Unlike many prescription adverts, this one does not play safe. The attempt from Pfizer, UK is to shock the viewer, even disgust the viewer. And I think it works. The attempt was to scare consumers into re-thinking the inclination to buy prescription-only medicines without a prescription on the internet. As mentioned in the website, no rats were killed for the ad. Ads meant to change consumer behaviour use ‘shock therapy’ often – anti-smoking and public…
I am not a regular visitor of The White House’s official site, but it was cool to see a refreshed site almost immediately after President Obama’s inauguration. I missed the live telecast of the speech (written by a 27-year old) and read it up on the net later. Awesome stuff. The Director of New Media for the White House (great to hear such initiatives) outlines three priorities for the effort: communication, transparency and participation. A…
Any likely winners from India at the upcoming Cannes Awards this year? I have a feeling it won’t be as good as last year’s haul for us. We didn’t have anything as big as Lead India (yes, there was Teach India) and the print ads weren’t a standout in any case. Among the TV commercials, the Himani Fastrelief one could be a possibility – but nothing else comes to mind. Since promotions and DM work…
More than the iPhone itself, the App Store is a bigger ‘game changing idea’. By allowing third party developers to create applications that are both entertaining and useful (not counting the ‘I am Rich’ application of course), it is changing the way a mobile phone is used. Not true in India, sadly thanks to the iPhone debacle here. Among the brands who have jumped on to the iPhone apps bandwagon, Kraft seems to have got…
Pepsi’s new ad, titled ‘Pass’ showcases Pepsi as a witness to history. Hmm, any brand that’s been around for 50 years or more can lay claim to this? How is this unique to Pepsi and not to Coke? It’s not. And isn’t saying ‘part of every generation’ exactly the opposite of ‘choice of the new generation’? The latter tangentially said that Pepsi is not your grandfather’s drink – and this one says just that. Anyway,…
A small collection of (lesser known?) Indian print ads from the early ’90s to early 2000. I don’t have the credits for all the work. I have mentioned the names I am familiar with along with the images. Do let me know if I have gone wrong with the credits or if you have any additional information. Some of the copy-based ads make me yearn for the good ol’ days of print ads. Gosh, I…
The blogosphere and news sites are all talking about a great new marketing stunt from Queensland Tourism Department. The ‘Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef’ is a newly created position and billed as the Best Job in the World (no arguments there). Since the announcement, its website has had four million hits, crashed several times and received 2,000 60-second video applications. The agency behind the awesome idea, Cummins Nitro, has come under…
You could say that life was simpler for advertising folks a decade or two ago. We developed print ads or a television spot and we were done. Now with all this new media jazz, life is getting complicated – at least for those who get intimidated by today’s creative needs. You have to dream up ideas ranging from the brilliant to the bizarre. Where does this new idea for Heinz ketchup fit in? The objective…
TMobile’s theme, Life is for Sharing lends itself eminently for great thematic commercials, viral ideas and so on. But getting 350 people to participate in a TV commercial, without them knowing it? That’s awesome. Saatchi & Saatchi unleashed a guerilla dance routine at the Liverpool Street railway station. Hidden cameras, placed within the station captured the spontaneous reactions of commuters as they watched (and joined in) the performance. As a bonus, this idea neatly does…
Cashing in on a trend is nothing new to advertising agencies. Several notable (and not-so-notable) campaigns have used current events or fads to be noticed. Amul has been running topical hoardings for years now. Recently, brands like Bajaj Allianz and Kingston have attempted to create buzz by associating with Ghajini, the movie. In the US, several brands appear to be riding piggy back on Obama’s popularity, the media attention, his theme for ‘change’ and his…