As you may have figured out, my name is Matt Griswold. This is where I think aloud, tag the trappings of the interwebs, and rant about all things interesting and ridiculous. You can reach me at mgriswold[at]gmail.com
A great compendium of oft-cited movie poster clichés -- proving once and for all that imitation isn't just the sincerest form of flattery, it's also the safest way to say "yeah, we're just like that other thing you loved."
I rather like this econometric approach to laying out the new rules of advertising. Said otherwise: don't make bad products, do something amazing, and always keep trying. Thanks to Phil for sending it along.
Simple, to the point and ultimately awesome -- check out the crafty behind-the-scenes as well!
What a cool and informative journey through the storied history of the Johnnie Walker brand... best watched with a tall glass, neat. (from BBH London, via @100ftzombie)
There was a time when Old Spice was old and generic. Then came Will Ferrell and an exceptionally executed brand makeover that has made Old Spice smell youthful, fun and sexy again. The above spot pretty much sums it up.
A team of European and U.S. researchers found ads displayed along with violent scenes to be more memorable to players than those shown with nonviolent content, even though players spent less time looking at them. The results are contrary to expectations stemming from research on television, where violence has been shown to decrease attention to advertisements.
Despite my distaste for the V-word, I am resigned to give the people what they want, and humbly submit — in preparation for your coming boardroom brainstorm — these 10 infallable steps to “going viral”:
Yep - that’s it… 10 randomly chosen synonyms for the word “unique”. Total bullshit, sure; but I’d argue it’s closer to the truth than the volumes of non-sense that have been granted to the reigning champion of advertising lexicon, AND you’ve just saved hours of reading, conference panels, and distraction.
“Viral” is not a tactic… it is, at most, a symptom of being undeniably remarkable, lucky and smart all at the same time. Considering luck resides in the frugal grasp of serendipity, I suppose this list is unsurprisingly as inconclusive as its peers.
I leave you then, with the time saved above, to be remarkable, smart and focused.
