Crazy Ads? Maybe Youre Just Out of The Demo!

My father called me to complain, again. He's 82 and he's angry. "Son, I know you're in advertising and all that", he usually starts off, "but the ads I see today I wouldn't give you two cents for. They're stupid and they don't even tell you what they're selling!"

I explained it to him as best as I could. "Dad, it's OK, you're just out of the demo." "I'm out of the what?" "The demographics Dad, The key target audience for who they're trying to reach." "Well then who in the heck are they trying to reach?" He yells. "Must be boneheads cause those ads make no sense to any sane person."

Whether it's a beer commercial trying too hard to be funny, or like a recent FedEX commercial where Burt Reynolds sparred with a grizzly bear, I gotta admit that sometimes, Dad is right. I've been in the ad business for quite awhile now and know that in today's world, it takes a lot to get a business noticed. However I can't help laughing to myself when watching these ads, imagining the initial pitch to the client.

Secretary: Boss, those ad agency guys are here. Boss: What? Are they on the calendar? (disgusted) Oh all right, send them in. Young ad guy #1: Hello sir, and how are you today? Wow! That tie is whacked! Boss: It's what? Never mind. What have you got for our new ad campaign? Young ad guy #2: Oh this is so cool! Check out these story boards. Boss: (looks at the story boards puzzled, eyebrows creased in confusion). Young ad guy #1: OK there's no voice over at all! You just see a guy waking up in bed. Next, he rolls over and he realizes that he's in bed with the Burger King! Boss: He's what?? Young ad guy #2: Yeah! And then the Burger King, who's really this actor wearing the Burger King costume and a big plastic face with a frozen smile, reaches around and produces a Double Breakfast Crosandwich and hands it to the man who takes a big bite of it. Boss: (Now his eyebrows look like one unibrow as his cheeks glow red.) Young ad guy #1: Then they both share a laugh, pat each other on the back, and we fade to logo! Is that wild or what? It's going to generate huge numbers man! Boss: (Stunned then angry) I thought I told you guys to quit putting crack in the water dispenser!

See the problem facing advertisers today is the pressure to relate to the 18-34, 25-44 demos they so desperately need to reach, so they try anything they think will accomplish this and as a result, many people out of those key demos, don't get it. However, it dawned on me after my most recent birthday that sadly, I too have joined those ranks. So now when I watch an ad that even from my experienced perspective seems to make no sense at all, I just remind myself it's nothing personal. I'm just out of the demo.

Hal Eisenberg is an award winning copywriter, voice over talent and producer, as well as owner of The Eisenberg Agency, a full service advertising agency specializing in creative ads that get results. You can visit his web site http://www.eisenbergagency.com. Contact Hal at halacious@eisenbergagency.com.

---

Diamonds Are For Evil

The task of executing successful advertising campaigns for products made... Read More

The Ultimate, ?Must-Have? Home-Based Business for YOU

The Ultimate, "Must-Have" Home-Based Business for YOU a Underemployed, Unemployed,... Read More

Not Another Calendar! - Choose Advertising Specialties That Sell

As I was searching through a kitchen drawer the other... Read More

Prove It! - Give Your Marketing and Advertising More Credibility

Your marketing and advertising won't be effective if your potential... Read More

The SKINNY on Newspaper Advertising

The SKINNY on NewspapersUsing the paper is considered gospel by... Read More

Driving Customers to You - Your Car as a Marketing Vehicle

You can turn your vehicle into a rolling advertisement. Costs... Read More

Do Your Radio Ads Work?

Most small businesses don't have a high powered advertising agency... Read More

Free Internet Advertising: 6 Proven Ways To Prevent Your Competitors From Stealing Your Customers

It is getting harder daily to generate traffic.And when you... Read More

Lamination of Signs

I suspect that everyone has an idea of what lamination... Read More

Just What Are Consumers Thinking?

Research would indicate that consumers don't know what they're thinking.... Read More

Electronic Display Signs

Electronic display signs are used nowadays in great extent to... Read More

Print Your Marketing Postcards For A Penny, Address Them For Free, and Automate the Whole Process

This article will show you how to cut your printing... Read More

Create Your Own Business Cards, Part 1

In this lesson, we will create a business card, using... Read More

Mobile Detailers; Customer Window Displays

Mobile detailers have all types of customers, many of whom... Read More

Take Advantage of Your Foes

Let's take an example that is easy to check: I... Read More

Boost Headline Believability With Specifics

Don't use vague generalities in your headlines. Be as specific... Read More

The Graphic Problem

Digital printing has revolutionized the sign industry. Current printers can... Read More

5 Reasons Why Headlines Are Crucial To Your Website?s Success

Without a powerful headline, your message stands little chance of... Read More

Non-profit Coupon Books and Coupon Mailers for Small Businesses

Many groups like the Chamber of Commerce, ASB at the... Read More

Imprinted Promotional Items ? Their Many Marketing Applications

There are many uses for promotional items. This means that... Read More

Change, or Reinforce?

Do you know about the distinction - and it's a... Read More

Media Planning: Smart Choices for Your Success

Media Planning for SmartiesYou say you're ready to advertise. How... Read More

10 Ways to Advertise Your Business For Free!

At some point many small business owners are left with... Read More

The Skinny on Billboards

Several years back the billboard people put a big picture... Read More

Do Your Adverts Get You More Sales?

Philadelphia retailer and US Postmaster General, John Wanamaker, once said,... Read More

The Shrinking Ad Dollar

CPR CPA CTR... what does it all mean? What it... Read More

Good Design Makes Good Sense

Organized your pencils and pens lately? Sorted your clothes into... Read More

Do You Really Need a Brochure?

Traditional brochures typically tell the story of your company, i.e.... Read More

6 Must-Have Elements of a Powerful Brochure

Most brochures that businesses put out today end up doing... Read More

Dont Be a Secret Agent

This tactic of the game was hard for me to... Read More

Brand Young and You Brand for Life; Why Cinema Advertising is an Effective Tools for Marketers

In the world of advertising there are many forms of... Read More

When Advertising Wears Out

One of the challenges facing marketers is determining the most... Read More

Attention-Grabbing Fixes that Make Your Yellow Page Ad Leap Off the Page

Stand Out in Ways that Matter to Directory Users A... Read More