Category Archives: Ad Industry

Burnett’s ’09 Predictions

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Leo Burnett’s UK office just released predictions for 2009 via Youtube. Here’s an opinionated review:

2 things I like
1. They have a point of view on our times
2. They’re using the web to spread it quickly

3 things I don’t
1. Cliché packed – “pace of change is accelerating”, “tipping point”, “brands are vehicles”; check, check, and check
2. Conventional wisdom packaged as trends, e.g. trust is critical to brands, organizations that go the extra mile will prosper, etc
3. Excessive animation distracts

Skeptics of account planning will find much to dislike (and have). But my own prediction is that it results in client inquiries, i.e. “can you come talk to my team on your ’09 predictions”. Then they can offer specific and actionable suggestions. If that’s the case, score 1 for LB.

What do you think?

Matt Jones

Powerpoint doesn’t kill people, we do

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Death by Powerpoint. If you’re not familiar with the disease, you know some of the contributing factors:
1) reading from slides
2) multiple ideas per slide
3) all text

I could go on (clip art). Suffer through enough of these, and you understand why some audience members leave laptops open (not really, stop that). At any rate, there are short and long term hits to bad presentations. Short term, you fail to persuade, seemingly the point of being there. Long term, you miss an opportunity to demonstrate clear thinking – a unique trait in any industry.

Since bad presenting is pervasive, doing it well may be the easiest way to separate you or your organization from the pack. To help, here are 2 sources of inspiration on the “how” of effective presentations.

1) slide:ology – from Duarte Design, the group that helped Al Gore with his “An Inconvenient Truth” show.
2) Presentation Zen – from Garr Reynolds, an American marketing professor teaching in Japan. Big on eliminating clutter and taking into account how people actually process info. Download the presentation tips – its all there.

Sent from my iPhone.

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while i love my iphone am not afraid to show it, i have to wonder what my new email signature says about me. on-trend early adopter? check. but as a freelancer, it also admits to any client e-mail recipient that i am definitely not in my office. which is exactly where i should be, busily branding on their behalf. might as well admit my email was “sent from the elliptical machine at penfield fitness and racquet club”, “sent from my target holiday shopping extravaganza” or “sent from my long-overdue hair appointment at scott miller.”

so i ask you, status symbol sign-off or blatant out-of-office tip-off? discuss.

Digital Divide?

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A recent article from AdAge addresses the shifting ground under the traditional agency model. Short story: Agencies built around print and broadcast are perceived by some to be behind the digital curve. As a younger, more digitally-minded generation begins appearing on creative briefs under the title “target”, clients want an agency that knows how to earn their attention. And they don’t care where the ideas come from – digital agencies, media agencies, even media companies.

So, how are we doing in Rochester in developing our digital skills? Any great examples?

peculiar product peddler

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if you heart mad men, then you probably caught this clip on SNL over the weekend. and while jon hamm could peddle the pants off anyone, it got me thinking. about the strangest product i’d ever worked on: an estrogen replacement therapy aptly named femring. it was no john ham, and you couldn’t eat it in the bathroom, but still.

Books for kids

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In the spirit of its commitment to education, the American Advertising Federation will hold a three-week nationwide book drive to promote literacy among disadvantaged children and youth. Book drive dates: October 27 – November 18. The drive will be held in conjunction with the Books for Kids Foundation. The new public service project demonstrates the advertising industry’s comprehensive understanding of corporate responsibility and the value and vital importance of education.

The AAF is asking members from its college chapters, clubs and corporate organizations and companies to donate new children’s books in the category of kindergarten through third grade. Books in Spanish are also encouraged. The AAF’s goal is 5,000 new books to be collected from October 27 to November 18, 2008. Donations will be accepted from either individual AAF members or as part of a group donation from a club, college chapter or member company.

Click here to know more.

Membership has its privileges

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The American Advertising Federation is excited to offer you an exclusive 35 percent discount to upcoming ad:tech conferences as a benefit of your membership!

ad:tech conference events provide advertising, marketing and technology professionals with speakers, panels and workshops all focused on the media industry. ad:tech conference gives you the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of the trade with multiple events worldwide.

Upcoming Conference:

ad:tech New York
New York Hilton
November 3–6

Catch Shelly Lazarus as she opens day two of ad:tech New York with her keynote presentation “Dispatches from the Digital Frontier.” The conference features a stellar group of media, agency and brand all-stars from AAF member companies, including: Ogilvy & Mather, MediaVest USA, Initiative Media, Group M Interaction, NYTimes.com, Businessweek.com, CondeNet, Turner, Procter & Gamble and General Mills. Jonathan Klein, president, CNN/U.S., presents the opening keynote on Election Day! Join us for this annual powerhouse event.

Register here and receive a 35 percent discount off the current online rate for a Full Conference Pass! Use code: 35NYE5

Aye Carumba, Jimbo! Always Check the Replay.

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It’s not often you see commercials that continue to make you laugh long after seeing them, but I’d definitely file this spot for Vault Energy Soda under that category.

[youtube Iul4s-Kj_MU]

Hilarious. I’m not sure who’s responsible for the creative, but I do know the first few commercials for Vault (owned by Coca-Cola) were done by Publicis New York. They may have done this one as well.

Embrace your freak flag

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Quick mockumentary from the Australian Director’s Guild (what, not a member?) on creative collaboration – good stuff happens when quirky people with diverse talents get together. Sometimes bad stuff too – think the Joker in Dark Knight. But that’s not the point here.

[youtube waRfzUxL9hA]

And if you have one eye that’s enormous, now you have company.

Flying the Freak Flag