Selling gross stuff.

My boyfriend showed me this ad and I had to share it.  I hate fast food, but this one's a classic.  Old people require biiiiig burgers.  Get with it McDonald's.  P.S. These people obviously haven't been exposed to the documentary Food, Inc.  They wouldn't want any beef, especially from Wendy's.  Watch it.  That is if you really want to know where your food is coming from.  It's disgusting, but definitely eye-opening.  You probably won't eat for a week, although I did cave after a couple days.

The truth works...sometimes

Last Volkswagen ad for awhile--I promise.  It's another oldie-but-goodie, and it employs a great strategy to sell a weird little car.  The truth.  It's rare in advertising, especially in raw form like it is in this Beetle advertisement.  DDB's ad is not only honest, but it's also conversational.  No jargon.  No exaggeration.  No bullshit.  It's like your over-dramatic, over-analytical, artsy friend who tells you everything you want to know (and everything you don't).  She's just looking out for you.  Yes, that skirt makes you look fat.  You have something hanging out of your nose.  That ugly little car?  It'll make your house look huge.

How to sell your flaws.

"You can say the right thing about a product and nobody will listen. You've got to say it in such a way that people will feel it in their gut. Because if they dont feel it, nothing will happen."

-William Bernbach

 

UPG students: Come hang out with me tomorrow.

Not my best ad. but you get it.  If you go to Pitt-Greensburg, come to Village Hall 118 for a free lunch. You'll get a free shirt too, which you'll get to tie-dye.  The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. so come whenever you have an extra few minutes.  See ya there.

The best ad ever.

Volkswagen's "Think Small" campaign was named number one by Advertising Age's top 100 ad campaigns of the 20th century.

“Our little car isn’t so much of a novelty any more.  A couple of dozen college kids don’t try to squeeze inside it.  The guy at the gas station doesn’t ask where the gas goes.  Nobody even stares at our shape.  In fact, some people who drive our little flivver don’t even think 32 miles to the gallon is going any great guns.  Or using five pints of oil instead of five quarts.  Or never needing anti-freeze.  Or racking up 40,000 miles on a set of tires.  That’s because once you get used to some of our economies, you don’t even think about them any more.  Except when you squeeze into a small parking spot.  Or renew your small insurance.  Or pay a small repair bill.  Or trade in your old VW for a new one.  Think it over.”

The first and last time I laughed at a funeral.

Most people don't know that the Volkswagen Beetle was designed in part by Hitler himself.  Instead, the cute little VW is thought of by most as the love bug, punch buggie, or hippiemobile.  So how did advertisers transform the Beetle's image from a Nazimobile into a positive cultural icon of the 1960s?

They had a funeral.

This is the only funeral you'll ever attend that it's acceptable--even encouraged--to giggle a little bit.

This is by far one of my favorite (old) television commercials.  It has to be against some unwritten advertising rule to use any idea surrounding death to sell a product-- especially something as expensive as a car.  But for some reason this commercial works, and it works well. It wasn't the first ad to transform the Volkswagen image, but (in my opinion) it's definitely one of the best. 

I am absolutely in love with the advertisements DDB did for Volkswagen in the 60s, so I'm going to spend the rest of the week highlighting my favorite ones.  What to look for tomorrow: the best (literally, the best) ads in American history.  According to me obviously.  Just kidding.  I let other people vote this time.  Kind of.

My advertising alter ego.

As a communication major, I had a little bit of exposure to advertising (the business side of it that is) throughout my college career.  I was always somewhat interested in the theory behind it.  Just the idea that some combination of pictures and words could effectively persuade someone to do something--buy something--has always fascinated me.  As much as I try to fast forward or channel surf during commercials on tv (or make fun of the ads that I do see), I actually love advertisements.  I hate what a nusence they are, though.  They interrupt all the best scenes of my favorite shows, or force me to wait an extra few minutes before my NEXT favorite show begins.  So annoying.  But if I look at ads on my own time (which I do pretty regularly), I absolutely adore them.  The time and effort that went into making that 30-second commercial is unbelievable.  Seriously.  And the fact that advertising works, well that's a story for another day.

Although I always loved ads, I never really appreciated the work that went into creating them until I discovered my favorite television show: Mad Men.  It's all about the advertising industry in the 60s', and it. is. awesome.  The guys of Madison Avenue spent their days drinking whiskey, shmoozing clients over expensive dinners, and making passes at their attractive, (sometimes) innocent secretaries.  Some of them actually work too--sometimes.  If you haven't seen Mad Men, well nevermind.  Watch Madmen, then we'll talk.

Don Draper, the main character, is a James Bond meets Brad Pitt meets Edward Norton kind of guy.  Aside from being incredibly attractive, Draper is extremely charismatic, but mysterious at the same time.  Ladies, you can't tell me this Lucky Strike smoking alpha male doesn't turn you on.

Don Draper, Mad Men

As much as I love Don Draper (I know it's physically impossible for me to become an alpha male over night), I love his secretary-turned-copywriter Peggy Olson even more.  She's confident, hardworking, creative, and she knows what she wants. Peggy's not a sex kitten like the other females in the show, and that's what I like about her.  I guess you could say she's the "feminist" on the show.  If I could be anyone in this fantasy advertising world, it'd be Peggy.  

Peggy Olson, my advertising alter ego

Trust me, I know the advertising industry isn't like they show it on tv.  But I really wish it was.  And it's nice to pretend that my future job will allow me to drink whiskey and nap on a couch all day.  I just wanted to give you guys a little more background about me and why I'm so interested in advertising.  And Mad Men is just the beginning.  Stay tuned this week for my favorite advertising campaigns ever.  While you're waiting, watch Mad Men.  And talk to me about it.  Please.  :) http://www.amctv.com/shows/mad-men

Happy haircut day.

Happy MLK day everyone.  In honor of Dr. King, I have decided not to post any real corporate advertisements today.  Instead I will do some promoting of my own--I know you all have been dying to see my ad skills.  I had the day off of school and work, so I spent my day getting caught up on homework, cleaning and running errands..the worst.  But the highlight of my day was spending time with my friends at a haircutting party.  My friend Michelle is a licensed cosmetologist (and an awesome one at that), and she used her day off to cut and style mine and a couple of my friends' hair.  Take a look at some of her work.

Best haircuts of the day

Mine, obviously.  Michelle colored my roots and added some highlights in my hair to get rid of the black box dye I so foolishly colored my hair with the past three years.  She took about an inch of the length and gave my bangs a nice trim job.

My friend Chooch.  Michelle trimmed his top and shaved the sides for Chooch's new hip hairstyle.

Pat got his ears lowered too.  An inch or so off the top and the sides shaved.

Michelle hanging out with her clients (and cutting my hair at the same time).  I'm in the chair taking the photo.  Not only does Michelle give a mean haircut, but she's a lot of fun too.  She sang along and danced to Manchester Orchestra for hours while she worked.

If you're interested in a new hairstyle, call Sybil Salon and Spa and ask to book an appointment with Michelle Slobodnyak. (412) 363-2113 Or visit the salon's website (or Facebook page)  for more information.   http://www.sybilsalonandspa.com or http://www.facebook.com/SybilSalon

My favorite game growing up: Hide and ...Skoal?

Today I'd like to dedicate a space to the wonders of chewing tobacco.  Although I am a regular cigarette smoker, I think chewing is absolutely repulsive.  I guess that makes me a hypocrite...oh well.  But the sight of tiny tobacco pieces lodged between my father's teeth as he lunged to give me a goodnight kiss still remains one of my most painful childhood memories.  (I'm lucky, I know.)  I remember comparing the taste of his goodnight kisses to my experiences in the old, overflowing porter potties I was forced to used at my brothers' little league baseball games.  My dad has been a loyal Skoal "chewer" for as long as I remember.  When I was little, I would steal his cans (he bought them by the roll and stored them in the fridge) and hide them in my bedroom or throw them away.  He started catching on to my antics, and would steal them back whenever I wasn't around. Hide and seek with daddy's chew became a daily ritual in my household.  I got my mom and my two older brothers involved in the hiding process.  But as we got better and better at hiding, he got better and better at seeking.  In retaliation, I resorted to emptying his chew cans into the toilet and the garbage.  Daddy didn't think my new game was cute...at all.  I don't remember what my punishment was, but I do remember my dad promising to cut back on chewing.  He never did.  I'd always ask him, "Daddy why do you do that?  It's so gross!  Why would you even want to start doing something like that?"  He never answered me.  I never understood why.

Now I get it.

The best way to sell cigarettes.

I figured I'd keep the theme of smoking going this week, since smoking ads don't really exist anymore.  The only place you'll see cigarette "advertisements" nowadays is outside the gas station (or news stands if you live in the city).  The signs claim that the store sells cigarettes at the lowest price permitted by state laws.  Probably because technically that's all they're allowed to say.  As a smoker (unfortunately), I do pay attention to these signs.

But since cigarette ads are no longer allowed in America, I'd like to pay a tribute to some old cigarette ads.  Of course, a lot of them used sex to sell the poisonous product.  Thats my number three favorite tactic for selling tobacco.  We already established that sex sells.  But in the case of cigarettes, sex sells third best.  This sexy Tipalet ad encourages male consumers to "Blow in her face and she'll follow you anywhere."

But the best ads use images anyone can identify to sell cigarettes.  My number two favorite brand ambassador for smokes: Santa Claus.

Santa says, "Luckies are easy on my throat."  Who wouldn't believe a testimony from Santa Claus?

My number one favorite brand ambassador for smoking.

(.....drumroll please.....)

Babies.

They're totally trustworthy.  And totally adorable.  If you don't believe a baby who's trying to sell you a pack of cigarettes, there is something seriously wrong with you.

Sex Sells.

Hey guys.  This blog will feature American advertisements from the past and present--and if you're lucky, I'll give you a look at some ads of the future (or just ads I created myself).  Most of the ads I'll share will be controversial.  The best--and most memorable--ads usually are.  I'll post my favorite and least favorite ads along with some history about them.  Here's a little preview of what you can expect to see in future blog posts.  An ad for Tiparillo cigars from the late 60s (1967 if my research is correct) targets men by placing the cigar alongside a sexy, nearly-naked woman.  The ad claims that by offering a sexy woman a Tiparillo cigar, the consumer will have more luck getting her in the sack.  Or seeing her naked at least.  Sex sells it best, right?

Should a gentleman offer a Tiparillo to a librarian?

She’ll read anything she can get her hands on.  From Medieval History to How-To-Build-a-24-Foot-Iceboat.  Loves books.  Loves new ideas.  Okay.  No doubt, she’s seen the unusual, slim Tiparillo shape.  She’s been intrigued by the neat, white tip.  She may even know that there are two Tiparillos.  Regular, for a mild smoke.  And new Tiparillo M with menthol, for a cold smoke.  Your only problem is which to offer. 

P.S. If she accepts your Tiparillo, remember to fumble with the matches until she decides to light it herself. 

That way, she’ll have to put down the book.

Other ads from the same campaign