Best Olympic Ads so far!

1) David Beckham and Adidas - Such a great concept! Beckham surprises a handful of fans in the camera booth.

2) Nike - Find Your Greatness.

3) Samsung - Samsung has unleashed one of the worlds largest campaigns ever for the London Olympics. They are highlighting their next generation Galaxy 3 phones.

Great Ads from this week

Here are the best ads I've come across this week. Enjoy!

1) The Famous Cola Cola Commercial – Security Camera footage is often only shown when a crime is being committed, but the cameras catch great acts of kindness as well. Great job Coke!

2) Another Old Spice Classic – Does anyone else think he looks like the Dos Equis man?

3) Good Commercials can be understood no matter the language – As demonstrated by this Volkswagen Commercial

4) Love this Playboy Commercial. Simple and classy.

5) Underwater Night Club anyone? This is an example of a great vision, but poor execution. Do you even know the commercial is about a watch?

6) Hilarious Korean Infomercial for a Workout Machine

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Gorilla Punch Marketing is an advertising firm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in unconventional, cost effective forms of advertising. Our current focus is on Custom, Full-Coloured Pocket Sized Tissue Packs. Visit our site http://www.GorillaPunchMarketing.com for more information. Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Jeremy Lin - The Marketing Machine

As the New York Knicks prepare for life without Jeremy Lin, we take a quick look at what this means for their marketing and accounting department.

The Houston Rockets have made a bold move to acquire Jeremy Lin, signing him to a 3 year deal in the neighbourhood of $25 million dollars. Is this madness or will Jeremy Lin pay for himself?

Jeremy Lin is a marketing machine. Merchandise, sponsorships, tickets sales, broadcast rights, concession sales, and peripheral apparel will all receive a nice bump due to the ‘Linsanity Effect’. Consider this: during Lin’s astronomical rise from obscurity (February 4 to February 13), stock of MSG (Madison Square Garden) jumped 10% (or $170 million in market cap), resale ticket prices for Knicks games rose 25%, Knicks apparel and jerseys accounted for 5 of the top 10 top selling items from the NBA.com shop, and his name was tweeted 281,000 times. ‘Linsane’ indeed.

The Houston Rockets are no strangers to the ‘Linsanity Effect’. For years they enjoyed Yao Ming and his influence; creating the second largest market for the NBA outside of America in China. An estimated 20 million viewers each week, millions in merchandise and apparel sales, and lucrative broadcasting rights can all be attributed to Yao Ming and his fame.

So while Jeremy Lin will have big shoes to fill, one thing is certain: The Jeremy Lin marketing machine has touched down in Houston, and his marketability makes Lin worth his weight in gold. Linsanity has only just begun.

FREE BEER!

This was the sight as Budweiser promoted their new Bud Light Lime Mojito in downtown Toronto.

Free Stuff Rules!

How Advertising Jingles Work

Ever have an annoying tune stuck in your head all week? Is it a catchy jingle for a product? If so you can thank a copywriter and songwriter for that. Research shows that jingles are undeniably effective in creating brand awareness. If you are standing at the deodorant aisle trying to decide what to buy, and you suddenly hear the Old Spice whistle tune in your head [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kns-4B5SG8], you may put a stick of their deodorant in your shopping cart. Jingles don’t have to be long, or even contain lyrics to work.

So why are jingles so effective? Science has the answer for that. When we were children, we relied heavily on our short term working memories and the articulatory rehearsal system to learn and constantly repeat sounds that we heard. This repetition, called a phonological loop, allowed us to learn to speak. By exploiting this system, marketers can use short and memorable jingles to create brand awareness. So if you need to separate yourself from similar competitors and products, consider a jingle. Here are a few keys to a good jingle:

Repetition

The target audience needs to hear the jingle several times before they can create an association to your product and brand.

Be Memorable

The best jingles are memorable, and catchy. Like a hit song, your jingle needs to be uniquely sounding to be memorable. A nice melody also doesn't hurt.

Be Clever

If you have lyrics, they should be relevant and well written. You don’t want your brand associated to a confused and unfocused jingle.

The shorter, the better

Research has proven that short jingles with a simple melody are more effective.

BRAND! - Don’t forget the purpose  

The purpose of your jingle is to promote your brand and/or products. Don’t forget that. It would be unwise for a piano company use a melody featuring a trumpet solo.

Hire a professional

Surprising enough, there are people who are paid to write jingles. They are professionals who make a living doing this day in, and day out.

Test It!

Market research and focus groups can tell you immediately if you have a hit or not. A good jingle needs to be positively received by a wide audience. Well written jingles can last years, and can be triggered with a visual stimulus. I still hear the Oscar Meyer Weiner song every time I see their logo, sigh!

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Gorilla Punch Marketing is an advertising firm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in unconventional, cost effective forms of advertising. Our current focus is on Custom, Full-Coloured Pocket Sized Tissue Packs. Visit our site www.GorillaPunchMarketing for more information. Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

How To Advertise Your Company Using SWAG Marketing

FACT: At some point in your life, you’ve received a free pen given to you by a company representative. Actually, you have probably received whistles, tape measures, stress balls, pins, hats, USB keys, mugs, key chains etc, as well. Pretty much anything that can be stamped with a corporate logo has been used for promotional marketing (aka swag marketing). There is a reason behind this madness; it works.

Don’t get SWAG confused with SWAGGER; we are not talking about a Jay-Z & T.I. song featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne. We are talking about the SWAG you get at conferences, meetings, and occasionally the hotels rooms that you stay in (those towels don’t count by the way). For the definition of swag we turn to the always ‘reliable’ Wikipedia:

“Promotional merchandise, promotional items, promotional products, promotional gifts, or advertising gifts, sometimes nicknamed swag or schwag, are articles of merchandise (often branded with a logo) used in marketing and communication programs.”

A study by the Promotional Products Association International revealed the effectiveness of swag; 94% of those polled said they could recall a promotional product they received in the past two years & 83% said they liked receiving promotional products (who doesn’t like free stuff?). 69% said they kept promotional products in their offices or homes. Compared to online ads, 20% said they made a purchase after receiving a promotional item, vs. the 4% that made a purchase after viewing an ad online!

Swag can go beyond basic promotional items, as is demonstrated by a clever company in Oklahoma produces business cards that can transform into a variety of objects including tiny catapults and penny shooters.

But the best part of promotional marketing (beyond the higher penetration rate, ad recall, and exposure time) is the fact that whenever someone uses your swag, you get free advertising! The most useful, and social the swag, the more exposure you will get.

So now that you know the benefits of promotional marketing, don't get the wrong swag. Pens, pencils, and stickers are a great way of telling people that you are unoriginal. If you want to stand out from the crowd, try handing out some Custom Pocket Tissue. Useful, elegant, and cheap, Pocket Tissues are like tiny billboards that you can hand out. They stay in pockets and purses for extended exposure and are useful to 99.99% of the population. Target flu seasons, allergy seasons, food festivals or anything else; the potential is endless. Don't let your competitors beat you to the punch.

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Gorilla Punch Marketing is an advertising firm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in unconventional, cost effective forms of advertising. Our current focus is on Custom, Full-Coloured Pocket Sized Tissue Packs. Visit our site www.GorillaPunchMarketing for more information. Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Google Glass – Project Glass will be available to developers early next year

If you have been living under a rock for the last few months, or have been disconnected from society then you may not have heard about Google Glass. In a nut shell, it is basically a goofy looking, wearable, internet connected computer with a display that can interact with its environment. Think Star Wars but real and available soon.

Right now Google sees the Glass as a premium product that can be used for a variety of purposes. While Google hasn’t limited the potential applications that the Glass may be used for, it is clear that they envision it to be worn casually by consumers during regular, everyday activities.

Like the Apple iPad and Microsoft Xbox Kinnect, the applications for Google Glass will only be limited to the imagination of the developers. You can be sure that military personnel and advertising executives are already paying close attention to the device and are lining up to order a pair (developers will be able to purchase a pair early next year for a price tag of $1,500).

The Future of Advertising

Targeted Advertising is a trend, not a fad. You may have noticed that the advertisements on Facebook, and Google are tailored based on your interests, activities, search history, and location. This is not a mistake. Advertisers pay a premium for this information so that they can better target their marketing dollars.

The impact that this technology will have on users will be phenomenal. Imagine watching a movie where the plot responds to your personal preferences. Imagine walking down the street to see relevant sales and advertisements pop up on your glasses. Imagine driving and avoiding traffic because the Glass is connected to the internet. The potential applications for the Glass are limitless.

Google Glass will be a tool for advertisers to exploit. It may be easy to ignore a billboard today, but will you be able to ignore one tomorrow if it calls out your full name as you walk by? How about opening a book or newspaper, to see videos and clips of what you are reading. Remember this scene from Minority Report? The future is closer than you think. If only the future were more stylish…

Gorilla Punch Marketing is an advertising firm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in unconventional, cost effective forms of advertising. Our current focus is on Custom, Full-Coloured Pocket Sized Tissue Packs. Visit our site www.GorillaPunchMarketing.com for more information. Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Spotlight on: Batman (TDK) – The Dark Knight (2008)

Successful viral Marketing Campaign looks to continue with The Dark Knight Rises 2012

 

The 2008 film by Christopher Nolan was a huge box office, and cult success. The omnipresent media coverage that The Dark Knight (2008) enjoyed leading up to its release was a result of a tremendous amount of hard work, and a little bit of luck. Few campaigns have enjoyed, and endured the perfect storm and not only survived, but excelled. Here’s a look at some of the key elements.

A Great Film

You need a great product to sustain momentum. Excellent marketing can be the allure, but if the product lacks what is promised in the advertising, then momentum can stall. Lucky for movie goers and comic book fans, Christopher Nolan managed to create an exceptional product.

A Great Time

Timing is everything. There is a reason why James Cameron always times releasing his blockbusters in late November (see Titanic, Avatar). TDK enjoyed a release in a manufactured summer lull; one that allowed the hugely anticipated blockbuster to be released apart from other blockbusters. This is a tried and true tactic used by executives all the time.

A Great Tragedy

Many credit the loss of Heath Ledger as the catalyst which turned TDK from a good film, into a box office juggernaut. His tragic death was shocking, yet his performance was riveting.  Marketing executives should be credited here for turning a potentially taboo tragedy, into a celebration in his memory. There are countless examples of films that have faltered in the wake of a lead characters death. The marketing team handled a sensitive and potential disastrous topic with grace and dignity. 

A Great Viral Marketing Campaign

The viral marketing campaign leading up to the release of TDK will be used as a business case in colleges and universities for many years to come. The carefully choreographed and timed release of secondary and tertiary paraphernalia leading up to the movie (including the requisite action figures and lunchboxes, video games, and the excessive roller coaster theme park rides) reinforced the message that this was not just a movie; but instead was a transcendent generational experience that was not to be missed.

The viral marketing campaign was one of the most impressive, and comprehensive campaigns to date. There were mock ransom letters from the Joker that were published; websites; Bat Signals that could be found shining brightly in the sky all around the world; social media scavenger hunts to unlock Easter egg bonuses; and of course the fake Gotham News videos on YouTube. The careful shift in the marketing focus from Harvey Dent to the Joker after Heath Ledgers death was executed with class and decorum.

TDK will be remembered as one of the greatest viral marketing campaigns ever created and executed. As we approach the launch of the next and final installment of the Batman trilogy by Christopher Nolan, with The Dark Knight Rises, what surprises will the marketing campaign hold? Will it be able to surpass the previous campaign? The marketing world anxiously awaits the answer.

The Dark Knight Rises – July 20, 2012 (Canada and USA). Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Reference:

Marshall Crook and Peter Sanders (January 24, 2008). "Advertising: Will Marketing Change After Star's Death?". The Wall Street Journal: pp. B1.

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All thoughts and opinions belong to Gorilla Punch Marketing. Gorilla Punch Marketing is an advertising firm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in unconventional, cost effective forms of advertising. Our current focus is on Custom, Full-Coloured Pocket Sized Tissue Packs. These packs can be handed out at events, or given to current clients as a premium. With 4-panels for logos and messages, the product enjoys a lasting impression and increased ad recall over most traditional advertising mediums. Popular in Asia and Australia, we are bringing this cost effective, proven concept to North America. Visit our site www.GorillaPunchMarketing for more information. Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

The Giant Sprite Shower – Rio de Janeiro

Ever have the fantasy of showering in a giant pool of Soda Pop? Doing the backstroke across the pool while the carbonated bubbles effervesce along your back and buttocks? While it may not be possible to buy enough soda pop and fill an entire pool with it before you lose all the carbonation, Sprite decided to give beach goers the next best thing!

A few months ago on a lovely beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sprite pulled off an incredible feat. They installed a Giant, Sprite dispensing machine on the beach. What do you do with such a large sprite dispensing machine? Why shower in it of course! Check out the video below.

 

This is an incredible example of creative advertising by Sprite. While some may question the relevancy, the cost, the message and ultimately the environmental impact of building such a large structure for a single promotional event, there is simply no denying its greatness. 

Forget the obvious questions: was it water; was it Sprite; did they recycle the water; were the beach goers paid actors; how much did it cost… etc. For a large MNC like Sprite, the only thing that really matters is ad penetration, effectiveness, brand reinforcement and ad recall. And they hit it out of the park on this one.

Thinking out of the box, they were able to create a fantastic advertising event that achieved great ad penetration and ad recall. Word quickly spread and everyone on the beach soon crowded to wait their turn.

One of the easiest ways to benchmark a promotional idea or event is to see the response on YouTube. The video has over 200,000 views in just over a months’ time and enjoys a positive response ratio of +96%. Great marketing indeed! Kudos to the Sprite team for their innovative and refreshing shower!

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All thoughts and opinions belong to Gorilla Punch Marketing. Gorilla Punch Marketing is an advertising firm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in unconventional, cost effective forms of advertising. Our current focus is on Custom, Full-Coloured Pocket Sized Tissue Packs. These packs can be handed out at events, or given to current clients as a premium. With 4-panels for logos and messages, the product enjoys a lasting impression and increased ad recall over most traditional advertising mediums. Popular in Asia and Australia, we are bringing this cost effective, proven concept to North America. Visit our site www.GorillaPunchMarketing for more information.