January 1, 2010

One Weird Web Ad

Filed under: Main — Dan Gookin @ 12:01 am

freaky-guyPart of the success of an advertising campaign is trying to find a way to get the target audience for your product to identify with the person in the ad. If Internet marketing is working that way, then you should immediately identify with the fellow shown at left.

Beardo the Weirdo appears in a column of ads seen recently in the web. Here is the ad (though this is a picture and none of the links work):

SafariScreenSnapz001

The second ad works because of sex. Yeah, she’s not naked, but her bellybutton framed as a heart by her hands doesn’t tell me anything useful about colon cleansing. No, if you want to see an image of colon cleansing, do a Google Image Search and look at some of the stuff people purge from their bowels. That will sell the stuff, not sex. But, at least it’s a better image.

The third ad’s image is spot-on: It’s the actual gizmo, a jaw sling, that supposedly prevents snoring. Supposedly. I’ve seen wood cuts from the 1800s that sell the same thing. If it doesn’t work, then obviously it sells.

Back to Homeowner Jesus:

freaky-guyWhy should I identify with someone who looks like they were in the Manson Family? This guy doesn’t need a new home loan, he needs a backup band. Or maybe a turban.

He also appears in this Internet ad:

SafariScreenSnapz001

I must admit that the picture does draw my attention. It’s not usual to see someone who looks like they got kicked out of the 1960s or could have been an Old Testament prophet on a web page ad. Imagine these variations:

fake-ad-1

Or:

fake-ad-2

Or:

fake-ad-3

Or:

fake-ad-4

Now wouldn’t it be equally funny had I said that this guy was a homeowner who could refinance?

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


Powered by WordPress