Recently Google has begun an email intervention, to switch users from outdated accounts from providers such as Hotmail, Yahoo, and AOL to a clearly superior Gmail account.
Gmail began, as so many other of Google's services, as an invite-only beta program. Google gives its employees 20% of their work time to work on independent "pet" projects. And if they like them, they get a test run through invite only beta programs. Many programs such as Adwords (Gmail delivers text-based Google AdWords ads that are relevant to the content of users' email messages), Music Beta (which if you haven't checked out it is really cool), and the recent Google+ social networking site were created through this flex time.
The Gmail intervention allows users to send their friends/family an intervention email through http://www.emailintervention.com/.
While it seems like everyone I know uses Gmail, Microsoft's Hotmail and Yahoo Mail both currently have more subscribers. Perhaps this is due to people like me, that keep their Hotmail account around to sign up for things they are not sure they want to get emails from...
Google's Twitter account announced that 100,000 interventions were sent within the first 24 hours.
Microsoft soon retaliated with a video poking fun at Google, in particular Adwords:
It's actually fairly entertaining.
I think this is just another small step in Google's world takeover.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Mano A Mano in El Bano
Wieden + Kennedy has started off the internet duel of the century! Between new Old Spice guy, Fabio, and old Old Spice guy, Isaiah Mustafa.
First of all, yes, Fabio has apparently taken over as the new Old Spice guy. His ads focus on his superiority to old Old Spice guy and involve a lot of hair blowing in the wind and expected bad Fabio acting, or talking, or whatever you will call it. Although I suppose it is just who he is...
The event began as Fabio challenged Mustafa to an Internet duel Monday morning.
Which was soon accepted by Mustafa.
And so began Mano A Mano In El Bano
Isaiah laid down the rules for the duel:
And so it all began. The challenges included staring, rap, mad libs, whistle, and pushups contests.
And all the while Fabio and Isaiah replied with youtube videos through the Old Spice channel to twitter followers trying to outdo each other in areas such as leaving a better message, naming a baby, and answering any other question posed to them.
Working out.
How to get a hot date.
Leaving an out of the office email video.
Overall, I am not super impressed with the duel. It has received a fair amount of hits (30K + per video), but I am not sure it has hit numbers W+K would brag about yet. I am not sure if this duel has ended... so perhaps there is more to come?
As for Fabio as new Old Spice guy, I guess it will certainly draw attention, but I think a lot of people will not like this new representative. I think Isaiah has won a place in people's hearts (or heads at least) as that orginally, refreshingly, quirky, manly man. And Fabio just can't quite keep up...
Although one thing I don't like about Isaiah's take in these duels. He has apparently now elevated himself to an unhumanly, godly status. Which poses the question, could he still be the manly MAN? He still has some of his randomly put together phrases, but they don't quite have the style they usually do.
Basically, I think perhaps W+K should have let a good thing die. But we will see, maybe I will be proven wrong.
First of all, yes, Fabio has apparently taken over as the new Old Spice guy. His ads focus on his superiority to old Old Spice guy and involve a lot of hair blowing in the wind and expected bad Fabio acting, or talking, or whatever you will call it. Although I suppose it is just who he is...
The event began as Fabio challenged Mustafa to an Internet duel Monday morning.
Which was soon accepted by Mustafa.
And so began Mano A Mano In El Bano
Isaiah laid down the rules for the duel:
And so it all began. The challenges included staring, rap, mad libs, whistle, and pushups contests.
And all the while Fabio and Isaiah replied with youtube videos through the Old Spice channel to twitter followers trying to outdo each other in areas such as leaving a better message, naming a baby, and answering any other question posed to them.
Working out.
How to get a hot date.
Leaving an out of the office email video.
Overall, I am not super impressed with the duel. It has received a fair amount of hits (30K + per video), but I am not sure it has hit numbers W+K would brag about yet. I am not sure if this duel has ended... so perhaps there is more to come?
As for Fabio as new Old Spice guy, I guess it will certainly draw attention, but I think a lot of people will not like this new representative. I think Isaiah has won a place in people's hearts (or heads at least) as that orginally, refreshingly, quirky, manly man. And Fabio just can't quite keep up...
Although one thing I don't like about Isaiah's take in these duels. He has apparently now elevated himself to an unhumanly, godly status. Which poses the question, could he still be the manly MAN? He still has some of his randomly put together phrases, but they don't quite have the style they usually do.
Basically, I think perhaps W+K should have let a good thing die. But we will see, maybe I will be proven wrong.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Breakthrough Magazine Ads
Print ads are having to find ways to be unique and interesting in order to stand out. Below are some of the most innovative and interesting magazine ads that are out there currently...
This ad for the Peugot's superior airbag system was shown in 50,000 Brazilian Magazines. When you hit the front of the car on the ad, the airbag slowly begins to inflate. Check it out below.
The use of QR codes has been increasing in advertisements. The group Reporters Without Borders ran these ad to show dictator's speaking to media censorship through the voice of the reporters. It works by scanning the QR code with your phone and placing the phone on the marked off section on the dictator's mouth.
This next ad promoted green energy by actually being solar powered! When in the magazine the ad is just black and white, but when exposed to sunlight it fills with color. I have no idea how one would even go about creating something like this, but it is pretty darn cool.
Danish brewery Carlsberg (the good ole Danes) have created an ad that when appropriately constructed turns into a bottle opener. The caption is right - this probably is the best ad in the world.
Volkswagen has done a series of creative ads from their quirky lemon ad to their recent"test drive" ad using a smart phone. This ad follows Volkswagen's trend of being an advertising trendsetter with their edible ad reading: Eat the road. Seriously, eat it. Offering a page constructed of glutinous rice flour, water, salt, propylene glycol, FD&C colour, glycerine. Maybe not the best tasting thing, but I suppose it won't kill you.
Also from Volkswagen is their new Beetle's Happy Pills campaign.
This one reads: Instant cure for cynicism.
WonderBra has an ad out where you can tighten a bra and give a little extra lift in the middle of your reading.
While this next ad is a bit disturbing, I find it oddly hilarious. A fertility clinic in Australia created this ad that causes the pages in a magazine to stick together. Once pulled apart a sexy lady in minimal clothing is exposed with a heading reading "Don't waste your sperm" (instead donate to the sperm bank).
Here are some others:
This ad bothers me as it reads Pepsi with a touch of lemon, but the ad is clearly a lime...
Alka Seltzer: Hangover is dangerous
Pringles Hot and Spicy: Balloon
This ad for the Peugot's superior airbag system was shown in 50,000 Brazilian Magazines. When you hit the front of the car on the ad, the airbag slowly begins to inflate. Check it out below.
The use of QR codes has been increasing in advertisements. The group Reporters Without Borders ran these ad to show dictator's speaking to media censorship through the voice of the reporters. It works by scanning the QR code with your phone and placing the phone on the marked off section on the dictator's mouth.
This next ad promoted green energy by actually being solar powered! When in the magazine the ad is just black and white, but when exposed to sunlight it fills with color. I have no idea how one would even go about creating something like this, but it is pretty darn cool.
Danish brewery Carlsberg (the good ole Danes) have created an ad that when appropriately constructed turns into a bottle opener. The caption is right - this probably is the best ad in the world.
Volkswagen has done a series of creative ads from their quirky lemon ad to their recent"test drive" ad using a smart phone. This ad follows Volkswagen's trend of being an advertising trendsetter with their edible ad reading: Eat the road. Seriously, eat it. Offering a page constructed of glutinous rice flour, water, salt, propylene glycol, FD&C colour, glycerine. Maybe not the best tasting thing, but I suppose it won't kill you.
Also from Volkswagen is their new Beetle's Happy Pills campaign.
This one reads: Instant cure for cynicism.
WonderBra has an ad out where you can tighten a bra and give a little extra lift in the middle of your reading.
While this next ad is a bit disturbing, I find it oddly hilarious. A fertility clinic in Australia created this ad that causes the pages in a magazine to stick together. Once pulled apart a sexy lady in minimal clothing is exposed with a heading reading "Don't waste your sperm" (instead donate to the sperm bank).
Here are some others:
Pringles Hot and Spicy: Balloon
Monday, July 11, 2011
Companies Look to Follow in Old Spice Footsteps
Ever since Old Spice had their campaign with Isaiah Mustafa, the randomness of the manly man has caught on.
However, while the Old Spice commercial was refreshingly original, these new commercials are starting to wear on people's nerves.
Some companies following suit include:
Edge
Pledge
While these commercials are attention grabbing, they can't help but remind me of a rip off of Old Spice every time I see them!
However, while the Old Spice commercial was refreshingly original, these new commercials are starting to wear on people's nerves.
Some companies following suit include:
Edge
Pledge
Dairy Queen
While these commercials are attention grabbing, they can't help but remind me of a rip off of Old Spice every time I see them!
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