Don’t you hate when you’re surfing the web on your mobile phone, but the website does not fit perfectly on your screen? You may have to enlarge it and scroll to read the text, or try and zoom in? Looking at websites on your phone at times is not fun. However, there is a very simple answer to this conundrum. Web2Mobile, Inc. is the nations first mobile software in the United States that allows users build a mobile website in just three steps! Continue reading
Stop. Now read the next two questions.
Who am I? And why am I here?
These are the questions that circled through my mind as I read Ad Age this morning, as has become my habit to do just about every morning.
I especially love the “Small Agency Diary” articles because most of the things they talk about are experiences we’ve all had in the marketing world. It’s like my pals in Ad Age land have been spending time right here in our office.
But all I could think about as I read Derek Walker’s blog post this morning, “Who are you and why are you here?” was how would I answer that question?
It’s such a simple thing. A straightforward and direct request. Who are you? And now that I start to think about it, Derek is right in his point. You go to so many advertisers and marketers’ websites, and you get no idea about who they really are. What is their perspective and their raison d’etre? What do they think is their most powerful offering?
For goodness sakes, give us a little personality! I mean, as marketers we’re supposed to build brands and deliver messages for our clients. If we can’t tell you who we are and why we’re so special, how could you ever trust us with your own company’s image?
So with all of this reflection I digress. I take a step back to the MOS website and take a fresh look at how we represent ourselves as a company, as individuals, as creatives. And again I ask, Who am I? And why am I here?
Finally: Facebook brings you instant ads
Did you update your status recently?
Pay attention to the ads in the right column. You may soon notice an uncanny relevance to your instant desires. No, it’s not the universe giving you a sign. It’s Facebook’s newest advertising platform that is currently in testing (you know, a small study group of only 6 million users or so).
So what’s the big idea? It’s Facebook’s version of intent-based advertising. It basically delivers real-time ads based on your wall posts and status updates.
Here’s how it works. Let’s say you’ve got the munchies and update your status to, “Could really go for some pizza right now! Who’s in?”
You could get an instant ad or a coupon from Domino’s, Papa John’s or Pizza Hut. Continue reading
Super Bowl XLV: Ad Winners and Losers
Super Bowl XLV, the world’s second largest sporting event, was quite the eventful evening. Besides the messed up National Anthem, a ridiculous halftime show, and fans without seats, it was a great Super Bowl. On a night where companies spend millions of dollars for 30 seconds of your attention, some seemed to win us over while others fell flat on their face.
The Winners:
Doritos-House Sitting
Doritos has created some great ads over the years and that didn’t change this time around. In this spot, Doritos have the power of bringing things back to life from a dead fish, a wilting plant, even Continue reading
The Kid Your Man Could Smell Like
Old Spice and Isaiah Mustafa. Haven’t we seen enough of them in advertising headlines lately? Old Spice is making headlines again as they have found their “Superfan.” The Superfan contest awards the winner with rights to release the latest old spice commercial on his terms. 16 year old Chris Gatewood won the contest by submitting his own parody commercial of the original “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.” Once Old Spice found their winner in Chris, Isaiah Mustafa personally gave the teen a call.
Now labeled as the “Superfan”, Gatewood was given Continue reading
The NFL Negotiations:Impacting Industries Across the US
By now I’m sure most of you have heard something about the potential lockout in the NFL next year. Yes I know our Ravens just won a huge game yesterday and we are already looking into next year, but next year can have some huge implications for businesses around the country.
Thanks to NFL games, many businesses can keep busy during what would typically be a slow time of year. The big deal about the lockout is the NFL Commissioner and executives want a longer season and limiting salaries for rookies, among other things. The NFL Players Association worries that adding two more games will put their health into jeopardy when there are already investigations going on about the safety of the game with the recent concussions. To put it plain and simple, if the two sides cannot Continue reading
Must See – Funny Spoof on Death of Ad Agencies
Thanks to FITC for this clever but eerily relevant sci-fi scenario of the death of the last ad agency on earth. The thing is – they pretty much hit the nail on the head. Many “creative firms” are scared to actually get creative any more. And that, my friends, may be the death of them.
Why? Because consumers’ media habits and access to that media are changing rapidly. We’re not the same captive audience that we used to be. If you’re familiar with the acronyms TiVo and DVR, or you’ve ever been exposed to a YouTube video, then my point has been made.
Effective marketing today has got to be about not doing the same old stuff. It’s got to be about STANDING OUT. We’ve been saying it for a long, long time. Still not convinced? Watch this video! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, it’ll become a part of you.
2010 List of Growing Companies
In 2010 many local organizations chose MOS Creative to help them increase their marketability. These companies are positioned for major growth in 2011.
Here are a few of the companies that are greeting 2011 with a plan for growth:
1. Torri’s Legal Services
2. WHFL Law
3. The Go-Kart Track
Website
Brochure
TV and Online Commercial
4. Centech
Website
Digital Presentation
Updated Logo
5. ESI
Website
Logo
Marketing Materials
Custom Signage
Trademark Development
6. MD Pet Gazette
Website
Online Magazine
Awesomely Bad Commercial #3: Martin Fine Furniture
This Friday means it’s time for another post for an awesomely bad commercial! Today’s gem comes from the wonderful state Indiana. Martin Fine Furniture has been in business for over 150 years, four generations for this family owned business. How long have they been pirates, we’ll that’s something I can’t answer. Yes, I said Pirates, as you can see in their commercial below; they decided to go with a pirate theme.
With eye patches, a fake parrot, and plastic swords, Martin Fine Furniture has to be the first pirate themed furniture commercial. I think my favorite part is the wooden plank placed on top of cinder blocks. The sword fighting scenes are also quite captivating. With Indiana being almost 1000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean I don’t really see where the pirate theme fits, but check it out.
Awesomely Bad Commercial #2: Stinky Septic
Going back to a post we did a few weeks ago, we’ve got another Awesomely Bad Commercial for you. No squirrels in this one, now we’ve got a cartoon skunk, and he’s dressed like Mario. Stinky Septic also put together a little tune to tell you all about their services. I guess Mario was a plumber, so that does make a little bit of sense…but a skunk Mario? To me the cartoon animal appeals more towards kids, and I highly doubt kids are the ones making the call. You’ve got to see this one for yourself.
What are your thoughts and do you have any suggestions of awesomely bad commercials we can feature in the blog?
If you didn’t see the first post with the commercial for Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP you can check it out here.
