Wow, I get the distinct feeling these people really want to make a point here…
You certainly can’t accuse them of being wimpy or subtle about the way they are promoting their message.
I like the way they are engaging their target audience whilst maintaining a sense of humor about it.
It is interesting to see some of the incredibly creative ways Advertising agencies are attacking this issue, after all, it’s only a few years ago, that the blue ribbon clients in any agency were the tobacco companies.
Heres a Christmas billboard that’s sure to grab some extra attention…
Couldn’t we do with a few more ideas like this? Instead of most of the mind numbingly boring billboards that clutter our cities, a few more imaginative ideas like this would at least turn drive time into a bit of fun entertainment and would have a far better chance of breaking through the visual clutter, to deliver their messages.
Yesterday I was reading Carol Bentley’s Blog of Copy Writing Tips and came across a name I knew: Dr. Robert Cialdini…Several years ago Cialdini did extensive research (real tests, with real people, in real business’s) into what influences human behavior.
If you have not read his book, Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion, do yourself and your business a HUGE favor and get a copy, in fact go now, and I’ll wait right here until you get back.
This book earns its place as one of the best and most practical business books ever written. His material and research is not merely the re hashing’s of previous writers.
Cialdini’s book is totally original and based on the stuff that every business owner needs to know about how and why your customers make their decisions and the best way you can communicate with them and it outlines specific strategies everyone can put into practice.
BUT NOW FOR THE REAL GEM…
Carol Bentley has discovered five VIDEO’s on YouTube (part one is above) that are the good doctor delivering the best parts of his book live. I downloaded them last night and have spent a fair part of my day listening to and watching them. In short, they are the best business videos I have ever watched. They are an absolute must see for every serious business person.
Now for the cheeky part, If you like me want to watch these videos again and again, and or show them to your team members, without blowing your bandwidth clean out of the stratosphere you may wish to do the following:
To download a VIDEO from YouTube to your own computer
Paste the VIDEO’s URL into their download tool (it’s all very easy, it tells you what to do)
The download box will pop up and all you have to do is tell it where you want the file saved on your computer.
You may have to add a .swf to the file to have it recognized by your VIDEO player.
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Please let me know what you think of these, and don’t forget to visit Carol Bentley’s site, you will find some of the best business communication advise available on the web there.
It may not be immediately obvious… because it’s not meant to be.
The whole idea is for kids to be able to play their Sony PSP’s in class. Oh c’mon, don’t get all morally indignant about it, it’s not a serious attempt to subvert your “near and dear” it’s not really going to fool anybody… or if it does, I don’t want them teaching my kids.
It’s another one of those gimmicks that all the kids will talk about and want to get their hands on, but never use. Ii is a great way for a company to share a joke and motivate “word of mouth” Advertising from its existing customers to their friends.
I have used this same “Laugh at yourself” technique for a major accounting company by sending out bags of jelly beans along with a letter with the headline “Some people think we are merely Bean Counters…”
Demonstrating you have the maturity to laugh at yourself helps you to build stronger relationships with both existing and potential customers.
It’s another one of those clever visual puns that break through all the visual clutter of a busy city and grab everyones attention. The only problem here is, what or who is it Advertising?
There is no product mentioned, there is no phone number… nothing… WHOOPS!
It is always far easier to sell something people WANT than it is to sell them something that is GOOD for them…
Selling prevention is a damn hard slog for any Advertising campaign to achieve. So when you see a brilliant idea like this, you should take a little time to study exactly what they have done to achieve the desired results.
Telling parents they should have their children’s teeth alignment checked would have about as much impact as your mother telling you to take a fresh hanky. It’s one of those “yeah o.k. I’ll look into that” type reactions that are very hard to change.
But this one simple item (a baby pacifier) achieves all of the following:
It creates a powerful image of the problem (who wants a kid with teeth like this?)
The item is fun and parents will all want to see what their little bundle of joy will look like…
Parents will take photos of their “bucked tooth” little bundle of joy and share it with their friends and family.
The message will be implanted for ever in their imagination.
The cynical amongst you, may content that pacifiers in-fact, create protruding teeth, and will generate additional business.
What part of your business could be presented this way to make the problem it solves humorous and memorable to a new group of potential customers?
This is never going to work in San Fransisco but it may be the answer to low budget dreams if you live in a city with no hills.
The battery for the led sign is in the basket, and apparently they can be manufactured with solar power.
I’m sure they would draw some attention for the first few weeks, however, overtime, I think they would be regarded as both a traffic annoyance and a bit of an over commercialized eye sore.
Still, for those of you who want/need the exercise it’s all yours…
Wow!, This certainly is an extreme way to dramatize your message.
This concept, of using the bottom of a swimming pool to advertise a product, has some real merit for businesses that are in the tourism industry and can negotiate a deal with accommodation venue in their region.
No, I’m not saying copy the drowning child example above, it wouldn’t suit anything but a public awareness campaign. However, some other clever adaptions of this concept could be very effective.
The message is printed on a rubber mat so there is no difficulty installing and servicing the messages.
What a great low cost way to draw attention to a fashion sale and draw people from all around a city to your store.
i particularly like this type of promotion because it’s the sort of thing that can be got up and running fast. You don’t have to organize an army of screenwriters and display people, just get a few flyer’s printed at the local quick print shop, grab some old or surplus stock and you have an instant promotion.
One of THE most powerful, low cost, ways to build your business is: When satisfied customers recommend your business to their friends and families.
One simple phrase can turn your referral program around almost immediately. Learn this and a few other techniques that will boost your referral program NOW!
To learn more about Bill Cates and the work he does with Finanical Professionals all over the nation email him at info@referralcoach.com or visit his website at www.referralcoach.com
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