A recent survey on the hot topic of in-school advertising show opinions are sharply divided. While half say schools should be ad-free and half say it's OK, the study, by Harris Interactive/Kid Power Poll of Youth Marketers, found 64 percent think targeting kids in schools is "not very" or not at all" important yet 74 percent say in-school advertising is bound to increase.
It's the cash-strapped position of many schools that's the driving force behind schools considering the acceptance of advertising. School districts are being forced to reckon with faltering budgets and allowing the partiality of advertising in the door is one, albeit questionable, method of budget survival.
Opinions on the kinds of in-school adverting vary. For example, 84 percent believe sponsorship of sporting events is OK, 73 percent say school newspaper advertising is OK, 65 percent say corporate logos on school sports teams is OK. On the other hand, 69 percent say school bus advertising is not OK, 65 percent say text book cover advertising is not OK, 61 percent say lesson plan product integration is not OK and 54 percent say advertising in school event publications is not OK.
The debate over in-school advertising boils down to, like anything, whether it's done right or not. The ability of advertisers to "save" failing school curriculums with sponsorships is a positive but the execution of that sponsorship is the critical piece. The messaging has to be chosen and vetted very carefully.
Interep, a sales rep firm, has announced plans to sell combination buys across its radio and online properties. The firm claims radio and online work well together as the two media are commonly consumed in tandem. Interep sales reps will be trained to embrace and sell this new integrated offering and be tasked with selling directly to the client.
This end-run around the agency combined with the natural tendency of most media buyers to break up combos to suit their client's individual needs, makes this offering, while admirable, shaky at best.
Speaking directly into the camera in a new Levitra ad debuting Thursday, a sultry brunette seductively talks about Levitra's ability to improve "erection quality" and make your man want to do it more often. It's a far cry from those boring-old-couple-in-separate-tub ads from Cialas.
No longer a trick seen in a Star Trek movie, holographic imaging is a reality and it's emerging as an exciting new form of advertising. Vizoo, a Danish advertising and film company, has developed a video technology that projects an image onto a real life setting so that the projected image merges with the surroundings creating life-like imagery. A Scandinavian film distributor used the technology to project life-like imagery of Lord of the Rings imagery to promote the release of the third film. See the technology in action here.
While the technology has been limited to use in Scandinavia, the applications are limitless as advertisers struggle to find new methods of reaching consumers who are simply tuning out all advertising. In essence, this technology cold be used to create a life-like person who would accost, I mean approach consumers on the side walk or present demos at various locations. Used properly, this technology could open up a very promising new channel of communication.
Areva, an energy distribution company, is running a cool little animated ad that explains where energy comes form, how it gets to you and how Areva fits into the puzzle.
Spelling and grammar challenged Kwame Jackson has issued an Evite for his own finale party this Thursday night in New York City. Check out the Evite via Samizdat and Gawker for full humor effect.
Always "in the know" Gothamist takes a look at and lobs a few questions to Rheingold Beer spokesperson/model Dani Marco. Marco appears in the brewer's ads and makes appearances for the brand. She's also an aspiring actress who's just appeared in the recently released "reality" movie "Games People Play: New York." Apparently, it's good. Rex Reed loves it.
WhenU has sued the state of Utah over is Spyware Control Act which makes it illegal for software to be installed on a computer that monitors web activity and sends information about that activity elsewhere. The law, which takes effect next month and carries $10,000 fines, also makes pop ups illegal. In Utah's eyes, WhenU violates both sections of the law. WhenU disagrees arguing the law violates its constitutional right to advertise. In Adrant's eye, anytime one ad is laid on top of another without consumer control, there's something wrong.
One has to love surveys that confirm the obvious. Then, we can all go to our bosses say, "See, I told you so." The latest finding of the obvious is a study by Yankelovich Partners which finds to no surprise that consumers don't like advertising. In fact, 33 percent rather live in a place with a lower standard of living if it had no marketing and advertising. The hate goes on; 54 percent avoid buying products that advertise too much, 61 percent say the amount of advertising is out of control and 69 percent want products that will shield them from advertising such as TiVo or pop up blockers.
What's a marketer to do is the face of this hatred? Have a conference. Yes, have a conference and talk about it. If it's talked about enough, maybe the problem will go away. The American Association of Advertising Agencies is having its 2004 management conference in New York City this week to discuss the state of advertising and how best to cope with the dramatic changes facing the industry. Hopefully, there will be groundbreaking solutions and new ideas to report later this week.
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will be the spokesman in a new ad campaign sponsored by Spike TV that will focus on men's health issues. In the ads that will run nationally, Giuliani tells men to get over the "macho thing" and take care of themselves. Toss that stoic attitude aside and go see your doctor for regular check ups and don't ignore that pain in your groin.
Giuliani went through a bout of prostate cancer himself and wants men to take the necessary precautions to fend off the disease as soon as possible. The campaign, whose goal is to get 100,000 men to get a physical, will air on Spike TV, MTV, VH1, CMT, Nickelodeon, Nick@Nite and TV Land.
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