Category: Great Advertising
February 5th, 2007

$2.7 million disappointment

Today in the ad world everyone is Monday morning QB-ing the array of creative talent that was on display yesterday afternoon. In addition to the talk of best and worst, I thought I would question the ads that just felt out of place.

When you have a chance to reach as big of an audience as the Super Bowl boasts, why do advertisers waste it by not trying?  As much as I hate to give them anymore mentions for their lack of effort, I think this should be addressed.

The feeling is a complete let down. You’re watching the game and every time it breaks for commercial the anticipation of a good laugh, a clever situation or at least some crazy animals is awaited with feverish excitement.  Instead you get the same commercial you just saw last Thursday night or worse a new commercial that is just as boring and forgettable as every other ad, every other day.

I mean this is the Super Bowl folks, you just paid an outrageous amount of money for 30 seconds worth of undying attention from  a huge audience. DO SOMETHING CREATIVE! Don’t treat this as just another 30 second spot. 

Here are some of the worst offenders:

Honda: Fuel Efficient …Honda Cars weave in and out of a gas pump.

Honda: CR-V car is glitzy with a Elvis song in the background.
IZOD: ???? Preppy clothes are cool?
Honda: Ridgeline… a pick-up that holds a lot of cargo.
T-Mobile: Dwayne Wade and Charles Barkley.
SalesGenie.com: Get 100 leads and your life instantly is better.
Lexus: Drop car from helicopter.

February 2nd, 2007

Gratituous Super Bowl Ads Post

Apple1984ad
Are you going to watch The Super Bowl for the ads or the football? If you like the ads, check this out.

NYT has a cool article that lets you track the evolution of Super Bowl TV commercials from 1984 through 2006.

Browse the gamut from the Apple 1984-esque Mac launch to Spuds Mackenzie to the Tabasco mosquito to the Pets.com (who?) sock puppet to Budweiser’s "Wassup!" and beyond.

For more interesting reading, here is another New York Times article on the subject of Super Bowl ads entitled "Colts and Bears and Kevin Federline" with some interesting charts, videos and stats.

January 31st, 2007

Mini? Me?

MimPushing one-to-one marketing to yet another level, innovative marketer Mini has launched a series of talking billboards.

The billboards identify Minis via  a coded radio signal embedded in the car’s key fob.

"As drivers approach, a
customized message flashes on the billboard. "Hi Jackie! Don’t crash
the car." comments Church of the Customer Blog.

"The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out: “Mary, moving at the speed of justice,” if Mary is a lawyer, or “Mike, the special of the day is speed,” if Mike is a chef….

Continue reading

January 29th, 2007

Shatner sets another high for Priceline.

Oh sweet, baby Jesus, make it possible for tiny Mortar to work with the great William Shatner.

January 29th, 2007

The best commercial ever.

Nuff said.