You know when I think of troubled third world nations who need our help, I can only think of one celebrity who might be able to adequately convey the pain and suffering of living in a disaster ridden country ruled by a junta.

KIM KARDASHIAN!



Unfortunately, this ill-advised Public Service Announcement does less for the poor people of Burma and more for illiteracy. As. she. remembers. what. was. in. the. script.

I don’t watch their reality show, but I know Mom married Bruce Jenner, former awesome Wheaties spokesman and the man who spawned the “Princes of Malibu” (and “please make famous” Hills “star” Brody Jenner). So it’s like a perfect storm of fame-whoring suck.
. Dad on the other hand, was OJ Simpson’s lawyer. So in other words, everyone has a deal with the Devil

A sack of hammers could beat them all on Jeopardy.

I’m not against celebrity PSA’s per se, just ones where celebrities with no real higher education try to lecture me about stuff (looking at you DiCaprio) and to seem more caring than the common man just because they have more influence.

Here’s a good primer on what good PSA’s involve.

A good PSA, even if you don’t agree with the content.



Simple, straightforward, to the point, and fairly genuine, which I think is the key to a good PSA. Kim Kardashian couldn’t find Burma on a map with 3 guesses and an encyclopedia.

Technorati Tags: PSA’s, Burma, Kim Kardashian, Bad Spokespeople, Tom Hanks

If there is one thing that will really help you get our political aspirations towards better heights, television advertising is a best bet to get the job done. Not all people can afford television advertising due to the cost of having one. Secondly, it is not merely a matter of producing the ad itself. It also includes being able to get the desired time slot that will surely be hitting the proper voters who will know that you are running for public office.

Such is an issue that many call as dirty but advantageous. But if you have the funds to support your ad campaign and likewise avoiding any potential discrepancies on election requirements, then by all means use advertising to boost your political campaign!

Federal rules requiring candidates to have access to similar television audiences forced stations to bump some advertising from their traditional clients. In some cases, it was purchased months in advance and in a highly sought-after spot.

(Source) Business Weekly

Technorati Tags: television, political, voters, advertising, campaign

From The Canadian Press

MONTREAL — Historic Quebec City hopes to take down a modern roadside decoration - the ubiquitous billboard.

The 400-year-old city is proposing a bylaw to wipe out large ad panels across much of the Quebec capital region in the next five years.

Serge Viau, the city’s assistant director general, says billboards mask Quebec City’s European architecture and stunning views.

“With the goal of cleaning up the urban landscape in mind, we decided to make the signs disappear,” Viau said of proposed changes to the city’s urban plan.

I defy the Quebecers to say this view is not stunning


People move to the city for the urban landscape, next thing you know, Quebec City will be getting rid of their strip clubs.

Also remember, if you’re going to have a billboard, the French part must be predominant if you’re also going to have your signs in English…silly separatists

Technorati Tags: billboards, Quebec, civil action

The smiling face above is Mick Cornett, the Mayor of Oklahoma City, who has teamed with Taco Bell to challenge his city’s residents to lose 1 million pounds this year.

According to the AP:

Taco Bell’s new Fresco Menu, which debuted in December and includes nine items with less than nine grams of fat, has been dubbed the “Official Menu of the Mayor’s Challenge.” Life-size cardboard cutouts of the mayor, which began appearing Thursday in Oklahoma City-area Taco Bell stores, feature the slug, “Because you can’t lose 1 million lbs. by yourself.”

…

The idea for the campaign began shortly after officials with Irvine, Calif.-based Taco Bell learned of Cornett’s initiative and contacted the mayor, telling him about the new menu items being launched in their stores, including 42 in the Oklahoma City metro area.

From a marketing standpoint, it’s both genius and dangerous, and a natural fit for a fast food company with resources. You have a built-in focus group, the problem is they a) have free will and aren’t required to buy Taco Bell every day and b) they aren’t required to get items off the Fresco menu, which isn’t price equivalent even if it may or may not be taste equivalent, which seems to be the major problem concerning fast food and obesity.

Do people care that they’re eating a bean burrito with 6 grams of fat versus the kind with a regular tortilla and nacho cheese that may be “less healthy?” Do they realize that a Fresco taco doesn’t mean you should get a regular soda? Does this new campaign mean the employees of Taco Bell have an obligation to the people of OKC to keep them on a healthy regiment or to plug the healthy menu when an obese person orders the Nachos Bell Grande?

I’m more skeptical. When it comes down to it, on your way home from work, it matters more if you’re paying $2.29 for the healthy menu item or $.99 for the regular one from the value menu. If you want to really be effective, you either have to make the price comparable or get rid of the unhealthy items and replace them entirely, thus taking the choice factor out.

But let’s hope for the best and expect the worst. Maybe the advertising blitz in OKC will educate and change behavior, which is part of the point.

Technorati Tags: Taco Bell, Oklahoma City, Mick Cornett, politics, fast food,

On the left, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners’ ad for the NBA Playoffs

on the right, Time Magazine’s cover

Technorati Tags: Time, NBA, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama

Out here in the Pacific Northwest, things are occasionally done a bit differently. Politics is obviously not exempt from the sometimes bizarre. As the political campaign for State Senator is ramping up, one candidate in particular is standing out in the crowd, so to speak, enough so to be gaining a fair bit of national attention.

And another Steve Novick political spot that’s been playing pretty much ’round the clock:

An interesting turn in Novick’s advertising and marketing is the recent release of Left Hook Lager, “A Battling Brew”.

That’s right, a politically endorsed beer. Nothing speaks to Oregonians quite like craft beer, so labeling bottles from small Eugene, OR craft brewer Ninkasi only makes sense (in a bizarre sort of way). If you’re so inclined, more info on purchasing the beer is available here.

And unlike many of these slightly bizarre campaigns, Novick’s campaign is quickly gaining ground and winning supporters. Last week, he received the endorsement from former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, and this week won the support of the Oregon Education Association. I hope this means we’ll be seeing some more entertaining political spots before this campaign is over. *And just a note - I’m definitely not proclaiming my political support for Novick - merely pointing out my appreciation for the advertising and marketing strategies that we’re seeing*

Politics aren’t exactly my thing, and I’m definitely not directly expressing any views or endorsing anything here. I just read through Andrew Romano’s Newsweek Blog article from last week on Why The Obama Brand is Working. I hadn’t taken the time to really step back and look at what was going on - and I’m greatful that Romano did for me. A very interesting read. He writes:

Reinforced with a coherent, comprehensive program of fonts, logos, slogans and web design, Obama is the first presidential candidate to be marketed like a high-end consumer brand. And for folks who don’t necessarily need Democratic social programs–upscale voters, young people–I suspect that the novel comfort of that brand affiliation contributes (however subconsciously) to his appeal.

Interesting to look at in those terms. And also interesting to analyze everything from a marketing campaign level rather than a political campaign standpoint. I realize there are many similarities, and that many political campaigns are purely advertising, but, as Romano points out, it’s much more than just advertising. It’s a politcian producing branding that would make most companies envious.

BBH London’s created this ad of Hillary Clinton endorsing Barack Obama. The print ad asks you to “Imagine the power of AXE.” A little controversy can go a long way. This could not have come at a more pivotal time in the American Primaries. Now I have to ask a few questions to you folks out there? Do you think that non-political advertisements can have an effect on an election? Is this a political ad and therefor subject to the same rules that govern political advertisements?

So it is not often here I get to post rumors/”inside the industry issues buzz”, but I would love some clarity from all of you faithful readers - both of you know who you are… I’m talking right to you.

Anyway, so as most of you might or might not know, Friendly’s Creative duties were given to the ever un-inspiring Zimmerman in Fort Lauderdale. Fine. But what is odd is that another newer agency that was in contention and passed on was Full Contact. Full Contact is headed by a few fellas from Hill Holiday. Now, why that is relevant is because Hill Holiday has done some great Dunkin Donut work - I reference the charming Fritalian - and Friendly’s is now being headed up by some ole’ DD guys.

So, they have obviously worked together in the past and produced some decent results, so why not continue the partnership as that happens quite often in this business as everyone knows? Can anyone shed any light on this? Was the relationship not as Friendly (sorry) as I, and many others, assumed?

If you know anything, please talk to me.

Word.

Technorati Tags: dunkin donuts, friendly’s creative, zimmerman, beyond madison avenue, agency

Okay…who has the best brand in this race? Tough question, right? It all depends on what attracts you most and what your image of our next President should be.

Is it character? How about leadership? Does experience matter… and, if so, what kind of experience? How smart is the candidate? How likable? Does he or she look and/or sound “Presidential”? And, the all-important buzz word after most eight-year Presidencies, “change.” Is being a change agent an important and desirable brand quality here?

Who’s got the right stuff this time around? For the Republicans, is Rudy the best leader with concrete results in public office? Is Mitt the most well-rounded manager - public and private success story? And, just who is this guy Huckabee? For the Democrats, does Hillary really have a lock on experience? Is Barack the kind of change agent that brings us back to the excitement of Jack Kennedy? And, are we ready to embrace the populist approach of John Edwards?

Jump in…let’s discuss.

Technorati Tags: mitt romney, marketing of politics, beyond madison avenue

We all know the object is to win. But what messages get through and consumed by the voters is all too interesting for me.

The marketing of these candidates (and sometimes their ideas) is how we meet and typically evaluate them before voting at the polls. Well, the ‘08 race for President is certainly in full swing in a few states and the constant polling would suggest the nation is beginning to think of who and what is beyond the George W. Bush era.

Do we vote for a person? A personality? A party? An issue or issues? A philosophy? Or do we vote for a brand? Maybe it is a combination of some or all of these things, but at least subconsciously I think we are built several brands and then vote on the brand we feel is most attractive.

Let’s discuss these brands (eh…candidates) throughout these next several months. Should be fun…