Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

HeadOn! Apply directly to the forehead. Repeat thrice. Become Internet meme.

The ubiquitous HeadOn ad is a 10-second destroyer of ponytail-pretenses that have gunked up the advertising industry for ages. Production values? Who needs ‘em! Persuasion? Emotion? Nah! Humor? Check. Especially if you find rubbing a gluestick on your forehead funny. I sure do.

In an interview with Slate Magazine assistant professor of marketing at Yale School of Management, Dina Mayzlin says, "Part of the charm is that it is so crude. The ad stands out in its repetitiveness. It's intriguing and breaks through the clutter."

Yes, clutter breaking. Like a fart.

That’s Badvertising at its finest. HeadOn sales are up 234% and will continue with an estimated ad budget of $30 million. Brilliant marketing I’d say. For every ad dollar spent they probably make back three because the ad gives viewers headaches, thus spurring demand.

We should expect to see two decades of homage to HeadOn ads. Axe body spray ads aren’t necessarily bad but they owe cultural debt to the B.O. (that’s Badvertising Original, what were you thinking?), Hai Karate aftershave. Sold from 1967 into the 1980s, Hai Karate’s creative strategy balanced on the notion that green gutter water could turn women into lusty cop-a-feel-a-holics. In a genius move, Hai Karate bottles even came with self-defense instructions to protect he-men from the onslaught of aroma-crazed women. Evidently the 1960s expanded the spectrum of advertising in both the good and bad direction.

Since the early 60s, the Godfather of Badvertising, Ron Popeil’s ads have littered the airwaves with their rat-a-tat, Sell-O-Matic goodness. Popeil’s first commercial costs $550 and soon appeared in 100 cities. Similar successes followed the Chop-O-Matic, the Veg-O-Matic. Mr. Microphone, Hair-in-a-can, The Pocket Fisherman, Inside-the-shell Egg Scrambler, Food Dehydrator and Showtime Rotisserie.

It got me thinking. What’s the difference between a bad ad and good Badvertising? I think it should be clear the marketer thinks it’s good, or maybe even not bad. Secondly, the script should rely heavily on mnemonics and repetition. Next, the production values have to be refreshing low and ripe for parody. Lastly, in spite of everything it has to work so well that it proves us ad snobs wrong.

The 2008 Triangle Area Addy Awards were last Friday night and there was something for everyone. Video, interactive, print, branding, advertising and PR people all had opportunities to walk up and grab some crystal awards. And the food was good too.

But to me the best part about the Addys is that you simultaneously participate as an individual, as a company, and as part of the larger creative community. People cheer because they themselves, or their company, or their friends in the larger design community get props for doing good work.

All that love brings a richness to the community. Add to that an open beer and wine bar and you get a fun evening to remember.

PS. McKinney, the areas largest firm didn't participate. While they might feel like they are beyond local competition, they are missing out on an opportuniuty to have fun and connect with their peers. Too bad for them.

Read about the awards in the News and Observer.

I had lots of fun at the 2008 Triangle Area Addy Awards in Durham last Friday night. Thanks to all the people that worked to make it a success. But I'd like to offer up some comments to the Ad Club for the 2009 show.

Make it shorter. Three hours is just too long. By the end people were getting bored. And it's not fair to the award winners at the end to have a bored, tired audience.

Give fewer prizes. Limit the number of golds and silvers that you give out. It'll heighten the meaning of each award and make it shorter at the same time.

Limit the number of times that you can enter one project. It's not fun to see the same company win five awards for the same project.