Advertising for Men,

Dear Old Spice,

First off I want to apologize for how long it took me to write about this ad. I've seen it many times and everytime I watch it the jealousy continues to increase. Jealous of the fact that whoever wrote this was able to sell through the most ridiculous ad. And believe me when I say ridiculous I mean ridiculously amazing.

This is the kind of ad that got me into advertising in the first place but I only ever thought this kind of stuff was possible with beer and that deoderant ads should stick to mountains and lake fresh comparisons. Thank you Old Spice for making me believe again.

Sincerely,

WWF - We're Melting, We're Melting, Ohh What a World

Dear WWF,

I have spent a couple of years of my career working with Not For Profit clients and have been privlaged to be a part of some good work for World Vision, Habitat for Humanity and CNIB. I always try to keep a close watch on NGO's of the world advertising campaigns. Not only for the reason that they do some great impactful work built off of great insights but for the reason that they usually do such great work on a dime.

Here is yet another example of some great work done by WWF. Unfortunately you are going to have to click through to YouTube to watch but trust me its worth it.

WWF Global Warming Melting Men

Sincerely,

Audi Garage

Dear Audi,

You know I'm already a big fan of yours. Your marketing and advertising is always strategic, insightful and cutting edge. This latest outdoor campaign is no exception. This was clearly created to drum up some PR and has not failed to do so. I would be lying if I said I was the first one to write about the 'Garage Campaign' but never the less I had to give you the kudos you deserve.

My only question is: what's next to build on this? Is this going to be a one off execution? I could see this same idea living in parking garages in urban areas so that it actually gets the eyes it deserves rather than just PR. Great job on this Lowe Roche. You continue to push the Audi brand as a leader in the luxury car category.

Sincerely,

Audi to Tame Viral Videos?

Dear Audi,

I just had a look at your three part viral series called Electricity Untamed and am positive that you will be climbing up the ranks with these videos. Not only are the 30sec pieces entertaining but you have avoided muddying up the message by refraining from using any real branding.

This is the first time I've seen any car company put a spin on the Electric Car. To date its been all about the environmental benefit of having a hybrid car so it is nice to see that Audi is taking the Electric Car in a new direction especially considering they are competing for the luxary market.The video's were created by San Francisco based agency Bell & Partners.

In my opinion the Lawnmower and Static spot are the best of the 3 but you can be the judge.







Sincerely,

Why HBO Rules

Dear HBO,

I don't get to tell you this as often as I would like to, but I just wanted to let you know, that you rule! Not just because of the on demand capabilities that allows me to watch as many episodes of Entourage in a row as I want or because you don't have any commercials (which btw goes against everything I believe in)which allows me to watch what would be an hour long show in 50mins but also because you do some kick ass advertising.

I just saw this spot today and I loved the perspective(s) of it. If anyone knows who is working on HBO I would love to know so I can sing their praises as well. Please post it in the comments section if you know.

Sincerely,

Bud Light Lime - In the Can

Dear DDB Chicago,

Call me childish but I think the Bud Light Lime "In the Can" spot is pretty funny. I am usually not a tongue in cheek kind of fellow but I think that this new spot was both informative and appealing to both men and women. Usually a tough demographic to appeal to DDB and Bud Light Lime manage to get'er done.

It's too bad the summer is almost over because unfortunately I'm not going to be craving lime in my beer for that much longer.

Sincerely,

How to Succeed at an Agency

Dear Students,

At the end of “Back to School” week I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on my career thus far, and provide my two cents of what it takes to succeed in an Agency, and specifically how to succeed in your first year.

1.Be engaged. This doesn’t mean listening, taking notes, or going through the motions. You should be deeply engaged in what you are doing – understand the urgency of a project, and be ready and willing to share thoughts, ideas and provide solutions to roadblocks along the way or at the very least offer an opinion. People want to work with other people who get their problems, and want to solve them. Show them you are invested in the success of the project.

2.Build a network. And invest in it. Everyone will tell you that building strong client relationships is the cornerstone of a successful career in Account management. But in your first year, building your internal network is as important if not greater. Identify the people you will need to rely on to get your job done, and invest time in actually building relationships with these people. When people like you they are willing to go that extra mile to help make you look good. And when your network does pull through and save you from missing a deadline by working all night or putting in the extra mile, be diligent about recognizing their effort, and sharing your appreciation with their boss.

3.Be an expert. Be relevant to your team and firm by being a subject matter expert – whether it is on the newest trends in social media, or your clients category, or competitive. Own something that your team will find valuable and share this knowledge. You will become indispensible.

4.Be eager. Don’t just be a sponge in your first 6 months – be eager to immerse yourself in the agency, and your clients business. Volunteer to help with new business – it will show you are committed to the success of the agency and give you profile with leaders within the organization.

Finally – enjoy your time. This is a unique point in your career – the beginning. You have the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to everything you do, and you will also learn a lot about yourself.

Good luck and have fun.

Sincerely,

Guest writer KB