If some random dude walked up to you 20 years ago, and told you that in the not to distant future you would have a packet-sized, voice controlled camera/calendar/flash light/music player/messenger/game console/remote/ map of the whole world, with more processing power than NASA, you would probably have them admitted for a very urgent psych evaluation. Skip forward to today and everyone takes their pocket-sized wonders of technology for granted. The modern age develops at a truly alarming rate, so why is it that the world of advertising is dominated by what is essentially a one hundred year old technology. Although Television has an un-doubtable reach and impact on most demographics, I think its high time advertising focus spreads to something a bit more innovative…I mean it is the 21st century after all.
Tatvertising
They might be the plight of fathers with teenage daughters, the world over, but tattoos needn’t be an identifier for people in gangs, the mainstream acceptance of tattoos means that they have eked out tiny niche for themselves in advertising.
Tatvertising (no I did not make that up) is a new form of advertising, that just a little more permanent than the average billboard. The basic formula for tatvertising is rather simple…person loves brand (or needs money)…person gets brands tattoo…person gets paid…and voilà instant buzz around you brand, much like the recent media storm around the girl with the-literal- dragon tattoo.
Viral Video
You know that feeling when you’re zoning out on the funniest youtube video and out of the blue some guy is suddenly telling you about the latest washing powder from omo? Well those intrusive online ads are thanks, in part to the rise of viral video advertising. The rise in popularity of video streaming websites like youtube, means that brands are clamoring to become flavor of the month on online video platforms. The difficulty with cracking the viral video game is in the fact that unlike tv advertising, viral video needs to go beyond merely telling people about your brand, you need to create content which is compelling enough for people to want to share it.