A little experiment in crowdsourcing...
We are trying to put a new spin on our social network analysis products and services -- expanding our customer base which is now mostly other consultants. We got the above from our new ad agency. What do you think? Should we fire them or increase their fees?
Worst case, we will use this ad every April 1st.
Vote in the Comments section below.
Posts
17 comments:
Hi,
I would definitely not recommend moving forward with this ad.
Whenever employees of your future customers see this ad, they might think you are consulting on how to reduce the workforce. But I am sure you want to help them to find hidden treasures in their organization or to improve connections and relationships within the organization.
Hope this helps,
Michael.
Hi Valdis,
I think the question is whether you are a software company or a service company. Once you decide, you can create an effective marketing campaign. Until then, it might not matter.
Lonnie
No, no, nooooo.....
My association is to those adverts in the 70's comics for spec's that provide you with x-ray vision. And they were such nonsense, and very disappointing to this overexcited kid. Ironic retro is fun to snag attention, but then you've got to give me a ramp out my wallow in the negative nostalgia.
Oh, for Pete's sakes, have a little fun and humor! We are all guilty of taking ourselves too seriously often at the expense of conveying information. I love this! It communicates a simple message about the value of networks, how mapping can visualize them, and that YOU! can do it too!
I'd say, spin it out there!!
Your site uses visualization so well that using an simplistic ad such as this, with all the content in fine print (ya know, no one reads it) is a disservice to the fine quality of your work and effort.
Your site uses visualization so well that using an simplistic ad such as this, with all the content in fine print (ya know, no one reads it) is a disservice to the fine quality of your work and effort.
Big thumbs down on the cartoon. Terrible. I can't think of a worse advertisement.
Priceless...
(although I'm sure your agency was able to attach a monetary value to it)!
To misquote Scott Adams "Consultants have credibility because they don't have a good enough sense of humor to work at your company."
Since your website is the catch-all for everyone looking for orgnet it is probably not the right place to display it, but in a targeted campaign to certain business categories it could be a great marketing component (accompanied by some of the material that shows what a serious, scientific, guy you really are, how much substance your work really carries, and how it's changed the world).
And...making a perhaps unwarranted (and certainly statistically unfounded) conclusion from the few comments heretofore: It's a good thing you are thinking of this for developing business outside of consultants, because if the comments so far are from consultants (that's the assumption part) it seems they won't respond positively to the ad.
If you decide not to use the ad, I'll send you $0.75, 3 Cheerios box tops and a stamped, pre-addressed envelope so you can send it to me to use.
R
Thumbs down. Doesn't motivate me to action and I am a little put off by the body silhouettes. The awesome work you do would be undermined by this cartoon (IMHO).
its a nice ad - as a joke. but i would not use this.
When using ONA and SNA there is always an issue of privacy. this brings this issue to the front.
This ad does not seem "serious" enough.
Shalom
I had to look at the calendar to be sure it wasn't already April 1!
I like the concept of the X-ray and the feel of the 1940's newspaper ad (more retro than retro).
I suggest instead of looking through the glasses at the people, you should have the guy looking through an organizational chart to see a network diagram.
not a bad concept.. but could be executed a little better visually. Guy with the glasses is a little too creepy for me. also, agree with the other comment about software vs. service.
on another note:
does your product work on a mac?
can i buy it and download it, I'm having trouble figuring that out.
Two big thumbs down on that ad.
As a graphic designer for 30 years, some things have remained consistent: make sure the visual, including design, images and text, all contribute to the message. Just as important are the analogies and associations.
In this case you are associating your work (high-tech network analysis) with tacky, bogus pseudo-tech offers in juvenile publications. Is that who you are?
Putting it out to potential clients would be foolish. Paying for it would be beyond stupid.
That ad is suitable for laughs from an in-house newsletter, no more.
-Bob
Love it. But then, I read it in the context of knowing you and your work, and thus appreciate the humor. Others may or may not read it that way.
I liked it.
ditto what bob said "you are associating your work (high-tech network analysis) with tacky, bogus pseudo-tech offers in juvenile publications. Is that who you are?"
I actually remember the xray spec thing, and like those ads. I like the concept - it is awesome. See the unseen. BUT. the "unconscious takeaway" is that you are a big joke. The glasses were a fraud. The ad says that you are too.
It would be a good ad if you want to market to people who see it as a kind of "fun test" that may or may not be true.
Not good if you really believe in the validity of your results.
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