VW does it again.

I'm proud to be a driver. Their use of the brand is perfectly executed and even makes you laugh:



And others:

http://video.mediapost.com/index.cfm?clientfile=bobknight.mov
http://video.mediapost.com/index.cfm?clientfile=fanning_WVBA81090000_NS.mov
http://video.mediapost.com/index.cfm?clientfile=hoff_WVBA81010000_NS.mov

The come back

Recently, even locally, there seems to be advertising wars that don't amount to a hill of beans in the consumers minds. The first hospital says, "We're bigger" to which the other hospital replys, "Not bigger, just better" and on and on. Do people really get it, or are the advertisers so consumed in their battle they miss the point?
One of the best examples of this are the ads below. And I must admit the last one mads me laugh for hours, wishing I'd have thought of that!

We got jokes.

Jaguar

This was the first TV commerical that I ever fell in love with. The voice is right, the imagery, the color casting of blues and blacks - it made me want to buy this car and I don't even really remember what the car looked like. Other commericals Jaguar has done recently are just as great but this one started it all for me ...

TV at my office!

This is the coolest ... a projection broadcasting TV on the wall in our conference area. For a small agency we are pretty snazzy!

Advertising and Drinking

I just figured out how to send photos from my phone directly to my blog - how cool! The reason I used this photo was I have recently been to events with specialty drinks that tie in with a promotion or brand. We did this for a condo in Houston called Mosaic - the drink was similar to the one above but matched the logo(blue and red dot - cherry of course). So while at the event people start drinking something that again promotes a product ... while at the same time creating demand or awareness for that drink - a vicious circle of advertising and drinking - perfect!

The photo above it just a random drink I made while watching the FSU game and updating my blog - 4 times today!! HA!

Do you eat your own dogfood?

Do you eat your own dogfood? Do you sip your own champagne? Well Wikipedia has an article all about how companies and employees making products should eat or use those products they make. I think advertising agencies should do the same. I heard it explained, that like a Pelican dips down and gets a fish - not going underwater or not missing the fish (for not going low enough) - an advertiser should do the same. Don't get too far down into the water that your message becomes industry lingo and not understood, yet you have to know enough to fully understand what the product or service does. I think what Wikipedia is talking about "eating your own dogfood" is a great way to fully understand whatever it is you are marketing. This may seem so obvious, but you would be surprised at how common it is to forget or make excuses for not completing this step of the process. Whether your marketing a bank, insurance company, toothbrush, or lamp post - use it, try it, make it part of your everyday life for a period of time in order to understand your target, your client, and your unique selling factors that will make it a success or failure ... at least you will know what lies ahead.

Fashion blogging is "wear" it's at!

Fashion blogging is "wear" it's at: http://flypaper.bluefly.com/
Forget models wearing your stuff, forget actresses wearing our clothing, forget seeing your logo on products in the rags ... get-on-the-blog.

Impossible Field

I've come to really love Football, no not that football ... the real one - Soccer. The fans, the men, the advertising. Yes, the advertising. A new commercial (for me at least) by Adidas called Impossible Field:


Impossible field - video powered by Metacafe

Design portfolio

I just came across one of the best design portfolios I have seen in a long time http://www.ogroup.net/ . Check it out.

Google+Excel=Love

I love my Excel spreadsheets, but when I saw Google had something up their sleave it peaked my interest. A spreadsheet others can work on together ... live, now that's cool. But do I want others messing with my nicely organized, color coordinated timelines and budgets? I guess it would be great for those clients with frequent changes to budgets or a meeting that can get something productive done - right then and there.

iPod+Nike=Music to My Feet

My brother finally discovered the new iPod Nike collaboration - and he's not impressed. Come on man - music in your feet - that's COOL! I think it's the best thing since sliced bread ... if I had the extra cash to buy it! This would actually encourage me to run, not that I do now, but it's about the motivation to run that I need. I need those songs that make you dance it your living room by yourself - not that I do that either ... ehhhhum, never. Forget about the stats it keeps, whooppie. I want the music to change in order to get me running faster (gooo you slow poke!) or at the pace that I'm running for maybe a nice jog theme (lalalaala) - it does that right? I of course don't have one yet. Ah well, I'll add it to long list of cool, useless, I'd use once and sit on the self stuff I want for Christmas. iPod-Nike

Second Life Advertising

A site called Second Life www.secondlife.com which allows you to create virtual people, in a virtual world, with virtual houses, and virtual clothes with real and virtual money. Haven't done it yet, since my computer video card can't handle it but I hear that advertisers are flocking to it! Virtual concerts sponsored by real companies, virtual clothing lines launched here first virtually - and all to the "Me" generation. And low and behold there is even an advertising agency in Second Life - of course.
Article 1
Article 2

Video Blogging

This is one of the most creative blog examples I have seen in awhile. www.nikesoccer.com has not only created an interactive blog but it spans states, seas and countries - but visually. The new (to the US) love for "football" has taken off - a marketers dream. Will soccer last as the new popular sport or will video blogs out live it? I really like the feature that allows you to create your own crest and then advertise it by purchasing the promotional items that will cost you (don't know but I'm guessing) a pretty penny. I did download the free desktop version though. This allows you to create "your own brand" that is really undercover marketing for Nike - genius.

I'm high on Vegas

Vegas will make you do strange things, especially during a 2 day marketing and branding conference. Breathing in pure oxygen? ... I'm a sucker for advertising. The conference was called the "THE conference on marketing " - couldn't they think of a better name for it?. It was March 22, in Vegas (anything for a good time right?) and there were many great speakers and some good vendors. One of the speakers was especially interesting and I also have his book (yet to finish reading) called "The Ten Faces of Innovation" by Tom Kelly.

You'll Always Remember Your First ... Blog that is.

Day one of my first blog ... lord help me! As an advertising exec I only have funny, exhilarating and challenging episodes during my work day. The people, places, and promotions are different every minute. I like it. I love it. I hate it. I love it again. But this is my first time (blogging that is) so be nice!