Bing tries to change the way we Google.

Microsoft has poured a lot of money into advertising and marketing to try and convince us to use their new search engine Bing instead of Google. Good luck with that.

And while their TV ads and messaging have been all over the board, here are a couple that at least offered good entertainment/production value.

If you want to see more Bing commercials (there are many, many to choose from), you might want to Google it...

HEY EVERYBODY! Look at me! (Ego Marketing, Part 1)

You may glance in your rearview mirror these days and notice the spooky, predatory headlights of the BMW behind you. Unmistakably distinctive and no doubt conceived as a status symbol, they remind the world you shelled out top dollar for your Euro ride.

Not to be outdone, Audi recently added their glitzy, glam rock star, L.E.D eye-liner look to most of its cars, available even on the semi-modest A4. Viewed in bright daylight, the look is startling--as aggressive and eye-catching (and garish) as anything I've ever seen.

Now, I suppose that's the purpose of daytime running lights: to be noticed. But something tells me there's a little more marketing than safety going on here. What's next in this high-tech game of one-upsmanship??

Of course, you can always go low-tech like Mercedes Benz and just slap the biggest logo you can find on your grill. Also ego-centric, but not nearly as fun.

Now that's an e-blast!

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.

'nuf said.

Oh great, just what the world needs. Another freakin' blog.

Happy New Year!

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.

And I smile as I say that...