Advertising Going High Tech

[Steve]

Wait until you read this article (http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjMwOTQsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=), you will be amazed at the lengths advertisers will go to show you their ad.

Advertisers' newest tactics include plasma screens that are being placed in shopping malls across the country. The screens analyze shoppers' faces to determine if they're male or female and then put up a different ad based on gender. They can even determine age and ethnicity.

Is it just me, or has advertising become 99% about the gimmick and only 1% about the product. How many times have you watched a commercial and had no idea what product was being sold or who the company was behind it until the brand name flashed on the screen at the end?

[modi123]

Meh, I decided to cut to the chase on this one. I was tired of trying to figure out what they are selling, and instead got the cortex implant. Now if a commerical runs by, the implant massages the desire part of the brain while directly feeding the neurons with the product name. No more convoluted homo-erotic images men rafting, while trying to sell me jeans. The implant tells me I need the jeans.

1. cortex implant.
2. commerical.
3. ???
4. profit

The only question is what to do with the out of work commerical actors? Damnit, we will need a new system of wellfare, or deport them to Canada.

[Enduring_Warrior]

For some reason this one just clicks another step towards the enviroment depicted in movies like minority report. Its getting scarier and scarier.

[Enduring_Warrior]

For some reason this one just clicks another step towards the enviroment depicted in movies like minority report. Its getting scarier and scarier as civilization inevitably grinds towards yet another form of totalitarism. As thats the usual/static stance of society.

[bigstusexy]

Yeah commericals are gimmicky but thas the whole point, as soon as you know its another one of those (regular) commercials your brain turns off, you either continue or begin another conversation, go to the kitches, start doing someting or just zone out.

Instead, they creat a catchy commercial that intrigues or entertians you and at the end they leave you with whats its fore. At the least you'll keep talking about the commercial, at the most you'll say "hey did you see that ad for xyz?" With the same effect. You remeber at least the entertaining part and virailly spread it to the people you socialize with.

I'd put a bit that Sony was hoping that people would see the PS3 commercial and go WTF and ask everyone did they see it, describe it, then they and all their freinds would look for and at it. Hopefully resulting in a buy.

Stu-

[Enduring_Warrior]

Yeah commericals are gimmicky but thas the whole point, as soon as you know its another one of those (regular) commercials your brain turns off, you either continue or begin another conversation, go to the kitches, start doing someting or just zone out.

Instead, they creat a catchy commercial that intrigues or entertians you and at the end they leave you with whats its fore. At the least you'll keep talking about the commercial, at the most you'll say "hey did you see that ad for xyz?" With the same effect. You remeber at least the entertaining part and virailly spread it to the people you socialize with.

I'd put a bit that Sony was hoping that people would see the PS3 commercial and go WTF and ask everyone did they see it, describe it, then they and all their freinds would look for and at it. Hopefully resulting in a buy.

Stu-

Well thats the whole idea of advertising isn't.

They have to become even more and more creative.

[Steve]

But that's just it.... have you EVER watched a commercial, saw funny frogs and switched beer? No.

Marketers are stuck on the GIMMICK at the expense of the product. Yeah, I might laugh when I see the funny frogs. I might ask my firends if they have seen the funny frog commercial. But none of us switched beers this weekend...or even entertained the idea...because the Budwieser frogs were funny.

On the flip side:

Have you ever watched a new car commercial where the screen flashed a:


Amazing New Look
Awesome New Features
Low Price
Low APR


Now THAT makes me want to buy. That makes me talk about it to my friends in the "I'm gonna buy me one a those" kinda way...not a "did you see the funny frogs" kinda way.

[Enduring_Warrior]

But that's just it.... have you EVER watched a commercial, saw funny frogs and switched beer? No.

Marketers are stuck on the GIMMICK at the expense of the product. Yeah, I might laugh when I see the funny frogs. I might ask my firends if they have seen the funny frog commercial. But none of us switched beers this weekend...or even entertained the idea...because the Budwieser frogs were funny.

On the flip side:

Have you ever watched a new car commercial where the screen flashed a:


Amazing New Look
Awesome New Features
Low Price
Low APR


Now THAT makes me want to buy. That makes me talk about it to my friends in the "I'm gonna buy me one a those" kinda way...not a "did you see the funny frogs" kinda way.


Absolutely. But you're just being logical here. And I'm still wondering why the resolve to Gimmicks when there are reasons like the ones you just posted?

Well couldn't it be that the different in products like say: beer is too subjective to account on real tangible advantages over one or another?

Cool id't be a Beer who gets the primer effect but without numbing you or making you drunk.

Next thing would be not the liquid but the cans themselves, self cooling cans is the new word.

[GJSNeptune]

And now maybe Tom Cruise will bust through your window and arrest you for the future murder of your ex.

[Martyr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmbBSiusMKs

[CyberDeus-RagDoll]

Apparantly you people know nothing about advertising.

Here's a little joke for you.

You're at a bar, you walk up to a potential match, and say
"I'm great in bed"

That's direct marketing.

You're at a bar, you get a mates phone number, and then call them later, and say.. "I'm great in bed"

That's telemarketing.

You're at a bar, your potential mate slips and falls, spilling their drink. You help them up, buy them a new drink, and get them a chair.. and you mention "by the way, I'm great in bed"

That's public relations.

You're at a bar, a potential mate, walks up to you and says "I hear your great in bed"

That's brand recognition.



Now..
You may THINK you've never switched beers because of funny frogs..
but.. I bet you KNOW what brand of beer that is, dontcha?

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and ordered a coke(r) or do you always order a "caffeinated carbonated beverage"?

Ever have JELLO(r) ? Or do you only eat gelatin?

Do you use du-bang brand bandages, or do you normally put on a band-aid(r) ?

In your house, have you ever put milk in the fridge(frigidiare?)

When your stomach hurts, do you ask people for pepto? or pink bismuth.

[Martyr]

thats great and all, but i block all ads online, i dont watch tv, i skip the previews, i dont read the advertisting magazines, etc etc.

[Steve]

Apparantly you people know nothing about advertising.

Here's a little joke for you.

You're at a bar, you walk up to a potential match, and say
"I'm great in bed"

That's direct marketing.

You're at a bar, you get a mates phone number, and then call them later, and say.. "I'm great in bed"

That's telemarketing.

You're at a bar, your potential mate slips and falls, spilling their drink. You help them up, buy them a new drink, and get them a chair.. and you mention "by the way, I'm great in bed"

That's public relations.

You're at a bar, a potential mate, walks up to you and says "I hear your great in bed"

That's brand recognition.

Except, after all the "self-marketing" the guy does, it USUALLY ends like You're at a bar, a potential mate, walks up to you and says "I hear you're a dick"

:D

And that's the overall problem with overzealous advertisers. ;) Had the guy let his features do the talking, a smart girl would know he's handsome, successful and funny...and he'd get laid. The only thing she gets from the "I'm good in bed" line is that he's obnoxious.

[GJSNeptune]

The only thing she gets from the "I'm good in bed" line is that he's obnoxious.
See also pretentious and lame.


Since I can only really avoid advertising online, I have to deal with it. And how do I deal with it? I smile a little inside knowing it isn't working on me. What does work on me is humor. If all commercials were funny and not primarily brain-rottingly stupid, cheesy, and amateur, I might just check out the product or business.

TV doesn't eat away at your mind. It's the commercials.

[Martyr]

Now..
You may THINK you've never switched beers because of funny frogs..
but.. I bet you KNOW what brand of beer that is, dontcha?

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and ordered a coke(r) or do you always order a "caffeinated carbonated beverage"?

Ever have JELLO(r) ? Or do you only eat gelatin?

Do you use du-bang brand bandages, or do you normally put on a band-aid(r) ?

In your house, have you ever put milk in the fridge(frigidiare?)

When your stomach hurts, do you ask people for pepto? or pink bismuth.
the problem is it isnt even about the products anymore. they focus so much on the commerical they forget to advertise the damn thing they are selling.

[CyberDeus-RagDoll]

TV doesn't eat away at your mind. It's the commercials.

Are you certain? Is there a redeeming value to game shows, reality tv, or sports on TV ?

[mdameron]

Amen to Steve or whoever else brought up the bit on the frogs.

I swear it's a waste of money and time for the beer companies to even THINK about advertising.

Think about it, how many people do you know that would switch beers. The only person I know that isn't firmly planted in his tastes is my roommate that buys whatever is cheapest.

How about those that pride themselves at being as esoteric as possible in their beers. (see any genmay alcohol thread) No one is going to switch their shit based on how much they laugh.

PS: Budweiser brought back the horse apparently! <3 <3 <3 <3 Still won't get me to switch from Miller High Life though. :D

[mdameron]

That's supposed to say horses*! The football play horses. Best commercials of all time.

Saw one today that had a zebra reviewing the play... LOL :D

[GJSNeptune]

Are you certain? Is there a redeeming value to game shows, reality tv, or sports on TV ?
What's there to redeem? We watch TV to be entertained. Game shows, reality TV, and sports entertain most TV watchers. Commercials tend not to. I would bet that the ones that do are generally more effective. Of course, just flashing one's business name or logo and phone number is useful for the business. The same awareness is the goal for door-to-door solicitors. The reason advertising works is because the average person is vulnerable to it. It tends to aim towards people who won't research or dig to see who to go with for a better deal.

I tend to look at the technical aspect of commercials. Funny and well-made commercials will win me over a lot easier than low-budget ones with cheesy scrolling marquees and awful acting. And I really hate cheesy jingles.

[bobsaget]

Judging from the arguments you guys are posting, do you want to see more commercials like the "Head on, apply directly to the forehead" one?

:p