Damn. Another fine ad by John Lewis.

Damn. Another fine ad by John Lewis. I guess they are onto a successful formula that works (for me at least): a popular relevant pop song, strong scenes that manage to steer away from cliché, all emotion.

They don't forget what we all know to be important at xmas - demonstrating and showing we care about friends and family. And they do a good job reminding us to buy from them.

I'm jealous.

Isn't this wonderful?

Emotional advertising wins over rational. Or as Bill Bernbach said "you don't persuade people through intellect".

Really like this. And like the overt cultural movie parody.

Ikea cats ad

We were just talking the other day about how all ads are hanging off 'happiness'. And perhaps the push for happiness is a bit over done at times. But...I do like this. I look up each time it is on.

Nike TV ad - I like.

Thanks Rory, for sending on .

Beautiful TV ad from Samsung

Barry from Brando posted this. I thought from the opening couple of seconds, that it was going to be same ole cliche stuff that we saw everywhere after Sony's bravio balls ad.

I was wrong.

More tv ads

I haven't been posting many TV ads recently. But will share some over next few weeks. Found this via adpunch.

Embrace Life

Embrace life. Found this engaging enough to watch. It is different to the usual way that these messages are demonstrated.

via Adpunch

Dave Trott inspires creativity on a shoestring.

Fine video of advertising legend, Dave Trott, talking (teaching) about creativity on a shoestring. He demonstrates with some low-budget, yet effective, TV ads.

The video is ten minutes long. A must see. Here.

Up your Viva

Saw this the other week and loved it.

I know some will hate it and think it is stupid. But I'm guessing the brief was to embed the name of the new station in our heads. And also suggest they are a bit of fun. This is not easy. If this was the brief, then job done. No messing about there. Not stupid at all.

P.S. Great casting.

TV ad with star studded cast

I think using celebrities in advertising can increase odds of ad recall. But sometimes the celeb is remembered, not the product or brand message. Lots of big names here but message is clear and central throughout. Kept me watching.

Grab your bag

Anybody that has studied 'operation management' is probably very familiar with Southwest Airlines - the airline that Ryanair is modelled on. Their founder and ex-ceo Herb Kelleher is considered a bit of a legend. I might write a proper post on him later.

I like the ad. Found it here.

I'm really impressed with the latest TV ad from Barnardos.

I'm really impressed with the latest TV ad from Barnardos.

They have managed to steer away from cliche and create something that connects with the viewer. It is always a courageous decision to go for the heart instead of the head. The urge is to lead with a rational message that appeals to our minds. But when done well, heart always wins. The production values are high, the visuals feel very real and the music is haunting.

I initially felt that the 'call to action' could be stronger but I know there is a 30" and and 10 second one to follow the initial burst. It is always a balancing act to engage the viewer in your story and still hit them over the head with a request for cash.

I hope the campaign works. They need the money to keep their children services going. I was invited to one of their centres a few months ago and was humbled by the work they do. Visit barnardos.ie to donate a few quid if you can.

Alter ego

I like this. Although not sure my soul wants to going shopping. If anything, when I'm shopping, my soul wants to be on the sofa. But interesting take and kept me watching.

Found via adland.

Advertising works best when you have a specific challenge.

Advertising works best when you have a specific challenge.

While brand 'awareness' as a measure is sometimes legit, it can also be lazy as a strategy. Before deciding that advertising is the answer, spend more time on the question. What exactly is the communication challenge? Try to get beyond "We want more sales". For example, do you want new customers? Or do you want existing customers to buy more of your current product? Or buy something else? Or, as in the Campbell Soup example, do you want them to use more of what they already have? Or use it at a different time?

The 'Got Milk?' campaign is a wonderful example of advertising strategy.

Faced with a steady decline in milk sales over many years, the Californian Milk Processor Board and their agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, devised a very insightful campaign, targeting teenagers and young people.

They realised that milk was boring. Everybody knew milk. Making people more aware of milk would hardly drive sales. What could they possibly say that was new or interesting?

Their used this insight - teenagers often have milk with particular food types, such as chocolate brownies, cookies and peanut butter sandwiches.

So, instead of promoting milk itself - they decided to market milk as a necessity for these other very desirable foods. They now had a very specific communication challenge - to remind their audience how delicious this combination of milk and cookies was. Remind them to have milk with their peanut and butter sandwiches. Get them to want a chocolate brownie. And make sure they have milk on hand so they enjoy it more. Above is one of their original series of ads. They went on to make a lot more.

The result? They stopped the decline. Milk consumption in California increased for the first time in over 10 years.

See full case study here and read more about it in Jon Steel's book.

This really is insightful comms

This really is insightful. I'm guilty of the almost-empty milk bottle and last minute laundry.

Found via Adland

I first saw this a few months ago, and was memorized.

I first saw this a few months ago, and was memorized.

There is a lot of talk about putting money into digital marketing instead of TV. However, (I think) it was Richard who first pointed out that digital doesn't do 'emotion' very well. Clearly I'm a fan of digital marketing. It has advantages over other advertising media. But I believe its real strength is not actually in advertising e.g. banner display ads. No offence meant lads, you do some of the finest digital advertising I've seen. But digital's strength is in its intimacy and closeness. See my tumbleweeds ramblings for more on this.

This ad demonstrates that, when done right, a TV ad can still invoke an emotive feeling better than any other advertising medium.

I suspect I've watched this about 40 or 50 times. Visually it is just stunning. I love the music track. It is called 'To build a home' by Cinematic Orchestra. It was used in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Worth listening to it in full here. I downloaded the album after a few listens.

Orange tv ad

I've always liked Orange ads. One of my all-time favourites is the New York Blackout one. This one here isn't bad at all either.

Let a stranger drive you home

Watch this a couple of times. It will grow on you.

Found W+K Portland

As a rule, I don't talk about O2 here, but...

As a rule, I don't write about O2 here. I keep my personal blog separate from my work. We all know how boring it can be listening to people talk about themselves and their own stuff all the time.

But I'd like to break this rule just for today.

Today we launch our latest tv campaign. It's about priority tickets at The O2. I really like this ad and want to thank and congratulate, the very talented, Emer McCarthy, for this spot. (Please nobody try and poach her).

The ad itself is very simple and beautifully executed. It was directed by Nima Nourizadeh, the man behind the wonderful House Party adidas ad. The haunting voice you hear is that of Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine.

Wonderful TV ad

This is a wonderful ad.