The advertising analyst

Involved, engaged, social and always looking for opportunities to take the intitiavie. The world of advertising is all around us, so let us take a look shall we....

[nicholasbinette]

Gay Marriage in/or out of Prison – Moving forward with dating in prison.

As lawful abiding citizens we often contemplate whether we give our non-law abiding members too many freedoms. For example, allowing an inmate convicted of first degree murder to access a dating site and meet a possible partner. Although constitutionally the government cannot (without cause) separate persons with an intimate bond many Canadians see this as a possible repeat of history, and that history will repeat itself. 

 The Basics: 

 To provide context Luka Rocco Magnotta was convicted of first degree murder on a trial by jury in 2015. The criminal act was in 2012 in Montreal Quebec, but it took three years to mount a case against the criminal as the defence that was stated was NCR (not criminally responsible). Meaning that Luka confessed to the act of the murder, but he was not in the right mental state. To cover a few basics in Canadian criminal law Actus Reus is the physical act whereas the mens rea is the mental state during the accused / confessed act. Trial by juries are the choice of the accused (now convicted) and undergo a vigorous process considering homicide is one of the most serve criminal acts. 

Public perspective: 

 The public is outraged that individuals convicted of violent crimes, who are considered dangerous persons, and not in full mental control are actively pursuing a partner. This was released in an article publicly with the Montreal Gazette. The location of the offence took place was within the city of Montreal, and the local publication had taken an extremely negative view upon the case while the trial was underway. 

 Another Canadian focus: 

 The Canadian system has a major focus on rehabilitation, reconstruction, and re-integration of exiting convicts into Canadian society. Several common sayings exist such as hard sentences make harder criminals, and where better to learn how to be a criminal than from them. With methods such as probation, conditional discharge, and many other possibilities to try and avoid incarcerating Canadians. Although Luka Magnotta is a violent offender he is advocated for by Canadians who showcase these values in prisoners’ rights. Many persons were disturbed by the thought that a sexual predator, murderer, and victim of mental illness being on a platform that will again allow him to become intimate with another individual. The marketing to advocate for prisoners rights is not well received by the public but has met some warm hearted feelings. Comment below and contact the Montreal Gazette about how you feel prisoner treatment is being displayed by media outlets. Do you feel this type of reporting is fair and accurate or do you feel too much is being given for such atrocities committed by the convicted individual? 

Please review the following articles for more information. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/luka-magnotta-is-getting-married-report

Please also read this following article for a few key details: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/magnotta-quits-inmate-dating-site-after-finding-what-he-was-looking-for-creator 

[nicholasbinette]

Communicate using Memes?

How often do we overuse or hear a picture is worth a thousands words? The memers of today would have to say a picture is worth a thousand plus however words are in the caption/headline. Lets have a look at three different memes that spark a sense of humour and are viral worthy. Please do note these are not my memes (sadly I know). Let the games begin! 

1. Although way over used the image of a perfect upright cat with a straight face does give this one a huge boost and up its “viral” worthiness. Living with a kitten right now I can definitely attest to the fact that she judges me whenever I ignore her or giver attention. Do you have any good cat struggles that make a good meme? 

2. Just moved out for University or College for the first time? Having trouble paying for food at the end of the month? The moment of excitement wears off super quickly kiddos, but until you are released from the bondages of classes are we really adults?

3. Alright - Every student’s reaction? The simplicity of the text and perception of this ducky give us the impression that this is your average young person (but let us be real here folks it applies to a lot of us). Defiantly hits the viral stage.  

[nicholasbinette]

The advertising in tea!

Did someone say Chatime Tea? Well I mean it is not the tea that gets you? Could it be the scenery, the lovely location, the brand? The ambient branding? It could very well be all of the above. How many times have you loved the lighting so much that it made you forgot what time of day it was and made you late? How many times have you said just one more cup of tea and it ended up being three more? 

What gives your mind that distraction? That one craving that we all desire? Pleasure resides where we believe it does and advertising with constant exposure may alter our desires with enough of it. 

Apparently a gradient in an infrastructure can cool the mind and eye. I mean pearls in tea what more could a college student ask for? As always position your brand in the light of your target audience.  Anyone else want to grab some Chatime tea? 

(photo is my own)  

[nicholasbinette]

(Photo is not my own and retrieved Google Images on Dec1, 2017) 

Infographic advertising? 

Although humans are little monstrosities that cannot focus for longer than seven seconds unless there is a benefit or harming factor is not surprising. For this sole purpose visual communication has been a key development in advertiser’s mind when sending messages. 

My little goldfish, what you see is an infographic about oil and environmental concerns. Although the design is questionable its message is clear from the headline. The use of various colours and images make it appealing to our little minds that struggle to retain information. With pretty pictures and fun words it grasps the interests of persons to develop a curiosity into the issue. At least that is the goal...

A few things to keep in mind for infographics:

1. When designing an infographic keep it simple!

Remember all of those goldfish (I am referring to humans)? 

2. Make it easy on the eye. 

It should not be too hard to follow or have specific and detailed information as that could confuse the reader and takes up space with text. 

3. Don’t cram a million images into it! 

Some white space can be good and help your viewer follow along. For example in the image above it feels somewhat crammed and you dots all over the infographic because it is just jammed pack with information without too much contrast. 

Infographics are an amazing way to communicate information if done properly for your target audience, however do not overthink the process or design. 

How would you build an infographic and what would you say are the magic rules to one? 

[nicholasbinette]

Three keys to the public’s trust...advertising in the moment.

Tuesday November 28th, 2017 

Whenever deliberating or analyzing a situation in front of others you are already in a very awkward spot. The first goal of getting just even a bit of time to asses and formulate a response is gone. While analyzing, explaining and expressing your findings publicly you only have a single chance to shape what you say once. How the message is conveyed can more often than not be more important than the actual message itself, if you ever want the intended audience to listen. I have found these three tactics to be very useful in my experiences with work colleagues, classmates and people I meet for the first time. Let’s begin shall we? 

1. Always deescalate the situation before anything else: 

By this I mean understand the reason you are where you are. Do not use your technical skills to explain your job but to address the concern of the recipient. For example if your visitor came because he or she was upset do not explain responsibility, but explain that they will be compensated but you must determine the correct party (even if it is themselves because they are their own party). This will allow all parties to communicate more effectively and properly go over the issue at another time with everyone more relaxed and in a better receptive mood.  

2. Try to present several options: 

Nobody likes to feel trapped, pick the lesser of two evils, or anything that is considered undesirable or will lead to an undesirable future. Even if the options are slim or harm yourself. Present all possibilities to try and establish a connection as you want to delay reactions and increase responsiveness.  Responding is always better than reacting if the opportunity presents itself but sometimes we must make that opportunity available and the only way to do that is to be empathic to the visitor. 

3. Being honest is not always the best policy:

Honesty is the best policy does not typically work in almost any situation. Have you had an argument with a girlfriend/boyfriend and you were honest but because of that emotions escalated? Have you told your boss right before a busy night that there was severe problem? Timing is everything and that includes honesty. Being brutally honest can lead to you being Ned Stark in Game of Thrones (not literally beheaded but you will feel like it emotionally). Understand when and where a person is able to receive the truth. Do not lie, and do not prolong it out of a window. A window is an opening and that opening varies based on endless factors. How you advertise it to your receiving party is up to you... Be honest but too honest. 

These concepts could have saved so many problems such as the province wide college strike, all the scandals with politicians, CEO/CFO’s choosing to abstain or not comment when in fact they should. On a lower level but still extremely important spectrum - how you communicate in a group project, how you bring news to your family, what to say or not say during times of personal conflict, approach a driver in a minor accident. What do you think? Disagree? Have questions? Let me know what you think about advertising in the moment in the comments below. 

(The photo is not mine and I do not own anything but the words in the article above)

[nicholasbinette]

Classes and Campus

How often can a 20 year old say that he or she has experienced an unprecedented and uncontrollable event that could teach amazing life long lessons? By going to college! These newfound/refined skills and abilities that include: 

1. Netflix binge watching is a skill that is actually hard to master.

2. Sleeping in and working part time is just not enough... we need something to occupy our hyperactive minds.   

3. Do not advertise an impaired service or product which will most definitely lead to brand damage (the extent varies).

4. Students do not get a break yet it is advertised throughout the media strategy to increase first year intake among domestic and international students entering the post secondary education system.

5. Despite your opinion of mental health just look at all the student lifestyle ads, memes and jokes to understand some of the stress that is undertaken (though can be greatly exaggerated). 

6. Students do not always get involved with politics even though policy and politics dictate very requirement. Perhaps some public speaking and campus politic clubs are in order eh? 

7. Check out student common buildings and the student’s ability to attempt to accomplish work but end up just chatting with your neighbour. The two (or more) of you end up just complaining and talking about ups and downs of your program, such as projects, midterms and finals.  

Although all these lovely skills were/can be learned please remember that getting back into the grove of a full course load is never easy, but it is all about how the students advertise it eh?  What are some of skills you had acquired during the Ontario wide five week college strike? 

[nicholasbinette]

Schools are coming back? About time eh?

What do you do with just over five weeks of no classes, sleeping in with Netflix, starting to help other students at UOttawa/Carleton university? You give your self the biggest kick in the butt and jump right back in the game. Students have suffered the greatest and it is tragic to see that the government had to pass legislation to ensure that professors returned to the classrooms. With so many assignments, projects, evaluations, tests, observational data, how can an institute possibly organize itself? I mean I even cooked for the professors ( I felt bad and hey who doesn’t like a great photo right?) on a chilly November evening.   I mean the gentleman looked like he might fall over from freezing in the cold beside a barbecue. I guess strikes do not help as much as we had thought... 

Five weeks of striking can put all toll on both parities and anyone who is dragged into the mess but nobody cares about (aka students). With back to work legislation that had just passed we will be back in the classroom. Lets see how goes... 

What are your thoughts on the strike? Should there have been a time limit or other limitations (apart from cooking terribly stale food in the cold weather)?

[nicholasbinette]

Schools out? Nah just on strike...

Have you ever heard of those stereotypical stories of parents fighting over what is more important? Education or socialism, personal health or work ethics, musical talents or sciences? 

When it comes to strikes there is little to no difference. Rather than parents it is a group of adults who cannot get along to get the job done. Who suffers? The children, or in this case the college students. 

Some argue that they want job security, however a contract is fairly secure as they must pay you out should any employer in the institution deem you not needed. Will full time staff really help more students or just increase tuition?

When students lose a semester because it is beyond their control I find it embarrassing that a workplace with so many measures to ensure student success has  resorted to such a crude method to demand their requests. 

What do do you think should be done? How will advertising be affected? What is the best way to not create a negative impact on the student body for a long period of time? 

[nicholasbinette]

New Pepsi ad idea? 

Finding the advertising in everyday life. Always looking for the best and simplest concepts to attract eyes. Our new kitten named Lexie has a fondness for making Pepsi boxes into little hiding places from my terrible cold. A simple yet basic compelling truth that is properly and creatively communicated in a simple manner can have a lasting effect on a brand’s advertising objectives. What is more basic and compelling to new kitten owners than curious and overly hyper pets eating/drinking their foods, drinks, and playing 

Most persons can remember the terrible backlash Pepsi had received for posting their ad and the public outage followed by United Airlines. With such a lasting impact many students of advertising were intrigued with the brand.  What simple truths can you uncover and convey to better a brand or one’s self image?   

Photo: Personally taken and owned. 

[nicholasbinette]

Ad week in NYC

Good morning everyone, 

As September ravages on with blubbering students, back to school shopping and the ever changing weather some messages have pierced into our mind. Ad week NYC is in full swing and it has been very entertaining to say the least. With everything including (what I call the boo strategy) burger king’s video posting to PR explanations. Please follow the link below to visit the website directly:

http://www.adweek.com/creativity/the-25-best-ads-of-2017-so-far/ 

The creative information is quite insightful and intriguing, yet somewhat disturbing with a great shock effect on the viewers.  What sort of impact can ads have on your average day?