My eyes hurt for advertising

This is another Flash add, unfortunately the hypnotism use in the beginning of the ad kept me from screen capping it in time.
While I was impressed by their send off of the old butler Jeeves from askjeeves.com (now ask.com) I have to say this is pretty darn good too.

First things first, show results coming up that are stylized as Google. Then scroll by AND blur them so it hurts the viewers eyes (mission accomplished), then show them how slick clean and cool your results are and how neet your widgets are.

If only by the relief on your eyes and your gullible want for results you go forward, you are added to their statistics and they get more money by advertisers as you are their product, maybe no more than a statistic, maybe a sale. I'm not a sale unfortunately, they'll have to target me better than that, but it was a good shot.

Oooh, spooooky.

Gives an impression of importance of the product. Even though you don't know what it is.

What he said

Referencing a good point in an entirely different blog, I'm talking about The Low Down. Most recent post on an "article" which was in effect an advertisement but within the realm of the product it's positioning.

The movie being slanted to be somewhat on the cult film end of thing may be adverse to straight advertising and may or may not pull in the crowd it's looking for. While in being put in article, it may not repulse the target audience who tends to shy from advertising. Nice shot.

Thinking in the thinkness

Thought I would give a bit more of a thinkers dissertation with no ad per sey.

Advertising in general is out there to produce want... usually. Propaganda and hypnotism etc. may be a popular use of advertising but for right I'm sticking to sales, I like sales.

It's the incitation of emotional response and creation of want. Do you want them discusted? Do you want them nervous? You want to look cool? Do want them to go skateboard? How about go back to their home town and look at their school?

Yes to any of these questions? If so, then you better be selling: antacids, life insurance, brand name apparrel, skateboards or skateboard accesories or selling airplane tickets.

That is the obvious side of advertising usually. But how do you do it? This'll be my tip o' the day, how did they did it?

What do I mean? Just that, how did they do it. Someone did it. You verify based on statistics that they did and then what? Take what won with them, unlikely to be found outside of surveys, and go with it. That's not to say steal or plagerize or infringe on copyright, trademark or steal property of any kind, but the Matrix changed action films through it's popularity and technique, and many a successful film came from use of their techniques. Your add could be next.

Aii me heirties! How do I change the contrast?

What do you want? The movie or the pod? Slick positioning, showes off a product with popular cinema, classic idea, modern implementation, nice shot.

Blondie

This is a bit rough.

While yes, it's a good sales call for scotch tape, I would hate dropping my my food pack as much as anyone else. But I guess the reason I buy it is so that when my wife goes out on the train she doesn't drop something and get hooted and hollared at for being in a red dres and about pick something up off the floor. Look at it, they're drawing your attenting with the color, brilliant execution of color and drawing attention by the way, red on to first Blondie, then the faces of the hounds starting at the girl. Then to justify the whole thing with the orange on the ground to ballance. Not quite sure why yet but I certainly need to buy scotch tape.

Then the plug for their use of tape in the war and that being the reason that can't produce enough to sell you anything, but you can be in anticipation for it until the victory comes, until then you have to drop your food packs for the rest of the men on the train Blondie. Ridiculous.

Don't forget the tiny text, buy war bonds.

Dianetics

The all-time self-help bestseller with more than 20 million copies sold in 57 languages.

That's expansion for ya. 20 million sales is in itself pretty intense, 57 languages is a bit more intense. That's 57 languages for that single book, while the author L. Ron Hubbard has had his works alone translated in 67 languages, now holding the world record for world's most translated author.

So in this rare oppurtunity I get to show analysis by results. While I dont' have corralative statistics between this add and those stats, we can saying something is getting done right.

From the add alone there is good imagery with the volcano but the key is in the PUNCH letters.

START, DIANETICS, ON-LINE.

Activation in the words. Good ad, good book.

Break a leg

I know they're selling Macs because I like geek stuff, but seeing just that I don't know what they're selling really and I want to buy it.

This is definitely hitting on the buttons of a specific public.

You're worried about smile and we know that. We'll make you look good.

The picture helps a lot, it gives you something to aspire to, but it's really a matter of anything that can help you stop being self conscious about your false teeth.

Didn't think it was an ad, did you?

Take look at this right here.

I expected overall safety data nicely packaged for my purusal. What do I find? A list of cars, probably the one's they are trying to sell.

The new cars have a lot of data, but the old ones have more ad space than anything else. Pretty good, eh? It's really more of a vehichle for but it's not a bad one.

Genetic Testing

Besides looking like gross chicken, I wouldn't give this one too much considering it's hitting a broad public audience. I liked it, and it may have targeted me in ways I'm not finding but it's likely that it isn't.

It rides on it's branding from the late 90s that I enjoyed so much. Otherwise I wouldn't touch the stuff 50 feet, not exactly communicatated.

Brought to you subtly in part by

This add brought to you in part by all of the businesses and services that are inconspicuously advertised the booklets we'll be mailing to you with coupons from them too. You may also see ads for us in their local stores as we're all trying to boost each other up and since the infrastructure of the country is so young the decision to have a rental car service in the mix was a strategic one.

Tracking so far?

As a consumer you are enticed by the map and your own trunk. An odd nicity but it's that way or at your feet on the train or a bag but not much more on the plane. And look at the size of that coupon! Wooooo doggy!

As easy as A B C

Just a little above conservatism. Not joyous, happy, exuberant, playful, excited or much of anything. It's pretty middle of the road this one.

It has a few pluses. The yellow tag branding, that's a good move, No color otherwise, their name sticks out and you'd probably read it or at obsorb it some how even if you just breezed by it.

It pushes on it's ease of use and how affordable it is. It is good money wise. It takes those who are certainly conservative with money and hits them write with conservative spending.

Oh, I might could spend that much on a car, maybe.

They play them right in, not looking for the big spenders (outside of businesses, conservative still but larger) they get the small change ones who will pay up for this but wouldn't buy a car outright.

Also good placement of something that isn't necissarily a 5 dollar word, it's used the same way - expense account. Best value on the expense account? Because everything else was extravigent? What makes it the best "value," what is being counted as "value?" Did the potential customer think about that? Not bloody likely, good thing eh.

Oh, the subtle things in life.

Sure, it sais nothing, but I want to drive that silver Mustang.

This is riding on the branding that's been established for years and the fact that it looks SO cool.

This is actually in the middle of a technical article on electronic stability control devices, but ford is the prize winner of having the Mustang be the car of choice in the shot. I can hardly think of anything but driving it... in a lake..sideways - ok, it's reckless advertising, but would you do it for the sale?

Alice in Wonderland for war and entertainment

Alice in Wonderland is more than appropriate on this one.

While everything seems sequitor at first with all the amazing things you can see with a television it turns near the end on to peace.

And it is ready now...awaiting only peace.

Que?

Where did this come from? They're plugging the military for their testing contributions or something? That part is totally out of left field but someone must of wrote it for some reason. Up until then, it's pretty good. Good imagery, showing their contributions to television and positioning themselves with some airy-fairy magic element that puts them out of the realm of normal reality but still purchasable.

Pioneering the zephyr of Mars

Pushing forward progression in the industry with the Zephyr. In touchy times like a real war it's not a bad way to get the "everyone's doing it" feeling going by getting the "moving to the future" feeling going so everyone gets the idea it's where we're all going.

There is that less obvious aspect, but the really obvious aspect that makes me want to ride it is the imagery. Look at how cool it is!

Combing both points it looks like it was designed by Ray Bradbury to be on the Red Planet, it's the space train and it's supercool.

Cattle Train of War

These are great.

Obviously playing on patriotism, but in how many ways?

Notice the history lesson reminding you of America? Why we fight for this nation? Or how they were part of forming this nation and are even more pertinent to the war because of it.

They could just as well say the cows are fighting the war, they were in america first any how. A bit more likely you think of that than you would think of the comfort or even dependability of the train. Why is that? Because the train doesn't matter in all of that, they aren't selling train service, they're selling hope for the lives of our boys out on the field, and we're buying it.

Jimmy, we all want new trains

That's right Jimmy, we're all working desperately hard to help the country in the war, and to service everyone who still needs to go from here to there using the train.

I love this stuff, "That's right Jimmy," it's for posterity's sake isn't it?

Few lines in to your heart here, one is Jimmy - they love children after all.

Can they be depended upon during our time of need? Well of course they can, they spent 10.5 billion dollars on the railroad between WW I and WW II.

But, what about the war? Shouldn't they be helping the country? Why of course they should and ARE helping the country. They ship passengers but also ship troops and military supplies of all kinds for the war.

Probably pinches on the "my boys in the war" nerve too. If you got in to a state of mind that was a bit disarrayed by the end of the first few Jimmy parts, you probably think riding the train will help your child come home, maybe if you support the trains through the war, he'll be able to ride a train home when he comes back safe. Plays on the less rational side of things, but if you're going to track tickets sold from this one way or another, it's worth knowing.

Modern Martin

I'd like to talk about this one from a purely product perspective as it pulls my interest, but that's just going off on interests and hobbies - I'll do what I can to keep it on point.

First hitting the special occasion of an anniversary, a choice event to coincide with a new plane for the airline bolstered by the fact it's the first airline to use the newest, modern Martin 2-0-2.

As an aside, Martin's design holds incredible likeness to modern jet engine passenger plane of today. Gathering all my historical data from this ad I would say that the overall design of the plane (increased aerodynamic properties) and the improved power of the plane, flying considerably faster for a twin engine, gave this a kick into the mainstream and led other companies to follow what had been done with 2-0-2. Historical study and assumption through advertising.

(Back on topic) I would say the other subtle improvements of heating, soundproofing and air conditioning are riding on the point made of how modern the plane is, which is supported by the anniversary and it just now being used by one airline (insinuating new commodity). These will have to take it all the way or may be bolstered by the want of the consumer for the improved facilities so that the quality of the facilities are then imagined as to be as great as they need to be to make the sale. Shaky ground on that one.

The KEY to the impression

Impressions. Likely in this one they didn't care about anything but the name, PICTURE and the THREE BIG WORDS.

They expect the target audience isn't paying all that much attention let's get everything we can out of the impression.

MALLARD

PLANE

MODERN

LUXURIOUS

SAFE

Enough to get you isn't it?

It's safe to go to Exotic Destion 1, 2, 3...

You're concerned about crashing in to the ocean aren't you?

It's 1949 and they have been around for a while but of course you are concerned about it.

Two steps taken on this one, HANDLE the concerns and any "planes hardly ever make it over the ocean" propaganda they're seen then sell them on why you rock so much.

Or a secondary possibility is WHERE you can go. The ad seems pretty obviously targeted at certain regions where the ad was likely distributed. So from those targeted areas they list out all the exotic places you can go. Do you want to go to Honolulu? Of course you do, they advertise to. ANd because we're smart marketers we know which campaigns to piggy back on top of.

Many ways this one can sell, the different positions stand strong are written well enough they don't blur each other out without overwhelming one with the other.

I'll take a helicopter to work

Increased freedom through inovation. It's positioning the product with increasing the freedom and ability of people.

While it will likely go unnoticed it's a helicopter and isn't all too practical and requires a lot of training to even get off the ground. Good in subtlety.

Soap for kids

Quite the item here. Nothing really to do with the product.

But do you enjoy the story? Probably. Goodwill increased? Likely. Are you going to buy Ivory soap now? Absolutely, I'm ten years old, it's the only soap that I hear about in pirate stories, why buy anything else?

Beautiful targeting.

Soldier, whether or not you shave you'll buy THIS if you want THEM

I learn more about this company as every add comes through. These guys were HOUNDS. They're playing on the roudy boys side of things.

Of course they'll buy it, it's id, their subconscios/reconscious, it draws them to the Barbosal as they want the female. Wild animals are also drawn to the Barbosol.

This is as legitimate a car ad as a shaving cream ad, sells at a meat level but I bet it sells.

The Barbasol style

Isn't that style?

Check it out:

Rouge
Dressed to kill
Talking about you

She's styling, they're positioning shaving liquids with HER. The product description is for two reasons, re-affirm it won't do you bodily harm when you use it and tell you how much it costs. You could hardly care how good the product is just so long as it doesn't kill you and you get the girl. This could really be a piece that sold with people solely on that mind set.

Why do you buy/use/subscribe to X?

Because the ladies love it.

Avon Calling

I take a loss on missing the text at the edge of the ad but there are still some solid points here.

This is an example of practicality, very utilitarian. Whilst there is some aesthetic value to the overall add it is just enough so you will sit and read the ad. The focus is that they will help you, have anything you need, is the most comfortable and will be the longest lasting. Utilitarian.

I used to have trouble with my makeup, now with Avon I never have to worry, that take care of all of it for me.

Shave with Colgate, it's EASY

It has pretty simple buttons, or points of note that are intended to incite reaction in the viewer. One of them is convincing you the simplicity of getting it. While for some it maybe that they wouldn't get it if they couldn't mailorder it. But for others it is just additional time to the pretty simple cycle of buying from the local store. You are convinced by this being the biggest thing on the page.

The other point harped on is the smoothness of shave and how this is a normal need, "Don't worry you're not alone."

You sir are #1

The Barbasol face gets all the girls. THIS has been POPULAR in advertising.

It has not shifted from one product to another it has transcended in to anything that can be marketed at men can get you girls and MORE girls if necessary.

Does it sell you? Might, depends mostly on the viewer. Might even sell the women hoping their man has a bit more luster to him.

This isn't really about the product but a byproduct of the product which is all but totally disrelated but it probably attracts (or distracts in probably more cases) people enough to make the sale.

The natural "I don't need rouge" look.

This is the reassurance ad, they know you want it and that you don't want other people to know you use it. It's the "I don't get plastic surgery" plastic surgery.

They also have the added value sales note on the side there, it as a product lacks a bit of luster as they have assumed that you are already sold on the product, but are just trying to edge over the competition. Which isn't the worst thing, but makes for a boring add.

I shampooed my hair just for you

This has been adapted to being the wild side of a girl. In the last 20 twenty years we've seen this re-incarnated in different way.

Some 80s and 90s examples might be:

One might be the girl walking down the street and the cats calls come from the boys and she smirks and walks on, of course the onlooking girls are jealous and ask how does she do it, and she whispers "It's all in the hair," which is followed by shots of her lathering in the shower (Early nineties).

Another of a girl with a girl walking down the street with gross hair, the repulse created by it. Then she finds hair brand X. The next day she walks by the catcalls and a guy comes in immediately to escort her. She walks on and the camera close in on her purse where she pulls the bottle half way out and then you draw back to see the girl wink at the camera.

Or the group of girls in their late 20s to mid 30s talking in a restaurant and the waiter is flustered by her striking appearance (with accentuated hair). They giggle amongst themselves, they ask her how she does it and they show her lathering in the shower (lathering in shower became popular for some reason, probably a focus group and increased conotation popularity.)

To the time period it's the business professional who wants to be more of a "woman" by being someone's woman.

It's a tasteful decline of society in which we aspire to being admired in meat bodies. Quaint, ain't it? Not necissarily a horrible thing, as it impinges on that dynamic of everyone to create a family and live through the having and rearing of children etc. Not a bad impulse and it plays on that pretty well.

My dress could have been ruined!

Oddly on this one there are two execution points I see out in this. The photography is done in an space. It appears as if she's wearing that dress for a photo shoot, which she is. Makes her pretty unreal, eliminates reality with the viewer.

Second is the typesetting, the break between "oder-causing bacteria" and "instantly!" Is not so good. It chops the communication is and bit confusing. It may have been fine if what broke it was a really hot selling photo, likely to do well would be a Cinderella kind of scene where it was a huge deal ball or something of the like and the deodorant made the queen of the crop. On that line it could have actually been Cinderella, as she was the only one working she was the only with deodorant thus the only one who could go.

The add is otherwise not bad, especially noting the pink squeeze-bottle is a good touch, while seeming non-sequitor it prepares the user to spot and buy it in the stores.

Ahhh!

Isn't that just the cutest little munchkin you ever did see?

It's apparent calm on her face that immediately sets you up to buy this. That the kid won't be refusing it is a joy in itself, wether it works or not.

That's a key point for the parent. How about for the user?

That's the bold and BIG WORDS. After all your mouth will be clean for hours. It's almost submliminal in a way but it puts subtle messages in the overall messages but because the rest of the poster is so loud you don't even think that they are bold, but you take definite note of it instinctively. The small for gives it away.

Good buttons (points of interest, things that pull a reaction in someone) and positioning

On My Name I Say That Sounds Good

I'm putting my picture on it as a seal of quality and garentee against me name.

Maybe he wants a quick buck or maybe he is absolutely sincere, luckily for advertising this product, that doesn't make a bit of difference. It's a Wag The Dog kind of thing.

But it's quite the garente, if he's a known opinion leader. He would have to hold some esteem or his face would be as good there as mine and I don't even know what the tubes do.

AUTOMATIC TUNING

Amazing new features!

It's incredible! The ease of use and the majesty of it's feature!

Explosive advertising on the cutting edge of techology!

A few selling points:

"I hate being late on my favorite show because I couldn't get the signal."

"My kids will never be able to use this."

"God, this log is so confusing, I wish this was easier."

"Oh that forsaken noise! I would break this machine if I knew how to turn it off!"

NEUTRODYNE

I'm convinced.

In the beginning there were slipshod, lick-and-a-promise attempts at radio, but not until now has the dream real radio been achieved, today, with NEUTRODYNE.

This was made specifically for radio broadcasting, there is nothing else in existence that picks up radio for broadcast so well.

If you too are stuck in the mush of choosing a radio from the many choices, look for the sticker, genuine NEUTRODYNE is the way to bliss in radio.

---

This is good stuff. It is superior to all the rest and here's out technical reason why and beyond that, you would totally but it. It's in the realm of technical feasibility and it looks true, so it's obviously what I should do, it's right there in cold hard evidence.

Accuracy of the statements is not of as much importance (given the time period) as the statements getting made. It is a point of integrity and should be watched for.

Tube City

Why should you change all your tubes at the same time?

Firstly, the quality may not be as when you change them all.
Secondly, our financial planning shows us you have to buy one set a year or at the current rate of expansion we'll go insovent. But you don't know that because this is a new technology

What's that buzzword again? Ah yes, TUBES! It's the magic fruit these tubes are. They are, THE FUTURE.

Only dancing

This definitely in the superior quality and push the goodness of the product band. The positioning is subtle but good with the dancing off in the mirror. The gimmick is in the quality of the product with the mirror image (mirror image to sound kind of thing).

But it impinges on the "human feeling" of it with the dancing, makes one believe that you'll be able to dance with the radio. It will bring you and your loved ones together.

It's for the family, that's why you're doing it. No family? I meant for the lady in your life... no lady? It's for the lady to be in your life, can you imagine the impression you'd make with a radio like this?

It's only dancing, isn't it?

The beauty of a radio

The beauty of a radio. You don't think they're talking about a radio do you?

The beauty and personality of a such a creature, you are awed by the mere presence... now that you're enraptured we'll lightly break it to you we're talking about a wooden box with electronics in it that are personified by beautiful women.

It's a bit of a stretch these days for a radio, but a radio being the top of the crop it's pretty real. Cars are done the same way. The analogy with a person's excellence in a range unobtainable makes the ability to own such a product considerably more enticing.

So you are in the market for a plane eh? Of course you are, you picked up the magazine that I researched has an audience of target audiences of you.

So now that I know you're looking for a plane I know that these added benefits I'm putting in the plain might be what will sell you on the purchase. What you were worrying about is when you put 4 people in a plane and take them to 30,000 feet you thought that they get cranky and you're in bad shape. The more things in your favore the better and these seats will sell you.

I'm easier than brand X

The practical purchase. The simplicities gain in life through the use of the product. It is not exciting.

But are A batteries exciting? No, they're annoying. They're always giving me trouble (and if they weren't, you'll be convinced they were by the time you finished reading the ad).

So why go with anything else? It's the most practical and life easing thing you could do.

Subtle, but on target.

Lightning layout!

Taken from a typesetting perspective I am blown out.
The create in this is fabulous, the pfaces in the background, it really puts in you that feel for the future.

I would totally be stoked about getting this, it's absolute magic when you look at the number.

This for most audiences is a great add and would be an excellent draw in particular niches (gadget guys especially).

Greatest thing since movable type

There quite some awe and mystery in this one isn't there?

The whole world is indebted to me so your inclination is to buy from...ME!

But the other aspect on top of this is trust factor. Of course I can trust HIS product, he invented them!

Does make him a bit dark though, gives him an edge that would lead to his disapearance from public mind unless he is re-enforced in public mind, you draw away from by instinct.

If he were a bit more Doctor Strange and not so Gargamel he'd be better off.

You want to be this cool don't you?

That's style.

Aspiration for the suave look brings you using the Brylcreem, it's what makes you sooo suave.

And his piercing eyes convince you it's what you're supposed to do. It's the role model, the opinion leader. Your hair bothering you yet?

Smell that? It's the cure.

Lookie here ma! It's a curin' my asthma!

This is not necessarily backed by evidence or medical tests of any kind, but one might say the advertisers told me, so it must be true, ya?

These are appreciable in their dispicableness and are a lesson in business ethics.

Chill Tonic keeps my lips shut

I'm...speechless. I love it, honestly. And I would buy it in a snap, I don't know what I'd be buying but I would buy it.

All else I can say is it's terrifying but I can't imagine leaving a store without...it.

Soft as a Baby's..

I wouldn't mind this at all.

For one it's very cute, secondly communicates instantly - for anyone who will buy it that is.

If you've had to shave, that image communicates in an instant. That's great creativity and done in such a way that it communicates easily, good job.

...and for the people

In this nation, more than anywhere else in the world, highways are the heritage of all the people—a most vital part of their livelihood and their happiness.

I'm impressed with this one, the patriotism involved in getting on a bus is up and above asking to fight for your country.

I think to some degree it is the spirit instilled by knowing that you still have an infrastructure in the war. Having pride and patriotism of such a thing when the case is that if we weren't out there blowing them up, they'd be in here blowing us up... I'm glad I can take the bus.

Industustrially Personal

One note I make on this is wrong source or off source.

"You are fully re-assured that this dentifrice is the best and will do all you could ever have wanted. Why can you trust me? Because I'm an industrial chemical corporation."

"You should also go to every dentist and shop wearing pearls and everything you could imagine buying in a million years."

It's industrially reassuring, that's why it poses its self as so personal, because it was written by someone who is believing himself to be the corporation he's writing for.

new SALON

This has some great buttons (something presses someone's buttons, gets a rise out of). Check out the keyword in there: SMART. That's right, take the time period and see that SMART WOMEN go to places like that. Isn't that the truth eh?

It hits the luxury points with the shopping and tea, it makes it sound just ideal to fit in a day. And afterwards you know you're riding high with your new shoes, make-over and tea to boot - that extra little bit of class.

You're on the cutting edge of fashion.

Elite Beauty

The elitist beauty product. You are interested out of fear of the being old or your certainty in your superiority.

It lays out conduct unfortunately for the elitist atitude, viewpoint and action. It is not so good, cultural effects have to be taken in to mind on this. While today you would be one shameless beauty product amongst the millions, in a niche market or in a market where there is the level of advertising as there was durring this pieces time period, you're the trend setter, you stand out from...the rest of the blank wall. What you say is likely authority.

People who don't have characteristics x...y...z...

"You don't have x?", "No"
"You don't have y?", "No"
"You don't have z?", "No"

"You're old and you can't be helped."

"Really? I'll show you old you scoundrel!

Let's learn responsibility from this one.

Admittedidly I was certainly drawn in by the question posed, "Who'll buy my lavendar?"

Curiosity is the key, "buy your Lavendar? But what do you mean?"

"Oh really? Lavendar soap? I really do like lavendar... a try for 10 cents? I could spare it couldn't I?"

With something as enticing as the question posed, you could probably rake it in on the samples alone assuming your distribution lines did cost you too much. Who doesn't want lavendar anyways?

Hungry face

Mmm, my face is famished.

This is good, it's not defeating the person's belief of how beautiful they are but point to only bolstering inherent beauty. Complement the viewer and show them that their beauty could use more nourishment, it only ENHANCES and not SALVAGES. Pretty good no?

On top of that it positions you like you NEED to have it for your face's well being, you'd feel as bad about not doing it as you would not having brushed your teeth at not or not changed your oil in two years.

Feeding the face though is an original angle for me, today that would have to be positioned a bit more meat/animal level but the imagery would stay roughly the same if you just add a leopard.