Inspiration

Great marketing inspires me. I love seeing an ad campaign or a marketing stunt that is innovative or just plain smart. What is especially interesting is when great marketing happens by accident. Or, something triggers an emotional nerve that most people don't associate with marketing.

This week my inspiration was low. I wasn't seeing a lot of new things that made me want to shout, "Hey, look at that!" I was going into a meeting on Wednesday and I was bothered. I had inspiration block, a marketer's version of writer's block. I looked for it on television, at an ice cream shop, on the web; all the normal places I would usually find inspiration. Did you notice that I hadn't posted on my blog for several days? I would sit in front of my computer and stare at the Blogger screen and try to let the thoughts flow. But nothing.

On Wednesday at 10:30am I had a company marketing meeting. Every couple of weeks I try to get everyone at the company to open their eyes and ears to marketing. The way I do. I want everyone to get as much of a rush out of new ideas as I do. But I was going into this meeting uninspired myself. How can I inspire others if I am not inspired?

It was around 10am and I was running late. I'm always running late these days because I stay home a little extra time in the morning to help Denise out with Brandon. I was later than usual today because I kept staring at Brandon hoping inspiration would come from him. He's so innocent. So unphased by the world. No advertising campaign has shaped his thoughts or actions yet. Can you imagine a time in your life where you were not influenced by some form of ad campaign? When you brushed your teeth and didn't think of Colgate or washed your hair and didn't imagine an Herbal Essence ad. But it still didn't come.

As I pulled up to my office and got out of my car, I noticed an unfamiliar Chrysler parked in front of our gate. There was the most gorgeous Dalmation in the backseat.

That's it!

Dogs... wait, pets.. animals... and babies. People love animals and babies!

I remembered being on YouTube recently and searching the most watched videos of all time. #14, titled, "HaHaHa" and viewed over 37 Million times! A 100 second clip of a baby laughing.



And this. My friend Jay has a little pug named "Stella." A year ago he filmed the puppy on his cell phone and posted it to his MySpace page. A handful of his friends saw the video, made fun of him (of course), and that was that. A little over 3 weeks ago someone grabbed his video and re-posted it. In 24 days over 200,000 people have seen this video.

MySpaceTV Videos Stella the pug


Why? Why do we love babies and animals? Ok, that is a stupid question.

Note to self: When possible, use animals and babies in next creative marketing campaign!

So it makes sense why most of the most loved commercials during this year's Superbowl featured animals and yes, even a baby.

Top 10 Commercials as ranked by various publications:

Per AOL Sports user ratings...
1 Budweiser: "Rocky"- (The horse)
2 Bridgestone: "Squirrel"
3 Coca-Cola: "Balloons"
4 E-Trade: "Baby II"
5 Life Water: "Thriller" (Dancing Lizards)
6 E-Trade: "Baby"
7 NFL.com: "SuperAd"
8 Pepsi: "Justin Timberlake"
9 Doritos: "Mouse Trap"
10 FedEx: "Pigeons"

Per Ad Age...
1 NFL.com: "SuperAd"
2 Budweiser: "Rocky"
3 Coca-Cola: "Balloons"
4 Bridgestone: "Squirrel"
5 Doritos: "Mouse Trap"

Per USA Today readers...
1 Budweiser: "Rocky"
2 FedEx: "Pigeons"
3 Bridgestone: "Squirrel"
4 Doritos: "Mouse Trap"
5 Bud Light: "Fire Breathing Man"