While browsing my Coastal Living magazine a few months ago, I came across this full page ad.  Definitely caught my eye…for a few reasons.  One, the simplicity of the image.  All too often business/clients forget the human brain has challenges retaining multiple messages or images.  Tell me one thing!  You then have a fighting chance for me to remember you.

Second was the QR Code!  These became “the next best thing” a few years ago in this area, but never really took hold.  The technology was originally created for the automotive industry.  They utilizing the codes internally to identify parts and elements for each vehicle.  Here, the great state of Texas and it’s tourism agency is using this little by-gone promotional tool in a very interesting way!  In my opinion, the way it is best served!

Download i-nigma app and see for yourself!  Anyone want to book a flight to Austin?

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Wheat Thins new “humorous” approach.  Is this unique? Yes.  Is it somewhat memorable? I guess.  Does it hit the target for reaching an audience?  I would say no.  Is it creepy???  You tell us!

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A good friend of mine forwarded a blog post from Portlands Finest Advertising Blog about a local shoe store using Facebook well!  How are you using your Facebook biz page?

When a patron enters this shoe store and makes a purchase, the owner encourages that customer to take a picture of their new shoes!!  Assuming that the largest percentage of patrons are woman….and woman love to share things they love….pictures abound!  He then encourages the client to post that picture on their Facebook personal page!  Which, of course, they do!

One wish we hear from clients is ” How can I make something we post go viral!”.  Encouraging woman to share a photo of them fashioning their new shoes has that ability!  Even if the virility is contained within the 200-500 friends on Facebook.  It is most certainly a win for the shoe store.

Now if they really want to step up their game, they should encourage the customer to “Pin” the picture!  After all, Pinterest is all about virility and is consumed by woman!

Tell us what you do on your Facebook page to gain “likes”?

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A new email app is waiting for you Gmailers!  Mailbox is suppose to allow you to easily categorize your inbox to simplify reading that for some, can become an endless part of their day.   The Mailbox app is not active as of yet.  But you can download the app to be on the list!  Take a look and give us your thoughts!  Personally, I would love to find a email app that is much more user friendly for my iPhone!

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http://youtu.be/5we4VCl-af0

We all knew it was coming….Who out there has tried one??  Taco Bell is not my “kind” of food, being a vegetarian and all but I’ve heard the new Doritos Cool Ranch tacos are amazing!

This commercial is an easy one to apply the BIDD.  But, let’s review, shall we?

Business recall: the product is shown in every frame and it has the iconic logo with audio.  (The ringing bell)  I’d say 5 out of 5 BIDDs!

Impact or Memorability: This commercial is one of two short :15.  This one “Duh” and the second “Wow” have the same theme and structure.  They use repetition, which we’ve discussed in the post The Brain and Marketing, is the only way to turn short term memory into long term.  So….5 out of 5 BIDDs!

Demographic Target: This is a pretty easy detail to achieve for fast food businesses.  The demo is quite wide.  However Taco Bell definitely skews their message to a younger demo and also makes the message “hip”.  So in that aspect, 4 out of 5 BIDD’s.

Direction:  The creative direction is crucial to retention and recall.  The job of the Creative Direction is probably the most enjoyable at an advertising agency.  But with high demand and responsibility as outlined by Get in Media, their importance cannot be understated but… with consequence.  Fun yes, but they must produce!!  I would say humor is order of this commercial….  4 out of 5 BIDDs.

Now tell me what you think?  I feel this a very effective message and more important it maintains the continuity that advertisers so often forget!

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Every Monday I like to examine messages used in media.  Television, outdoor, print, radio, social media and more.  It’s an entertaining look at what advertisers and agencies focus on when it comes to their creative.  In a past blog we discussed “3 is the Key” when it comes to success in advertising.  One of those 3 elements is the message….what are you saying in your commercials?  It’s just as important as who your are talking to and how often are you talking to them!

Going forward Mosaic Monday will examine the success of an advertisers create message based on the BIDD!

Business recall – Following exposure to the message, can you remember who is the advertiser?

Impact or Memorability – Does the message create one or both of theses elements

Demographic target – who is it?  Do they achieve reaching their reach by the message?

Direction – Humor? Storytelling? Fear? Conversational? What direction are they implementing.

I want your bid!  Let me know if the Mosaic Monday creative gets a winning BIDD or should go back on the shelf.

From the Life is a Gag website….here’s some real fun in marketing.  Taking a chance, thinking differently and actually implementing such ideas are most often way out of an advertisers comfort zone.  But what an impact it could have if given the opportunity!

Below are two examples of how pushing that line benefits a business.  What’s your thought?  How far are you willing to go to be noticed and remembered in your business?

I cannot decide if I like this Speed Stick commercial or it weighs too much on the creepy side.  In my book a couple elements are concrete; the target demo is men, older woman will pretty much hate it (due to the naivety and inferred intellectual level of the young female in the ad), but the drive to Twitter is on target!  This first aired in the Super Bowl.

Love it or hate it?  Do you think it’s effective?

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My daughter Courtney forwarded this commercial to me via one of her SMAD classes at JMU.  This is less of a “judgement” call on effectiveness and message content and more of a guilty pleasure in advertising.  This commercial would most certainly catch my attention!  So…I’d say the demo target is….woman??  Your thoughts?  :)

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Here’s a creative and unexpected avenue to advertise!  I was recently on a flight back to VA from MI.  Aboard the US Airways flight I pleasantly requested a Diet Coke from the flight attendants fully stocked cart.  Once my request was fulfilled I noticed this napkin.

Accompanying my refreshment was an advertisement from Hilton Garden Inn.  The Ultimate TO-DO list  with #4 left blank for my addition to the list.  At first I thought, how crazy!  Then I thought…..how Brilliant!  What better focused audience to have than the airline traveler who has no choice but to stay in their seat “with your seatbelt fastened”?  Being exposed to this message was reminiscent of the first time I saw a urinal ad.  I remember sitting down, because I’m a girl, and smack-dab in front of my face was a framed ad for furniture!  Again, my first reaction was one of hilarity.  As with the napkin message, it quickly struck me how perfect this placement was.  For a few moments, you have my complete attention…whether I like it or not!  Advertisers kill themselves to create that kind of attention.

What do you think?  Is this creative or just invasive?

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