I’ve said it a million times: It takes creativity to break through the clutter. Here’s an ad that does just that:
2009 was rough year, and a lot of companies have dramatically cut their marketing budgets. A lot of brand advertising budget has been moved to sales promotion.
You gotta do what you gotta do. But whatever you do, don’t cut corners on creativity. Bland and boring never sells.
“The Ringtone from Hell” is video six in our series of seven Responsible Marketing web shorts, but you could argue it has nothing to do with Responsible Marketing at all.
Truth is, a few of our shorts are about character development and having fun with the angel and devil characters as they go through their days working at Outsource Marketing.
We hope you enjoy it, and we’ll be back on message with video seven in a week or so.
Want to know what Responsible Marketing is about but don’t have the time to read our white paper on the topic?
Well, here’s “The 7 Keys to Responsible Marketing in 2 Minutes,” featuring the characters you’ve grown to love (or hate) in our Responsible Marketing web shorts.
There ya go—with a video that short, now everyone has time to learn about Responsible Marketing. Share away. 
By Martin Pierce
Ah, ah, I almost forgot…I’m also going to need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too. Mmmmmkay? Thaaaaaanks!
We here at Outsource Marketing like to think that our office culture doesn’t resemble that of our good friend Bill Lumbergh’s Initech. But we do relate.
Don’t know who Bill Lumbergh is? Never heard of Initech?
Then you haven’t seen Mike Judge’s 1999 cult masterpiece “Office Space.” You don’t know what you’re missing. Here’s the trailer:
A couple months back we took time out of our busy schedules to have a little fun and watch Office Space as a team. Somehow the movie is even funnier watched in a group.
But a movie packed full of classic, memorable quotes delivered with comic brilliance inspires imitators. Lot’s of them. Over and over and over again.
Yes, “We’re going to have to have you go ahead and come in on Saturday” is a brilliant line in the hands of Gary Cole but not in the hands of amateurs.
Thus was the inspiration for our latest Responsible Marketing movie.
What’s the message?
There is none . . . unless you haven’t got the memo about putting the new cover sheets on the TPS reports.
Not every business is struggling amid the economic downturn. Discounters, companies that help people save money, banko attorneys and the repo man aren’t the only businesses thriving.
Cheerful products that provide a respite from the real world are selling.
Products like the Oh Snap! Cheese Board and Cutter and The Bubble Calendar are selling well, while Giant Cheetos and Oreo Fun Stix (drink milk through an Oreo straw—brilliant!) are on their way.
The fact is, fun gets people talking. And we all know that word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing.
This all got me thinking about ways to fun-up some our client’s products and services, as well as our own.
So, who’s cornered the market on fun? In products? Services? B2B? B2C?
Comment below to share the fun!
On Monday, one of my colleagues handed me this:
This particular colleague had lost a friendly bet the week before, so at first I thought I was receiving partial payment for said bet. Then I remembered that I’m still in negative territory—I owe her $88 (I bet $100 I’d have my book done by Halloween of 2008), and that didn’t happen.
Anyway, she realized I had no clue why I was receiving this crisp, new $2 bill, and said, “turn it over.”
Alas, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) are using these $2 bills to promote their Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness exhibit showcasing 275 pieces of historically significant American art from the Yale University Gallery.
It’s must-see gallery if you enjoy history and/or art.
While the promotion has a few holes in it, the sticker on the $2 bill is must-see marketing: It’s unique. It’s interesting. The promo made the URL irresistible—I had to check it out.
And, of course, it made me want to tell you all about it.
Awesome.
So do you dig this as much as I do? Why or why not?
Last St. Patrick’s Day I asked if—given Guinness’ long history of often questionable advertising claims—I should be allowed to hoist a pint of their tasty stout.
74% of you said “Yes. Guinness is yummy. And they aren’t all that bad anyway.”
How about this year?
I sure would love to hoist a pint since it’s St. Paddy’s, but I’ll honor your wishes.
Place your vote here, now:
[poll=13]
Thanks again for your vote, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Image: Frame 2wenty 4hour
