Ummm... you're welcome?

As a Creative Director, I really kind of hate Google Adwords. It's as if advertising had been invented by — and for — robots. With all of our training in concept, art direction, copywriting and even font choice, we now find ourselves reduced to writing a text-only haiku with a URL at the end.

Not to imply that Google AW are an ineffective medium. They're quite the opposite, and "smart" or "social" ads like them are here to stay. Which is why I find myself using horrible texting slang and prince-like "4U" language just to get the point across.

Which is why it seems ironic that Google has created this long, awkward and horribly paced "thank you" ad in glorious video for all the advertisers who have made them the reigning gods of teh internets.


Google Adwords - Thank You from PostPanic on Vimeo.

But like Google itself, the ad takes as well as gives.You'll never get that time back.

(via I Believe in Advertising)

We're so vain...

You bet we think this ad is about us. But if I were a creative Big Man like Gerry Graf, David Droga, Tony Granger, Ian Reichenthal or Scott Vitrone, my ego would be well justified.

Copywriter Alec Brownstein pioneered new ground in flattering Creative Directors' egos by purchasing their names on Google Adwords for pennies per click. His pitch: ”Googling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun too” with his contact link. Total cost: $6

And guess what? He nailed them performing the search engine version of self-love. Gerry Graf, David Droga, Ian Reichenthal and Scott Vitrone offered him interviews. The latter two hired him at Y&R New York.



The vanity campaign also won him a Clio.

Moral of the story: the most successful creatives have none :)