This weekend I took a trip to New York City. I started to pay attention to the billboards on the side of the highway in hopes of getting inspiration for this blog.  At first the drive was scenic and relaxing, but quickly became mundane and the ads didn't help. All the outdoor ads were billboards and could have been placed on any highway.
The attractiveness of outdoor ads is how to specially use the unique environment to convey your message.

 This ad uses the tunnel strategically to make a point about the rest stop. It is different and fun. I wish we would have seen one of these advertisements for a rest stop on the way.

Not all outdoor ads are billboards. This ad uses the packaging and shape of the candy bar and puts it in the environment. It's much more interesting and memorable that the typical bench ad.

 The wires are an everyday structure used to portray what the product does-detangle. If the environment is used in a complimentary clever way the ad makes an impression.

Ads Without Words

Presenting an ad with words lends itself to be one of the most difficult tasks an advertiser can do. The ads must be a completely visual representation of the message. It's a nod at not only their own ability to convey a message without a textual reference but also that a busy audience will care enough to stop and look. When an advertiser does create a good and clever visual the impact remains for much longer with an audience.

Lego has utilized this concept of without words brilliantly. They began a campaign with the text, "seen a thousand different ways," and have continued this message with just visuals. It portrays the mind of a young child to a target audience who have potentially forgotten their own creativity.











Olay plays with the keys/computer action any computer user knows " edit undo." It humorously hints that using their product will undo the signs of aging. I appreciate that a beauty product company didn't just go for an attract young flawless female to advertise their ad but instead targeted a working woman who would know this computer command.

 

Jeep plays off their live free campaign and uses a silhouette of animals (a camel and wolf) to link their product with those wild and natural.

3 Tactical Ads

I really like this ad because it omits the unique characteristic of a camel and calls attention to its absence with a suggestion of a line. Once I read the text "Dr. Brian Dower, Chiropractor 28 Park Road, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1M1 416.920.7275" I couldn't help but laugh to myself. The ad doesn't have a tagline but instead uses the visual as a clue to what this doctor can do for you. The ad's simplicity and humor sets it apart from other ads of chiropractors I've seen.

Although somewhat disturbing I love this ad. It's provocative and poignant. The copy, "only a portion of the catch in long line tuna fishing is tuna" directly corresponds to the portioned animals below. The detailed execution which incorporates the inside of each animal adds to it's emotion. Not only does the add address a problem to the public but it also calls to action or gives a solution in the text below. This allows the viewer to feel in this ad and act afterward.

I love that this ad calls attention to the "defect" and makes the association with that and the great price. The asterisk makes for a nice introduction to the copy and put me in the frame of mind that is was an actual "warning. The ad cleverly combines a unique aspect of the car with something everyone wants to know when car shopping, price. I also think that this fun and clever ad fits the brand identity of mini.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABcckOTVqao