As has been widely reported, CBS has plans to launch what their copywriters have dubbed "egg-vertising." My head is throbbing just thinking about it.
At first glance, CBS gets a subtle plus or two. They're doing a couple things every marketer should. (1) They've gone to a place where people are, but advertisers are not. (2) They did something that got people talking, and got them a ton of free PR.
I'll leave the congratulations at that point. The president of CBS marketing was most pleased with the promotion's inability to be avoided.
Newspapers, magazines and Web sites are so crowded with ads for entertainment programming that CBS was ready to try something different, Mr. Schweitzer said. The best thing about the egg concept was its intrusiveness.
Empty space does not equal an open invitation to advertisers. This is a sign of (a) irresponsibility with consumers' time (b) traditional-marketer reasoning run amok in a non-traditional space. It is unabashed disrespect for the consumer. Really, who the hell wants advertising on the food they eat? Next, will they brand my steak with an A1 logo?
A few posts ago, I posed a decision we have to make as marketers. Desperation or Revolution?
This is clearly DESPERATION.
I'm voting desperation. Very eggs-asperating.
(Sorry.)
Posted by: Ann Handley | July 19, 2006 at 07:56 PM
Ann, that was an eggs-traordinary comment. :)
Posted by: paulmcenany | July 19, 2006 at 10:24 PM
Eggs-cellent. Glad you enjoyed it. Of course, it was just a yolk.
Posted by: Ann Handley | July 20, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Your egg pun comments are so controver-shell!
Posted by: Paul McEnany | July 20, 2006 at 08:27 PM
I know. I'm one funny chick.
Posted by: Ann Handley | July 21, 2006 at 04:21 PM
You're cracking me up!
Posted by: Paul McEnany | July 21, 2006 at 04:48 PM