Can it really?

My first reaction when I saw this poster was to start a mini-rant: 'I disagree. Poverty can never be eradicated. It can only be re-defined. Poverty in the third world is completely different to 'poverty' in the first world...'

That's what I was thinking before I visited the website. Let's see if they can convince me otherwise.

* Visits christianaid.org.uk

Hmm, interesting! At least they are encouraging debate.

What do you think?

Do you like surrealism?

Here are Campaign's top 10 surreal ads June 2009.

What makes a good ad?

An ad that sells, that's what.

A client recently asked me to write and design an A4 ad for a trade magazine. I warned him that a one-off ad wasn't likely to attract much response, and that it would probably be a brand-recognition exercise only.

He (and I) were happily surprised that he's received two enquiries so far. He expects to convert at least one of these into paying business.

Why did results exceed expectation?

Because it was a highly targeted publication (and an eye-catching ad!).

Dear Peter Jones,

Re: Keeping your dignity

I am a huge fan of your work on Dragon's Den. I realise you are becoming as much a media personality as a multi-millionaire. But I do worry that riding a trolley in the moneysupermarket.com ad is a big mistake.

When asked to perform such stunts, my advice is to stick to what you're good at, think 'haughty duchess' and just say no.

I hope you accept this comment in the constructive manner it's intended.

Jackie

P.S. I hope they paid you well.

World's worst restaurant?

Earlier this week, I met some friends for dinner at Kettners in the heart of Soho – expecting the usual faded ex-hotel grandeur serving an affordable Pizza Express menu.

Alas, it's no more.

It's been refurbished and now offers a new brasserie menu. The cheapest glass of wine in the champagne bar costs £7.75 with 97p 'optional' 12.5% service charge automatically added and rounded up to £8.75 for no apparent reason. The restaurant prices weren't quite so shocking. Seven of us each had a main course plus dessert or coffee, and shared three bottles of wine and mineral water for £32 per head including service.

On relaunch, Matthew Norman gave it possibly the world's worst restaurant review scoring 0.5 out of 10.

More recently, it's been a bit better. Cater & Hotelkeeper review.

Two lessons...

As a supplier: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
As a customer: Be sure to check the latest reviews before you go anywhere.

1001 uses of vinegar

My little sister gave me a book about vinegar for my birthday (no, I don't know why either).

On the front cover it says 'Over 750,000 copies sold'.

I'd heard that 40,000 defines a non-fiction book as a best-seller, so this one is phenomenally successful!

It's a short-cut.

We're all so busy we think: "If it's good enough for 750,000 other people it must be good enough for me".

1002nd use of vinegar: To inspire today's task:

Decide how you can use this approach in your own marketing.

TALK TO ME!!!

I was driving behind a white van today.

The sign-writing on the back doors read: "Ace Carpet Cleaners". Yawn. Boring.

Then: "London's leading carpet company". Yawn. So what.

Then: "No job too small. No job too big." Yawn. Not another one.

Then it read: "You are following one of the most powerful carpet cleaning machines ever made." Great! At last a message that communicates directly to me (in the car behind) with a convincing sales message about the product.

How can you focus your communications better?

Take it all the way

Andrex Shea Butter p..
Watch the ad...

Andrex has a fine tradition of using labrador puppies in its ads. But I wish they'd included a French poodle somewhere in the last scene. Just this once.

Media placement

When buying ad space, it's important to buy it in the right place. That is, where your desired customers will see it.

Old Speckled Hen have sponsored PrimeTime on Dave (the comedy channel). Their ads feature a fox in various odd situations, saying: "Yes, it's different, but it's not a hen."

I'm not a beer drinker, but it made me laugh. So the comedy channel is probably the right place for it.

Watch the ads here

Public transport, grrr.

Since I've been self-employed (over 8 years now, hoorah!), I rarely have to commute into London during rush hour. Yesterday, I had to be in White City at 9am to run a training session from 10am.

I planned the journey allowing plenty of time, and got to my local station nice and early.

There was a packed train waiting with its doors open, but going nowhere. A sign read: 'Delays due to a broken-down train at Sydenham Hill'. People were milling about on the platform, uncertain what to do.

Ooer, was my trip going to be scuppered at the outset? Should I get a taxi or go home for the car?

Another train came in on the next platform, so we all squeezed onto that. At every station, more people crammed themselves in. The driver made encouraging announcements about moving down the coaches, apologies for the heat and discomfort, and tried to get everyone to work as quickly as possible.

Phew, we arrived at Victoria and I headed for the tube.

Just as I got to the top of the steps, lights started flashing 'DO NOT ENTER', sirens started blasting, and a staff member started heaving the barriers shut.

Oh no! Should I make a run for it and maybe get trapped underground in a terrorist emergency? Or should I wait patiently as instructed?

'It's temporarily closed due to over-crowding,' he explained.

Being an obedient type, I waited. When we were finally allowed down the stairs, the notice read 'Good Service' on all lines except the one I wanted. That read 'Delays'.

Sigh.

Despite the warning, a Circle Line tube did come along, I changed at Notting Hill Gate to the Central Line, just about managed to stay cool, calm and collected (despite it being one of the hottest days this year), and arrived at my destination on time.

It's not unusual, but I share this experience because it's such a bad ad for London.

Do you think they'll get it fixed in time for 2012?