Jingle That!

Admit it. You've always wanted to make a jingle about your dog. Or Santa. Or your recently indicted ex-governor.

Now you can. Here's the link to CK's latest time suck, I mean branded utility.

http://www.jinglethat.com

Jingle on!

The Kids Are Alright

I taught this week at University of Illinois with Professor of Advertising (and Jesus of Cool) Peter Sheldon and a bunch of funny, smart, refreshingly unjaded, worried-about-finding-a-job students. I understand the worry. But with the ideas they had, and the unending avenues available now for expression of those ideas, it occurred to me that there’s never been a better time to enter this industry. Never. There are more ways to advertise to people than anyone can keep up with. If you have ideas, it’s like a candy store, and the best part is, nobody really knows enough to organize the merchandise.

You may not realize it, but you are lucky ducks.

Why Detroit Failed

Detroit has been brought down by its advertising as much as its cars, its unions, and its decision-making. I am utterly convinced of this.

Why? Because the voice of the American car maker has always of the been chest-beating, swaggering, king-of-the-world ilk. Chevy, Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC trucks, Dodge. Macho bluster.

You don’t really want to help a person like that out when they come begging. And I don’t think Congress will.

Contrast this with, say, the voice of Honda. Grounded, simple.

I’ve often felt American car makers should speak humanity and even humility. Now’s not a bad time to start.