I’m a fan of Ctrl. I think it’s brilliant! I also believe that this short film series will spark a new era of branded entertainment. Using short film to capture and engage audiences isn’t exactly new. BMW films has been quite successful in gaining audiences for its short films. However, Ctrl doesn’t necessarily feature the product per se, except tangentially in the first episode and again in a later episode. Do brands have to be predominately featured to be effective engagement vehicles? Could a large CPG conglomerate such as P&G develop a series of short films that feature their products? Would we watch? I think so. Make it entertaining and engaging. It may be even a better fit for mobile devices. Enjoy!

People have been all atwitter about the AMP UP app that Pepsi developed for Apple Ipod/Iphone.  The app was designed to assist young males in their dating (or scoring) endeavors.  According to news reports, Pepsi has apologized on Twitter, “Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women. We apologize if it’s in bad taste & appreciate your feedback.”  Really?  How much do you suppose the development of this app cost?  And Pepsi didn’t foresee this fall out?  I don’t believe for a second that Pepsi is surprised by this backlash.  It’s just the sort of thing that gets your brand noticed — and it certainly resonates with its target market.  Tasteless? Sure.  On target? Absolutely.

This ad exemplifies the problem advertisers face today in really talking to their target audience. Traditional advertising spaces don’t always resonate with consumers. Whether the consumer be a person or a corporation, understanding and engagement are key to developing relationships in today’s marketing environment.

When Microsoft approved the web-based “puke” ads, I have to ask, “WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?”

Although Microsoft claims that it was simply giving their customers what they want…REALLY?  I’m thinking OMG..U. MUST. B. NUTS!