ADS-R-US

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Back To the Drawing Board...

You may feel I'm being a little too self critical but the absolute worst site I have ever come in contact with is my own. The more I learn about effective web sites, the more I find djwendylaw.com utterly dispicable.

The site is inteded to be an informative site. It informs the viewer about me, what I do, and what I can do for them. Although it doesn't do so in a persuasive way, nor in a clear manner. Am I a DJ? A graphic designer? Ad geek? If you google these words my site doesn't even register. I guess the site is a clear reflection of how unclear I am about my path because I just want to do it all.

I'll start from the face down. Literally.

The splash page takes way too long to load and is too big to fit on most computers. BIG no no in the website business. It tells you nothing about the site and gives no reason for the viewer to view on. Not to mention the huge, unflattering image that took way too long to fix in photoshop. What a waste of time.

An even more waste of time would be to click on the splash page and end up on the home page. Whoever said "Home Is Where Your Website Is" couldn't have been more wrong. This page is never up to date, usually gives the few viewers only a few days to attend 'upcoming' events, and is topped off with more unflattering, self-absorbed photoshops that really nobody, myself included, cares to see.

You have the misfortune of seeing this header through every page, including the bio, adwork, dj and contact pages. Although it might seem they're all the same page because the header is so big that the viewer can't see anything else without scrolling down.

Who is the viewer anyways? Not that I think this website would appeal to anyone, but who is the intended audience? Originally it was directed towards fans, aged 16-25 who wanted to check out my next gig and party to my music. Then I added the ads to let people know that I'm more than just a DJ...that I had a daytime purpose too. Big mistake to try and appeal to the 26-45 year old business person on the same raver site. Opposites do attract but you should never try to attract opposites, not from the same site anyways.

It doesn't matter how many of these stickers I hand out...

....people just don't want to return to a bad website.

Now I could go on about how I embedded too many links and didn't highlight any key points. Or that there is no benefit or testimonials on my site. But instead I'm going to start from scratch.

Next time around I'm going to make 2 seperate sites; one for the DJing, one for the Ad work. I'm going to put key words in meta tags and descriptive tags to ensure that everyone and anyone can find me. I'm going to update them frequently with emotional, conversational copy, perhaps in the form of blogs, that keep people on the sites and keep them coming back. My life is quite the entertaining adventure so why can't my sites be?

Most importantly, my new sites are going to sell me. I'm going to sell my DJ services on one site, with up-to-date event listings and set downloads. While the second site will incorporate all of my advertising and graphic design work, including testimonials and client lists.

So back to the drawing board I go, so that I may fulfil my dreams of being in advertising by day and a DJ by night. But never the twain shall meet again.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Sixties Spots, Sugar Frosted Flakes and Social Networking

Have you ever watched Madmen? It's a show about advertisersing during a time when Frosted Flakes were called Sugar Frosted Flakes, the Frito Bandito was stealing to sell, and Noxema Shaving Cream was 'Taking it off...taking it ALL off'. Those were the glory days when brands had little competition, advertising only took on a few forms of media, and it was a time when hubbies were lucky enough to have housewives.

With fewer brands on the market, advertisers in the 1960s didn't have the overwhelming challenge of saturated markets like they do today. Ads from 50 years ago simply told consumers what to buy and why they should buy it. They were mildly entertaining and had a memorable slogan, jingle or personality.

Here's a Sugar Frosted Flakes TV Commercial from the 1960s just to give you an example.

In this day and age, ads have to captivate, engage and entertain the audience. Brands have to be different, be special, fulfill a fundamental need, help social causes, and make consumers feel good about purchasing.

Now check out this Kellog's Frosted Flakes Commercial from 2009.

See the difference? Not to mention the colour and production quality enhancements that came with advancements in technology.

50 years ago, advertising only came in the form of print, radio or TV. Now, in the information age, digital platforms such as the internet and mobile devices have reshaped advertising into rapid global communications. Anyone can find information about anything, anywhere, with the touch of a button.

Now, consumers can be directed to the the Frosted Flakes Website to check out the latest campaigns and promotions. The website informs consumers that Frosted Flakes gives you the energy to start any day, provides alternate uses for the product, and encourages kids to 'step it up' with an active lifestyle. It even includes videos to add visual appeal and spark interest.

This Frosted Flakes TV commercial from 2010 relays the same brand message.

Social Networking sites, such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, have provided another avenue for brands to connect directly with consumers and vice versa. Gone are the days where word-of-mouth is the only form of free advertising.

Here, one blogger sells Frosted Flakes t-shirts. Frosted Flakes are mentioned frequently on Twitter. There's a Frosted Flakes Facebook Page. There's even commercials on YouTube, some which have aired on TV, and others made by consumers themselves.

Here is a Frosted Flakes rap I found rather entertaining and persuasive.

As you can see, the possibilities of advertising have become endless in the digital era. But it's not just technological advancements that has reshaped advertising, changes in society has also played its part.

Ethics and independence are on the rise, women are working, and beliefs, fashion and lifestyles have all evolved. Purchasing habits are different, so modern ads have to appeal to people in a modern way.

Out with the old

In with the new

Notice all the added benefits? Sorry Tony, you don't seem to cut it anymore.

So there you have it. A simple look at advertising 50 years ago versus the

not-so-simple advertising we have now. It has developed over the years into what we see today, and will continue to evolve...well...until a Madman (or Madwoman) goes back to the moon and figures out how to telepathically send advertising messages.