The 18–24 demographic has a message for the traditional advertisers in the audience: Please stop.
Sorry ad-man, but you’re dropping the ball big time. Come on, slipping Justice into a car commercial to catch my attention? Really? They’re cool and all, but that ad would have been a lot cooler if Justice hadn’t been nominated for three Grammys months ago. Besides, the electro house kids (if you’re a traditional advertising type you probably don’t know what electro house is, and it’s probably for the best if we just keep it that way) have long since moved on to the likes of SebastiAn and Danger. Plus, everyone knows that this summer belongs to Santogold.
Worse still, you guys are bombarding me with web banners and TV commercials. That stuff might work on my parents, but I’ve got TiVo in my apartment and Ad Block on my browser. And, oh yeah: emails. You may as well stop sending those, too, because Apple filters my junk automatically, and you can pretty much guess where you stand.
If you want my attention (and, consequently, my cash), then you had better give me something worthy of my attention. How about your company gives me a website that I’d actually add to my bookmarks? Or a commercial that I’d actually watch on YouTube (since, as discussed, I don’t watch commercials on TV)?
Oops, I think I just accidentally proved my point. Take a peek at how many views that video has: over 225,000. That’s what you marketing types call “viral,” and I can’t help but chuckle as I watch you scramble to devise the next big “viral” campaign. In fact, a video of you in the boardroom brainstorming about the next big thing would go viral in no time!
Don’t worry, though; while I’m sure you aren’t quite picking up what I’m putting down, you will soon enough. You see, I—the 18–24 demographic—am now a regular here at PostAdvertising.com. I’ll be documenting your every misstep (and praising your successes, because, hey, I’ll be the first to bite if you give me something good). But if you just can’t wait until my next post, I’ll throw you a bone: send us tips—your latest ad, video or, god forbid, disguised blog or social marketing attempt, and I’ll tell you just how badly you messed it up.
Hugs and kisses,
18–24