Episode #2 – Marketing Lessons from Starbucks, a Killer Copywriting Tip, and a Really Useful Online File Converter
April 30, 2008Episode #2 – This week I share some useful marketing lessons from Starbucks, a little known copywriting secret, and a really useful online file conversion tool called www.youconvertit.com
April 30th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Well done Andrew, great stuff again.
Going to look at my Headlines now!
Mason
April 30th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Great tips, I’m going to look at my headlines too.
Hey, is it me or are you squished in these videos?
Ken
April 30th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Great tips Arewds. Visual learning for some marketers could be fun rather than reading a long boring e-books.
Cals
April 30th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Andy,
Great episode. Enjoyed it a lot.
Dean
April 30th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Hey Andrew,
I just love the Apple adverts as well, they helped encourage me make the switch a couple of months ago – no regrets either!!
One of the best adverts that comes instantly to mind is the John West tuna ad that is on UK tv. You can see it here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys0gj7-VH6A
Classic
)
Nice vids also – keep ‘em coming!
Phil
April 30th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Love the vid….!! My favorite commercial would have to be the Honda commercial [they have several] where they use the ELO song “Hold On Tight To Your Dreams”.
Headlines….the most important and vital thing in copywriting!
Paul
April 30th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Andrew – Brilliant copy tip! Wow, really great ideas here.
My fav commercials are usually Movie Trailers. I often rewind to see these.
Perry
April 30th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Hey Andrew,
I love the “Help! My Business Sucks!” show….
Keep it up my man…
I will do my best to create some buzz about the show via sites like: Digg, StumbleUpon and will also make a few blog posts to my own sites and sent out a broadcast to my list to help get the word out.
~Brett
http://www.FreeTrafficBigProfits.com
April 30th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Good stuff Andrew.
I am with an earlier comment, I ofetn will rewind our tivo for a movie preview.
Another one that we always stop to watch (and my kids love it too) is the free credit report.com commercials. They have very entertaining jingles and an effective message.
Lastly, I don’t rewind to watch this advertisment but I think the advertisement is powerful, both on TV and in print, and I would certainly conside getting the service being offered. LIFELOCK identity theft. This is the one where the CEO gives out his social security number because he is so confident in the service, and they give a $1 million dollar gurantee with it. Very Effective!
April 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
The show is really coming together and looks great! Cannot wait to see the next one!
April 30th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Thanks for the quality info and entertaining style. Microwave Marketing ROCKS too!
Gerald Romine
http://www.geraldromine.com
April 30th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Andrew, I find the Apple vs PC commercials to be some of the best on TV as well. My reason is because they are funny yet not too edgy. I find that even though I really an enjoy an edgy commercial (One that comes to mind is an Outpost.com commercial from a few years ago where they sacrifice a marching band to a pack of hungry wolves) most people tend to either not understand the humor or shy away from it.
So Apple hit the nail on the head. Slightly cheeky.. It appeals to more people!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Really great show. I just wonder how much it’s costing you, in time and money, to put together such a professional looking and informative show.
I also roll back my TIVO to watch the Mac commercials. They’re funny, and what they’re saying seems awfully true (although I’ve been a PC guy for the last 20 years or so). They remind me of the VW ads from the 60s that I’m old enough to remember.
I think you made a great point about not being so serious when approaching advertising for yourself. The light heartness makes it work.
Anyway great show, great ideas.
Rudy
April 30th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
My son and I always stop to watch the latest Nike SPARQ commercials, i.e. “My better is better than your better.” The quotes are cool and the mix of professional athletes and regular folks is a nice twist.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I’m with you, Andrew. I also rewind my DVR if I’ve inadvertently passed by a Mac vs PC ad. I love them!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Andrew – that conversion tool is amazing!
For commercials, Apple’s are definitely at the top if I were to be forced to watch commercials. What I like is that the actors have formed CHARACTERS that are not are funny, interesting and light-hearted.
I can’t think of a single brand that has introduced commercial characters as well (at least in recent years).
Geico has been trying with the gecko… then the cavemen… then those “paid celebrity” commercials… all with stale humor, but at least more interesting than many commercials. How effective they are is another question.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Hi Andrew,
Thanks so much for all the great tips. I just watched one episode and I got 3 excellent ideas for my website.
I love the Apple commercials. I’m now a Mac user and loving every minute of it. I won’t go back to PC.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
WOW! The show is great! Love that copywriting tip. And I was just telling some people today how those commercials have me looking into getting a MAC!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Andrew I always find you very interesting and have enjoyed working with you at various events. You definitely are top notch when it comes to this type of info. I am glad you created this site. It will be one of my regular visits.
I love those Apple commercials as well. Even though I just purchased a new PC I did contemplate the MAC.
Maybe next time!
Keep up the great work!
April 30th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
My favorite TV commercials are from Careerbuilders with the guy who works with chimps. He always needs a new job.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Favorite commercials:
Apple
Allstate — the ones with the football teams traveling to their game
Budweisser horse commercials — the most recent being done to the theme of Rocky.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I love your show, some great tips.
I love the apple and pc adds i even have some on my website.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Cool show. AAAA! I might have to steal (borrow?) that.
I love the Bud Light commercials with the super powers that are no longer available: flying, breathing fire, talking to dogs. Really clever, and I don’t even drink beer.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I just found you and your wonderful website — great stuff.
I like the Geico commercials. Some of them are pretty lame, but usually they are rather entertaining.
I’m also a fan of the PC/Apple commercials.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Well, this is interesting.
Looks like Apple has the edge with the vote so far, doesn’t it?
April 30th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Great tip about the headlines. Totally makes sense.
The commercial that I currently enjoy is the one for Panda Express. The two pandas are eating bamboo talking about how rude the people are eating Panda Express in front of them.
They decide to turn their backs in protest. “Talk to the backside People”
April 30th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Andrew,
You put an extremly unusual spin on a topic that has been traditionally marketed as run-of-the-mill…I’m intrigued and look forward to future productions, good luck!!! BTW, Geico is my favorites, especially the commercial with Ben Winkler (life size cabbage patch doll
April 30th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Andrew,
Thanks for the great content. I have to say that the Mac vs PC ads are some of the best (did you know that the PC guy is actually a Mac guy….this should tell you something, you need to convert Andrew, you won’t be disappointed!) I say a commercial the other night that I had to rewind to play for my husband, I love to laugh and this one cracks me up. It is a Stride gum commercial where a guy gets hit by a ram, or a goat, not sure which. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ojgi16des-U
Mountain Dew did one similiar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt6C6P3bJq8
and I love the Terry Tate, office linebacker commercials. Anything that makes me laugh seems to stick. Keep up the great work, looking forward to next week!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:07 am
Great production Andrew! Plus some great tips and advice. Where do I get that weed killer??
May 1st, 2008 at 1:25 am
Well done, Andrew
“Tinymissimo” LMAO!
Actually, one of my favorite commercials that makes me crack up EVERY time I watch it is with the two chickens (Fresh & Natural) driving in the car, and they pull up next to some woman and carry on a dialogue.
I know what’s coming, and yet, I STILL laugh.
One problem, though….they were too busy entertaining me, they forgot to sufficiently brand themselves. As evidenced, I can’t even tell you the company name.
Now, if I’m buying chicken in the store and they continued their TV branding with those same chicken caricatures on their packaging, including the moniker, “Fresh & Natural,” they’ve accomplished their purpose.
Bottom line…there needs to be a balance in which the brand is imprinted on your brain WHILE entertaining you.
A good example of that for me would be Clara from years back and “Where’s the beef”?
Twenty years after the fact, I can still tell you that was a Wendy’s commercial.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:28 am
Once again – a great video! Many thanks – I love this!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:53 am
Really enjoyed your talk. It seems you did what you said on the Starbuck’s model without the cost: informed and entertained, thank you.
My favorite commercial besides the one you mentioned is the baby in his crib giving advice on how easy it is to stock trade on line. Thanks again for your tips…Bonnie
May 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am
First off, love the show. Great content and very entertaining.
As for fav commercials, the Apple spots are definitely the best. Great character development, great story lines, and the message is delivered very well.
Another series of commercials I find very entertaining is the CareerBuilder series where everyone’s running around the jungle like some real-life version of ‘Lord of the Flies’. Very well done and extremely entertaining.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:31 am
maybe though you shouldn’t use a cheesy fake background with the overly obvious head-shadow.. please.. anyone knows this is filmed against a blue screen… and the whole desk and background is just photoshopped in.
content is fine.. but really the image is pretty lame.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
Wonderful! Andrew you are very entertaining and informative. Great ideas. I will be back for more. AND I will tell others.
I can’t think of any particular commercial that catches my attention at the moment. But I do enjoy the ones that make me laugh, especially ones with babies and animals. I absolutely loathe the ones, like car commercials, that are loud and obnoxious. “Buy now! Sale ends Monday! No money down! You can’t find a better deal” Drives me crazy! I change the channels to avoid them. It makes me want to buy elsewhere.
I agree with you. The Apple commercials are good. They are funny and smart. They don’t blast you out of the room. They actually make you want to check into their product.
I, also, agree with Michael Madden. Advertisers fail with a great commercial if they don’t imprint on your brain what the product being sold is, and who is selling it. I suggest ALWAYS saying and displaying the name of the product at the end of the commercial. I’ve noticed a lot of companies don’t do this.
Thank you, Andrew, for your website.
Deborah E.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:10 am
What ad would make me stop and take another look? My immediate response is……..SONIC!
Seriously, I may not watch much TV, but whenever I’m walking through a room and one of the SONIC ads is on, I’ll stop and enjoy a good laugh!
May 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Hi Andrew,
My favorite commercial is actually one I’ve only heard on the radio. I’ve never seen one on TV.
It’s a commercial for LifeLock.com (a company that protects you from identity theft).In it the CEO of the company, announces his Social Security number, stating he’s 100% certain his identity is safe.
He then gives you a $1 million guarantee that you identity won’t be stolen.
To me it’s a very powerful add and it worked on me since I subscribed.
Thank you for the great content in this video.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 am
Kudos, again, Andrew! I spent a year in a Masters program for Advertising and NEVER learned that little copywriting tip!
Hugh
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Speaking of tweaks in the use of language. Perhaps you shouldn’t use an offensive name like “My Business Sucks”.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Hi Andrew,
I must say this was a great video. The YouConvertIt tool is definitely a very Nifty Click. It’s going to come in very handy for me. Thanks for the great resource!
April 11th, 2010 at 11:42 am
great nifty click! I have needed something like this for a long time!
August 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Ok, I cracked up immediately w/ the AAAA shirt!