Using Google Adwords as a job search tool

It's a fact of life, the number one thing people are curious about is themselves (and what other people think of them). Here's how one creative put that bit of human insight to work... in his search for work.

The Last Advertising Agency on Earth

Some people have already gotten the message. Some are hanging on to the very last dangling threads of hope. Which way do you lean?

They're Ba-ack! More Super Bowl Fun

Combining my two favorite loves: Football and Advertising
A friend of mine, and former colleague at Publicis, ACD/art director Scott Rasmussen will have one of the highly anticipated $2.5 million :30 spots premiering during the big game this weekend. The ad will be for HomeAway.com, a vacation rental company based out of Austin, Texas, and will feature one of America's favorite families, the Griswold's, which first appeared in 1983's Vacation.



Given the economy and slightly lower costs to advertise this year, it could be a great time for smaller companies to use the medium as a launching point for mass awareness. And with some traditional advertisers pulling out of the game, such as Pepsi (which opted, instead, to put the money toward their Refresh Project social media campaign, there's even more room to be had for companies such as Teleflora and kgb.

From an NBC news story in HomeAway's hometown, the company is spending 20% of its marketing budget on its Super Bowl endeavor, expecting more than 5 million hits in 5 minutes on their web site - which on Sunday will feature a 15-minute Griswold movie. If one thing has been prevalent with this year's game, it's that advertisers have been making the most of what used to be a 1-time showing. From user-generated content contests to teaser ads, companies are using the hype to generate additional awareness. Taco Bell and Charles Barkley have been touting the NBA Five Buck Box - with details to come, and Boost Mobile is also looking to give a nod to the early 80's, teasing(?) us with a reprise of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl Shuffle.

So, regardless if you're a football fan or not, sit back and look to be entertained this Sunday.
Here's a list of all the advertisers who have bought time during the 2010 Super Bowl.

The Power of Pure Art

There are days (and nights) that I sometimes wonder, not why I got into the creative arena, but why I want to remain within it. As exhilarating as it can be at times, it can just as easily be exasperating.

But then I see or read something that tells a story so well, it simply moves me emotionally. It makes me laugh. It makes me cry. Sometimes, as in this case, it does both. And I'm reminded of my love and respect for the power of pure art.

Click here or on the photo above to share in one man's story.

Close to Home

Last night I stumbled upon a PBS Frontline documentary called, "Close to Home." It's a look into how the economy has hit the clientele and the owner of a hair salon on the Upper East side of Manhattan.
Complains one patron, "It's the Upper East Side.... This isn't supposed to happen here."

Sure, comments like this are enough to make anybody with some clue of what's going on roll their eyes in disgust and possibly turn off the TV. Thankfully, that particular patron is shown to highlight just how ridiculously unaware some folks are. However, most of the show provides insight into how it isn't just this company or that, it isn't just happening here or there, nor is it even just happening to me.

By following the stories of several people, the documentary does a great job of sharing from different angles: how the economy has affected families, how an older workforce is coping with unemployment, and how some have had to simply start over. One person's story, which particularly hit home, was Rob's. He had been a highly-paid HR exec for a large marketing firm and now finds himself on the other side of the desk. Someone who had once been responsible for hundreds of people now spends endless hours submitting applications, tweaking copies of his resume, and networking with others in the job hunt. His recounting of the day he was laid off was eerily familiar.

One thought I did have while watching, as the tales of unemployment rolled on, was... "I wonder how much that haircut is costing that guy." Ironically, I got my hair cut yesterday, and no - I didn't go to a discount chain, so I, too, had to spend money I don't have on something so simple.

Below is a clip from the documentary. For the full-length version, click HERE.

Notes from 9/18 OCA Meeting

JOB NEWS!
The markets are saying the economy is picking up. If the recent job news within OCA is any indication, it's true. Several people have contacted me over the past 2 weeks with great news.
- Annemarie Beliard just accepted a 6-month contract job in Product Marketing for Adobe.
- Ed Ferguson started a new Product Marketing job last week with TCS (TeleCommunication Systems) in Seattle.
- Mark Jovan has taken a contract writing job with KING-5 news.
- Kristin Mackay starts a new Management Supervisor job this week with Wunderman's Team Microsoft.

At last week's meeting...
We Welcomed Several New OCA Members:
- Terry Coe, most recently with Encore Media Group as General Manager and publisher for City Arts Magazine.
- Laurie Krisman, new to Seattle from Denver, was most recently with Xcel Energy as a Communications Consultant.
- Kristina Muller-Eberhard, Creative Director most recently with Publicis.
- Paul Verner, product marketing expert with experience running brand groups and AT&T Mobility.

Zooppa Reps Arik Abel and Kirk Mastin Were On Hand To Introduce Their Company and to discuss the challenges of running and growing a community for user-generated advertising.
First things first... they are NOT a restaurant. Rather they are a robust, relatively new company which was originally formed in Italy, but is now headquartered here in Seattle. Their community is comprised of 44,000+ members worldwide, with more than 15,000 of those in the U.S.

Zooppa helps clients (for example... Mini Cooper, Jones Soda, Brooks Running) who are looking to add to their marketing campaign arsenals. These client companies, who have a new product or service to promote, work with Zooppa to set up contests in which community members can contribute original user-generated advertising content. A brief is written, and members then create video, print or web ads to further promote the brand's new offering.

Criticism among the creative community is that the model promotes spec work and downgrades the work from the pro's. But Zooppa contends that they are not looking to take the place of ad agencies. In fact, they are looking more closely at how to partner with agencies, so that clients can benefit from additional concepts.

Perusing the site, it is easy to find examples of concepts I wouldn't take to a client. But with the shear amount of the masses contributing, there are also lots of samples of great work.
For the best info on the company and how it all works, visit their blog.

LEMONADE - The Movie

Below is the trailer to a movie that's in production about several people who have taken their sudden unemployment and have made the most of it.

It's the brainchild of Erik Proulx, former copywriter for Arnold out of Boston. I've talked about him before at previous meetings. He has done more with his time since being laid off than anyone I know. His blog, Please Feed The Animals, is featured in the Blog links [see to the right]. If you do just one thing a week, visit that site for inspiration.