Super Ads!
Sunday is the “Big Game.” Notice that I called it the “big game” and not the Super Bowl. The NFL is so completely and utterly protective of its brand, advertisers who do not spend $5 million on a “big game” TV spot are not allowed to reference the Super Bowl in their ads. So that means EVERY client at Madison+Main will not be mentioning the word Super Bowl, because none of them decided to plop down that kind of coin for one TV spot. Why? Because we’d NEVER recommend that.
Think about it. $5 million for one TV ad. Sounds like a lot of money, right? Yes, it is, but for the right company it’s a good investment. Make a great spot and your company will soar and prosper. Make a bad ad, and it doesn’t pan out. I’ve been analyzing Super Bowl ads for almost a decade and there have been a ton of horrible flops over the years. What do the Super Bowl duds have in common? None were made by creative agencies… these companies made Super Bowl ads in house. Yep, these companies spent MILLION$ on TV air time, but never had the common sense to hire professionals to make their ads. #ooops
That reminds me, I’ll be in the studio bright and early Monday with the CBS6 Morning crew — Rob, Reba, Kristen and whoever is filling in for Nikki-Dee (she’s on maternity leave). I’ll be playing Monday Morning Quarterback and breaking down the “Best and Worst” TV ads that played during the “big game.” And Monday afternoon, I’ll join the one and only Mr. Jeff Katz on WRVA 1140 AM and 96.1 FM. Tune in!
Monday, January 29 – Homeward Bound
Last weekend the M+M team wrapped up another successful Virginia Home Show for our client Marketplace Events. I wanted to give a special shout out to show producers Bruce Evans and Dan DeJaeger, who always do a great job with the show and are so much fun to work with. Media Buyer Meredith Mason put together an awesome TV and radio campaign for them, and Communications Manager Kent Brockwell got them on almost every news program in RVA. Attendance was up again for the second year in a row! #GreatJobTeam!
M+M’s Kent Brockwell and Meredith Mason joined 103.7 Play FM’s Jack Lauterback and Melissa Chase at the Virginia Home Show last weekend.
Tuesday, January 30 – Magnificent is one of my favorite adjectives
On Tuesday morning we wrapped up a great month of speakers at the Magnificent Midlothian Rotary Club, when Richmond’s Region Tourism VP Katherine O’Donnell spoke to the region’s best Rotary club. Here are a couple of key takeaways from Katherine’s very informative presentation: RVA now has more than 900 restaurants and the tourism industry employs more than 22,000 people locally.
On Tuesday, our good friend Jeff Wicker, host of Lite 98’s Morning Show, recorded some great ads with personal testimonials for our favorite jewelry store, Vera’s Fine Jewelers. Have a listen! I think he did a MAGNIFICENT job.
Wednesday, January 31 – National Pet Dental Health Month
On Wednesday I learned that February is National Pet Dental Health Month. To celebrate I gave my Beagle Gertie a Milk Bone dog biscuit and our crack creative team made some cool graphics for Gertie’s doctor (and M+M client) Sycamore Vet.
Check out this cool infographic Graphic Designer Erin Rebmann made for Sycamore Vet to promote National Pet Dental Health Month.
In other news, my son Jack’s basketball season ended a month early, as he was diagnosed with a nasty Grade III ankle sprain, which he’ll need 8-12 weeks to fully recover from. He’s disappointed, but he took it all in stride. “I’m ok. This just gives some of the other guys who worked hard some more playing time.” #LoveThatKid
Thursday, February 1 – In other news…
On Thursday our client River City Roll got some nice coverage in Richmond BizSense, and they’re not even open for business yet. You can get a sneak peek of RVA’s latest and greatest bowling alley and live entertainment venue, and join the Madison+Main-iacs, on Wednesday, February 28.
After I recently disclosed my colon cancer scare, I have learned a lot about this terrible disease, which now is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. On Thursday, I met two really great folks who are dedicated to fighting this disease and spreading awareness about the importance of early screenings. Melinda Conklin, founder of Hitting Cancer Below The Belt (HCB2) and her husband Roger Cassem, Director of Student Activities at Manchester High School, dropped by with a basket full of healthy goodies. We were very impressed with all of the wonderful things they have been able to accomplish at HCB2, and we’re going to help them spread the word. Stay tuned for more details about upcoming events and fundraisers.
The first rule of branding is to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Introducing Sober Painting LLC.
The Calendar!
Hard Hat Happy Hour
River City Roll
February 28
Richmond BizSense’s Hard Hat Happy Hour series is ready to roll on February 28 at River City Roll! The event will run 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guests will get face time with the group behind the RCR project, along with plenty of food, beverages, and valuable schmoozing.
FC Richmond Juggle Challenge
Huguenot Park
March 5-6
Youth soccer players from FC Richmond will be putting their fanciest footwork on display for a good cause this March. The club is hosting a Juggle Challenge to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well as the club’s new soccer complex development in Moseley, VA. Stay tuned for details on how you can donate.
Friday, February 2 – Seeing… and wearing red!
Today we are wearing red for Women’s Heart Health Day, and trust me, getting the entire company to wear red is like herding cats. See, we have proof:
See? We couldn’t even get the whole group together to take a picture.
“I’ve done a number of Super Bowl ads. And that is the best advertising of the year. That is when people realize they will be compared directly against other ads.”
– Jerry Seinfeld