BOOM!

It isn't a secret anymore that I am infatuated with Wieden+Kennedy's Nike work right now. In lieu of the start of NFL, W+K produced two different 18 second spot commercials(hmm.. 18 second spots- just like Target's "Life is a moving target" campaign. Take my word, we are going to start seeing more and more of these short spots across the board). I bring you now to the "Boom" campaign.

Both commercials start with a "celebrity". One is with Rick Ross and the other with a couple football players, including Denver's Tim Tebow. Then it cuts to a montage of "hits" in different sports then back to the celebrity saying "Boom!". First of all- the montage is very similar to a part of the "Write the Future" World Cup spot (which I LOVE). Second- I'm pretty sure Nike, well, W+K is trying to make "boom" a new fad word for sports enthusiasts. Picture this- a group of guys sitting watching Monday Night Football, they see one of these big hits, all these bros yell "BOOM" and laugh about it until they get to see the instant replay and then they yell it again.

Now, I'm sure there are plenty of people that already do this, but, now Nike is slapping that little swoosh on it. And they hope it will forever be linked to this word, and that "boom" will start being used even more. Don't worry Nike, I think you are right on, it won't take long for all those dude-bros out there to start over using this word!

Check out the commercials here.

Good Newsletter - Better Content

This morning I was reading the August 2010, Cultural Fuel Trend Report from the Leo Burnett- Frankfurt blog. This 68 page blog is full of "Inspiration", "Trends" and "Insights". Each slide contains an ad/ trend/ insight with a little blurb of commentary. It then includes a link where you can go deeper. If you find something extra interesting.

It starts with some recent advertisements that are creatively charged and from all over the world. Then goes into the Trends and Insights. Now, this is from August. So, beware, it isn't groundbreaking. Some things you read may seem a bit "outdated" but, that is the advertising world. Once the trend starts to surface, it is outdated. This is all still very interested to read.

After you are done reading what I have to say. Go download this Leo Burnett- driven newsletter. Or, at least look at the ads. They are worth it.

Now, I read more about a lot of the stuff I found in this LB Newsletter. I decided on two things to include in my own blog post. One is quick and interesting, the other blew me away- but, might not be that new and awesome to some. First things first---


Flowtown.com created the above 2010 Social Networking Map . It is worth a look. This size of the "countries" is based off of the number of users for each site. Clearly, Facebook is the largest, right after the "Empire of Google" laying low and powerful right where Antarctica should be.

Speaking of Google. I love Google. Plain and simple. I literally do not know what I would do without it. Now, in my Gmail account, I have been seeing the "New! Priority Inbox" link, however, I've foolishly been ignoring it. After reading one of the trend slides in this newsletter, I find it is a simple filter for my Emails. Now, I don't get a whole lot of Emails but, the fact that Google will tell me what to read first is pretty cool. Google (Gmail) will put your Emails into three sections- “Important and unread,” “Starred” and “Everything else”. They are sorted by the magic of Google. It decides which piece of mail goes where based off of which Emails you read the most and which you reply to. Those will go into the "Important and Unread" section. If you want to read one of those Emails later, you can star it. And then everything else- will go in the "Everything Else" section. And if Google makes a mistake, gasp!, you can correct it and say an Email is more/ less important than it thinks. Read Google's Blog and watch a cute simple little cartoon or go to the Priority Inbox website. (you can see the cute cartoon there too). I guess the old "it got lost in my inbox" line won't be able to used quite as much as this grows in popularity.

Monday Afternoon Inspiration

If you've ever met me you know I've always been a little antsy. I'm not patient. I get bored easily. And I'm always looking for a new challenge. No surprise then that after a lifetime spent in the midwest, I'm ready to go.

So, in honor of my impending departure of the great state of Minnesota to head 1,135 miles east toward my long lost love, New York City, I bring you today's wisdom. It is from Donald Miller, the most non-Christian Christian writer I've ever come across. Read his books. They'll change your life and make you inspect it like you never thought possible.

"We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?

It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out.

I want to repeat one word for you:
Leave.

Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

Wednesday Wisdom

After a big move and having to get ready for the next move, I have been a bit absent. It always seems like when I get home the advertising world seems so far away. Today I decided to get inspired and I came across a couple Bill Bernbach quotes. Enjoy!

"Our job is to sell our clients' merchandise... not ourselves. Our job is to kill the cleverness that makes us shine instead of the product. Our job is to simplify, to tear away the unrelated, to pluck out the weeds that are smothering the product message." - Bill Bernbach

^ Simple truth. Love.

AND in conjunction to that one. This next quote, my copywriting professor wrote it on the board the first day of class. It was blown away by how 9 simple words could mean something so big.

"The most powerful element in advertising is the truth." - Bill Bernbach