Drunken Karaoke singers make the best advertisers

So here's a question: What is the best way of advertisers to spread their message?
By getting the consumers to spread it themselves!
If user generated content can work for the digital space, then why not in more traditional methods instead?
Your's Irish Bar came up with a classic way of ensuring that their inebriated clientele would spread the word of not drinking and driving.
Drunk people are usually the bravest when it comes to karaoke and building on this concept, popular songs were modified to include lyrics that advertised the fact that the singers were drunk, what better way to spread the word?
A simple and yet impactful campaign.
Have a look at the silliness below:

Greenpeace rise against 'the Capitol' Zara Hunger Games style

What would you do if protesting against a large organization seems to be rather in-effective?
Why make a video of course!
Greenpeace has been protesting against the harmful chemicals used in Zara clothing as part of their 'Detox' campaign. To aid their efforts, a video was put together in association with Free Range Media.
Video is the voice of the future and there is no better way to go viral with a message. So besides the big names in the game, how can can a video help?
The video created as part of the Detox campaign, was quite a creative venture. It borrowed the concept of the Hunger games, where a lone heroine from an exploited colony rises up against 'the Capitol' (Zara) to protest against the use of harmful chemicals and the pollution it causes all in the name of fashion, perpetuated by unknowing citizens. While the Hunger games is not directly referenced, any viewer who has seen the video can relate to it.
Done up in an anime style, the video is a fun watch and although not directly related to the campaign (or The Hunger Games) does get the point across via a feisty little heroine in her quest for justice.
Good thing Greenpeace won the protest.

Fifty Shades of a Book Delivery

It's the simple truth ... Sex sells. Marketers have often exploited this by incorporating suggestive and erotic themes into the visual element of ad copy to increase dwell time and engagement.

However this is the first time I have noticed an erotic theme to be used to sell books for a good cause.

Good Books have in their advert used extremely suggestive visuals (animated) and audio to promote their store while highlighting their charitable offering. While unusual, upon further thought it makes perfect sense.

The biggest readers of books, believe it or not are females, and in their lifetimes must have read plenty of fictional romances, which is still one of the most popular sections of any library and lets not forget the most popular book of the year Fifty Shades of Grey.

As this concept is popular and familiar with Good Books customers and readers, then utilizing an old theme in a fresh and un-conventional way is a rather unique method of introducing a fresh and unique brand concept.

And readers are still riding high from their last reading of Fifty Shades, so they are sure to get the reference. What do you think?

Donate a Condom

#1share#1condom is a great initiative by Durex for World Aids Day. For every person who shares a tweet with the hashtag #1share#1condom or share Durex's Aids image or video (seen below) on December 1st, Durex will donate one condom. The target set is 2.5 million  condoms representing the 2.5 million who were newly infected with HIV in 2011.

What I love about this campaign, is that it is a great initiative and generates awareness for a worthy cause. By encouraging people to tweet & share, not only are they encouraging people to spread the word, but it is being done for a good cause, making the task a little more easier and rewarding for everyone involved. 

While an excellent CSR program, it seamlessly combines offline & online marketing. By donating condoms, durex is increasing brand awareness through traditional methods, but by marketing through online and social channels, it is more cost effective, targeted and increases user engagement online, through increase in mentions, likes & YouTube views. 

Making it overall a very successful campaign across all fronts. #1share#1condom.

John St/ Buyral - Digital Marketing the effective way

When there are over 72 hours of video uploaded every minute on YouTube, it is not an easy task for a video to go viral. Just as competitive is the marketing & advertising industry, especially with new agencies being set up who specialize in digital. So how does an agency display its creativity and explain its offering, all while distinguishing itself from the competition?

The John St. way!

John St. are a talented marketing agency with a digital skill set. In order to position themselves as a creative and successful agency who pride themselves on customer satisfaction, they put together a campaign which not only displays their innovation but effectively communicates their competency as a digital agency with a result oriented approach.

I call this the 'clicking' campaign. The video, which is the central feature, and in uploaded on YouTube, their website and campaign microsite, displays employees of a fictional company 'Buyral' whose sole purpose is to click on videos to increase views and guarantee the virality of the video. The simple business model being the greater the investment, the greater the clicks, and the video goes viral.

This is true for any online distribution model, where greater the investment, the higher the chances of viewership, leading to an increase in company KPI's, but while this sounds rather dry and boring, John St. are able to communicate the idea in an extremely fun and engaging way, the video in itself being an absolute delight to watch.

So this translates to me as: If you want your marketing campaign to be innovative, creative, engaging and cost effective all while meeting company goals, then go with Buyral... oops I mean John St.

Old Spice - Stop trying

Old Spice have created another ad, as seen below.
To state the obvious the ad has no purpose, does not make sense and cannot possibly reclaim the fame of bygone ads. Are Wieden+Kennedy losing their touch?
Enough said.

Here's is their latest one, rather than working on something good they are just churning them out

Seriously Old Spice, stop trying too hard.

Ethnic Playboy - the Bunny in a Sari

When you hear Playboy what comes to mind?
To me its nudity, women, and more nudity..... and of course the bunnies.

So what happens when you introduce such a flamboyant brand into a conservative market such as India? It can either be a massive success or a dismal failure.

The Playboy magazine in-itself cannot be obtained in India, but that does not mean the brand is not well known and popular. The lack of availability of its reading material has not stopped Playboy from investing about $37 million within the Indian market by planning to open a range of clubs, hotels, fashion cafes across the country within the next 10 years, all of course to Indian standards, which means the introduction of a more suitable and conservative bunny.

Localisation of a brand is always an important strategy especially when entering new markets, with different cultural backgrounds and sensitivities, but how will this affect the success of a brand whose recognition is built around the exact opposite attributes of the country it is hoping to invest in.

The people of India are quite familiar with the Playboy brand and its values, and based on their knowledge, they would have a certain standard of expectations which would not be delivered within this more ethnic framework, which will certainly affect the success of the brand within the country.

While it is always great to expand and localise, perhaps it is not a great idea to launch in a country whose values are not aligned with that of the brand, as this can lead to an overall disappointing experience for customers and the brand alike.

Ref: Who's Sari Now? by Mark J Miller on BrandChannel