Week 3: EOC Creative Thinking

What makes a company stand out? In today's market, competition is fierce. Ads use every persuasive tool available to reach their target audience. There is one component, however, that puts a company above all others. Creativity will make an audience remember an ad. The way it made them feel...the memories it makes them recall. "Creativity has always been at the heart of business, but until now it hasn’t been at the top of the management agenda. By definition the ability to create something novel and appropriate, creativity is essential to the entrepreneurship that gets new businesses started and that sustains the best companies after they have reached global scale." https://hbr.org/2008/10/creativity-and-the-role-of-the-leader In order to create something "novel," you have to leave someone with a lasting impression. Whether it be a positive or negative impression, it still sticks in the audience's head. To come up with such an impactful message, one must think outside the box. "Creative people tend to be intrinsically motivated — meaning that they’re motivated to act from some internal desire, rather than a desire for external reward or recognition. Psychologists have shown that creative people are energized by challenging activities, a sign of intrinsic motivation, and the research suggests that simply thinking of intrinsic reasons to perform an activity may be enough to boost creativity." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/04/creativity-habits_n_4859769.html Creative individuals keep open minds. "Creative people love to expose themselves to new experiences, sensations and states of mind — and this openness is a significant predictor of creative output." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/04/creativity-habits_n_4859769.html They love a challenge. "They devise new ways to carry out tasks, solve problems and meet challenges.  Creative thinkers bring a fresh and sometimes unorthodox perspective to their work.  They think "outside the box" and can help departments and organizations to move in more productive directions." https://www.thebalance.com/creative-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063744 At the end of the day, there is one proven method to successful advertising: creative thinking. "The most successful executives are inspiring leaders, smart strategists—and creative thinkers. Across every business function, creativity is central to solving complex problems, developing new strategies, facilitating innovation, and driving change within the organization." https://www.extension.harvard.edu/professional-development/programs/creative-thinking-innovative-solutions-complex-challenges?gclid=CNDVlPLe3dECFZyCswodijYHPw 

Week 2: EOC Questionable Ethics

Obviously they aren't referring to the vodka going down. Her face looks like she's being forced against her will and he looks like he's enjoying her struggle. Depicting a rape is not only unethical but a real life issue with women in any bar scene. Predators lurk around every corner looking for susceptible victims and maybe Belvedere is partially to blame.

This one especially pisses me off because I am a fitness advocate and have personally been subject to sexist remarks in the gym. First of all, men aren't the only ones who belong in the gym. This ad is unethical because it objectifies women and further condones men feeling like they can treat women poorly.

This ad is unethical because it is using sex to promote its product. Although subliminal messages do exist in advertising, this ad shows a girl only gets the ring if she opens her legs. That is a pretty blatant depiction of a chauvinistic pig. Women see this ad and think the only way they will get the guy is if she sleeps with him. Personally, I think this ad is disrespectful and immoral.

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

My name is Sandy Gettes and I am passionate about all things marketing. I love to express my creativity and have a genuine interest in people. My enthusiasm for traveling has brought me to see different sides of the world, from China to Spain, all across the U.S. and a near-future trip to Africa. I always have a positive attitude and love making connections. I'm charismatic and resourceful, diligent and hard working. I've spent the last 10 years working in the hospitality industry, developing professional level communication as well as meeting thousands of people from all over the world. I've had the opportunity to fine-tune my sales techniques by learning and practicing with industry leaders. I've been exposed to a multitude of marketing strategies and met an abundance of marketing experts. My experience in Las Vegas has lead me to interact with the best of the best. With hard work and dedication, I know I'll be able to develop the skills to be a marketing master.

Week 1 EOC: VW Lemon Ad

What is the meaning and importance of the 1961 "Lemon" Volkswagen Beetle ad? "Give the World a "Lemon"...showing a car on a plain background was unheard of. But to refer to your new car as a "lemon" was an in-your-face act of daring on the part of the agency, and an act of courage on the part of the client. As closer inspection of the ad's copy revealed, a scratched chrome plate on the glove compartment made an entire car unfit for shipping. The stunning visual and self-deprecating copy had an appeal absent from other ads. They were disarmingly simple. And effective."  http://www.ddb.com/BillBernbachSaid/why_bernbach_matters/revolutionary-work/ Depicting the German car as a "lemon" challenged those who viewed the ad to believe in perfection. To claim that just because the glove compartment was tarnished, the car had to be sent back into production convinced many people that such scrutiny was the absolute standard. People love consistency. "VW inspectors run each car off the line onto the Funktionsprüfstand (car test stand), tote up 189 check points, gun ahead to the automatic brake stand and say "no" to one VW out of fifty. This preoccupation with detail means the VW lasts longer and requires less maintenance, by and large, than other cars. (It also means a used VW depreciates less than any other car.) We pluck the lemons; you get the plums."http://www.powerwriting.com/vw-lemon-ad.html By setting the bar so high, VW believed they were supplying the world with a top of the line, high quality product that even time couldn’t affect the value. "In 1960, giving a German car a lovable personality meant breaking all the rules—not just for car advertising, but for advertising in general. That task fell to the art director, Helmut Krone, and to Julian Koenig, his copywriter partner. Playing to the simplicity of the product was a practice unfamiliar to DDB’s contemporaries. But DDB’s VW ads introduced us to a car that would come to symbolize anti-establishment and common sense." http://www.printmag.com/featured/legends-in-advertising-bill-bernbach/ Even today, seeing a modern beetle, my initial reaction is "Awe." Volkswagen used Pathos as a persuasive tool to tug at the heart strings of their audience and make it a relatable brand and convince the general public that they could trust their judgement.