As I do not watch a lot of TV, I am never quite sure how long a commercial has been around by the time I see it. Still, I am awfully fond of the "new" Domino's commercial. They have been airing a series of commercials touting how their oven baked sandwiches beat out Subway in a national taste test, 2-1. It is the latest commercial I have seen that really takes this to another level.
Dave Brandon, CEO of Domino's, holds out a cease-and-desist letter from Subway's lawyers before tossing it in an pizza oven to bake. Brilliant! Really, how much more in your face can you get than that without getting crass. I seem to remember a time when companies were more willing to challenge each other in creative ways.
Honestly, this is the first time I have seen a company do this to this degree in some time. I think it is both funny and refreshing to see a pizza company take on a sub company. It hearkens back to the days of "Where the beef!?" Very interested to see where Domino's goes with this. Just hoping they do not plan on resurrecting the Noid.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Message Mix-Up
On a recent trip back from Atlanta, I noticed a billboard trying to coax drivers into visiting a nearby Civil War battlefield. The main message read something like, "See where soldiers fought and died." Completely appropriate for a Civil War site, right? There was just one thing that bothered me and caused a double-take.
Next to this rather somber message was the large image of a young boy smiling brightly as he sat between two Civil War reenactors. I could easily see two different ways to market a historic site based on the messages presented. Placed together, I found the message muddled at best.
If you are going to market a historic Civil War site as a place to take the family, the image is fine. Say, "Bring your family face-to-face with history." Generic? Yes, but you get the idea. In my mind, seeing what was done, you could have placed the image of a smiling family next to a message advertising a trip to the nearest cemetery to the same effect. Creepy. On the other hand, the message presented would seem to have accompanied a line of grim-faced reenactors marching across the battlefield to their fate much more effectively.
Whatever the thought was behind the billboard, I think that there must have been a breakdown in communication somewhere. When departments collaborate together; images, words, and whatever other tools employed work to compliment each other. Otherwise, you get kids smiling over the thought of viewing the ground where men fought and died. Again, just a little creepy.
Next to this rather somber message was the large image of a young boy smiling brightly as he sat between two Civil War reenactors. I could easily see two different ways to market a historic site based on the messages presented. Placed together, I found the message muddled at best.
If you are going to market a historic Civil War site as a place to take the family, the image is fine. Say, "Bring your family face-to-face with history." Generic? Yes, but you get the idea. In my mind, seeing what was done, you could have placed the image of a smiling family next to a message advertising a trip to the nearest cemetery to the same effect. Creepy. On the other hand, the message presented would seem to have accompanied a line of grim-faced reenactors marching across the battlefield to their fate much more effectively.
Whatever the thought was behind the billboard, I think that there must have been a breakdown in communication somewhere. When departments collaborate together; images, words, and whatever other tools employed work to compliment each other. Otherwise, you get kids smiling over the thought of viewing the ground where men fought and died. Again, just a little creepy.
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