Met Row of Ads in Metro

Video is to give idea how it all works

Even Dead space speaks now !

The Metros are the much talked about topic in India and especially Delhi where every month some deadline is met to run new lines. It has been a significant source of pride for each one of us who dreams and see India progressing. The same progress has been taken many steps further. Earlier, the tunnels in which the metros were running were only dark spaces which were considerably a dead area for any action. But recently, the aggressive marketers have tapped into this dead area to advertise and to take attention of daily commuters. The concept has been into practice in UK and Europe but is brought to India recently where Kotak Life becomes first one to take on lease the stretch between Chandni Chowk and Kashmere Gate.

Termed as in-tunnel advertising, C2E Technology Labs brings the ad in dark tunnels of Delhi by collaborating with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and with support of Submedia which is a US based company that has patented the technology for this kind of communication. Earlier there was no technology for utilizing this area because of fear of fire and considering the safety norms. But with technology killing all challenges came up with “Reverse Film” application wherein the thought was to reverse the way audience watch a movie sitting still in the theatres and the film rolls. For in-tunnel advertising, it is the other way with audience rolling and the film is fixed. So the steel made display boxes with dimensions of 1.2m -1.4m in length and 25-40cm in thickness are installed on the tunnel walls which can house the images of ad. The images are placed frame to frame and are lit by the fluorescent tubes placed inside. The boxes are laser cut and keep into account the distance between the audience and image boxes , the speed of train when in front of particular box and therefore the boxes are calibrated for each transit system. Besides metros, elevators and escalators use the similar methods to capture audience attention on a go.

Kotal Life has a 15 sec spot just before it enters Kashmere Gate station when passengers are attentive looking out getting ready for the exit. In the darkness of tunnel, it is almost impossible to miss notice the sudden glow of images. For this 15 seconds ad, 180 panels are put over 200 metre of distance. With over four lakh commuters every day, it is certainly capturing masses and getting noticed where least expected definitely leads to increase brand awareness and brand recognition. Besides these, large portion of commuters are the one for whom this is a daily routine and hence looking at it everyday surely enhances the brand recall. The audience is not distracted with anything else and has no choice of changing the view so they are forced to look and know about the brand. Moreover, it is considerably a cheaper affair than broadcasting a movie ad over television where you are dependent on viewers interest to get noticed. Besides the brand itself, it also leads to a source of revenue for DMRC.

Credit it to technology, marketers, creativity, adaptability, versatility, but surely way to go in advertising.

No escape from advertisements!

Paint is No Magic

Ad By: Ogilvy & Mather

Asian Paints make Magicians sweat !

When we think of paints, we think about the kind of paint, the texture, the shades, the looks, and also we think how long lasting it would be. There are few paints in the market who use bollywood actors for endorsement, others who use kids and few others who use the family. Who so ever endorses the paint but the common element in all of them is "Ghar". Though paint is a need of every infrastructure around us but still almost every paint company shows their paint as an important element of making "home only". In India, paint is not only the timely necessity but also about bringing new life and light. For same reasons, majority of Indian families get into painting their homes during festival season of Diwali. The new look of house is a family affair wherein everyone gets together to decide on paint type and on colors. But at the same time, Indian families are hardly into painting their homes themselves rather they hire external people for doing this job and generally these people themselves suggest the type of paint or paint brand. Amidst this, it is not so necessary to show the paint brand as a "home" building thing and to show that how affectionately families paint their houses "themselves".

May be to take the paint to next step and to show that it is much bigger than just building home, Asian Paints got into advertising their Apex Ultima paint by showing a huge castle. The ad begins with an introduction of a great magician who comes in front of audience with a claim that he would make castle disappear. He shouts "Aabra ka dabra" and the cloth is dropped on floor only to find that a structure of castle is still standing behind him. Everyone is perplexed and confused when he went to touch the wall and realized that its just the paint. Though the idea is indeed striking and different but when you have to verbally announce everything and tell that they are trying to show a particular thing then the whole creativity goes in vain. No idea is great if it has to be explained and is not self explanatory. If a gentleman needs to announce that the person is a famous magician, if a lady has to tell that he is gonna make castle disappear and if another lady needs to explain in the end that its just the paint then the idea is not executed. If the actions in itself would have explained what is happening in that huge set up then that would have really been a great idea with even better execution. The USP of paint is its long life and thats certainly conveyed in the ad but i am not sure if anyone observes the ad completely in first view. It is able to take attention only when it is seen more than once or twice. 

The ad is though conceptually very strong but is not convincing enough. Moreover when magician is shown worried that his magic trick has failed and later he wipes the sweat over his forehead, it gives a negative vibe. Also, the audience today is learned and educated, they know what magic is all about and understand the truth behind it so showing them a magician doing this trick, it is worth thinking that what worth it shows of the product. Asian Paints holds a benchmark when they came with ad having "Sunil Babu". That ad is still remembered for its simplicity and for a subtle humor it carried. They always had superb ideas and concepts but may be in rush of giving higher claims they are taking themselves for granted and missing on execution.

Magicians is surely not the target market segment. 

Is It Marketing? - IIM Jobs

Ad By: Compilation of Team (IIMJobs)

What to market on job portal?

Every job seeker and job doer is aware of IIM Jobs today. And possibly major traffic it draws is from post graduates. The job portal differentiates itself from other job portals because of the kind of jobs it shares. Its not just another pool of jobs from companies and consultants but rather a site where top headhunters post the job profiles and mostly for post graduates or experienced people. The layout of site is also very user friendly as it creates no chaos, is hassles free and gives you just what you want with jobs conveniently categorized. There is no need to define your own parameters for job search or to define which location is preferable. Its just the category and everything is in front of you to chose with complete details. The popularity of job is seen from the no. of hits it shows. What you need is simply present and you don't have to get irritated with useless things given.

With such great understanding of your audience why you need to put advertisement on the side columns which are most irrelevant to the audience. The audience is well learnt, well experienced and well informed. It needs to be understood that they are not teenagers who have just graduated and are not sure of their career path of about their choices in life. These people are really not seeking an MBA degree that they should be told about any institute which can make them "MBA". These people are on the website because they are seeking job and not because they should be told that they must take their career to "next level" by enrolling in some course. To some extent, it makes sense to share about the courses on such sites but then the job portal should maintain its USP by making sure what and which course is being highlighted. Probably sharing about short term or part time courses would be more insightful for the audience than to make them realize that you are in need of some change and not in need of addition. Adding to your profile is more convincing than changing your profile. 

Besides the logical aspect, there is an emotional aspect which should be kept into consideration while you are dealing with consumers who are either unemployed or wrongly employed. How exciting it would be for them to see that they have a site from where they can gift their loved ones. Gifting "Valentine Gift Hamper" in month of March showing a teddy that says "I Love You". Is it to add humor that your current job scene might take your loved one away so better gift them something and secure future? Definitely not. When audience is browsing for finding a job they are definitely in no mood of showing their love for anyone. Instead of buying that gift from that website they would pool that money with some consultant at that time. 

Definitely dont market emotions !

High RIN @ Low TIDE

Ad By: Scion Brand Incubation

Ad is to tell or sell?

On Friday (beginning of weekend), all eyes were widened to see ad from HUL for their brand Rin in which they do more than direct comparison with their competitor P&G brand Tide (Tide Natural rather). The ad not only speak the product attributes of Tide which they claim but also hit their marketing theme of "Chauk gaye?" by making the kid speak in end "Ye aunty kyu chauk gayi". When such comparison is being made, the ones who were ignorant about Tide features earlier, they also now know that Tide is about better whiteness, contains fragrance. In about 30 seconds of ad, 25 seconds are given to show "Tide Natural" and only last 5 seconds tell that ad is actually about "Rin". The rivalry between these two brands is on since long when HUL reduced its price by 10-15% percent when Tide was offering 20% extra washing powder. However, here HUL is clearly making comparison with Tide variant "Tide Natural" which is comparative to the Rin price. But this variant comparison is not so prominently noticed in the ad. 

When the market is so cluttered with brands and their promotions then it is unethical on a consumer part to give his verdict if some campaign is ethical or not. There are judicial bodies to frame the laws and to lay fundamentals which define the ethnicity. ASCI (Advertising Standards Council of India) has defined a code of conduct and if a brand is adhering to them then the onus is entirely on consumer to decide whats wrong and whats right. 

HUL has aptly put everything in place by adhering to the facts and also by mentioning "Schematic representation of superior whiteness is based on Whiteness Index of Rin Vs Tide Naturals as tested by Independent Lab" in the footer of the ad which proves they have their facts clear well in place. Also, the timing of the ad has been appropriately chosen on a Friday when weekend starts. Though they have not missed any legal obligation but they remain aware that P&G would surely take them to court. But before the court reacts and hearings start the ad is already spread across consumers by its repetitive forecast over the weekend. 

In past there has been many such instances of comparison- the famous Complan & Horlicks rivalry, global ad for comparison of Apple and PC using Microsoft. Certain indirect comparison we see today for Onida where they playing with words mention about Nokia "No Kia". When there is so much cut throat competition, there is nothing like ethical or unethical in marketing yourself. But the entire purpose of any campaign is to convince your consumer to buy your product. HUL certainly conveys to consumer here that their product is better than the competitor but also if leaves behind a very negative feeling for such old brand "Rin". They exist in the market from the times when there was hardly any competition so certainly they have better ways to communicate their worth than by themselves saying that they are trying to fight with new competition in market. The advertising is getting so creative now that the giant like HUL could have devised a more creative out of the box way to reach its consumers. Comparative marketing is rather turning into negative marketing. 

Sales report awaited !

Juhi ka Raj in Rajma

(Video includes making of ad too)

Ad By: JWT

Its all in the Family !

Think of Kurkure and probably you wont think of its taste first but would visualize Juhi and a fun colorful dramatic scene. Fritolays says "Tedha hai par mera hai" whenever they share a story for Kurkure. Thats true for the product (Kurkure) which is twisted in shape but is owned and eaten with fun. Similarly, the target audience for Kurkure is entire Indian family. The family which has got all kinds of twists in its members and is constituted of all such "tedhe" members. But whatever be the type, the members still remain the members and thats what makes it "my family". So here again "Tedha hai par mera hai" holds true. This similarity in its product and its audience is possibly the USP for Fritolays which is presented in its communication. Juhi Chawla, a renowned female actor who is also a family women indeed acts as a best suited brand ambassador. 

Now kurkure comes with a new flavor of Rajma which is considered to be the best special food in North India and specifically in Punjabi families. So the obvious choice for presenting it becomes to show it in a Punjabi way. Punjab is known for its fun filled living style and is thus most closely related to bollywood. So all that mixed brings on our screens the new Kurkure Rajma ad. The ad is shot in location near to Gurgaon (NCR, India) where they have field as found in Punjab. It begins with a scene in house where few guests have come and the elder lady of house is doing everything possible to be the best host of world. She offers them Kurkure Rajma mentioning that special snack is for special guests at home. This is to show that like Rajma is generally a special food in front of guests likewise is Kurkure rajma. While showing this set up, special attention has been given to very minute details. Like the way elder lady (Juhi) sits with her feet over other knee, the way guest lady is indifferent and sceptical about what other lady is offering, the way the guest speaks to lady asking whats so special in the snack, everything has been given typical bindaas punjabi attitude. The fun of looking at Juhi in that get up reaches the peak when a call out for "Ma" is heard and she goes running in the field. The excitement of meeting son makes her run further ahead and she hugs scare-crow. Also while she is running, people following her carry an umbrella with "Ma" written over it. And the other side Raj acting like Raj from Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge movie wears jacket with "Raj" written on it. It is to make visible that "Raj" and "Ma" are coming together. They hug, they get togther, "Raj" and "Ma" join together to become "Rajma" popping the packet of Krukure Rajma. Its so dramactic and dumb that even knowing that how baseless and without meaning it is you don't miss to crack with laughter.

There are few brands who take the endeavor to show themselves as dumb, funny and dramatic. These brands possibly don't get into campaigning for selling their product but rather they just get into brand recall acts. Kurkure is definitely one such brand who doesn't compare itself with any other snack variant but just tell that its fun to enjoy the product with your family.

Drama ! Twists ! Kurkure ! Family !

Dirty Dancing / Eating

Ad By: Ogilvy & Mather

Temptation of silk !

Yet another effort from Cadbury to show that how "Meetha" plays a role in celebrating happiness. Through all its communications till now, Cadbury has tried to tell that the chocolate or their chocolate is part of celebrations in life. However they have somehow confined it into small boxes for special occassions like being happy on 1st day of month for getting salary, being happy after getting compliment from boss, being happy to give first dance performance on stage. The concept of celebrating happiness is similar to what Coke adheres itself to. But what coke says is much more pleasing that how happiness lies in every small moment of life unlike Cadbury for which happiness is about significant occassions.

The campaign is put across through two TVCs. One, where guy is happy after his boss has complimented him for the wonderful celebration. Indeed, there cannot be a happier moment than this. In the conference room, he takes out his silky chocolate and starts relishing it. He gets strains of his shirt, he gets call from his wife but he ignores it all and continues to relish it. The purpose is very obvious that they want to tell you would forget everything when havin this chocolate and would enjoy it like a baby messing up everything on and around you. If this is how they show it, how encouraging or tempting it would be for anyone to have it in their office where they know they would make mess having it. Second, where girls are heading towards the stage for giving their first bharatnatyam performance. They are so excited about it that they want to cherish the moment by relishing the chocolate. Mess again ! The chocolate is all over. First girl is waiting on stage waiting for other two to follow. How encouraging or tempting it would be to have the chocolate in such situation when you see that it might just spoil your much awaited moment.

Although the idea cadbury is trying to put across is understandable that their is cuteness in having the chocolate. But leaving aside the practical flaws mentioned above, the guy in boss's cabin and girl backstage doesn't look that cute either. It comes as if they are forcibly trying to look cute by just messing it up on their face, hands, clothes. All the more, what they show is not even true. The chocolate in actual is nowhere that silky to melt like what they show. Its like any other normal chocolate. May be if cadbury moves to a next step or leaves altogether their previous stand and shows how chocolate is delight in depression then may be they do something different with a real difference.

Mess of chocolate milk !

Back 4 ur Back

Ad By: DraftFCB Ulka

Jobs are back ! Show ur back to boss !

Who could miss the Naukri.com advertisement saying Jobs are back. The reason could be anything- victims of recession (Seriously !), the worst boss on earth, or just "Hari Sadu". The comeback of ad is huge than comeback of jobs. The first ad from Naukri.com came in 2006 when an employee assists his boss communicating his name by telling its full form. The ad was appropriately set across the very much reason for most of the people to leave their jobs. Majority of people want to quit their job because they find their boss to be  "Hitler" "Arrogant" "Rascal" "Idiot".

This time the ad comes back with same theme explaining how ruthless the boss is but more than that it brings along a celebration. The celebration of New year, to bid bye to recession and to celebrate that jobs are back. The ad was released first online and then was taken on television. This seems to be an interesting act as the audience and consumers for Naukri.com are precisely the online people so thats the most suitable medium to connect with them. Probably, earlier when Hari Sadu was launched, it was not noticed so much but when it comes back again, it makes further more hilarious and is further more noticed and further more talked. Whenever job portal is advertised, it is more of serious business and shows that how they help in our career path or to gain better salaries but unrealized fact is that an employee might just carry on with his job if he has a superb boss. There is hardly any employee who skips making fun of his boss. With example of Hari Sadu, might just be possible that now every boss is having varied full forms with their doors closed.

Its funny, its witty, its interesting, its registered, its definitely everything that "Hari Sadu" is not.

Jobs & Hari Sadu come back ! How unfortunate for Hari Sadu