13 July 2010 - 20:59Advertising for the Fans

The line between public and private space in advertising is often blurred. From product placement in movies to the targeted ads in your personal e-mail account, the advertising world has become bounded only by creativity, not advertising space.  However, we can always appreciate when creativity brings advertisements into a useful utility.

Today, promoters of the new USA series “Covert Affairs,” handed out free fans to New York subway riders as they exited the station. The advertisement, a thick piece of cardboard attached to a stick, came in handy on this hot New York morning. The reverse side of the ad displays in bold font “YOUR MISSION: BECOME A FAN!”  This pun of encouraging people to become a “fan,” and use their fan reflects how far are companies willing to go to reach their audience?

Rather than simply displaying an advertisement, the advertisement becomes a part of a useful item. People seem to pay most attention to a creative and practical advertisement, because they are mutually beneficial, the advertisement gets promoted and the people get something in return.