The "Open Letter to the President" seems to be the new way to market just about anything.Recently Pedigree took advantage of President Obama's announcement that his girls were getting a dog to promote the idea of adopting a shelter (i.e. mixed breed) dog. A perfect tie-in to both the timing of his remarks and the President's own heritage.
Somewhat less effective is Sealy jumping on the bandwagon several weeks later to initiate the idea of getting less, but more "quality" sleep (something the Prez, like most Americans, presumably need). Unfortunately, not only does the idea feel forced, I suspect the ad agency for Sealy saw the Pedigree letter and said "Hey, let's do something like that!"
Pure rip-off or simply "Best Practices?" You be the judge.
These ads for the VW Routan are kind of cute. A "mockumentary" where Brooke warns not to have babies just to get "German engineering." Except, as revealed in this Sunday's New York Times, the Routan isn't actually a Volkswagon product. It's a rebadged Chrysler! Holy crap!
How pissed would you be if you paid top dollar for a Routan, only to discover you had been hoodwinked into buying a freakin' Chrysler? Not since Honda slapped their logo on a crappy Isuzu and called it a Passport has the public been so shamelessly hoodwinked.
During football season, this commercial for DIRECTV comes on a lot. And every time I see the shot of Beyonce with the "bling" in her mouth, I wince. Guess what might work in an extended video looks terribly out of place for an "upgrade" satellite package push.
I love cars. Especially small cars. I want to know how fun they are to drive, how much cargo room they have, how little gas they use. So when I saw this e-blast invitation for a UK dealership, I had to laugh. But not because it was funny.
It's kinda sad, actually. A weak pun based on scatological humor is the best they could do? Really?
I realize advertising across the Atlantic is different than here--often brilliant and shocking for so many of the right reasons. But this ad--if you'll pardon the weak pun based on scatological humor--stinks.
Sorry to get this "year of change" off to a bad start by adding yet another blog to the 14 trillion or so ones out there. The majority are poorly written, dim-witted and waaaay too long. Or, as L7 once sang, "Because the masses. Are asses."
I, however, am a professional writer (if you count advertising). So if the masses can opine, I figure I can, too. Only hopefully with a little more entertainment value.
I will be writing about advertising and marketing.
I promise to be opinionated. Or insightful. Possibly bitter. But always: brief.
Most ads I don't like. Here's one I do:
There are others in this series, but the idea is a brilliant way to market toothpaste to adults. Low production value gives it that much more impact--and makes it a better deal for the client.
I am an opinionated guy with 25 years experience as a creative writer for agencies from Honolulu to Savannah. The thoughts expressed here are my own, but as Dennis Miller used to say (back when he was funny) "That's just my opinion. I could be wrong."
The "Open Letter to the President" seems to be the new way to 
market just about anything. Recently Pedigree took advantage of President Obama's announcement that his girls were getting a dog to promote the idea of adopting a shelter (i.e. mixed breed) dog. A perfect tie-in to both the timing of his remarks and the President's own heritage. 
