I always wondered what the marketing firms behind these sorts of commercials were telling their clients (owners of the company advertising) to convince them of doing something like this. It has something to do with an over-saturated market. We’ve all seen the snickers bar flying into a whirlpool of molten chocolate, the perfect burger, or the sautéed shrimp flying around in a hot pan. That sort of thing works for a while until you’ve seen it thousands of times. Eventually you’re not really sure whose candy bar or shrimp that is. I can’t remember the last typical burger commercial I saw, but I remember that Paris Hilton burger commercial. That’s the point right? For me to remember… That’s the idea behind viral internet marketing. It normally engages the potential consumer for a much longer time that a typical commercial, the consumer can go back as many or as few times as they like, and it leaves the consumer with a good “not been sold” feeling, which people inevitably want to share with others. They may not go out and buy your brand new product, but it works wonders for companies that are having an identity disconnect. Instead of making someone think they have to have something, these ad campaigns make them like and laugh at something. I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like to laugh.
Here are 2 great examples of commercials that really say nothing about the product they advertise other than it exists.

This commercial got 1,710,068 hits on youtube.

This commercial got 3,258,780 hits on youtube. I overheard someone say that they would never wear Rayban Sunglasses but thought so much more of the company after seeing this commercial, which does everything other than take itself seriously. Though it doesn’t equate to $120.00 sunglasses sale, it still has a major value.

I know I said 2 commercials, but after bringing up the Paris Hilton commercial, I must show it.
Let’s see how many hits this thing got on youtube. Well, not as impressive as the others, but collectively hitting around 1.5 million hits.

No wonder I remembered this commercial.

Been doing a little marketing research lately. I ran across something that I need to share.

Pretty amazing. The Flintstones, which originally aired from 1960 to 1966, was the first cartoon geared towards adults. Couple that with the lack of knowledge of the dangers attributed with smoking gives them a partial pass. But it doesn’t hide the tobacco industries aggressive marketing approach that succeeded in every way until it lead to the deaths of the majority of its’ patrons. If 40-something years ago looks this stupid now, imagine what now is going to look like in 2050. We are such idiots right now…

I remember the days when I despised Terrell Owens (NFL wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys). Coming off arrogant and aggressive, he didn’t seem to be that great of a player, though, his post touchdown antics made him very entertaining to watch. The fog of his weird yet funny celebrations hid his real talent, so I considered him a showboat and a problem child with any team he was with. That was a miscalculation.
Since he signed with the Cowboys in 2006, he has consistently been turning 5 yards into 15+yards, opening up all the other options with-in the Dallas arsenal: Marion Barber, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton, and Terry Glenn. That’s well and good if you avoid the “T.O. vs. McNabb” syndrome. I think that’s what made most Dallas fans skeptical of him in the first season. No one wants to sacrifice his season for one player. Luckily, he proved me along with most fans wrong. He has been a great addition to the cowboys and I hope he renews his contract after the 08 season. His breakdown after the loss to the Giants was not what you want to see from one of your team’s players because it opens the “smack talk” flood gates, but it made me proud to have him as our player. I had Owens pegged as a “me me me” personality, but amidst his breakdown he was protective of his teammates and tried to curb the criticism that they were about to endure.

Until next season Cowboys…
We’re going to kill the redskins/packers/giants and any other nfl team for that wants some.

Here are a few Owens’ Videos and stats:

Has 131 total touchdowns (129 receiving), 13,070 receiving yards, 882 receptions, and 164 rushing yards[23]
Averaged one touchdown per game in 2001, 2004 and 2007[23]
Has had eight 1,000 yard seasons, including five consecutive (2000–2004)[23]
Holds NFL record 20 receptions in a single game against the Bears[24]
Reached 100 catches in only 14 games in 2002[23]
Led League in receiving touchdowns in 2001, 2002 and 2006[25]
3rd all-time in receiving touchdowns[11]
Set the Cowboys single-season record for receiving touchdowns with his 15th of the season on December 22, 2007 against the Carolina Panthers.