your berating over cereal?

T-Mobile fights back—somewhat. I call this one a draw because he holds his ground and only begrudgingly acquiesces at the end:

Although they gave it back a little with this next one. He’s not spineless, he just can’t help being the dog that all men are:

Pick a spineless dad scenario though. Brands just look at these as another way to highlight their product’s features using humor. While low-hanging fruit for a few agencies, a lot of them are like the guys in the spots, who cave and give the clients whatever stereotype they want.

Or not. I’m on the fence about it. I think.

That’s one way to reheat a meal.

2009-11-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

And that’s a long way to go for a line.

What did Brown do to you?

2009-11-07T17:36:00.007-05:00

Damn FedEx, were they late with a delivery to Memphis? (Oh!) Mentioning a competitor is tricky. Okay when you’re lagging behind trying to piggyback on the popularity of the category* leader, but not sure if mudslinging is the ideal way to go on Brown Bailout. (LOOK AT ME WITH A BROWN REFERENCE.)

I like brands that move beyond the planned campaigns they have for the year and do guerilla, quick-hit PR type stuff, like the contest aspect of this where FedEd will give out their own “bailout” money. It doesn’t feel right though to take it further and call out your competitor on top of that, lest they fire back with an anti-union shot across the bow.

It’s a move Ford could easily have pulled in recent advertising by referencing the bailout money that GM and Chrysler took, but instead, they took the high road. (I can’t be stopped with the puns.)

Instead, customers and those who watch the industry do it for them every chance they get. *rasies hand* Here though, FedEx just hammers UPS, and not just their bailout decision, but the campaign from Martin even comes under fire. (Check out a money you could be saving poke in the trailer there.)

*Sales figures for 2008 in billions: USPS–$75, UPS–$51 and FedEx–$38.5.

What the...? Solo edition.

2009-11-07T17:09:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, I find stuff for the What the...? theme that just need its own space. Like this one called HAND-PROP ACCIDENT. It sounds worse than what happens to the guy, but please people, don’t own planes. Nothing good ever comes from it. Enjoy!

The beauty about piracy? Typos bre damned!

2009-11-07T17:03:00.005-05:00

This collection of pirated DVD covers from Nerdcore shows the lengths bootleggers go to when copying a DVD. Which is to say, any length. Credits from other movies (Exorcist on Scareface?) Reviews from the person themselves. Score! (Most images have notes in them re: specific typos. Check them out.)

New Ridley Scott movie?

2009-11-07T14:22:00.003-05:00

Or Ukrainian village. I’m guessing they don’t usually get many trick or treaters. Check out more real life Hansel and Gretel “inspirations.”

My dog is delish!

2009-11-06T13:44:00.005-05:00

In spirit, according to the sample of Rachael Ray dog food I got in the mail. Nutrish! The package looks like bad candy design from the 1970s, and the actual sample bag inside looked even more odd. Felt like the back of a recipe card for some reason. (Dog ate it so I suppose it’s okay from a “dogs will eat anything’ perspective. Of course, dogs also eat their own puke and sniff each other’s butts.) Have to wonder if this move puts her regular brand on par with dog food too much though. Ya think?

“Hy-Tech Autobaby, may I help you?”

2009-11-06T10:31:00.005-05:00

As brilliantly as I think Rhett & Link have put “bad” local on the map, they still can’t replicate the well-meaning intentions of the DIY small business crowd. Oh sure, E*TRADE has CGI coming out of it’s diapers, but it’s hard to beat an auto baby operator. Experience the difference!

(Via Mat. O.)

“First, ya gotta know your product.”

2009-11-06T00:14:00.000-05:00

Chevy trucks didn’t just fly out the door in 1941 by themselves—you had to sell them, mister!

Hot Pockets—It’s what’s for viral.

2009-11-06T00:07:00.000-05:00

They’re back. But lose the mascot and just let the skaters do cool shit while eating... Hot Pockets.

Flickr represent.

2009-11-06T00:04:00.000-05:00

Old school jazz vinyl covers from the 1960s? Nailed.

(Tip to Zeke.)

But wait, there’s more.

2009-11-06T00:02:00.010-05:00

- Guiness leaves it all up on the screen.
- 1993 Ford Taurus? Sexy!
- Economist for Dummies.
- Playing with Crayons.
- Shoe. Wine. Open. Watch.
- KRINK Mini.
- Concession coupon madness!
- PEZ love.
- A.I.D.L.I.F.E.
- Sham-wo-wo-wow.
- He’s just a cool old guy modeling.
- Meet the new boss.
- Won’t you please give?
- There’s room in Texas.
- Nuclear holes.
- Attention all Clysler men.
- More like an ass-whoopin.
- Why dogs will one day rise up.
- Tetris, Berlin.
- Cursoring allowed. (Via.)

Why recycle, right?

2009-11-06T00:02:00.008-05:00

It doesn’t really matter, riiiight? Just throw that shit out kids. Showing yet another end of the product life cycle, I came across these remarkable yet sad series of shots from photographer Chris Jordan. He chronicles the dead albatross chicks found on Midway Atoll. Their parents don’t distinguish between inanimate objects (like floating debris) and insects, etc. So they bring back colorful little goodies like pens, bottle caps, etc., for the youngins to eat. But, they can’t digest plastic, nor does any of it come out either. Eventually, it kills them. What strikes you also is the location: 2,000 miles away from any other land, which gives you a sense of the impact discarded plastics have.

(Via aNYthing.)

Now that's placement.

2009-11-05T18:43:00.004-05:00

Where munchies are your ad’s best selling feature. Clever use of the location of a completely different category by TDA Advertising & Design for restaurant chain Hapa Sushi out of Boulder. Their four locations in Boulder and Denver are shown surrounded by some 60 medical marijuana dispensaries in the surrounding area.

Workspace project.

2009-11-05T12:57:00.004-05:00

(Notice how people sex up their Flickr collections and call them “projects”? I do!) Okay, these are better than a lot of what’s on Flickr. In case you were having a bad desk day, photog Joseph O. Holmes takes a look at a few people who just my have it worse than you.

(Via, via.)

You can call me Fred if you want.

2009-11-04T21:14:00.008-05:00

Insanity > definition > same thing > over and > over. Right? K, just checking. I swear I don’t get it. It’s a great American message of a brand voice—10 years ago. But according to Ad Age, Dodge will blast a message that people probably don’t want to hear 190 times during tonight’s Game 6 of the World Series. That equals a lot of money* that had to come from somewhere. And in times like these... forget deathwish, does (part of) Detroit have a suicide wish?

No innovation beyond a new logo. Big payloads. Tough trucks. (ALL trucks are tough, no?) CEOs glossing over the troubles they’ve had to instead focus on feel-good aspirational themes. Why? Shouldn’t a tough, hard-working truck warrant an honest dialog with an audience which supposedly shares those same traits? Guess we’ll never know because nobody ever tries.

So will this translate to sales? Better branding? Agency coffers? Latter: Check! Underscoring the rant, I’m writing this as I watch the Chevy truck commercial from last year with John Mellencamp singing about “Our Country.” (I mean, if you’re going to buy 190 spots, why not be the only truck brand.) Circle of insanity now complete.

Wanna sell more? Do something that really makes a difference in the wallets of the workers featured in the spot: Shave 15-20 mpg off current fuel ratings and watch them fly out the door. People might then almost forget Chrysler and Dodge took bailout money.

Almost.

*Assuming the average World Series rate of $400K per :30 (plus regular prime-time rates).

Has this ever happened to you?

2009-11-04T17:38:00.002-05:00

You find a microsite and collection of clips but don’t know what the brand is? Well, have we got a solution for you! I don’t know of these Dunlop volleys of which you speak, but the videos and website sure are lol funny! I SAID LOL. From Aussie shop Marilyn & Sons.

(Via AdVerve partner in crime.)

Powerballs will set you free.

2009-11-04T10:00:00.003-05:00

I saw this post on the recent Colorado Powerball spot, and the gist was that life is so bad for suburbians that only Powerball takes you away from it all. I have more of an issue with the demo most lottery spots show rather than the drudgery of being bored. It’s not only people in the suburbs who play, yet they mostly seem to be the only demo represented.

As for the aspiration theme, well, that’s what lottery is. In terms of advertising clichés, the “What if?” theme is king because that’s what the little voice in your head says, regardless of the actual odds of winning. As for Powerball in particular, the award show fodder of actual giant red Powerball doing gianty things is Queen. (Sometimes, it just sits there, too)

What if though, is why people play: Risk > reward for possibly changing your life forever? It’s worth a buck! (x 52 weeks x the rest of your life = hooked.) Then there are the oddities. Ray Charles? Baby What I Play. (I KID. Sorta.)Lotterywest takes that view to new world-changing heights in beautiful spot that could be for... well, any product actually. Oklahoma has a businessman running around in fields with bad themes like “Winner” and “Success” from Getty images’ discount bin. Look at Iowa with Superheroes™! Watch out for sharp knives and shipping labor in crates Oregon while DC goes with the old school tar and feathers.

AdVerve - Episode 4 - Trojan wisdom.

2009-11-04T03:20:00.002-05:00

It’s a long story. On this, our fourth episode, we discuss about 12 different topics, from reality shows to Facebook moms. Thanks to the 50 people listening, iTunes listed the show as a podcast to watch for in their new releases section. WE WON’T REST ON LAURELS THOUGH. We just won’t. Innovation is our middle name, and we’ll continue to try out different show features. Like? Like including short rants from various ad bloggers we know. (This episode, Jetpacks stops by to vent.) Special thanks to Bob from The Beancast, who bailed us out on the mother of all aural nightmares this past week.

Topics:

00:05 – 1. The internet never forgets
06:37 – 2. I need a name for...
13:47 – 3. Starbucks
26:03 – 4. Twitter lists
28:21 – 5. Five minutes with... Jetpacks
33:39 – 6. Scary photos
36:03 – 7. The cause that refreshes
43:14 – 8. Movie losers
49:57 – 9. Martial arts and reality shows
55:41 – 10. Brandus - Greek god of sales
57:32 – 11. Overexposed much?
01:00:44 – 12. Wrap it ta go

Download the show directly here and on the blog.

Or subscribe via iTunes:

Send questions, comments or requests for newsletter inclusion to advervepodcast [at] gmail [dot] com.

It does pay to get your car trashed on YouTube.

2009-11-03T13:03:00.002-05:00

1.5 million views later and Hyundai Canada ends up giving the unfortunate owner of monster SUV madness above a new Hyundai. This is where PR can do what it does best by using a SWAT-type response and capitalizing on a negative situation for basically the cost of a car.

(Via Twitter.)

Get the door, it’s time for a real party.

2009-11-03T10:04:00.006-05:00

Okay that line sucked, but here’s something different to go with your wings. Well, not for the family per se, but if, you’re single. French pizza chain La Boite a Pizza (say it with me: Lah-Bwhat-Ah-Pizza) are delivering more than pizza and soda: Condoms! Not just any, but Manix brand. From the Latin word Men I suppose.(Although primarily a French company, La Boite also have a U.S. location in Miami and are planning an excursion into China.)

It’s not the first time that social causes mixed with pizza: Last year in France, Domino’s ran a promotion with a CD, poster, t-shirt and condom, all in a funky box design. While this could be the kind of thing that might only run on college campuses here, mainstream American consumers and family households generally don’t mix pizza night with talks on STDs. (I prefer a margherita pizza sans latex.)

Still, even if it was just targeted to colleges, you know some religious group would protest because “Pizza Promotes Promiscuity!” And here in this case I thought it was trying to prevent creationism.

(Via luckthelady.)