Advertising Tales [VIDEO]
David Ogilvy is one of my advertising heroes. Here’s a wonderful tale about David and his razor-sharp wit. Listening to this makes me want to install a gong in my office. Enjoy!
Are Agency Reviews Worth the Pain?
I was meeting with a client the other day to present a variety of materials we had developed for an upcoming event. After reviewing everything, the client – with a wide grin on his face – exclaimed, “Wow! You guys make my job so much easier.” My simple response was, “That’s our job.”
And, it is. Sometimes our job may entail helping launch a new product or re-brand a 120-year-old company. Other times it may be a matter of growing restaurant sales or filling hospital beds. These days, our “toolbox” is bigger than ever. In addition to traditional forms of advertising, we now have the ability of putting a message in front of a consumer based on what he or she has been doing on the Internet for the past 30 days. As a consumer, that still scares me. But, it excites me as a marketer.
When it comes to blogging, you know that “Content is King”. It is mentioned in every seminar on blogs and SEO, because it’s the truth. Content also rules when it comes to media placement.
You may think that when a media buyer is putting together an advertising schedule, they are only immersed in the ratings data. I won’t lie, analyzing the data is one of my favorite parts of media buying, but it is only half of the equation. Another important element to consider is the content. Where are these ads going to run? Does the environment make sense for the client?
It is no surprise that Generation Y can be found online. They are now dubbed the “Connected Generation” and have grown up with technology.
If you are trying to reach this generation, you think, “I need to be online” and “I need a social strategy.” Both are very true. It also helps to understand the demographic breakdown of each social network. It’s a little surprising to see that Generation Y is not necessarily the top group on social networks.
This infographic from Online MBA has some great information about the user demographics for many of the top social networks including Pinterest, Reddit and Digg.
Where QR Codes are Mooving! [VIDEO]
To me, QR Codes are like legalized graffiti, and not even good graffiti at that! Where’s Banksy when you need him. Anyway, if you are going to use a QR code, you may as well make it memorable. So, here is a video showing my favorite QR code usage. Funny, mooving and surprisingly effective, this inventive use of a QR code gave me a giggle and I hope it gets a chuckle out of you, too.
I recently heard a quote from the SXSW design conference that I think holds a lot of truth when designing for a digitally influenced Generation Y -
“Digital isn’t a medium, it’s the age we are living in.”
I think it is important for us, as designers, not to get wrapped up in designing and developing for the sole purpose of being digital. We have to stick to the core of what and who we are designing for. That means keeping our focus on the target audience and the brand message being conveyed. How they consume or receive the message is secondary to the core message itself. If you are a business looking to expand your reach, ask yourself – why are you getting on Facebook or Twitter? Rather than, how quickly can I get on Facebook and Twitter?
Generation Y Defined
Marketers take note: Generation Y, otherwise known as Millennials, born between 1982 and 2000, should be a highly desirable group to you, as they are nearly 80 million strong, with an estimated $170 billion in purchasing power.
Yes, $170 billion!
Here are some important characteristics to remember when advertising to Gen Y:
Many advertisers are wondering if they should include social media icons in their traditional advertising. And if so, how?
If you are still on the fence, here are 3 things to keep in mind.
When Woodmen of the World asked us to create two TV commercials, we were excited. When the director suggested we shoot in L.A, we were ecstatic.
And when we got to L.A., well … that’s when the fun really started!
The Generation X Factor
Generation Xers were born between 1965 – 1981 and make up about 17% of the U.S. population. As a whole, this group is both independent and skeptical, existing in the shadow of Baby Boomers. As this group moves into their 30s and 40s, Gen Xers are establishing themselves as consumers who are starting families and buying homes.
But, how do you market to this notoriously difficult group of consumers? One company who has successfully captured this group’s attention is Dairy Queen. Parents with young children have always been the ice cream maker’s target audience. But for now, Dairy Queen’s primary target falls squarely within Gen X. read more…
