4.26.2012

old spice believes in it's smellf

Old Spice has had some pretty terrible commercials (like anything with Terry Crews - his first and last name are separate links to stupid commercials... not bad eh?), and I have just let them all slip away into their stupid graves built out of stupidness.  That is, until now.  This commercial actual got a legitimate chuckle out of me, although it is no "I'm on a horse".



I, too, believe in my smellf. Do smyou?

4.24.2012

how to make a store better? another store.

Target announced recently that they are going to be bringing in a bunch of little shops inside the Target store.  If they (or should I say we) can't win you over with Target, we'll win you over with "polkadogbakery" or "privet house".  Their tagline is, "The shops we stumbled upon and couldn't help but fall in love with".

Here's a little video about it.


Target's not the only brand to jump on the store inside a store, in jcp's big strategy announcement they included a little snippet about a "main street of shops" to showcase their best stuff.

If you like this, wait until they put even smaller stores inside these stores - your money will practically spend itself.  Kristy (my wifey) said it's the inception of shopping.

4.21.2012

awesome dancing makes me want to buy

I am a huge sucker for dance, especially street dance like hip-hop, break dancing, and dubstep (my new favorite).  The adrenaline that the audience can get from seeing this kind of dance makes it a prime candidate for marketing messages.

I chose a few of my favorite to show you whazup.

This one's a bit long, but to get the idea go to :35 and watch for 30 seconds and then skip to the last 10 for the brand message.


This is one of the first I remember seeing, featuring break dancing.  Also, a funny line at the end.


Also there this "popping and locking" spot from IKEA.  If you watch So You Think You Can Dance, you'll recognize these people.

4.20.2012

I almost cried, guys.

This masterpiece from the P&G for the 2012 Olympics is a tear jerker for sure.  P&G's tribute to moms.  All of us have one, most of us love ours, and those of us with kids know too well the endless service a mom is asked to give.

The whole point of advertising is to arouse some emotion and tie it to a product or idea to motivate behavior, something that this spot does exceptionally well.  I also love when an advertisement shows what power a non-suggestive, non-violent, non-sexual ad can have.

A part of me feels manipulated, though.  I feel a little like the big bad muli-million $ firm is tricking me into feeling something.  Oh well, P&G, you win; I felt something and I think I like you more because of it.

4.17.2012

one of these things...

So this commercial is kind of cool.  Nothing overwhelmingly inspiring from Honda, but take a close look at the family in the car.  I can't help but sing, "one of these things is not like the other" in my head.  And if you are still scratching your head, it is the little dark-skinned boy in a car full of very pale parents and kids.

Here's a screenshot, the video is below.
honda pilot road trip commercial family screen shot

The full commercial:

4.16.2012

you smell bad. now read my blog.

I guess I'm on a viral-videos-from-brands kick (can that even be a thing?) what with my post about TNTs drama stunt and Nintendo's mockery.

Here is a stunt from Tic Tac to make people feel bad.  They are basically saying, "You smell bad.  Now buy Tic Tacs". I don't know if that is the best strategy... but I guess that's just the point, I don't know.  I think I'll try it out by making it my blog title.

4.14.2012

nintendo makes fun of "going viral"

When I was watching this parody video from Nintendo, I almost felt like Joel McHale was trying to hard too try too hard to sell.  Does that make any sense at all?  Am I trying too hard?

Anywhooo (my Minnesotan accent), I thought it should be funny if nothing else.

4.13.2012

so much real, fake drama

So TNT decided to bring drama to real life.  The ridiculous things brands will do to "go viral".  I guess it worked, it is on my blog, after all.

I wonder if after it was all over they felt super disappointed that only 20 people stopped to watch?

4.11.2012

whales are depressed and jim gaffigan is brilliant

Yeah, that's right, you didn't misread the title, whales are depressed.  Listen to this hilarity from Jim Gaffigan to see what I mean... er... what he means.



I do love the marketing for the video.  Super simple, and undeniably clear: $5 for 75 min of funny stuff.  There's a sample, an invitation, and a clear direction.  I bet their sales are stronger than the typical stand-up video.  No seriously, I would like to bet you - $10.  I keed, I'm not a betting man.

4.10.2012

nike hates boys. take this nike.


So it recently dawned on me that Nike hates boys.  Why, Nike?  Do boys have to be weak and whiny for girls to be great?

Whhhaaaaaa!!!  Why are boys always picked on?!?  :(  Haarrruuummph.



I don't know why we can't harken back to the good ol' days when advertisements were sexist in my favor.  Take this Nike.



4.08.2012

an easter cocktail. of movies.

Today as part of our Easter celebration we drank in a dangerously moving and motivating cocktail of wonderful videos helping us remember the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.  I thought I'd share.

A series of bible videos detailing the life of Christ.  This is a compilation.


A special testimony of His importance:


Another testimony of Him:


Maybe a more practical lesson in application from Christ's teachings

4.07.2012

mormon marketing

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (AKA the Mormons, AKA my church) has put together a very clever (biased opinion? yes.) marketing campaign for Easter.

The internet campaign revolves around the Mormon.org Facebook account and a website created just for Easter, http://www.mormon.org/easter .

So what's so clever?  The campaign is undeniably simple with a laser focus on the central message of the campaign, that Christ lives.  From my marketing education, the best campaigns know exactly who they are talking to and what they want to say, and that is what I see here.

Below are a couple of samples from the campaign.

This is the video on the "front page" of the website:


One of the "Easter cards" from the Facebook campaign:


















The campaign is personally meaningful to me as well.  I believe that Jesus lived in Jerusalem long ago, that he performed miracles and taught.  I believe that he came to make our success on Earth possible by suffering to for our sins and our grief.  I believe he rose from the dead, triumphant over death and sin.  It is in Him I trust and structure my life the best I can to follow his teachings.  I have felt his love, forgiveness, and peace.  Happy Easter!