Love this. From the Shock and Ahh... school of generating Surprise--and sales!--comes this quote from Kenneth Hein of Brandweek in a provocative piece called "Marketing to the Unemployed":
"Optimism isn't a strategy. I'm sorry. Last I checked, most ads were already optimistic before the shit hit the fan. It's not like Coke or Pepsi is going to trot out a pessimistic ad. Maybe they should. A more authentic advertisement might say:
'Hey, things really suck right now,
but our new 16-oz. Coke is only 99 cents.
If you need a little pick me up, spring for it
and maybe you'll feel a little better'."
but our new 16-oz. Coke is only 99 cents.
If you need a little pick me up, spring for it
and maybe you'll feel a little better'."
Ouch. This bluntness won't work for everybody, but for those for whom it WILL work, it will work big-time.
Use at your own risk...and reward.