Saturday, November 19, 2011

10 Everyday Advertising Terms

Every moment is part of a learning curve in our existence. Isn't it? These words could be very new to some of you, second nature to many others in advertising and something to keep in mind as part of general awareness because of the co-existing nature of today's work culture. Whether you are in HR, or in Finance or in Operations or an intelligent Techie, it is still good to be aware of what jargons your advertising department speaks for you don't want to get lost in translation at a cooler chat or coffee break or more importantly at an office general meeting.

So here are a few words as part of my first in the series of new words in advertising:

1. A “WILD SPOT” is for UNLIMITED use in as many cities, on as many stations for any number of airings. When your “WILD SPOT” airs you are paid the USE RATE based on the number and size of those cities. Source: http://www.voiceoverresourceguide.com

2. A "TIE-IN" is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property. Tie-ins are a form of cross-promotion used primarily to generate additional income from that property and promote its visibility. Source: wikipedia.org

3. "SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING" sub.lim.i.nal is a concealed appeal to consumers’ unconscious awareness to buy a product. Source: motto.com
Note: Promotional messages the recipient is not aware of, such as those played at very low volume or flashed on a screen for less than a second. Its effectiveness is not supported by scientific evidence, and its use is considered a deceptive business practice in some jurisdictions. Source: http://www.businessdictionary.com

4. "SOFT SELL" is an advertising and sales practice denoting subtle language and a non-aggressive technique. Source: www.investopedia.com

5. "SNIPING" is the act of pasting up outdoor posters over billboards or on empty structures, walls, and traffic poles, often without permission. Source: motto.com

6. "DRIVE TIME" are the hours covered when the most listeners are commuting. During "drive time," radio advertising costs more because of increased number of listeners.
In radio broadcasting, the morning and evening hours are when listeners commute the most, from 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., Mondays through Fridays everywhere in the world except in the middle-east where it is Sundays through Thursdays.

7. "REMNANT SPACE" is unsold space in a print publication or unsold banner impressions on a Web site. Remnant space is typically sold at a discount to the publication or site's rate card. Source: MarcommWise.com

8. "ADVERTORIAL" ad.ver.to.ri.al An advertisement that has the appearance of a news article or editorial, in a print publication. Source: about.com; An advertisement promoting the interests or opinions of a corporate sponsor, often presented in such a way as to resemble an editorial.

9. "MAGALOG" is a multi-page direct mail piece that resembles a magazine and includes samples of typical issue content, as well as promotional copy and an order device.
Source: magazine.org

10. "DOG AND PONY SHOW" (colloquial) is an elaborate pitch or presentation of an advertising campaign. Source: motto.com; These days, your meaning of the phrase is the usual one: an elaborate briefing or visual presentation, usually for promotional purposes. Writers in recent decades have applied dog and pony show pejoratively to military briefings, political speeches and photo opportunities as well as to sales pitches. Source: worldwidewords.org

Monday, November 14, 2011

Children's Day was "artists day" my whole childhood life

Hello there folks!

It has been a long one month away from my dear blog here. Thanks to a busy October! Though I have been on my official twitter every other day micro-blogging.

Just as my twitteroids rolled out today, I realised the urgent need to send out this very important message to all of you.

Today, the date 14th of November will never fade away for the life of me! Ask me why!!






My family instilled in me the concept of healthy competition on this day every year for my first 15 years, growing up. Today I realise how important that learning experience was. On the realisation that art became my daily bread, they understood that there is no life I would choose outside of it, so they went along with my madness should I say? ;o) (starting off as a toddler scribbling on the walls and floors of our home. In modern days that could easily pass off as murals eh?) My folks packed me off on every 14th November to child art contests. Though I have heard critical comments about children getting used to contests, I find there is a useful side to it important for a 6-10 year old. It is not the thought of getting ahead of someone else but to get a handle to analyse where we stand within our competition. Today I am able to gauge myself as a professional, to see where I stand in the competition. I am able to see my strengths and weaknesses, and have adopted the ability to constantly brand myself to be an expert of a field. I don't think I would have been able to aggressively continue among wins and failures typical of such a competitive world and so the relevance of such a grounding holds good. A marketing degree with real-life experiences even as a young-un does matter immensely.

Anyway... the 14th of November! oh how I pay you my respects!
This is the day which gave me the pride of growing up in my country. This day was commemorated as Children's Day in India whereas the International Children's Day was on the 20th November.

14th was a special day because it was the birthday of a "child of India" during India's Independence freedom struggle, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru" who grew up to become the first Prime Minister of the free India in 1947. Nehru was a person who showed so much devotion and affection towards children that marked the day for India to remember the rights of the child.

Though India has gone a long way in fighting for privileges to be given to their children, there are a lot of them who stay under-privileged and are born to poverty with the child mortality rate still being a problem.

With this mentioned, may I join others to a cause for down-trodden children not only in India but the rest of the globe, as an artist to register my intentions to give back in yet another way to a community of the needy.

Several years ago I made an agenda to help children growing up in slums and unfortunate families who cannot send their children to schools, to bring to them a fun-learning environment....to help them learn about the world just around their homes...to give them a real life history lesson where they participate along with other children and learn how it is to work together as a team. I hope to start working side-by-side with my core work duties, on this cause with non-profits at the beginning of 2012.

What is your agenda for today and the International Childrens' Day?