What's the point?

Why blog? Good question.

"Social Media" and "Web 2.0" are big buzz terms both in the agency and client side of the biz. A lot of the bigger, more conservative clients still hold on dearly to their safe, traditional :30 and :15 spots. Thanks to the infamous recession, though, many are trying to optimize their budgets and funnel their money into more traceable, accountable media channels. Namely, digital.

Since, for the most part, social media manifested is free, it makes sense, right? So why has it taken so long for behemoth companies to hop on board? Well, it's unfamiliar, difficult to maintain, and the content needs to attract a large audience in order to be effective. So why all the trouble?

In my opinion, the internet is more of a communication platform and than an information platform. Connecting people in order to share information has become its main purpose. I check my email and facebook at least three times an hour (no joke). Also, blogging is a hybrid between Advertising and Public Relations. It has the potential to be highly branded content, but can still be organic and natural. Bloggers share their own opinions and are more trustworthy than paid content. I trust CafeMom's opinion on Cheerios much more than that bee they have in their commercials.

In short, it's word of mouth, 2.0, and we've already passed the "early majority" stage. Get on it already!

Mad Men Yourself

A lot of digital promotion nowadays has a user-generated online component. For instance, Elf Yourself from OfficeMax, Jib Jab sendables promoting different events, etc.

As such, Mad Men has been promoting its new season with a fun little "Mad Men Yourself" microsite. Even though I'm an ad junkie, I've only watched 1 episode of this show, as well as only 1 episode of Trust Me, which has been canceled. Still, I generally appreciate all things Madison Avenue.

What was interesting about this application is that it seemed to promote smoking... several times in the "choose your outfit/accessories/etc" realm, there were cigarettes and other smoking related options from which to choose. Granted, it was the 50's, and smoking was an integral part of the working world (especially advertising). Still, it gives the slight intonation of promoting that life choice.


Regardless, I think it's pretty accurate.

15 Minutes, Take 2

Last semester, I was a Media Buying Intern at EnviroMedia Social Marketing. They put together an agency tour video, and I make a cameo appearance around 1:03 in the "brainstorming room."

It's kind of adorable.

15 Minutes-Take 1

So, I went to CollegeHumor Live last month. Jake called me up on stage for Amir and Sam and to serenade me. Pinnacle of my summer? Probably.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Yo quería Taco Bell

So, big news. The Taco Bell Dog? Yeah, it was a girl.

Oh, and she ("Gidget") passed today. Sad.

Turns out, even though this Chihuahua was an icon of the 90's and my generation, sales actually slipped during the "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" era. Who knew?



Also: Today, 10 years ago, David Ogilvy passed. Two legends, one unfortunate date.

The Ultimate Moral Dilemma

The advertising industry is seen as one of the most morally objectionable professions in the world... with good reason. Liquor advertising, hyper-consumerism, deception and lead way to America distrusting the practitioners.

Which leads me to my main goal in life: to reconcile the moral differences I have with big business.

The biggest question I've faced deals with clientele. Can I refuse to work on a client? Do I even have a say in the matter? What if it costs me my job? Is there any kind of client I absolutely could not work for? Should I even apply to an agency that works with questionable clients? etc etc.

I think this video outlines every adman/adwoman's dilemma nicely:

What's Next... an Edible Milky Way?

First, they put a man on the moon. Now, they're putting brands.

"With a patent pending for what it dubs "Shadow Shaping" technology, Utah-based firm Moon Publicity is anxious to use roving robots to "create small ridges in the lunar dust over large areas that capture shadows and shape them to form logos, domains names or memorials."

Bidding for lunar messaging, which began this week and will last through October 20th, starts at $46,000. Soon, 12 billion+ eyeballs could be susceptible to branded moonlight because after all, nothing spruces up an evening more than a ginormous Walmart logo."
- AgencySpy.com

Very clever, yet slightly disturbing. A few things to consider:
1) Misspellings
2) Offensive brands and ads
3) Environmentalist FREAK OUT
4) Cheesy taglines such as "Out Of This World!"
5) I hope my husband proposes to me this way.