From My Readers
A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Puppet
Mannequin American views and guidelines on marketing/PR trends, news from the world of puppets and ventriloquism, bits of humor and other interesting but useless information. I post every Tuesday and Friday. For information on this puppet's background, go to http://www.dale-brown.com/.
B&M Newsletter Continues to "Sell" by Not Selling
As many of my blog readers know, the B&M Newsletter has received numerous awards and has a loyal following from coast to coast. Most importantly, during its 20 year history the publication has had only one editor ... me.
When Dale and I speak to professional organizations we are often asked what we believe the secret is behind the enviable success of our company newsletter. The answer is simple. From the outset we understood that not every marketing message need be a targeted sales pitch. Our goal was and is to build relationships with customers and prospects by giving away something of immeasurable worth... knowledge. We also strive to generate a few smiles by putting my personal slant on marketing topics and trends. In short, we don't ask for anything ... we simply provide a unique and entertaining marketing resource ... and by doing so, we generate more business.
All Clowns Are Not in Politics
Dale and I were extremely busy this past summer appearing at company meetings, awards banquets, conventions and fairs. But last week was a first for us. We conducted two workshops at the Midwest Clown Round-Up. They may have been dressed a little strange, but they were a great group and a very appreciative audience. Thanks for inviting us!
Just prior to our appearance at the Clown Convention, we were at the National Manufacturing/Assembly/Quality Expo in Chicago on behalf of Tailored Label Products. This was our 5th year working in the TLP exhibit with Richard, Debbie and Tracy. Long days, big crowds and a lot of leads!
Put Your Talking Head on an m&m
If you've ever wanted to eat my face off, here's your chance ... sort of. Click on The Candy Lab to see my old buddies, the Red and Yellow m&m's. On this site you can put your face or anyone else's on an m&m and have the face speak or sing. And then send the face to your friends. It's easy and a little creepy. I did it and it turned out pretty funny ... a talking Mannequin American on an m&m ... and no one's standing behind me.
And speaking of "m&m's" and "creepy" the company is now promoting these m&m-sponsored Ashton-Drake dolls as its top Christmas gift this year. Each six-inch "Heavenly Handful" sports an m&m's onesie with a matching cap, complete with one-liners like "Never let 'em see you melt." I don't know what it is, but these little dudes creep me out. But m&m's really knows how to extend its brand recognition and loyalty through its mascot characters.
From My Readers
For some reason my blog readers continually send me cupful's of magazine and television advertising that incorporate cleavage to sell things. Seriously, you wouldn't believe the number of boobs I have in my in box. I've included 4 examples that will have you scratching your heads.
Here are two ads for Pantene products ... you can tell by the minuscule display of Pantene samples in the lower right corner. I only included two ads from the series, but trust me, they're all the same. These are aimed at women, right? So why all the cleavage? Air brushed, fake cleavage at that.
At least in the examples above, you could surmise that the models use the products that are being advertised. Probably not so much with the ad below.
Kiwi shoe polish is running a series of ads showing tiny women supposedly polishing a man's shoe. Huh? This ad above is the best of the group ... so they all pretty much suck.
At least this next one is funny ... sort of. The commercial shows a woman who calls over her waitress to ask where her fries are. The waitress moves the woman's plate more to the center of the table. The buxom customer realizes that her breasts were hiding the fries. Honest. Click here to see it.
And lastly, we all know that insurance is boring. There's absolutely nothing "sexy" about it. But the latest ad for Trident Insurance hides nothing and doesn't apologize for anything when, for a full minute and a half, it foists upon us nothing more than a bunch of women in white bikinis jumping up and down while the camera focuses on their jiggling parts (in slow motion, of course). Copy inserted into the ad simply admits that insurance is boring and the company is using the women to get your attention. That's it. That's all there is to this commercial. Okay I have to go lie down now. I have a headache from bobbing my head up and down watching this sophomoric, non-creative, despicable commercial.
(Thanks to Clinton Detweiler for the cartoon.)