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A Lost Generation of creatives? I think not.

By on March 26, 2009 in creativity, simplicity, socially responsible, videos, viral marketing, word of mouth

My colleague Martin always says, “when you have a great concept, the design doesn’t have to work so hard.” Keep that in mind when you view The Lost Generation, a video that has now been viewed nearly 5 million times on YouTube. The design is minimal—the concept and clever copy carry the day. The first [...]

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How tolerant is your marketing?

By on March 18, 2009 in advertising, message responsible, socially responsible, videos

Do you respect all your audiences? Really? Are you sure? Watch the following ad, then answer the question again: Watch this video on YouTube So, now do you believe you respecting all of your audiences? This spot from Banco Provincia of Argentina was a real eye-opener for me. Respectful ads targeted to the gay and [...]

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Do I get to have a Guinness again this year?

By on March 17, 2009 in advertising, corporate responsibility, fun, socially responsible

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 [...]

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The Southwest Airlines Bikini Controversy

By on March 10, 2009 in boycott, creativity, promotion, responsible or not?, socially responsible

Remember a few years ago when a woman was thrown off of a Southwest Airlines plane because her outfit was too revealing? Imagine her surprise when Southwest launched the “SI One,” to promote Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition last month. The airline expected controversy, but probably didn’t expect how polarizing the image would be. A few [...]

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What do you think of Earth Day cards?

By on March 5, 2009 in environmentally responsible, socially responsible

An intriguing question was posed by Tim Somers via LinkedIn the other day and I’m curious to see what you think. Here’s his question: Would using a greeting card to promote Earth Day go against what Earth Day is all about even if the cards are made with recycled materials? I asked a similar question [...]

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Fly the responsible skies with Jet Blue

By on March 4, 2009 in innovation, socially responsible, strategically responsible

Earlier this year, Hyundai introduced its Assurance Program giving buyers the option to return their new car to the dealership if they lost their job. I liked the idea then and I like it now. Now, Jet Blue has taken a page from Hyundai and has introduced the Jet Blue Promise Program. While returning a [...]

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VitaminWater or the CSPI: Who do you believe?

By on February 6, 2009 in advertising, deceptive marketing, ethics, responsible or not?, socially responsible, who do you believe?

The Coca-Cola Company is being sued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for deceptive claims regarding it’s VitaminWater product line. Coke markets VitaminWater as a “healthful alternative to soda by labeling its several flavors with such health buzz words,” and claims they “variously reduce the risk of chronic disease, reduce the risk [...]

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On sweatshops, morality and marketing

By on January 28, 2009 in corporate responsibility, ethics, morality, socially responsible

Do you care if a pair of jeans you were about to buy was made with sweatshop labor? What if you looked really good in them—would you care then? Are you sure? In Sweatshop Labor is Wrong Unless the Jeans are Cute, Neeru Paharia and Rohit Deshpandé of Harvard Business School share the results of [...]

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Serve your community, get free Starbucks coffee

By on January 21, 2009 in cause marketing, socially responsible, videos

Starbucks has launched a new campaign to make it easier to participate in President Obama’s call for national service. With a goal of helping raise over one million hours of community service, the Starbucks Pledge5 campaign is in full-swing running in-stores and online. With the leading question “Are you in?” the ask is for a [...]

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Is Belkin’s apology for astroturfing enough?

By on January 20, 2009 in authenticity, corporate responsibility, deceptive marketing, ethics, message responsible, social media, socially responsible, word of mouth

First, what’s “astroturfing?” Roughly, it’s when formal political, advertising, or public relations campaigns seek to create the impression of spontaneous “grassroots” behavior, hence the reference to the artificial grass, AstroTurf.* On Friday, The Daily Background Blog revealed that a Belkin employee was doing just that: Paying 65 cents for perfect reviews on Buy.com, NewEgg.com and [...]

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Responsible or not? Using the dead to sell

By on December 30, 2008 in advertising, casting responsible, cause marketing, creativity, execution responsible, message responsible, morality, responsible or not?, socially responsible, videos

On Christmas Day, John Lennon returned from the dead. Well, his image and voice were resurrected to help the One Laptop Per Child Foundation “OLPCF” and it’s raised a few eyebrows (and hackles). If you haven’t heard about the OLPCF, here’s a summary: It’s an education project, not a laptop project. Inexpensive, durable, networked laptops [...]

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Three fun marketing videos for the holidays

By on December 25, 2008 in advertainment, creativity, socially responsible, videos

Happy Holidays! Here are three entertaining holiday-themed marketing videos for your viewing pleasure: View Happy Christmas from AKQA on YouTube. View View Simon’s Sister’s Dog in “Fed Up” by the RSPCA on YouTube. View “Marketing Tips for Tough Times” by S. Claus on YouTube. Enjoy. Subscribe to this feed.

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Tobacco in an irresponsible marketing death spiral

By on December 17, 2008 in authenticity, deceptive marketing, ethics, false advertising, socially responsible, truth

This week, tobacco companies were dealt a blow when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of allowing lawsuits to proceed under state law for deceptive advertising of “light” cigarettes. Tobacco companies are now in what I call an irresponsible marketing death spiral: The proliferation of traditional and social media have created millions of professional [...]

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Pepsi uses suicide to sell soda pop

By on December 16, 2008 in creativity, responsible or not?, socially responsible

One is the loneliest number, and since Pepsi Max only has one calorie, maybe that little calorie should just take its own life, right? The following three ads were created by BBDO in Düsseldorf, Germany: +enlarge +enlarge

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‘Talk to Frank’ talks frank to drug addicts

By on December 12, 2008 in socially responsible, videos, viral marketing, word of mouth

Talk to Frank is a drug addiction helpline and information site in the U.K. helping addicts, their families and friends. No, Frank is not a person. It’s “a way for you to get straight up advice and info about drugs. It’s the facts without the attitude” and the name certainly fits. The following three videos [...]

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The JCPenney Doghouse: Love it or hate it?

By on December 11, 2008 in creativity, love it or hate it?, message responsible, socially responsible, videos, viral marketing

When I was a boy, a trip to JCPenney for school clothes was like a trip to hell. Their clothing was so—Penneys, and though I was able to persuade my parents to let me shop where the cool kids shopped when I got older, I still avoid the store today. I can’t tell you what [...]

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Share the love when you buy a new Subaru

By on December 9, 2008 in cause marketing, charitable giving, socially responsible, videos

We all know what to expect when it comes to automobile pitches, don’t we? Year-end closeouts! Employee pricing! No reasonable offer refused! Support a cause?! Subaru has thrown a curve ball into the mix with it’s Share the Love promotion. Watch Share the Love on YouTube When you buy or lease any new Subaru now [...]

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Responsible or not? Burger King’s Whopper Virgins

By on December 8, 2008 in responsible or not?, socially responsible, videos

The idea is simple, really. Since everyone in America has heard of or tried a Whopper and the Big Mac, conduct taste tests in locations that have never even heard of Burger King or McDonald’s signature products. And that’s what Burger King did—took their taste tests to remote locations in Romania, Greenland and Thailand. Here’s [...]

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Help provide shoes to 30,000 children in Ethiopia

By on December 5, 2008 in cause marketing, charitable giving, socially responsible, videos

I’ve mentioned TOMS Shoes before. They’re the company that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sell. I love their model, and for the holidays, they are campaigning to give away 30,000 pairs of shoes to children in Ethiopia. Here’s a little more info: View TOMS Project Holiday [...]

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“Sexy” tights for tweens on Amazon.com

By on December 4, 2008 in ethics, morality, socially responsible

I have no problem with the sale of sexy lingerie. It’s, well, sexy. But it’s a bit jarring to see a product on Amazon called Girls Spider Web Sexy Tights Hosiery Leg Wear from a risque lingerie company called PrettySinful next to the picture of the little girl, above. One Amazon customer reviewer sums it [...]

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