2 Latest Thoughts About Twitter

Last week I made a lot of readers unhappy with my posts (here and here) about Twitter.It's not good strategy to antagonize your audience but, what the hell, it's only a hobby. Here are two more thoughts.Latest Thought #1:I have summed up my opinion of Twitter in the following way: It's how the narcissistic keep in touch with the feckless.To bolster my case, I call your attention (thanks to David

If You Liked Borat You'll Love The Ukrainian Army

It's video day here at TAC.First is a spot for the Ukrainian Army (along with a translation.) This is not a joke, it's a real spot. Apparently, in the Ukraine, they let monkeys direct and account planners write.GIRL 1: Would you take us for a ride on your BMW?BMW-DRIVER: Even to the end of the world!SOLDIER: Hey, i’d like to drown some vodka, girls!GIRL 1:

So Wrong For So Long

For almost 2 years now, we here at Ad Contrarian global headquarters have been ranting about the imbeciles in the press and in the marketing industry who have convinced themselves, and most of the ad industry, that television is dead.I am very happy to gloatingly report to you today that television viewing is at its all-time highest point ever. EVER.Regardless of all the bullshit you read, there

Nobody Gives A S*** About Your Philosophy

You know that big new corporate branding campaign you're planning? The one where you tell the world about your company philosophy so they'll finally understand how nice and virtuous you are?Here's a tip: Nobody gives a shit.Nobody gives a shit that...you believe people are your greatest asset.you believe one person can make a difference.you think the world needs to be more connected.you think we

Social Media Is Like A Husband

There are days when this blog takes over my life. Having a "social media" website is like having a husband:It needs constant care and feedingIf you don't prod it, it will just sit there and do nothingAfter a while you'll wonder why you ever thought it was excitingAll your friends think it's stupidIt smells up the bathroomBefore you embark on a social media project, take a close look at the worst

The Envelope Please

Last week we held a survey on the following subject: Which dead people, if alive today, would be Twitterers?The brilliant readers of The Ad Contrarian have decided that among 20 famous dead people the one least likely to have had a Twitter account is Eleanor Roosevelt. Most likely was Andy Warhol, followed closely by Marilyn Monroe.Would this person have had a Twitter account?Andy Warhol ------

The Old Ball Game

Next week, spring training begins in earnest. So let's take a day off from the horrors of advertising and focus on something pleasant: a true baseball story.Last year, a player in the San Francisco Giants organization developed a strange ailment. Three fingers on one of his hands suddenly turned blue because of a circulation problem.The ailment forced him out of action in June, and he missed the

3 New Thoughts About Twitter

It has come to my attention that there were a few readers who I neglected to insult or antagonize in my rant about Twitter the other day. Consequently, more ranting is called for.New Thought #1:A number of commenters about my previous Twitter post assumed that I am either anti-technology or protective of traditional advertising. I am neither.As a former science teacher, I have a great fondness

Interactivity Takes Bold New Step

Thanks to DOTAC for this.Unclear On The ConceptAccording to The Buffalo News in Buffalo, NY..."Muzzammil Hassan is the founder and chief executive officer of Bridges TV, which he launched in 2004, amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light."Last week Hassan was arrested for beheading his wife.I think you're on the wrong track here, Hassan.

6 Thoughts About Twitter

Thought #1:Last week in New York City there was something called Twestival -- "fun people who are passionate about social media and changing the world." (Think I'm kidding? Check it out.)It was a gathering of Twitter maniacs who got together to celebrate...what? Sending stupid little messages to people they don't know? Oh, and saving the world.Apparently, many of the people at Twestival didn't

TAC Scoops NY Times Again

In a post from last August called "Would TV Please Die Already", TAC said:People with low reading comprehension -- and online maniacs who can't stand the idea of people using any medium other than their precious web -- read the hysterical reports in the press...and think that means everyone has stopped watching television.Just to set the record straight, since the year 2000, when all this "tv is

Silver Bullet Seduction

Marketers are always looking for a silver bullet, a magical answer.And yet most business success is not the result of quantum events, it is the result of incremental improvements in products and services.McDonald's, perhaps the most maligned company in the world, has had 55 consecutive months of same store sales growth, an 80% increase in profit, and a 6% growth in its share price last year --

Advertising And The Economic Stimulus Package

I'm no economist. I can barely make change for a twenty.But I have some questions about the "stimulus package" being hammered out in Washington.It starts with Seth Godin. Seth wrote a very interesting post a few weeks ago, which I commented on recently. The post was called "Do Ads Work?" It made a very thought-provoking point.If advertising works i.e., if it returns more money than it costs, why

Best Idea Of The Day

And speaking of the economy, here's the best idea I've heard -- from Tom Friedman's column today in the NY Times:“All you need to do is grant visas to two million Indians, Chinese and Koreans,” said Shekhar Gupta, editor of The Indian Express newspaper. “We will buy up all the subprime homes. We will work 18 hours a day to pay for them. We will immediately improve your savings rate — no Indian

George Parker, Beat This

Here's a great little film. Every swear ever uttered on The Sopranos, in order.the sopranos, uncensored. from victor solomon on Vimeo.Thanks to S. Krinsky for this

What If We're All Wrong

Everybody agrees that the advertising industry is in the crapper. Everybody agrees it has to change. But nobody seems to have a vision of where it has to go.There are two prevailing visions of the future for ad agencies.First is the "everything digital" vision. We've all read about this a thousand times: advertising is dead...conversations...communities...engagement, blah, blah, blah.Second is

Holiday Gift Giving

I'm having a bagel.Normally, I have Horizon Organic cream cheese with my bagel. First, because it's a client, and second because it's so much better than anything else. (This is not pandering. Try it, you'll see.)My grocery was out of Horizon this morning and I had to get Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese -- not nearly as good, but acceptable in a pinch.So I'm opening the package and on the wrapper

You Owe Me Bigtime

Let's be honest here.I work my ass off writing this blog every day (okay, maybe not every day, and maybe not my whole ass.)I spend every Saturday sketching out the week. I'm up at 3 every morning writing. And what do I get in return? Nada. Bupkis. Zilch. (I mean, beside all the money and the super-hot nymphos.)So you owe me. Once a year, we have our pledge week, and this is it. There are two

7 Lessons From Apple

The New York Times had a nice piece yesterday about how Apple has been kicking Microsoft’s ass in advertising for about a thousand years.Here are some lessons from that rivalry.1. Apple’s advertising is always about product benefits and differentiation. It is never idiotic “branding” like the Gates/Seinfeld atrocity, or “I am a PC.” No lifestyle bullshit, just clear differentiation between its

I Watched The Wrong Super Bowl

I must have watched the wrong Super Bowl.The one I watched had all the usual Super Bowl advertising stuff:Dancing AliensLovable Insects Cars Screeching and CrashingPeople Flying Out Of WindowsReally Big ExplosionsWomen With Very Large BreastsMovie Trailers about Dancing Aliens, Lovable Insects, Cars Screeching and Crashing, People Flying Out of Windows, Really Big Explosions and Women With Very

The Hoffman Index

A few years ago I developed a theory* about how to balance imagery and information in advertising. I modestly called it The Hoffman Index.The theory was based on the following assumptions:All advertising contains both information and imagery.Consumers use a different mix of information and imagery in making buying decisions for different kinds of products.Getting the balance right for each kind

One Last Super Bowl Thought

Seventy-seven percent of the wealth in America is controlled by people over 50. Exactly which Super Bowl spots did America's marketing geniuses direct at these people?

Explosions, Monsters, Crashes, Aliens

Random notes on the Super Bowl:Please Give It Up Already: DrinkabilityBest Names: #1: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie; #2: Clancy PendergastBest Score (Of The Musical Kind): Coke insects spotBiggest, Dumbest Spot: AudiSame Fantasy Idea Twice In A Row: Doritos & Go DaddyOne Star, One Joke, No Idea: LeBron James/State Farm; Conan O'Brien/BudThe "Someone's Got To Use Monkeys" Award: CastrolFun Couple: