This is such cl…

This is such clever marketing! I love when ad agencies use mediums other than print! 

An incredible use of scare tactics

I’m absolutely in love with the marketing campaign that the Vancouver Aquarium launched for their Frogs Forever exhibit. Here’s a great example of using shock tactics in marketing:

I think this is an incredible way to use something that a large portion of the population fears (spiders) to get a jolting reaction from the viewer. The viewer immediately gets the message. You immediately see the incredible purpose that frogs serve in our ecosystem. If you didn’t care about the plight of the frog before, I bet you do now.

Social Media at Work

Remember when phones only used to call people? Times have changed–and fast! Here’s an infographic I pulled from the Come Recommended blog on how social media has worked its way into our workday.

Click to Enlarge

What’s interesting to me is how many people were found to use their phones for social media. I feel like this number is high because most people carry smart phones with them and can use the internet on their phones during the day without being tracked or blocked. The creation of the 2G or 3G network allows employees to freely browse the internet without being tracked by their employer.

What’s also interesting is that this infographic claims that employees are actually happier and more productive when they’re allowed to use social media. Even digital social contact can keep employees happier, or so this infographic claims. I’m not sure large companies would subscribe to this, otherwise they wouldn’t have their IT departments block most social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

What do you think? Are you happier as an employee when you have more access to social media? Would you use personal social media less if you had free access to it? Do people who run social media as a part of their job have greater productivity because they’re connected to thousands of people and opinions on a daily basis?

Recommended Reading:

The Seven Deadly Sins of Fundraising

This is an important read not only for nonprofit organizations, but for fundraisers as well. These are just seven relatively simple things you can do to engage your donor base in a more effective way, and make sure you’re making the most of your solicitations.

An unusual design choice

I’m not entirely sure what this organization does, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with a flaming phoenix flying around the world. I came across this website today and was struck by the lack of preparation and thought that went into the logo of this organization. I’m not even entirely sure if this is the logo, but it’s the header of the website (which I cut the full name out of to protect them).

I’m struck by how many nonprofit organizations take a completely DIY approach to branding. How would this look in black and white? How about in a smaller format? What about on a billboard? Would the image hold the same impact in all formats?

This logo shows a lack of understanding, and makes the organization look foolish. It gives potential donors the impression that they don’t care about how they present themselves, and that they don’t care about the quality of their work. It is ignorant to underestimate the importance of good branding in both the business and the nonprofit sector.

When doing good…doesn’t

You may have recently seen ads for Coca-Cola featuring their promotional campaign to create awareness of the dwindling habitat of the polar bear:

In the ad, Coke mentions that it will turn its promotional cans white in honour of the polar bear. Approximately 1.4 billion cans were printed, and went into circulation. Soon after, Coke began receiving complaints about the white cans confusing customers as the silver labels are normally reserved for their Diet Coke line.

 

Because of these complaints, Coke has halted production on the frosty white cans and will distribute all remaining white cans until they are gone. This has taken away from the real message that Coke was trying to promote, which was its campaign with the World Wildlife Fund to help chart a sustainable future for one of the most important places on earth. The Arctic.

Oxfam’s American Holiday Campaign

I was recently reminded of Oxfam’s holiday campaign in the United States while browsing the internet:

These ads are such a clean, fresh approach to advertising in the nonprofit sector. I think too often because of budgetary concerns, nonprofit organizations don’t spend the time they should on investing in thoughtful branding. It’s been said that positivity works better in advertising to gain donations than negativity, and I think these ads have a pleasant balance of serious information and jovial holiday appeal.

The unique and colourful design caught my eye, and the serious messages kept my interest. I like that the ads also provide a call to action, and a clear way to contribute to the campaign. Nothing is more frustrating for a donor than wanting to make a donation, and then having to go on a wild goose chase to find a way to make that donation online.

If you’d like to learn more about Oxfam and how they  create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice, please visit their site.