ADT's TV AD

There she is walking down the hall holding some papers
and probably chewing gum and she says: I'm always so busy
doing three things at once" while sitting down and opening up
her laptop. Come on - give me a break. The ad agency could have
shown her doing actual tasks while telling the viewers about her
proud multi-tasking.
When has walking, chewing gum and talking come to mean multi-tasking???

This TV Commercial is pure dribble.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Take with Jay Clifford

Bar owner sells cupcakes

The Chase INK™ TV commercial would be better as a radio commercial.
The visual and the words just do not match. Why is she hiding behind
an ofice cubical or behind a bar? Does she own a bar and work at an office???
Is serving cupcakes so very special at a bar???

When I listened to this TV commercial - without looking at the TV -
the commercial seemed OK. It's when I look at it that I find the dialog
versus the visual disjointed.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight talk with Jay Clifford

McDonalds TV HAPPY MEAL AD

This is brilliant. With some areas banning Happy Meals, McDonalds offered the best Happy Meal prize possible -
a donation to Ronald McDonalds Home for Children. The ad calls the prize HOPE. But I call it a
great way to get around the ban on Happy Meals while doing something wonderful for kids.

McDonalds has always had the best creative, sensitive and fun TV ads.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

Ad agency's lack of creativity

Just saw the T-Mobile TV commercial. Am I the only one who sees the APPLE VS PC aTV commercial when watching this copy-cat ad?.
When an ad agency uses the identical theme, it shows me that either they are lazy or have zero creativity.
Reply to me if you agree.


And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk With Jay Clifford

Selling an impossible savings

Just saw the TV Commercial where they claim you can save $2700 a year by vacuum sealing your food. That's $225 per month savings.

How much food does the average person throw out in any month? Certainly not $225.

If you are throwing out $225 a month in food loss, then you need something more than a vacuum food sealer. You need someone to teach you how to shop for groceries.

Really, this is another TV Commercial exaggerating a ridiculous amount of money to prove a ridiculous savings.

This falls under the theme: "If you tell a lie long enough - people will begin to believe it." Don't be taken in on this product. Do yourself a favor and start buying less each time you shop. That will save you a lot of food gone to waste and reduce leftovers that spoil before being eaten.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk With Jay Clifford

2D TV Commercials

Can you imagine some of todays TV Commercials in 3D? Some of the more disgusting would make viewers switch the channel. Some face close-ups would be just too much 'in my face'. The stomach commercials would keep me from watching while eating. And the toothpaste and mouthwash commercials would make me want to 'skip forward' or turn off the my TV or phone.

And what's with wearing those red and green lens glasses. When 3D first came out, it was determined that viewing anything through those multi-colored glasses was harmful. Has anyone looked up those studies??? Or are we all to go blind just because movie companies can create the technology without regard to the safety of our eyes.?

And where is the imagination if everything is so real that you squeeze-out any chance of imagination?

I for one enjoy the 3D world we live in and will continue to watch programs in 2D.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk With Jay Clifford

Beware of things made in October

Are they kidding. That TV Commercial for the NBL is so anti-business that it should be immediately taken off the air. Really, do you think that all products made in October will have workers building products with one eye while watching baseball with the other eye??? Come on - That is just plain stupid. People without jobs and people who take the day off to watch a world series game will actually see the game live. The rest of us will are working and will watch the world series on TiVo or from re-caps in the sports section of the TV news.

This TV commercial shows that the young people who make up most of the TV advertising commercials these days are so out of touch with reality. To these young people the world is still college to them. Get Real! The world does not revolve around baseball.

Yes, it's a Billion dollar business. Yes, it's a sport game with million dollar a year+ players. But as a business model, when the best only get on base three out of ten times at bat - come on - that's a terrible success average.

Take the "beware of things made in October" TV Commercial off the air.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

Selling of obama's health plan

Correct me if I am wrong BUT hasn't this health care bill been signed into law. So why the need to re-sell it again? Maybe because over 65% of the public did not want it in the first place. Maybe because of the bribing and closed doors back-room bribes to buy votes from congresspersons. And all of the congresspersons who voted to pass the health care bill are now completely avoiding any mention that they voted for this bill.

Then there is the Andy Griffith TV Commercial. OK poor Andy probably had a stroke. And he looks like he is one of the "old" people that young people and the obama administration think should be dead. This TV Commercial is more than selling and re-selling the obama health care law, it's a way to create a bias towards seniors.

For the record, most seniors from 62 to 88 look very healthy and alert. They might seem slow to young people but a senior has less reason to jump around or hurry up. They have already spent 40 to 55 years of their lives working and doing the 'work-hussle.'

This commercial has the subliminal message that "old" people all look like Andy Griffith and that the young people should not be forced to pay into the obama health care law to pay for the seniors. HEY!!! Young people. YOU ARE BEING USED and ALL THESE SENIORS PAID INTO SOCIAL SECURITY WHILE THEY WERE YOUNGER TO PAY FOR ALL THE RETIRED PERSONS AT THAT TIME AND THOSE PERSONS ON MEDICARE. SHAKE IT OFF AND LEARN TO RESPECT YOUR ELDERS. WHY??? BECAUSE IN A FEW SHORT DECADES - YOU WILL BE A SENIOR AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE LOOKING AT YOU AND WONDERING WHY THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR YOUR MEDICARE.

AND THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT...
STRAIGHT TALK WITH JAY CLIFFORD

Direct TV's New Advertisement

Five clean cut guys sitting around a table bothering no one and the "local" waitress is pissed-off that they are watching a non-hometown game on their portable cell phones. So when one of the guys politely asks for another round of iced tea, the waitress rings-out her filthy, germ ladened, dish-rag into the tall glasses of ice tea and delivers the germ-filled glasses to the clean-cut guys - what does that say about Direct TV???

To me, the Direct TV advertisement says that it is a slimy company who will hurt you behind you back.

A very Disgusting negative TV advertisement.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

AXE - TV Commercial 1st impression

At first when I saw this TV commercial, I thought: "What man would care about cleaning his sports equipment?"
I could not figure out what the TV commercial was trying to sell. Then it hit me. They were cleaning baseballs and soccer balls. The TV advertisement for the AXE commercial was about washing balls; and quite possibly as subtle as washing men's balls. Talk about your double entendre!!!

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

MacDonalds - the good and the bad TV advertising commercials

Recently there have been two MacDonalds TV advertising commercials.

The first is with young children and it teaches these children and the audience about HOPE. A
wonderful TV commercial. Makes you want to support MacDonalds.

The second is about a pouty arrogant person who does not want to talk to anyone until he has his coffee.
You hate this character and MacDonalds for airing this TV commercial. For me, I would rather buy my coffee
elsewhere like Dunkin' Donuts - tastes great and not pretentious.
And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

Elements of a good TV Ad

There are a few standard guidelines for TV commercials that seem to meet with great acceptance of a product's targeted market.
1) Be sure your product's name gets into the TV Commercial - Seems obvious but many times I watch a TV commercial and do not know the product's name.
2) Provide a good reason or benefit for using the product.
3) Make the product stand out in a crowd of similar or competing products
4) Many times a "good feeling" TV commercial will bring the targeted audience into your trying your product.
5) Avoid anti-social actions - I see this all the time and I find the TV commercial and the product disgusting.
6) Try to fit the product to the program and its TV audience.
7) Keep all the TV commercials in the same 'theme.'
And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

Dancing fools

Anyone seen the Value City TV ads. They have people jumping around like idiots. Awkward moves are the norm. This is not just annoying, it's a channel changer for me. Whenever I see that TV ad for Value City, I change the channel. That means lost ad-impressions for all the other advertisers for that program and usually the following program on that channel.

Wise up advertisers. Ask if you will be sharing ad space with Value City before you sign on to any program to place your TV ads.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

Wrong Message

Have you seen the Pizza Hut TV ad where the child says: Winning isn't everything???
His team lost whatever game they were playing. The coach is taking them to Pizza Hut as a reward.
In life there is no reward for losing. That is a lesson every child must learn.
Getting a trophy for coming in 10th place is wrong.
It teaches children that being a loser has rewards. Losing has no rewards.
Losing is suppose to say that you have to do better.
And winning is its own special reward - with or without a pizza party afterwards.

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

Too much already

Have you seen the commercial where everything opens up into an antenna as a young woman walks by? OK, it was cute the first time and the 50th time. But, everyday on every channel. Come on!

This company has the resources to develop more than one commercial at a time. Now when I see this commercial, I turn off in my mind until its over. Do you hear me Comcast??? Your commercial is like 5-day old fish. It was tasty the first day but now it just plain stinks. Alternate the commercial with 2 or 3 other commercials at least.

And that's the way I see it,,,
Jay Clifford

Drug Company Ads

Have you noticed the increase of drug companies going
straight to the public on TV to create interest for their products?

And what about all those side effects? For depression, one drug
company claims that suicide is a side effect. Excuse me, but isn't the
reason to be taking anti-depression drugs?

And what about prostrate problems. The side effects for
surgery are de-humanizing. And the side effects for the
drugs are not much better. Now I am not a doctor. That said,
I heard a doctor suggest Cinnamon and Saw Palmetto to
shrink the prostrate.

So I tried them and they worked wonderfully. My doctor was
surprised and when I told him about what I was taking. He just
looked at me and asked why I did not take the prescription he
had given me. My only answer was that the side effects were
not acceptable.

Now, I am looking at the side effects of high blood pressure.
WOW!!! One side effect is heart attack. OK, its not that everyone
might get a heart attack from taking Dovian or Benacar (trademark
names). Its that there is the risk when there are non-drug alternatives.

SO I increased my walking exercising, reduced my raw sugar (the hardest part),
eat 85% dark chocolate, sprinkle cinnamon on my cereal in the morning
and have reduced my weight by 10% - working towards a 20% reduction
in weight from my all-time high weight. And I learned to deep breathe.
I practice deep breathing several times a day to reduce the number of times
a minute I breathe. All by itself, that lowers my blood pressure.

Would that be a prescription a doctor would give you??? No Way. The first
thing they would reach for is the prescription pad. WHY??? Because that is
how doctors are trained - by the drug companies.

Is your doctor trained in the alternative medications? Ask. Remember, it was
the AMA that said that Vitamin C gave no protection from colds. Yeah right!
It took the AMA 20 years to accept that vitamin C is beneficial. And now the AMA
is getting on the vitamin D track. They learned this from the alternative medicines
practitioners. The people in the health food stores.

So always ask your doctor if there are alternatives to any prescription they want to
give you. And always ask about the side effects...

And that's the way I see it...
Straight Talk with Jay Clifford

And the results??? My blood pressure is lower without side effects.

The Good and the Bad TV commercials

Has anyone seen the Value City TV commercial. This is an example of an annoying commercial. They have the actors prancing around in the most ridiculous manner. You wonder how badly these people need the money to embarrass themselves the way they do in that commercial. Whenever I see this commercial come on the tube, I immediately switch the channel. Maybe you do the same. And usually, I become engrossed in another program. So much for building a brand name that people want to be associated with. I cannot think of another more annoying commercial that is currently airing. Can You?

Then there is the TV commercial with one or two very young children and an announcer. He offers the first child a pony, giving that child a small plastic pony. The second child gets a real pony. The look on the first child’s face is priceless. This is a commercial I can watch and watch, They have produced 3 or 4 similar commercials with the same theme. And the looks that all these children give the announcer is priceless. However, as I am writing, the company name slips my mind. I think it’s a bank or a mortgage company. But I am not sure.

So two commercials: One is the worst commercial with the most annoying script and a company I cannot relate to. What type of person do they think I am?. The second commercial is wonderfully done and I relate to the characters and the script. However, it does not make a deep enough impression of the brand name or what the company does. All I get out of it is an adult ‘screwing’ with a child and the wonderful expressions on those children.

The best type of TV commercial remains, in my opinion, one which clearly states the concept and company name and message. This might be boring to some high-tech people, but it gets the message across.

After all, it’s about the advertiser and not the production department.

Want your TV commercial pre-screened? You know where to ask.

And that’s the way I see it…
Jay Clifford
JayClifford@att.net

Asking for the Order

Have you seen the Xerox commercial where they’re sitting around a table topped with lots of folders and the boss is saying they will stay there until they come up with a solution to save money and someone asks about the stuff on the table? This is absurd. There is no solution offered. Just that the ‘stuff’ might cost millions. Can the company do without all that ‘stuff’? Probably not. So how does Xerox think that people will come running to them for a solution to save money? Simply put, the commercial left out the most important part of advertising – A CALL TO ACTION BY THE VIEWER OF THE AD. Simply adding a drop line like:
“Call your nearest Xerox office to see how we can save you money on your printing” – will make the TV commercial a complete presentation.

Some sales professionals call it ’the close’. One of the most difficult thing to teach a new salesperson is to ASK FOR THE ORDER. The new salesperson can sometimes make a decent presentation and then stops; thinking that the potential customer will automatically request to sign some contract. Many sales are lost because the sales presentation does not include asking for the order.

Every business has its own presentation. All anyone needs to do is say something like: So how does that sound? Or Does that fit your needs? And more directly, Can we sign you up? Just a few simple words to cap off a presentation and a sure way to increase your sales.

And that’s the way I see it…
Jay Clifford
JayClifford@att.net

TV Commercials that are disturbing

TV Commercials that are disturbing

Ever watch a TV commercial and wonder what the product is? Or the TV commercial that just repeats itself?

Supposedly, management of these companies is trying to make the audience remember their product. But all they do, for many annoying TV commercials, is to make my mind go blank for 15 or 30 seconds.

Honestly, how many times have you watch the same TV Commercial and not known who the product’s maker was? For me, it happens way too many times.

Recently, a beautiful watercolor commercial shows a few dabs of paint and the flowing of the colors into a nice scene. After several viewings, it seems to me to be a car commercial. BUT what car? Which auto manufacturer? Who knows? I still do not remember the car make or manufacturer. I must have viewed that commercial over 100 times and no car name has regiatered.

What do executives that make the decision think when they create a beautiful but obscure commercial?

Now there are some auto commercials that come to mind. One is so annoying and socially wrong that it does not deserve any additional comment. It’s the ‘hit the person next to you when that brand of car comes into view’. A stranger actually hit me on the street yesterday and said the name of the car. I immediately slugged him back so hard he fell into the street. Can you imaging a crowded area where everyone hit the person next to him or her when that car came into view. Just socially unacceptable and irresponsible.

The other is where the person gets in their car and floors the gas peddle. Floors the gas peddle? What does the car-maker expect of the people who buy their cars. That is totally socially irresponsible and definitely not a “green” concept.

I understand that car-makers want to sell the sizzle and not the steak. But come on! Treating the car buyers as morons is just pathetic, is full of poor judgment and insults the public.

Why not e-mail me about a car commercial or any commercial that you feel is just terrible or irresponsible. The management of these companies need to know that they are wasting their money.

That’s the way I see it.
Jay Clifford