Hilarious campaign from long-shot US Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
Although he doesn't have much of a shot, it's nice to see politicians who are willing to have a little fun during the campaign period.
Saturday
Friday
Keep These In Mind
Stumbled upon some great facts from a comprehensive eye tracking study.
If you're in advertising or marketing, take a quick read. Well worth it.
(from Godin's blog):
- Ads in the top and left portions of a page will receive the most eye fixation.
- Ads placed next to the best content are seen more often.
- Bigger images get more attention.
- Clean, clear faces in images attract more eye fixation.
- Fancy formatting and fonts are ignored.
- Formatting can draw attention.
- Headings draw the eye.
- Initial eye movement focuses on the upper left corner of the page.
- Large blocks of text are avoided.
- Lists hold reader attention longer.
- Navigation tools work better when placed at the top of the page.
- One-column formats perform better in eye-fixation than multi-column formats.
- People generally scan lower portions of the page.
- Readers ignore banners.
- Shorter paragraphs perform better than long ones.
- Show numbers as numerals.
- Text ads were viewed mostly intently of all types tested.
- Text attracts attention before graphics.
- Type size influences viewing behavior.
- Users initially look at the top left and upper portion of the page before moving down and to the right.
- Users only look at a sub headline if it interests them.
- Users spend a lot of time looking at buttons and menus.
- White space is good.
If you're in advertising or marketing, take a quick read. Well worth it.
(from Godin's blog):
- Ads in the top and left portions of a page will receive the most eye fixation.
- Ads placed next to the best content are seen more often.
- Bigger images get more attention.
- Clean, clear faces in images attract more eye fixation.
- Fancy formatting and fonts are ignored.
- Formatting can draw attention.
- Headings draw the eye.
- Initial eye movement focuses on the upper left corner of the page.
- Large blocks of text are avoided.
- Lists hold reader attention longer.
- Navigation tools work better when placed at the top of the page.
- One-column formats perform better in eye-fixation than multi-column formats.
- People generally scan lower portions of the page.
- Readers ignore banners.
- Shorter paragraphs perform better than long ones.
- Show numbers as numerals.
- Text ads were viewed mostly intently of all types tested.
- Text attracts attention before graphics.
- Type size influences viewing behavior.
- Users initially look at the top left and upper portion of the page before moving down and to the right.
- Users only look at a sub headline if it interests them.
- Users spend a lot of time looking at buttons and menus.
- White space is good.
Wednesday
Book Review: Small is the new big
If you're in the market for a fun read, I'd recommend picking up Small is the new big by famed blogger and marketing expert, Seth Godin.
The book isn't your standard advertising / marketing text book. It's 183 ideas and thoughts that Godin has put together over the last 10 years.
It is meant to inspire, spark and get something going in your organization, work life and mind. And it's all about ideas.
Next time your in a book store, check it out. It's worth it because, like most of Godin's thoughts, it's different.
Best Apple Ad Ever?
Apple has done some fantastic advertising over the last 20 years.
From 1984 to the emergence of the iPod TV spots, there are few brands in the world that can claim the kind of consumer loyalty that Apple has.
But in the changing digital world, Apple has to find ways to stay unique and innovative. It's not enough to simply re-purpose their Mac TV campaign and create boring online banners with super-low click-through rates - you have to be different to get someone's attention.
This online execution, using their Mac and PC guys, leverages the power of the web in a simple, yet fun way. That, and it can be found on the CNETS Window's Vista homepage.
If you've ever wanted to see some good, online advertising - click here and check it out.
Facts You've Never Heard Of
Found an article on Digg tonight about 35 facts you've never heard of.
Some highlights:
- There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar
- On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is American
- Winston Churchill was born in the ladies room during a dance
- It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
- The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes
Some highlights:
- There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar
- On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is American
- Winston Churchill was born in the ladies room during a dance
- It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
- The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes
When Inspiration Strikes
We've all been in this situation before - the need to write down a seemingly groundbreaking idea immediately before it passes.
But wait? Where do you write it in a crowded bar or restaurant?
The napkin of course.
Using this "logic" Euro RSCG has created the Napkin Notebook - a bound notebook made solely of napkins.
Advertising can be hard when your product...is horrible. But hopefully good advertising will kill this product.
From Adrants
Monday
XBox; Play
The first few times I saw this campaign, I didn't really enjoy it. It seemed to random, all over the place and just off.
But after seeing it more and more, it's hit me. I love the song (surprisingly it's "Don't Need Nothing but a Good Time" by Poison) and the upbeat tone and manner of the spot.
XBox already has the hardcore gamer market with games like Halo 2 and 3. Their new campaign focuses on the casual gamer who wants to have fun with friends and just play.
With the emergence of the Nintendo Wii as the next top gaming device, it's not surprising that XBox would go after a more casual target.
This campaign does a great job setting up the device in public places and allowing anyone to test out the device. The reactions of the crowd, hesitant but then exited to pick up the controller, are spot on - very indicative of someone like myself who just wants to try it out and see what it's like.
But after seeing it more and more, it's hit me. I love the song (surprisingly it's "Don't Need Nothing but a Good Time" by Poison) and the upbeat tone and manner of the spot.
XBox already has the hardcore gamer market with games like Halo 2 and 3. Their new campaign focuses on the casual gamer who wants to have fun with friends and just play.
With the emergence of the Nintendo Wii as the next top gaming device, it's not surprising that XBox would go after a more casual target.
This campaign does a great job setting up the device in public places and allowing anyone to test out the device. The reactions of the crowd, hesitant but then exited to pick up the controller, are spot on - very indicative of someone like myself who just wants to try it out and see what it's like.
Sunday
Social Networks and Email - ComScore Stats
Some interesting stats on the most popular social networks and email services on the web. Neat to see the growth of Facebook but the overall user dominance of MySpace.
Link from Valleywag.
Google's Conquest
A few nights ago, I had the pleasure of going to the CMA's with some guys from Google. As the night went on, we got to talking about the power of Search and I heard a phrase that I instantly fell in love with.
"Search is the database of Intentions"
Think about it. Search engines know what you like to buy, what books you read, what movies you want to see, where you want to travel - they know you. And they know you well.
Google's AdWords helps to ensure that brands answer the questions of their consumers. Looking for a new computer? We'll make sure that Apple comes up first. Stats have shown that the majority of people click on the first two options on their search results - lucrative space to be in.
The next evolution of Google (and by next...it could be a few weeks away) will be to optimize search results to predict future outcomes.
For example, they are currently attempting to predict the opening box office success on movies by the number of times people search the title before opening weekend. And from what I've heard, the results can be quite accurate.
We will continue to post on the amazing world of Google but for now just remember what you search. Google certainly will.
"Search is the database of Intentions"
Think about it. Search engines know what you like to buy, what books you read, what movies you want to see, where you want to travel - they know you. And they know you well.
Google's AdWords helps to ensure that brands answer the questions of their consumers. Looking for a new computer? We'll make sure that Apple comes up first. Stats have shown that the majority of people click on the first two options on their search results - lucrative space to be in.
The next evolution of Google (and by next...it could be a few weeks away) will be to optimize search results to predict future outcomes.
For example, they are currently attempting to predict the opening box office success on movies by the number of times people search the title before opening weekend. And from what I've heard, the results can be quite accurate.
We will continue to post on the amazing world of Google but for now just remember what you search. Google certainly will.
Friday
Little Brat
Apoligies to everyone for the slow week - just slammed with real work. Promise more posts in the next few days or your money back.
Got passed a helluva ad today. Can't link within the site but be sure to check it out here. Guaranteed laugh.
UPDATE: Found 2 spots from the campaign. Great stuff.
UPDATE: Found 2 spots from the campaign. Great stuff.
Thanks to Jay for the link!
Thursday
Orangina - Animal love Juices in a bottle
Sorry for the slow week. We have been busy.
Enjoy this cornucopia of animated orgasmic animal images brought to you by Orangina.
Found on Glossy.
Enjoy this cornucopia of animated orgasmic animal images brought to you by Orangina.
Found on Glossy.
Tuesday
Viva Viagra? Are you kidding me?
I found this beauty of a spot on American Copywriter, home of some of the best Podcasts in the industry. I was going to comment on it but AC said it best:
"Oh, I get it. Guys don't like to talk about erectile dysfunction so let's show them singing about it! Yeah, that'll take the stigma away.
Hands up, who thought this was a spoof? A spot like this makes it clear why a guy might be embarrassed to ask his doctor for Viagra. And it has nothing at all to do with erectile dysfunction. Drugs in this category must be worth big bucks. The first pharma brand that figures out a way to talk to men about them in a way that's not goofy or adolescent stands to truly dominate. "
This used to be the worst Viagra spot.
This is still the best.
Monday
Ad Quote of the Day
"The problem is that ad agencies have defined themselves as the people who take the mediocre products and add interesting ads to them, and washed their hands and say, we can’t do anything about what the factory brings us."
From Seth Godin.
From Seth Godin.
Tampax Saves Woman From Shark
Tampax; protecting Women from sharks since 1957.Seriously, does this ad really exist?
PJC speculated that it might be student spec work and I'd have to agree - I don't think this would ever see the market.
If it did, my guess is the poor brand manager at P&G who approved it is now looking for a new job.
From Copyranter.
Sunday
Google Trends. Google is more popular than sex
Ben Shoemate was playing with Google Trends yesterday. See his post below:
With a few keystrokes you can satisfy your need for both useless trivia interesting facts and the data to back it up. Where else can you discover that basset hounds are more popular in Hungary, that Hillary Clinton is finally more popular than her husband, or that in spring of 2007, google became more popular than sex: Here are some more fasinating trends (at least to me).
People search for terms like “full moon” with the clockwork regularity of celestial events like, well, like full moons.The holidays also show a steady heartbeat in search.
I thought it was strange that “Earth day” would be more popular than Easter.But then i remembered two things. First people are still working on Earth day, so they are at their computers, and second, google skews the results with those cartoon logos they put on their main search page. When you click it, it searches for that term. So bottom line, this just means more people are using google on Earth day than Easter. It makes sense but also reminds us that we have to take these graphs with a grain of salt.
Other things that follow a pattern: American Idol, which is apparently very popular in the Philippines. IBM’s star is falling (its as popular now as summer is in the winter) and Lenovo’s is rising.
Point A in the graph is where Lenovo bought IBM’s PC business. One last graph, this one ties into both IBM and portals. Since I spent a lot of time helping clients get value from their portal investments, lets look at where the market interest lies.
This may be apples and oranges since Sharepoint is used for collaboration more than portals (and I’ve always felt it creates silos for information more than it tears them down, but thats the subject of a later blog.) Tell me about the interesting trends you discover in the comments.
Thanks for the great stuff Ben.
With a few keystrokes you can satisfy your need for both useless trivia interesting facts and the data to back it up. Where else can you discover that basset hounds are more popular in Hungary, that Hillary Clinton is finally more popular than her husband, or that in spring of 2007, google became more popular than sex: Here are some more fasinating trends (at least to me).
People search for terms like “full moon” with the clockwork regularity of celestial events like, well, like full moons.The holidays also show a steady heartbeat in search.I thought it was strange that “Earth day” would be more popular than Easter.But then i remembered two things. First people are still working on Earth day, so they are at their computers, and second, google skews the results with those cartoon logos they put on their main search page. When you click it, it searches for that term. So bottom line, this just means more people are using google on Earth day than Easter. It makes sense but also reminds us that we have to take these graphs with a grain of salt.
Other things that follow a pattern: American Idol, which is apparently very popular in the Philippines. IBM’s star is falling (its as popular now as summer is in the winter) and Lenovo’s is rising.
Point A in the graph is where Lenovo bought IBM’s PC business. One last graph, this one ties into both IBM and portals. Since I spent a lot of time helping clients get value from their portal investments, lets look at where the market interest lies.
This may be apples and oranges since Sharepoint is used for collaboration more than portals (and I’ve always felt it creates silos for information more than it tears them down, but thats the subject of a later blog.) Tell me about the interesting trends you discover in the comments.Thanks for the great stuff Ben.
ING - I need to go
ING pushes the limits of the Banking industry with their latest campaign.
Drop by the site embedded below. Yes, it is for ING.
The Ultimate Proposal
Gamer site, Gamernode, has an interesting story about two lovestruck Halo gamers:"A man by the gamertag of Moviesign proposed to his girlfriend, furtive penguin... through Halo 3. At least it wasn't a virtual wedding, right guys?
Moviesign did it through a saved Forge map, in which he tricked furtive penguin into thinking they were playing a two-on-two match.
He led her to an area where there was an "energy sword", but instead she was surprised with his proposal spelled out in weapons, and he asked her to be "his teammate for life."
Nothing like expressing your love through a message made up of virtual weapons.
Saturday
Infinite Niches
During Chris Anderson's famous book, the Long Tail, he describes the true power that the web has given us; an easy ability to share and distribute our passions in order to connect with others.
What exactily is the Long Tail?
Anderson describes it as such: "Our culture and economy are increasingly shifting away from a focus on a relatively small number of hits (mainstream products and markets) at the head of the demand curve, and moving toward a huge number of niches in the tail."
Anderson then identifies three 'forces' that drive the long tail (from DJ Alchemi review):
1. More stuff is being produced. Technology and the internet make it cheaper and easier to record and distribute your own songs, publish your own writings and so on. This lengthens the tail.
2. There is better access to niches, again thanks to the reach and economies on the net. This fattens the tail.
3. Search and recommendations connect supply and demand. This drives business from hits to niches.
It is these niches that help the millions of blogs and social networks flourish.
As a brand, the ability to tap into these niches and start meaningful conversations with individuals is a key pillar of success on the web. No longer will people listen to a message that's to broad - it has to be personal.
A neat example of a popular niche below.
What exactily is the Long Tail?
Anderson describes it as such: "Our culture and economy are increasingly shifting away from a focus on a relatively small number of hits (mainstream products and markets) at the head of the demand curve, and moving toward a huge number of niches in the tail."
Anderson then identifies three 'forces' that drive the long tail (from DJ Alchemi review):
1. More stuff is being produced. Technology and the internet make it cheaper and easier to record and distribute your own songs, publish your own writings and so on. This lengthens the tail.
2. There is better access to niches, again thanks to the reach and economies on the net. This fattens the tail.
3. Search and recommendations connect supply and demand. This drives business from hits to niches.
It is these niches that help the millions of blogs and social networks flourish.
As a brand, the ability to tap into these niches and start meaningful conversations with individuals is a key pillar of success on the web. No longer will people listen to a message that's to broad - it has to be personal.
A neat example of a popular niche below.
The Power of a Signature
Great spot from Amnesty International. It's tough to combine all of the different (horrific) situations that Amnesty lobbies against into one spot but this execution does it perfectly.
Nice strategy, wicked creative.
Thanks to Jen for the link!
Nice strategy, wicked creative.
Thanks to Jen for the link!
Wunderbra Viral Spoof
Remember the Cadbury Gorilla viral?
Well it looks like the people at Wunderbra put together a little spoof of the spot for the net. It's had over 100,000 hits on YouTube already and continues to grow.
If you can't think of any content worth creating, just copy something that's worked!
Well it looks like the people at Wunderbra put together a little spoof of the spot for the net. It's had over 100,000 hits on YouTube already and continues to grow.
If you can't think of any content worth creating, just copy something that's worked!
Mens Underwear sold by sexy women
So here is the brief. The client is looking for a way to sell underwear without showing half naked men - but they want the ad to remain visually appealing.
I think this is great. Ad number one is my favourite...yours?
I think this is great. Ad number one is my favourite...yours?
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