Category Archives: well flaired

Advertising Shortcuts: Cheating Songs

Written by Bryan Jones. Filed under well flaired. Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Comments Off.


Clorox Fashionably Clean : Featuring : Thao – Bag Of Hammers

I fall for it every time. There is no denying the fact that it is cheating, but I still fall for it: A commercial rolls onto the screen and it carries a friend of mine along with it, and I’m hooked. I connect. Advertising that works is all about connecting. People don’t really want to be sold anything, but they do want to feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves. A vibe. A coolness. So, being a people, I fall into this trap when a clever advertiser borrows an artist’s hard-earned cool for a commercial.

This is how my thinking goes:

“(gasp) How did they know about that song? It’s such a cool/indie/obscure/totally-not-radio-friendly-omagodiloveit song! And someone at Clorox likes it, too! Clorox gets me! They understand me! I love Clorox!”

Rational? There is not an ounce of lucidity in that stream of consciousness. It wears off, eventually, but now I have a new affinity for the product when I’m shopping. Employing cool songs for instant connection is one of my favorite advertising shortcuts. Here is a collection of a few well-flaired cheating song commercials that are currently airing in living rooms across America: … Read More »

How Many Times Do I Have To Tell You That It’s Bad to Drink and Drive?

Written by Bryan Jones. Filed under well flaired. Tagged , , . 1 Comment.

I love It!

I love when clients understand that the heart is what matters in advertising. People do not connect over reason, they connect over feeling. Sure, stating a compelling argument (price, quality, service) has proven to be an effective tactic in mass communication, but in our era of consumer control, businesses need to focus on relating, not educating.

I first saw this ad a week ago, and I wanted to stand up and cheer. Rather than using overwhelming statistics or shameful intimations, Heineken allowed Wieden + Kennedy, Portland to go for a real connection to deliver the message that it is better to let someone else drive if you’ve had too much to drink. People know that it is wrong to drink and drive, but reminders are still necessary. This reminder connects on a personal emotional level, and as a result it will save a few lives from tragic destruction. I love it.

(alternate via YouTube)

Almost Everything I Know About Social, So Far….

Written by Bryan Jones. Filed under well flaired. Tagged , . Comments Off.

…Can be found in these amazing presentations that aren’t mine.