10 posts tagged “advertising”
Subway ads are a fact of life in New York. At the very least they're something to look at while your train is running late.
However, there is a unknown artist "Poster Boy" who is shaking things up a little bit underground with mashups like the awesome one here, combining ads for Star Wars on TV, Murakami's art exhibit, and what I think might be Taco Bell. When new ads are posted, they are often simply pasted over the old ones. If you cut through or peel the away at it, you get weird juxtapositions. Part of his art seems to be these cutaways. Others are simple cut and paste jobs from other posters in the ads.
His "gallery" is here. A lot of the ads are not that special - elaborately executed but somewhat empty toilet humor, but the ones that are good are very good indeed. Particularly the Star Wars pieces.
However, there is a unknown artist "Poster Boy" who is shaking things up a little bit underground with mashups like the awesome one here, combining ads for Star Wars on TV, Murakami's art exhibit, and what I think might be Taco Bell. When new ads are posted, they are often simply pasted over the old ones. If you cut through or peel the away at it, you get weird juxtapositions. Part of his art seems to be these cutaways. Others are simple cut and paste jobs from other posters in the ads.
His "gallery" is here. A lot of the ads are not that special - elaborately executed but somewhat empty toilet humor, but the ones that are good are very good indeed. Particularly the Star Wars pieces.
In a recently released study, people who were exposed to either appetizing photos or scents were much more likely to make poor long-term decisions in favor of lower return, short-term rewards.
People tended to impulse shop, and seemed to have their reward system short circuited.
This is important because advertisers are starting to investigate scented advertising messages, not just in stores or in magazines (which is an old technology) but in bus shelters and other unusual spots.
I'm going to have to tell my boss I need a nap after a tasty lunch so I don't make any bad decisions....
People tended to impulse shop, and seemed to have their reward system short circuited.
This is important because advertisers are starting to investigate scented advertising messages, not just in stores or in magazines (which is an old technology) but in bus shelters and other unusual spots.
I'm going to have to tell my boss I need a nap after a tasty lunch so I don't make any bad decisions....
Virgin Mobile seems to be one of the few brands that's not afraid to mention religion in their holiday advertisements.
For example, this Canadian commercial features a delightful break-dancing nativity scene.
It's incredibly stupid, yet I enjoyed it very much.
For example, this Canadian commercial features a delightful break-dancing nativity scene.
It's incredibly stupid, yet I enjoyed it very much.
I've started to have to work late this week, and will work pretty late for about a month and half.
Most people don't think about how ads get into magazines, but that is pretty much what I'm paid to do - it's a lot of work! The only thing my company does is place media in magazines, TV, the web, billboards, even phones and in bars!
What we do is:
Obviously I don't think advertising is that bad, but I'm a consumer too! I fast forward through commercials and hate magazines with too many ads. Also, advertising can't make you buy things - I'm not that good at my job! It can make you want things, I'll admit that - or let you know about things to want. Fashion and cars in particular have vicious cycles of obsolescence. But that's the industries more than the ads themselves, I think.
Remember, it's not advertising that most people really hate. It's the bad advertising that they hate. Think about the ads that you like to see - the funny, pretty, smart ones. See what I mean?
Most people don't think about how ads get into magazines, but that is pretty much what I'm paid to do - it's a lot of work! The only thing my company does is place media in magazines, TV, the web, billboards, even phones and in bars!
What we do is:
- Talk to our clients to see what they want to accomplish next year with their sales and with their advertising (and how much money they'll give us to do it! We usually talk in hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars)
- We research the kind of person the client wants to reach, and we research which magazines those people might read
- We analyze and research magazines to make sure their circulation is good, that they have as many readers as they say they do, and who those readers are
- We negotiate rates with each magazine that might make sense. We always want a discount. We also negotiate free pages, and other things too
- If the client wants extras like free events or access to celebrities, we negotiate that as well
- We figure out when each ad should run in each magazine, and even where in the magazine it should be. We want the back cover, but that can be expensive, and there aren't that many. We also have to make sure that the combination of magazines we choose reach enough of the right people a certain number of times
- We place orders for each ad, and the agency that made the artwork sends it to the magazine to be printed
- Each month, we make sure our ads ran the way we were promised
Obviously I don't think advertising is that bad, but I'm a consumer too! I fast forward through commercials and hate magazines with too many ads. Also, advertising can't make you buy things - I'm not that good at my job! It can make you want things, I'll admit that - or let you know about things to want. Fashion and cars in particular have vicious cycles of obsolescence. But that's the industries more than the ads themselves, I think.
Remember, it's not advertising that most people really hate. It's the bad advertising that they hate. Think about the ads that you like to see - the funny, pretty, smart ones. See what I mean?
Listerine was originally invented in 1879 as a surgical antiseptic. Soon after it was marketed for all sorts of uses until the various regulatory agencies whittled its approved uses down to mouthwash. Originally, Listerine was only available as a prescription.
At times Listerine has been sold as a floor cleaner, a cure for gonorrhea, cold and sore throat prevention, dandruff treatment, skin treatment for rashes and itches, aftershave, and antiseptics for small cuts.
Listerine also had a huge impact on modern culture: It invented the term "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" in one of its innovative but typical scare tactic advertisements, which were very common in the early 20th century for all sorts of fashion and beauty products. More importantly, it invented the term and the condition of halitosis (chronic bad breath). Halitosis was presented to the public as a medical condition and of course Listerine was the cure; however, halitosis is not considered a true medical condition (though it might be a symptom). Either way, it's now in the dictionary.
Americans are sometimes perceived as obsessive germaphobes and personal hygiene fanatics (I had friends that used to shower twice a day, always). Although we probably needed it, 20th century scare advertising by companies like Listerine are at least somewhat responsible.
At times Listerine has been sold as a floor cleaner, a cure for gonorrhea, cold and sore throat prevention, dandruff treatment, skin treatment for rashes and itches, aftershave, and antiseptics for small cuts.
Listerine also had a huge impact on modern culture: It invented the term "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" in one of its innovative but typical scare tactic advertisements, which were very common in the early 20th century for all sorts of fashion and beauty products. More importantly, it invented the term and the condition of halitosis (chronic bad breath). Halitosis was presented to the public as a medical condition and of course Listerine was the cure; however, halitosis is not considered a true medical condition (though it might be a symptom). Either way, it's now in the dictionary.
Americans are sometimes perceived as obsessive germaphobes and personal hygiene fanatics (I had friends that used to shower twice a day, always). Although we probably needed it, 20th century scare advertising by companies like Listerine are at least somewhat responsible.
If you were in the US in 2005-06 and watched too much NBC, you may have seen General Electric's dancing elephant commercial.
However it's come to light that there is a real elephant (god knows where) who not only dances but also plays the harmonica.
If they'd known about this, they could have saved a lot of money on special effects.
[disclaimer: I work on the GE business]
However it's come to light that there is a real elephant (god knows where) who not only dances but also plays the harmonica.
If they'd known about this, they could have saved a lot of money on special effects.
[disclaimer: I work on the GE business]
If you couldn't tell already, I'm a bit of a nerd.
So I was pleased to learn that Star Wars and the Post Office are teaming up to promote the 30th Anniversary of the original film. Thus we have these delightful R2D2 mailboxes.
I can't figure out if the mailboxes are wrapped or actually produce like this. The website says uspsjedimaster.com but it is not live (yeah, I checked...).
If you didn't know, R2D2 is the best - not to mention one of the better actors in the series.
I hope some of these boxes will be installed near me! This totally makes up for the ridiculous clock-stealing antics previously discussed.
So I was pleased to learn that Star Wars and the Post Office are teaming up to promote the 30th Anniversary of the original film. Thus we have these delightful R2D2 mailboxes.
I can't figure out if the mailboxes are wrapped or actually produce like this. The website says uspsjedimaster.com but it is not live (yeah, I checked...).
If you didn't know, R2D2 is the best - not to mention one of the better actors in the series.
I hope some of these boxes will be installed near me! This totally makes up for the ridiculous clock-stealing antics previously discussed.
An elegant crash course in the raison d'etre of graffiti.
Check out this trippy 1970s commercial for 7 Up. You can be cool - just like Pac Man!
How does persuasion work? If it isn't by facts and reasoning (and often it isn't) it's through exploiting the social rules and subtle interpersonal contracts that we have decided as a society.
Even the smallest verbal cues can break us down. Use the word "because" without it being followed by a reason - it still might work. Get people to write something - anything - down. The next time you ask them something they will feel obligated toward you.
Advertisers, marketers, Greenpeace, politicians and many other unsavory types know or at least exploit these social loopholes. However, once you know about them, these tactics will still work on you (probably).
The only immunity is complete sociopathy.
Even the smallest verbal cues can break us down. Use the word "because" without it being followed by a reason - it still might work. Get people to write something - anything - down. The next time you ask them something they will feel obligated toward you.
Advertisers, marketers, Greenpeace, politicians and many other unsavory types know or at least exploit these social loopholes. However, once you know about them, these tactics will still work on you (probably).
The only immunity is complete sociopathy.
