Advertising Over Everything

*this blog, after a week or so is going to be no more

At the end of the day I don't post enough on here and I don't like leaving it. So instead I'm going to incorporate ads and advertising discussions, articles, etc. on my main blog. 

*This is not about the return of Mad Men

This is a complaint. To all you soccer moms** out there. Stop trying to make an issue out of everything in the world. If you want, everything can offend someone. As a people though, we should not look for these things that separate us, but the things that connect us. So on behalf of myself, and whoever else, move on. 

*this Mo Farah ad is a part of the same #MakeItCount campaign

This print ad is accompanied by a video seen here.

*Affliction looking to get out of the douchebag business?

*Because nobody doesn't like Kraft Dinner

Taxi 2 has created television and Facebook content that encourages an online Kraft Dinner battle of sorts. Over the course of the next ten weeks, the Kraft Dinner Facebook page will host 5 different challenges. The first challenge is "KD bombing" someone's photo. As you may have guessed, this means sneaking a box, bowl or spoonful of Kraft Dinner in someone's ordinary photo.

"Targeting the male 25- to 35-year-old demographic, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has launched its “Switch it Up” promotion for the month of January, centred around a series of quirky online video clips providing light-hearted alternatives for an entertaining night in with the guys."

The SwitchItUp site provides the user with a variety of options that have to do with a guys night in. So you have the option to hang out with a trillionaire, country singer (not sure why lol), and a sports caster. From there you can decide to grill, play cards or watch sports. Finally you pick the location. Chalet, loft or man cave. After you've chosen, a quick video will play with the options in place.

I've watch a couple already. They're kind of hit and miss. But I'm into the idea. Good to see that Cossette is helping the LCBO target a key demographic. It seem the overall goal is to encourage consumers to try liquor and/or beer they have not tried. 

*I was recently asked what campaigns were my favorite of 2011. These are them.

Write the Future - Wieden + Kennedy

Amazing visuals. Amazing copywriting. 

If you were comatose during 2011, I strong suggest you watch the accompanying commercial here, as it could should be nominated for Best Picture. ENJY

Levi's - Wieden + Kennedy

With classic literature in their commercials and strong, blue collar images in their print ads, the Levi's "Ready to Work" campaign became an instant classic in my eyes.

The award winning tv spot can be seen here

Chrysler - Wieden + Kennedy

Copywriting brought it home for me here. Enough said.

Oh and they killed it by opening the campaign up during the Super Bowl and having Eminem represent his birth place, Detroit. The result. Chills. Watch here

K-Swiss - 72 and Sunny

You have to applaud 72 and Sunny for being really ballsy and taking a character from HBO's "Eastbound and Down," and making him the spokesperson for K-Swiss's "micro tubes." Do yourself a favour and watch the online video now. NSFW 

Puma - Droga5

This campaign captured what it is to be a twentysomething person in the city. Any campaign that does that well has my vote. Check out my the anthem here

Bing; Jay-Z - Droga5

This one is all about innovation and consumer interaction. This was a campaign that awarded the diehard fans. The ones that knew everything about Jay-Z. And it was generally awesome and creative in the ways the clues were presented. Top shelf. 

Luckily this comes with a complete case study.

*new "Outsmart" campaign from Mobilicity

I'm into the idea of being straightforward with the costumer, but I think this argument can quickly lose leverage. The top CEO's of any company make an insane amount of money. An Apple computer shouldn't cose as much as it does, but they know they can charge as much as they do because people will pay. 

And while it would awesome to switch to Mobilicty and get their great rates, the truth is they don't off the type of coverage that the majority of customers want or need. And if everyone suddenly flooded the company, they would have to raise prices to account for the additional traffic.

I'm not saying that Rogers and Bell don't fuck their customers on the bill, but I think the major issue is the CRTC and their reluctance to help make a more competitive market in Canada. 

What’s the theme of your Advertising Week presentation? "I want to say that we’re better than we think. As an industry, we put parameters on what we can achieve and do. I want to point out how fantastic the industry is, but one of our biggest barriers is not giving ourselves enough credit. I feel like we’re in a position right now where all the [business] decisions are already made and we just have to produce materials to communicate them. We’re much more than the backend of something. There isn’t an industry or a part of society that creativity and strategic thinking can’t impact. I’m not saying the onus is on the ad industry to save the world, but I’m saying we can contribute something to everything—from growing and launching client brands to dipping into social issues, educating people and getting involved in business." More here