I noticed an odd but relevant comparison between politics and branding this weekend.
Was it a coincidence that a press report claiming the death of Osama Bin Laden was released at the same time as US intelligence claim the war in Iraq has been responsible for increasing extremist support in Asia? I doubt it.
Why not do the Labour party thing and use timing to neutralize negatives statements and events?
Yet at the same time, Pepsi have been very patient in responding to Coke Zero. They have waited for the promotion and public fuss to die down, and now are reminding people about the "real deal". Instead of trying to paste all over the CZ threat, they simply ignored it, as if it didnt really matter, as if they werent bothered...truly enacting the brand image they put across (and CZ has so badly failed to match).
I think they have timed it well, and with enough of a media spend or great tv creative to go with the interesting print creative; they could suddenly gain back a lot of the market share CZ took away from them.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Why oh wireless
I wish internet providers would stop making such a big deal out of wireless connections. Its causing me nothing but trouble!
I can't get online for more than about 10 minutes a day without another connection interfering... and we have tried everything!
Hence the lack of updates, I apologise profusely...
I can't get online for more than about 10 minutes a day without another connection interfering... and we have tried everything!
Hence the lack of updates, I apologise profusely...
Why oh wireless
I wish internet providers would stop making such a big deal out of wireless connections. Its causing me nothing but trouble!
I can't get online for more than about 10 minutes a day without another connection interfering... and we have tried everything!
Hence the lack of updates, I apologise profusely...
I can't get online for more than about 10 minutes a day without another connection interfering... and we have tried everything!
Hence the lack of updates, I apologise profusely...
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Ohhhh Crrrap!
Rumour has it (How true I dont know) that the kid in the singing Frosties ad (below) has been getting death threats by people because it is so irritating.
As much as it annoys me, and as much as i'm sure most viewers want to throw bricks at their screen every time it's on; death threats are too far. Surely this kid is already being picked on in whatever school or college he goes to, like most child actors; anything more is just cruel. No actor deserves that, no matter how bad the part.
But it opens up the old question:
Could / Should we hold creatives or agencies responsible for all of the results of their ads? If someone threatens this poor kid, isnt that indirectly the fault of the (in this case) rubbish ad which used irritation to get attention? Likewise, when kids started slapping each other after watching the Tango ads, was that then the fault or responsibility of the creative?
I think the answer is slightly different for both those cases, but id love to hear your thoughts...
The ad:
As much as it annoys me, and as much as i'm sure most viewers want to throw bricks at their screen every time it's on; death threats are too far. Surely this kid is already being picked on in whatever school or college he goes to, like most child actors; anything more is just cruel. No actor deserves that, no matter how bad the part.
But it opens up the old question:
Could / Should we hold creatives or agencies responsible for all of the results of their ads? If someone threatens this poor kid, isnt that indirectly the fault of the (in this case) rubbish ad which used irritation to get attention? Likewise, when kids started slapping each other after watching the Tango ads, was that then the fault or responsibility of the creative?
I think the answer is slightly different for both those cases, but id love to hear your thoughts...
The ad:
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
3 - Lecture
The new 3 ad is wonderful.
Another in their series of unusual Japanese/story themed ads; it uses the idea of people throwing messages in a lecture theatre to symbolise text messaging and msn on your phone.
The ad is nicely done, it's light hearted and colourful as per the other 3 ads; and the underlying comparison is so absolutely spot on. Who couldnt fail to grasp the idea of your phone as a modern paper message in a classroom?!
A simple idea, a simple message, demonstrated in an involving and creative fashion. Isn't that what we all want from these kinds of ads?
Rob. We like 3.
Another in their series of unusual Japanese/story themed ads; it uses the idea of people throwing messages in a lecture theatre to symbolise text messaging and msn on your phone.
The ad is nicely done, it's light hearted and colourful as per the other 3 ads; and the underlying comparison is so absolutely spot on. Who couldnt fail to grasp the idea of your phone as a modern paper message in a classroom?!
A simple idea, a simple message, demonstrated in an involving and creative fashion. Isn't that what we all want from these kinds of ads?
Rob. We like 3.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Nike - Hurt
The new Nike ad is quite interesting. It uses Johnny Cash's amazing cover of Hurt (by Nine Inch Nails) alongside the idea of athletes hurting from effort and so on.
Although the song fits in many ways, I do find it an extremely odd choice. Particularly considering the original is about Heroin addiction...
Although the song fits in many ways, I do find it an extremely odd choice. Particularly considering the original is about Heroin addiction...
Sunday, September 03, 2006
And further...
Going back to PC World again... I just started looking at their new tagline, and I have to ask why they even bothered.
"The Best of Both Worlds"
Riiiight, ok. They could talk about the best quality at decent prices, or maybe service and pricing, or choice and convenience.
...
No wait, they don't mention anything. At NO point do they ever signify what either of these two worlds are, or even hint at what it means. Yet because it is so vague, you can't work it out for yourself; and the only things I can think of it really meaning aren't things that apply to PC World anyway!
So we have a boring, unengaging ad with a dull, common phrase tagline that is left completely unexplained in both tv and print media. How in the world did this ad and agency strategy EVER win this business?! Either there was some serious sucking up or the people at PC World need to completely re-evaluate how they choose and deal with their advertising agencies. They have gone a step back from "Where in the world", and even that wasn't great...
"The Best of Both Worlds"
Riiiight, ok. They could talk about the best quality at decent prices, or maybe service and pricing, or choice and convenience.
...
No wait, they don't mention anything. At NO point do they ever signify what either of these two worlds are, or even hint at what it means. Yet because it is so vague, you can't work it out for yourself; and the only things I can think of it really meaning aren't things that apply to PC World anyway!
So we have a boring, unengaging ad with a dull, common phrase tagline that is left completely unexplained in both tv and print media. How in the world did this ad and agency strategy EVER win this business?! Either there was some serious sucking up or the people at PC World need to completely re-evaluate how they choose and deal with their advertising agencies. They have gone a step back from "Where in the world", and even that wasn't great...
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