Spot the difference

Frank Sinatra

Harry Connick Junior

Two handsome singers. 'So what does this have to do with your Bad Ads blog?', you may be asking yourself. 'What does this teach me about UK advertising and marketing?'

Well, I saw the first picture displayed as a poster in a café on Saturday, during the lunchbreak from the London meeting of the Professional Speaking Association. The poster was at the far end of the table, so I couldn't read the caption, and at first, I thought it showed Harry Connick Junior (I don't think I'd ever seen a picture of Frank Sinatra looking so young).

But this blog post isn't about my poor face-recognition, nor Frank Sinatra, nor Harry Connick Junior! It's about using speaking as a way to promote your expertise (and therefore your business products or services).

So far, I've learned that speakers can get paid more than trainers (as you may know, I'm a trainer as well as a copywriter and author). So I may well be spending more time at the PSA and in the café looking at the young Frank in future!

Would becoming a speaker be a useful addition to your marketing mix?

Back of a lorry

In the olden days, when I worked for a home shopping company, my team had to design branded vehicle livery. I remember being briefed to include red glow-in-the-dark stripes on the back, for Health & Safety reasons.

Since then, I notice lots of lorries displaying 'How's my driving?' phone numbers. Has anyone ever responded to those, I mean, really?

On my way to collect my parents from Gatwick Airport* yesterday, I was stuck on the motorway behind a removal lorry that had a multiple choice quiz on the back, with answers on the company's website. Trouble is, I can't remember the web address (and now I've lost interest anyway).

A good idea, badly executed.

*a.k.a. Gatport Airwick

The power of copywriting

This short film gives me goose-bumps, every time I think of it.

Feel the force

With over 4.5m views so far, VW shows that YouTube is the way to go!

Go to the top of the class!

LowCostHolidays.com

1. A business name and domain name that 'does what it says on the tin'

2. And a CEO who gives holiday tips on the radio.

Maybe they've been reading this blog? Either way, they seem to be doing everything right, and get top marks from me!