A light-hearted look at advertising

Usually companies have to pay for advertising, but this week I've going to give a few companies free advertising! Their adverts were so noteworthy that they deserve to be seen or mentioned for free!

The most effective way to advertise.

1) Dubious claims

In their latest TV advert, Vistaprint promote their business cards by claiming, 'there's no better way to advertise your business'.

Well if that's the case, then why are Vistaprint advertising on TV, rather than on their own business cards? Hmm...

2) Know your audience (part 1)

This next advert highlights the importance of knowing your target audience.

To set the scene, I recently spent a very enjoyable few months in Western Australia, and one of the small towns I visited was a cool little town called Denmark.

The Denmark tourist board helpfully produce a small tourist leaflet for the benefit of any backpackers visiting Denmark, and as well as featuring helpful maps and tourist advice, the tourist leaflet also includes adverts for local hotels, hostels, tour companies, local eateries, and other services which are of interest to backpackers.

However, there was one advert in the tourist leaflet which I couldn't help thinking was perhaps a little out of place...

Denmark Pump Service, Electrical Contractors
Ideal for any backpackers in need of an electrical pump service!

I have to admit, rather surprisingly, I didn't have much need for an electrical pump service, during my visit to Denmark! In fact during all the many years I've spent backpacking around the world, an electrical pump service is something that, fortunately, I've never had need of anywhere on my travels. It's not a need that generally crops up very often when you're backpacking.

However, if any other backpackers happen to be visiting Denmark in Western Australia and find themselves in need of an electrical pump service, then great news! The advert above might be just what you're looking for!

In all seriousness, the person who owns Denmark Pump Service was probably just wanting to support his local community by advertising in the tourist guide, rather than hoping to pick up business from the no doubt numerous backpackers looking for an electrical pump service, so big respect for supporting their local town.

3) Know your audience (part 2)

Here's a screenshot from an Age UK advert advertising hearing aids.

The advert mentions their great aftercare service, and their low price guarantee, so on the face of it, it seems like a well-made advert.

However, given that this advert is targeted at people with poor hearing, surely it would have made sense to include subtitles!

Maybe I'm missing something, but by not including subtitles - in an advert aimed at partially deaf viewers - surely they're not fully reaching their target audience!

There's nothing cooler than giving a dog a high five!

4) False advertising

Adidas claim that nothing is impossible. Well I beg to differ.

If you high five yourself in the mirror, it's impossible to miss. No matter what Adidas claim.

5) Lino Richie

Sometimes a clever name can create more publicity than an actual advert, as demonstrated by this van belonging to an amusingly named flooring contractor...

Lino Richie.
"Hello, is it me you're looking floor."

You may have noticed that the actual real name of the flooring contractor was Richard McKinlay. However, from a marketing point of view, the name Richard McKinlay is quite forgettable, so it was definitely a smart move to go with the name Lino Richie!

6) Speckyfoureyes.com

Specky Four Eyes

I needed to buy some new glasses recently, so I asked a friend for website recommendations, and he mentioned a long list of websites selling glasses with generic names along the lines of Glasses Direct, Select Specs, Glasses4U, Specs4Less, etc. They were all so boringly functional and so descriptively similar, that I promptly forgot them all in a haze of generic spectacle wordery.

All except one, that is.

The website which stuck in my mind was a website called...

Specky Four Eyes!

In these days of ever increasing political correctness, it made me chuckle to discover that someone had decided to call their website SpeckyFourEyes.com, but from a marketing point of view it worked, because it was the only website name that I remembered!

It goes to show once again that sometimes a clever or amusing name for your company can be more effective at generating awareness than a large advertising budget.

7) Think outside the box

Finally, if any marketing executives for a rich corporation happen to be reading this, here's an alternative advertising idea.

If you're a big company, pay for a peak-time TV advert for a locally owned cafe, or shop. Viewers will be curious as to how such a small business can afford to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds for a TV advert. The curiosity it provokes will likely generate more publicity than a typically forgettable regular TV advert would have generated.

And as an added bonus, you'll be putting a little bit back into the local community ... just like Denmark Pump Service!

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Funny job adverts