Celebrity Public Relations

The Celebrity I chose is Mary-Kate Olsen. She has a lot of negative publicity because of her eating disorder and way she presents herself in public. When I first think of Mary-Kate I instantly think of someone who didn't take any time to put herself together before going into public. She always has cigarettes and a Starbucks coffee. I don't think it hurts her brand value because she is known as a very successful girl and very smart with business decisions. Being in the public eye she should try to be more publicly presentable, which could increase positive stereotypes.

Superbowl ads

Superbowl ads are one of the most recognized ads that are seen by audiences. Every year billions are spent on advertisements during the Superbowl. They are planned very well to target a particular audience. Since the Superbowl is watched by millions of men who are consuming beer, beer commercials are very popular during the Superbowl because it attracts the audience and catches their attention. These companies are very smart to promote the commercials during the Superbowl because they take the target markets interest and really pull them in.

Offensive Advertising

Even though eye-changing ads has their positive sides, many people are offended by the message that is being broadcast. It is hard to please everyone, therefore ad agencies have to know where to draw the line. FGA Law firm put out an ad for a divorce attorney that says "Life's Short. Get a Divorce." As quick as it went up, it came down. Many people were offended by this advertisement not only because of the picture that was displayed of a woman in lingerie and a man revealing a lot of skin; but because of the message it was telling people. Marriage is supposed to be a life-long commitment which many believe and follow, and the company was not taking marriage serious at all; and a lot of people got upset.

Message Appeal

The 2 ads I liked, I found in Cosmo. The first ad was Tampax pearl which was humorous and the second was Dare by LG (Fear). I liked both of these ads because I felt they caught my attention. The Tampax ad had a goldfish in a fish bowl with the water very low; a simple sentence at the top of the ad that says, "A leak can ruin everything." I thought it was a simple yet truthful ad and it really caught my attention. The second ad had the new LG Dare cellphone with a snake wrapped around the phone (as if it was guarding the phone). The only sentence that was on the advertisement was, "Dare you to touch one." It left me as a consumer wanting to take the challenge, which could impact the sales of this new item.

The 2 ads I disliked that I found were Jenny Craig and Sally Hansen. They both were very boring. It did NOT catch my attention. The Sally Hansen ad had a woman kissing a baby with the slogan "Have you seen Sally?" It was an ad on the new complete care extra moisturizing Nail treatment, and the ad said nothing about the product. It seemed to not make much sense therefore it left me confused. I also found the Jenny Craig ad boring. Instead of focusing on an eye catching campaign it had tons of writing which made me want to turn the page. If the ads were more catchy and appealing I feel they would succeed more in the future.

Billboard Ads

The billboard ad that really caught my attention was the billboard that nolita, an Italian designer put out during Milan's fashion week. He was taking a stand against anorexia. The billboard had an anorexic girl naked with the phrase "No. Anorexia". The combination of nudity and anorexia really caught attention for the brand because it is not something people see everyday. I liked the ad and I thought it was a brilliant idea because it shows how awful anorexia looks and being that skinny is not attractive and shouldn't be promoted in runway.

Flat Earth

Flat Earth is trying to target women and those who want to eat healthy. I definitely agree with the positioning of this brand. I feel they are trying accommodate those who want and choose to eat healthy rather than the junk food junkie's. Flat Earth is more focused on getting their brand out there and getting their admirers to keep coming back to the product, instead of worrying about the guys who choose to eat junk. This product is for the people who love chips with the option of eating a chip that is healthier. Their saying "when pigs fly" ,show that the impossible is possible and people want to try it. The commercial is very simple with a strong point. It catches attention and people want to experience the "impossible" for themselves. When people do choose to try the product and if they come to enjoy it, the positive word of mouth is what will bring in other markets (those who eat unhealthy chips). If I was to change something about the commercial I would come up with something that is kid friendly and something more understanding (the commercial is confusing). This could definitely be a great snack for kids rather than potato chips. Flat Earth has done a great job introducing their brand, and I believe their positioning is perfect.

Ethics-Cigarettes

The cigarette dates back to the 18th century. Today it is responsible for more than 440,000 deaths every year. Cigarette companies market their ads to adults, young adults and teens. Not only do their ads catch the attention of smokers and non-smokers but the cigarettes and the packing do as well.
Cigarette companies make their ads very appealing to the consumers. When trying to advertise their product they use attractive models so it gives off the vibe "smoke, and you can be and look like me". It makes young people who look up to the models want to fall into the habit of smoking. Another way cigarette companies get people to buy their products is making a cigarette that is aimed to a certain target market. Camel came out with a cigarette that is aimed towards female smokers. It is called No.9, which is supposed to resemble a romance song called "Love Potion No.9". The packaging of the cigarette is also very feminine. The colors used are hot pink, teal, fuchsia and are lined with flowers. It catches the attention of women and makes them want to buy their product.
I feel cigarette companies are very clever with their advertisements. They make their ads tempt smokers and non-smokers, which draw in more and more smokers every year. Making cigarettes appeal to a certain target audience, such as camel No.9, is a brilliant idea and has increased the sells of female smokers. As long as cigarette companies continue to make interesting and unique ads, their sales will continue to increase.


Sources:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/s/smoking/deaths.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/15/business/media/15adco.html