Learn How Advertise Successfully from Forward Productions Learn How to Advertise Successfully.
Site MapSite Home
Related Sites >Traffic-Reach - Unlimited Quality Traffic - On DemandSmartAuctioning.comForward Productions SitesMapJoin Our Links Directory!


Radio and Television Ads: Clever Vs. Annoying


Ever heard or seen a radio or television commercial that you really liked and actually looked forward to hearing or seeing again only to be assaulted by another one so annoying it made you want to heave your radio or television out the window?

What makes one commercial so enjoyable while others seem to be so abysmal? It's all in the ability to make the listener or viewer remember the ad in a creative, clever way and I'm about to give you some advice on how to do just that so read on!

One of the most successful ways of creating clever ads is to add humor. Unfortunately that's not an easy thing to do as you have probably heard or seen many commercials try and fail. There is a fine line between writing a spot people will laugh and identify with and writing one that falls flat on its face and unfortunately most spots fall into the latter category. The best advice on using humor in ads that I can give you is this: hire a professional who specializes in writing humorous ads. I say this because the majority of advertisers that attempt to write their own funny ads fail miserably. The main reason is because it takes a trained writer to know how to create an ad that includes not only genuinely funny copy, but also perfect timing and the right amount of copy needed to pull it off. Having said this, if you still insist you've written a funny spot for your business the best way to find out is to read it to some unbiased ears which means someone other than your wife, husband, or best friend. Humor in itself is subjective but for the most part if it's funny they'll laugh, and if they don't get it, even if you think it's a real knee slapper, it's time to try another approach. I've written thousands of ads most containing humor but even I don't know for sure how well they will be received once they hit the airwaves. Another tricky part about putting humor in ads is that it takes more time to establish the bit, which means you have less time for the rest of the copy.

The same rule goes for putting voice impersonations in your radio ads. I tend to use voice impressions that I or others do in radio spots from time to time and it can be a real attention getter. However, this can also backfire as I've heard spots where voice impersonations were used just for the sake of putting them in the spot with no real message or tie-in to the product or service. Once again, this is wasted ad dollars.

You may have heard or seen ads you thought were extremely annoying and wondered why the advertiser even bothered. What they've learned is that even bad spots will eventually stick in the mind with enough repetition. The problem here lies with whether what ends up sticking is a negative reinforcement. There's a national jeweler who comes to mind that likes to do his own radio commercials. His nasally voice and dry as sand delivery while quite annoying, have become his trademark. So in essence his annoyance is part of his brand. Successful? Perhaps, but you'd be hard pressed to get me to shop there.

Remember that besides being clever, your ad has to deliver the goods.In other words, ads that are clever just for the sake of being clever won't accomplish much. Have you ever had someone tell you about a funny spot but when you asked who the ad was for, they can't remember? That's a case of the copywriter indulging his or her own cleverness and missing the main point. Your copy must also give the listener or viewer a reason to call or come by and most important, remember your name!

Sometimes a "call to action" works well. This could be in the form of a price point, a special time sensitive sale or a "radio/TV coupon" in which the listener or viewer is told to mention they heard or saw the spot for a special price. It could also involve having the listener or viewer respond immediately as in, "the first 25 people to call now receive..." however, make sure your phone lines can handle the response.

In today's world it takes a clever message to be heard, seen, and remembered above all the mindless advertising banter. And if done right, all the other ads can become "advertising wallpaper" for your clever, stand out, ad campaign!

Hal Eisenberg is an award winning copywriter, voice over talent and producer, as well as owner of The Eisenberg Agency, a full service advertising agency specializing in creative ads that get results.

Visit his web site at http://www.eisenbergagency.com
Mailto: halacious@eisenbergagency.com





Help keep Advertising Advice available by donating any amount.





MORE RESOURCES:

MSN Money UK

Johnston Press hit by house market woes as property advertising slides
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 33 minutes ago
By Peter MacMahon JOHNSTON Press yesterday revealed that tumbling returns from the property and job markets had left its advertising revenues down more than ...
Johnston reports advertising woe The Press Association
Johnston Press classified collapse makes gloomy reading Times Online
Johnston Press hit by fall in advertising revenue Yorkshire Post
RTE.ie - The Herald
all 36 news articles


ITV.com

iPhone Web Claims Draw Governmental Rebuke in UK
Slashdot - 5 hours ago
The government is only enforcing truth in advertising. Not everything they do is automatically wrong, ok? *no matter how much it may annoy us. by Candid88 ...
Apple iPhone 3G TV Commercial Pulled Due to False Advertising Mobile Magazine
It must be a rough day in Cupertino ZDNet
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority Needs a Chill Pill Marketing Pilgrim
Gearlog - PC World
all 304 news articles


Media buyer Carat cuts advertising spend forecasts
Reuters - 9 hours ago
LONDON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Carat, Europe's biggest media buyer, has trimmed its growth forecasts for global spending on advertising for this year and next ...


Victor Results Advertising is Best in Business Finalist for Second ...
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
Victor Results Advertising, headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., is renowned for delivering measurably improved advertising results by fusing the art of the ...


MediaPost Publications

Mobile search and advertising co JumpTap raises $26m: JumpTap is ...
TMCnet - 3 hours ago
27--Israeli-American start-up JumpTap, which search and advertising solutions for mobile telephones, has announced that it raised $26 million in a fourth ...
Mobile advertising co JumpTap raises $26 million Globes
Canada to probe Google-Yahoo advertising deal Computer Business Review
JumpTap takes on Google CNET News
MarketWatch - Xconomy
all 27 news articles


Audi Announces New A4 Advertising Campaign
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
HERNDON, Va., Aug 27, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In a new advertising campaign launching this month for the 2009 Audi A4, Audi of America demonstrates ...


mediabistro.com

LA Times Hires Advertising Sales Chief
Wall Street Journal - 19 hours ago
s largest newspaper, naming an executive to oversee advertising sales, a role that had been vacant for months. The hiring of Scott McKibben as chief revenue ...
Los Angeles Times Media Group Names Scott McKibben Chief Revenue ... MarketWatch
LA Times Media Group names Scott McKibben chief revenue officer Los Angeles Times
Jumping to a Sinking Ship: LAT Hires CRO mediabistro.com
all 14 news articles


First Financial Bankshares Names Randy Christian as Senior Vice ...
MarketWatch - 32 minutes ago
has named Randy K. Christian as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising. Christian will work with First Financial's family of ten community banks ...
First Keystone Financial Announces Hugh Garchinsky Appointed as ... MarketWatch
all 13 news articles


Advertising: Online about to overtake radio in slow ad market
guardian.co.uk, UK - 26 minutes ago
Europe's biggest media buyer yesterday reduced its forecasts for the global advertising market for this year and 2009 as a result of a slowdown in the US, ...


CAA clarifies on Entebbe airport advertising rights
Daily Monitor, Uganda - 1 hour ago
Alliance Media has the right to manage advertising space at Entebbe International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority has said. ...

Advertising - Google News

Site MapSite Home
Related Sites >Traffic-Reach - Unlimited Quality Traffic - On DemandSmartAuctioning.comForward Productions SitesMapJoin Our Links Directory!



© 2006 Forward Productions A Quality Host is our favorite web host