Hello Inspiration

Hello Inspiration is a collection of daily internet links. No text, no opinionated rants just image links to the best of web. The blog is open to the public, simply email Helloinspiration@gmail.com for an invite. Check it out at Hello Inspiration

Househub

Scripted web video sunk to a new low when the U.S. Government opened an account on Youtube. Youtube really? America considers itself one of the most technologically advance nations in the world and our government finds it necessary to toy around in the 3rd world of internet video sites? Watch for over scripted and outdated buzz words such as "Transparency" "Orginal Content" and "Social Media". Is it January 20th yet?

Youtube Hillifier

We're digging the The Benny Hillifier. Add the Benny Hill Yakety Sax to any youtube video. Just enter the youtube video ID (the code after the "=" in the URL) into the box and blamo! hilarity ensues. Check out the one we made this morning.

The Elephant in the Chatroom

Wired has published an article on their website that finally, FINALLY, confronts the 500lbs. elephant in the room when it comes to advertising on social networking sites. To paraphrase, it's invasive and it doesn't work. For the last five years, "Social Networking" has taken the place of "Viral" as the most overused buzzword in your company's marketing department and today, Wired reported on what any network user could have told you all along, that just because users are willing to volunteer information about themselves does not mean that they welcome that information to be used to bombard them with marketing messages. Speaking at a digital marketing conference in Cincinnati recently, Procter & Gamble's head of interactive marketing and innovation, Ted McConnell stated...

“Consumers weren’t trying to generate media. They were trying to talk to somebody…. We hijack their own conversations, their own thoughts and feelings, and try to monetize it...What in heaven's name made you think you could monetize the real estate in which somebody is breaking up with their girlfriend?”

Cheers Ted!

Read the entire article here.

Taxi Cafe

Vancouver--For a long time now there has been a shift in the marketing tactics of companies who are moving away from simply advertising their product or service in favor of aligning their brands with particular lifestyle choices (think Mac vs. PC). A couple of weeks ago we covered the opening of BK Studios here in Chicago in which Burger King has desperately attempted to buy themselves into a subculture with their burger-free art loft. Now comes word that advertising agency, Taxi is getting in on the act by opening Taxi Cafe. I know what you're thinking, "But I work at an Ad agency and we have a coffee bar..." except your coffee bar is most likely hidden away on the 16th floor and exists only to impress clients and serve slacking employees where as Taxi Cafe is situated at street level and serves not only to impresses clients (the cafe itself is decorated with successful Taxi ad campaigns) and serve the occasional employee (no word on the discounts yet) but Taxi Cafe is 100% open to the public (you know, that bizarre outside population of consumers, agencies are supposed to uh, be able to interact with?).

via Ad Pulp

Unbranding 101

Burger King Studio: Wicker Park, Chicago


Quarter Pounder: Shibuya, Tokyo

On oct. 12 BK Studio opened in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood at 1904 W. North Ave. A kind of artist's loft/think tank/art space blah blah etc. packed with things the kids are supposed to be into these days like DJ's, silk screen T-shirts, and sneakers. Noticeably absent, were actual Burger King burgers. Now comes word that McDonald's, not to be outdone, has opened "Quarter Pounder," in Tokyo's Shibuya neighborhood. The ultra modern eatery is almost entirely devoid of McDonald's branding even going as far as serving traditional McMeals in unbranded packages. The whole thing smacks of a "Denny's All Nighter" debacle. More information on Mcdonald's Quarter Pounder can be found courtesy of Neil Duckett in Tokyo.

Saved By Gimmicks

There has been a lot of talk within the industry lately about how people find Toyota's Saved By Zero ads so irritating. It's legitimate, the ads combine an ear-bleeding jingle with lame computer animation of Toyota vehicles rotating around a giant 0%. But for me, and at least a few others out there, Charles Schwab's rotoscope ads are even worse. Chuck Schwab is my Saved By Zero. Why? Because rotoscoping went out of fashion and was only briefly interesting in 2001. It was visually bland then and it's visually bland now. Combine Rotoscoping with depressing financial whining and you get a cringe inducing spot. During a time where everyone has something to complain about when it comes to finances, the last person I want to hear it from is charles Schwab. For this reason, watching this morning's episode of 3min Ad Age was particularly difficult.

via The Ad Feed.

Originally I had credited the Saved By Zero Ads to Ford, they are actually from Toyota. Thanks for the correction Andrew.

STOP

Enough already. This goes for The Beatles Abbey Road cover and all people, places, animals or things in KISS make up. Just stop it.

I Heart Branding

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most recognized branding campaigns in history. The I Love NY campaign first ran in 1977 and featured Frank Sinatra, Morgan Fairchild and Yul Brenner proclaiming their love for the state of New York (not the city) even though some of the celebrities featured in the ads, Sinatra included, were not from New York state at all. ad agency Wells Rich & Green designed the campaign to revitalize the New York economy and that it did as new york tourist continue to hand over wads of cash to clothing stands up and down Broadway. Today, the concept behind the branding effort has been carried over from everything from drugs, fast food, sports and anything else you care to "heart". Happy 30th anniversary consumer slogan.

A Million Little Batteries

It's summer in Chicago and Chi-town has gone moped crazy! It's a fact. Just when R-kelly's Trapped in the Closet was loosing it's pop-value steam the Hollywood Holt have picked up the slack of awsomely ridicules Chicago trends. Don't believe us? The new moped store down the street has been open since May...and it's still open.