By Katie Earley, Copywriter

I’ve noticed a couple ads lately selling women’s products that, as a lady myself, I find very disturbing.

Exhibit A: Clean lady parts will help you get a raise?

What does Summer’s Eve recommend is the first step you should take when asking for a raise? Cleaning “down stairs”. Seriously?!

I can see what they’re trying to do: You should be confident when you ask for a raise and Summer’s Eve makes you “feel your most confident”. Often when I’m running late (for things other than work, of course) I’ll choose to run later so I can get a shower, get some makeup on, and not have a wretched hair day, because that makes me feel better about…well…everything. But I still find the idea of Summer’s Eve helping you get a promotion laughable. I don’t think I find their message degrading, as some do, but it seems like a stretched connection.

Exhibit B: Your hott date has some feminine recommendations for you.

I thought this was cute until about 1:00, at which point I just got weirded out. Maybe it’s the awkward, forced transition from “I love a welcoming home.” to “I hate moisture. Let me demonstrate these pads’ absorbency for you so you will buy Stayfree.” This wins the award for Most Awkward Date I’ve Never Been On.

By Katie Earley, Copywriter

1. Work sober. (and/or) Take your time.
Despite the frequency of alcohol consumed around Sterling Cooper Draper Price, Don is a few sips past tipsy when he meets with Life cereal, and ultimately sells them the tagline from an awkward prospect he interviewed several hours earlier. Sobriety could have helped this situation, as well as patience. Brilliance is rarely instantaneous. Yes we need deadlines, but it’s okay to need some time to come up with good, original work. Don should have asked for a bit more time to come up with additional tags that met the client’s concerns.

2. Experiment with your working conditions.
I’m not saying you should strip down to get liberated and inspired, but it’s good to mix things up a bit when you’re in a creative rut like Peggy and Rizzo were. Take a walk, move to a new location, take a break, etc. Find new ways to jump start your creativity.

3. Share the love.
It doesn’t help that Peggy’s a woman in the 1960s, but show her some love Don (And not the kind you show to every waitress who wanders in your path.). She helped you win the Clio and deserves a pat on the back. And maybe a raise. Always say “Thank you” and always give credit where credit is due.

For past Mad Men Lessons: episode 1 episode 2 episode 4 and 5

By Katie Earley, Copywriter

Felix Baumgartner is going to free fall 120,000 feet from the edge of space, attempting to break the previous free fall record and be the first person to break the speed of sound with his body, as long as he doesn’t die trying.

And Red Bull is footing the bill for this.

Before we discuss this any further, you should know that I’m a huge chicken. And of all the things I’m scared of the one I hate the most is falling. I fail at the most ridiculous team building event: the trust fall. Just reading about this makes me want to vomit, cry and watch some 30 Rock to cheer myself up. But there might actually be some merit to this project.

Red Bull apparently sponsors a lot of stunts, which I guess is like sponsoring a race car. Or college football bowl game. And while my initial thoughts on this stunt revolve around it just being another ridiculous stunt and someone’s going to die and everyone’s going to watch it on TV, apparently this is good for science. If this free fall is successful, it will change our understanding of what humans can endure as far as emergency re-entrys from space. Or something. I’m not good at science.

So do you think this is cool? Or too risky? If things don’t go well, will it hurt Red Bull to sponsor someone’s death on live TV? I don’t think it will hurt Red Bull, because the whole idea of trying will appeal to the average Red Bull drinker (Which I’m guestimating is college age-ish boy.).

Here’s a good article on the status of the Stratos project and check out the video below.

By Katie Earley, Copywriter

It’s not that I’ve forgotten my weekly promise of Mad Men lessons but there was that New Year’s episode that had nothing to do with advertising and then I went on vacation. So here are some advertising thoughts related to the past two episodes.

1. Art or advertising?
At a party, Peggy meets a writer who was not convinced that Peggy’s copywriting made her a “writer” too. Peggy, I feel your pain. It might not be the next great American novel, but at least we get paid to write. Copywriters FTW.

2. Your gut or the consumer’s?
Peggy’s beauty routine concept for Pond’s is up against Freedy’s concept to connect Pond’s with marriage. After an intense focus group session ending with everyone sobbing over boyfriends, Freddy’s marriage concept wins out. Don’s not happy with the results (”Hello, 1925.”) and continues to question the merits of focus groups. Will he follow the focus group or do what he wants? My money’s on the latter.

3. To play the game or to not play the game?
Episode 5 largely revolved around trying to outwit Cutler Gleason and Chaough and win Honda. It made for great entertainment, but professionally, I think your work should stand on its own. But Don does excel at mind games and it’s fun to watch.

For past Mad Men Lessons: episode 1 episode 2

By Katie Earley, Copywriter

1. Don’t be afraid to try a new angle.
Freddy’s back and he brings the Ponds account with him. But things are tense working with Peggy, who wants to try a different approach than what Freddy says the client is comfortable with. When in doubt, give the client both. That way they know that you understand where they’ve been and are paying attention to what they think they want, but also that you’re still thinking outside of the box for them, which is ultimately what they’re paying you to do.

2. Always swing for the fences.
When Lee of the very important Lucky Strike account arrives at the Christmas party, he has an interesting exchange with Don. Lee wants to know when he’s going to get some work as good as what Don did for Glo-Coat. Don responds that Glo-Coat told him to swing for the fences. Lee didn’t know he had to ask. And Lee shouldn’t have to ask, especially as 69% of the firm’s billings. Always give it your best.

3. Things can’t be that bad.
We all get the occasional frustrating requests from clients, but at least (hopefully) they’ve never demanded you dress up as Santa Claus.

By Katie Earley, Copywriter

I have a thing for fiction. I believe fiction can teach us a lot of things. And it’s nice to know that while learning from others’ mistakes in the fictional world, no one really died and no bunnies were harmed. So this starts my new Monday feature of what we learned from this week’s Mad Men. Other than the obvious fashion lessons.

1. Even Don Draper needs media coaching.
Don might seem capable of anything, but even the disgustingly handsome creative director could have used some media coaching for his Ad Age interview. You have to be careful who you let speak for your company. Even if she/he’s a pro in their niche, don’t assume they’re great at interviews too.

2. Pick your battles. Know when to say no.
Don knows he’s not a good fit with the conservative potential-client Jantzen. I don’t think Don’s yelling them out of the building for refusing to take risks was appropriate, but it’s important to stand by your work and know when to say no. Not every client’s a good fit for your agency, and that’s okay.

3. Publicity stunts aren’t billable. And bail isn’t cheap.
It got the publicity Peggy and Pete hoped for, but staging fights to build demand for your client’s product — without the client’s knowledge — is a dangerous move. Do you think Peggy and Pete’s stunt was a good idea or not?

Any other lessons you learned from the season premiere? Do share.

I found this article, and thought it would be a good follow up to my blog about World Cup marketing.  In this article, Barry Finkelstein (Vice President/Director of Public Relations of Erwin-Penland in Greenville, SC), talks about some valuable marketing lessons that we can learn from the World Cup.

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Like the Olympics, the World Cup is about bringing the World together to show national pride, athleticism and sportsmanship.  In my opinion as a soccer (football) fan, the World Cup is more intimate at bringing the world together because cheering on our home team is our common goal.  Trust me, that pun was intended.

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By Katie Earley, Copywriter

About a month ago I shared some of my favorite writing and editing blogs, so I thought it was time to share some of my favorite advertising and social media blogs.

Adrants – Snarky advertising commentary.

Chris Brogan – New marketing and social media information.

The Denver Egotist – Good ads. Good commentary. Often humorous.

AdFreak – A great way to keep up with new commercials, especially during the summer television off season.

MediaBadger – Cool name and useful social media information. Lots of facts and data.

Brand New – Where you can see company branding materials go from bad to worse (or bad to good, or good to bad, or good to great…) before your very eyes.

Social Media Explorer – Jason Falls blog focuses on social media and the like, and he gets extra points for being from Louisville and I heard him speak once. It was a good time.

Mashable/Social Media – If for no other reason than their weekly recap of Twitter trending topics. This is how I learned who Justin Bieber is.

Penn Olson – Often shares infographics. I love infographics.

image: Arturo de Albornoz

By Katie Earley, Copywriter

Last summer I shared the entertaining PSAs to conserve water by Denver Water. This summer they’ve come out with some clever billboards. I love their “practice what you preach” approach.

via The Denver Egotist