BALLS!

James Dyson is an inspired inventor! The Dyson Ball vacuum cleaner goes round corners more easily.

He's identified a problem. Identified a solution. And markets it with himself as 'frontman'.

For personality-led businesses, this can be an effective approach.

It works for Dyson. It works for me. Maybe it would work for you too?

What's the last thing you bought

as the result of an ad?

I had to answer that question as part of a copy test when I applied to go to copywriting college years ago. Many, many years ago. So many years ago that the acceptance letter from Watford College was written on a typewriter.

I think I argued that no ad had ever changed my buying behaviour – oh, the foolishness of youth!

So, what would your answer be?

Meet Sergei, IT genius!

Aleksandr Orlov has just tweeted a sneak preview of the brand new TV advertisement for Compare the Meerkat dot com.

Watch it here.

If you're not on Twitter, you're missing out!

Follow me @jackiebarrie

"Does my bum look big in this?"

After three complaints (3!), the ASA has banned this ad for suggesting that Courage beer can boost confidence.

But who's laughing now? As with all controversy, the story has received acres of coverage.

Read the BBC report.

Colin the Fish

I thought it was April 1st when I heard about this, but no, the story broke on April 6th, so it must be true.

Sainsbury's has re-named unpopular pollack as Colin, in order to encourage sales (Colin being the French name for hake).

Read the story on the BBC News website.

Names can make all the difference. And it is important for us to conserve rarer fish stocks.

But will you be ordering Colin and chips next Friday?

Baby talk

Babies are one of the images that most people find appealing. As are kittens and puppies. So Cow & Gate have laughing babies in their ads. No problem there.

But the captions read, for example: 'Do I look like I need more vitamins and iron?'

Wrong wrong wrong.

It should be: 'Do I look as though I need more vitamins and iron?'

< rant >

The media has a responsibility to use language properly!

< / rant >

AAAA

I think it was columnist Keith Waterhouse who instigated the Association of the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe.

They are needed in Beckenham, where an awning has appeared:



Oh people, signwriters and awning-makers, PLEASE get it right!!!