The Importance of Staying Power
Is it really a great commercial, if you don't remember the product after you've seen it? I agree that without entertaining or visually captivating material, TV commercials would have lost their value years ago. However, can being too “creative” actually hurt a campaign?
I would like to be clear before I continue… If you have read or heard anything about our agency, you know how much we believe in and thrive on creativity. It is the cornerstone for any good campaign and the catapult for a great one – but this specific argument is more about the different types of creativity; the best being the ability to create a campaign that not only entertains, but also has foresight, adaptability, and of course, staying power.
OK, so returning to my point… It is my belief that some creators allow an idea to get away from them. They can get so carried away and forget the idea's place in relevance to the campaign all together. The effect of that being, their efforts are lost on the consumer. To ensure this does not happen, the industry needs to get a prescription for something I'd like to call “AADD” (Advertising Attention Deficit Disorder) – to keep our heads from spinning in random directions while determining the course of an idea.
SO, instead of having your customer watch a man start on the couch, leave to play racket ball, go to the doctor, wear an eye patch, ride a bus home, be mistaken for a tough guy, get attacked, and end up in the gutter…? Why not simply show three frogs, sitting on lily pads, croaking out three recognizable syllables, while craving an ice cold beer… Remember that one?
You can push your mind creatively (through different characters, themes, scenarios, etc.), while still staying on track and being aware of the bridge between the product and the consumer. Here is the formula that will ultimately steer them right to your door – smiling the entire way… and if you're lucky… they'll remember how they got there for years to come.
Mission Statement VS Branding Statement: Marketing 101
To some, the single most challenging aspect to creative advertising is drawing the line between a company's Mission and their Brand. To put it simply, your Mission is about YOU, your Brand is about the CONSUMER. Although it may seem like a simple concept to grasp, surprisingly enough, when you're in the thick of it, working with a company who bleeds their mission, making the distinction between who they are and what their consumer wants, is like ripping off an over-sized band-aid from Robin Williams' forearm.
Getting a company to let go of their mission (if only for a moment), to recognize that it relates very little to the needs of the consumer, and then allow a seemingly irrelevant brand to be broadcasted mainstream… doesn't make much sense to an organization whose sole purpose is to serve the customer. It's thinking from an entirely different perspective… like learning to write with your opposite hand. Unless you’re ambidextrous… in which case, I feel you would be very suited for the job.
So, let us bring the conversation back to Nike. As seen in the above picture, their Mission is to “Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world”. Now, what does that mean to you? I mean, personally as a consumer..? Absolutely nothing. What do you care? That's what they do, and that's great for them… but what about YOU? Well, they don't tell you about their mission, now do they? This is what they say to you, Mr. Consumer… “Just DO it.” – Thinking about going on a run today..? Just do it. Thinking about going to the gym? Just do it. How about going out for a round of golf? Just do it. Thinking about buying yourself a new pair of shoes? Just do it… Oh, and by the way… why not make it Nike? I mean, after all, they are the ones telling you to get out there, aren't they? SO, why not try their stuff?
There is such a large distinction between a company's goals and what that means to those who will buy it. Nike does a great job talking directly to the consumer, inspiring them to do, and in order to DO, you might just need some Nike shoes, or one of those fancy no sweat, dry fit shirts… That is the innovative thinking that keeps you relevant. And that's what companies need to survive and achieve greatness!
So, the next time you are trying to come up with a branding statement, remember – JUST DO IT.
Working hard, hardly working…
We work hard, but you can hardly call it work when you enjoy it so much! We say we are the best creative agency in town! It's not only because we come up with the best ideas, but also due to the fact that we truly love what we do. Not to say that others don't, I can only speak for myself and my partners on this; but for us, there's nothing better than seeing your creations grow to fruition.
Stay tuned for another magical Mad Men production. We shall not disappoint!
Product Placement
Did you realize that ESPN commentary and on-air personalities are now incorporated in college football games? If you pick up a copy of NCAA College Basketball 2010, try playing a season with the Jacksonville University Dolphins, and you will notice that in Veterans Memorial Arena you can see the Nimnicht name and Billy Nimnicht’s signature right on the hardwood. On main menus, advertisements for upcoming games from the developer are common to see in every new game. The point is, advertising can be subtle and it can be INTERACTIVE and immersive. The experts at Mad Men Marketing can customize an advertising solution to suit your business needs. INTERACT, DON’T INTERRUPT!