Non-Profits Don't Have to be Non-Funny

A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Mannequin American

Non-Profits Don't Have to be Non-Funny to be Taken Seriously

Church blogger Eric Seiberling points to the Toyota "swagger" campaign and asks "can a church have swagger?"

An excellent point and great illustration that no matter who your audience is, they're probably...humans. And humans typically connect with content that is real, has humor and is engaging.
 

Churches and other non-profits with "serious" marketing messages, listen up! Just because it's serious, doesn't mean it has to be boring. The New York Public Library ... which is a serious place ... brought in Improv Everywhere to help raise awareness about their "Don't Close the Book" fundraising campaign. It gained a lot of attention and generated significant donations. Click here to see the Improv Ghost Busters rid the library of those pesky ghosts.

It's yet another example that:

• Non-profit doesn't have to mean boring.
• Non-profit doesn't have to be serious to be effective.
• Non-profits can associate with fun.

If you cater to an audience of humans, they like to laugh every once in awhile. It's ok to let your brand associate with that, too.

Finding Humor During a Disaster

Fathers Day Gifts

Here's a comical Fathers Day ad that many dads can relate to.

Really? Dad always wanted a weekend at a nudist resort? Who knew? Mom sure didn't.

Make a Doody in Denim

Huggies is upping their fashion quotient with the US launch of Little Movers Denim Jean Diapers, a diaper with a printed pattern of simulated denim that includes stitched seams and back pockets. The new television spot doesn't mince words ... it gives us the straight poop, so to speak.

While the jeans diaper commercial was accepted by 13 networks, three others, ABC, ABC Family and Sprout, objected to screen text at the end of the spot that included the word "pooping." For those networks the text was changed to, "When you gotta go, go in style."

Click here to see the 30 second spot, which includes hilarious lines like "I poo in blue," "When it's full of number 2 I look like number 1," and "My diaper is full of Chic." What can I say ... I like poo jokes.

This Talented Baby Could Sell Anything

A snowboarding toddler?!?! I'm surprised an enterprising entity hasn't signed this family up to sell something baby-related, snow boarding-related or just about anything.

Click here to see a one-year-old girl shred the slopes. Aren't babies still trying to balance their heads on their bodies at that age?

Speaking of Babies

Does this look like a good idea? The Roller Buggy is a multi-functional baby carriage transformable into a scooter.

Through a simple pull of the lower body, it extends the normal baby carriage into a scooter, creating a "more sportive and faster transportation on various terrains and giving both parties a good time."

According to the manufacturer: Child safety - Roller Buggy has a specially-made hydraulic brake system with two disk brakes that allow to reduce the speed and to stop. There is also a safety belt on the child's seat. (There's a good idea.)

"She Could Have Been Such a Different Girl ..." (if only she had pooped)

 "Wrinkles and pimples may appear. Energy is sapped. Personality becomes flat." All because of constipation? You really have to read the copy above for yourself to get the absurdity behind this vintage ad for All-Bran.

Check Out These Boobs (NSFW)

Speaking of "absurdity." From Copyranter: The goal: Train 175,000 men how to examine women's breasts for lumps. The method: Let the men use their mouse to play with a model's boobs online. This video explains the project and shows you how it worked. Again, NSFW.

Celebrity Hand Puppet Theatre (NSFW)

Click here to see a 2 minute cartoon "Gerbil Celebrity Hand Puppet Theatre," featuring puppets Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump.  NSFW