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H.S. Valedictorian Paid to Promote I Love You, Beth Cooper
Nearly $2,000 is a lot of money for an 18-year-old headed to college. The marketing executives for Twentieth Century Fox used this fact to their advantage when they created what they considered a viral concept for the film I Love You, Beth Cooper.
As BuzzSugar relays, the teen comedy opens with a valedictory graduation speech that includes a profession of love for a popular girl at school.
Recession Billboards Encourage Optimism
An anonymous East Coast donor was so bummed about the way the country was reacting to the economic downturn, that he decided to take action in the form of an optimistic advertising campaign. Members of the Outdoor Advertising Agency of America have donated the space, printing materials and labor needed for the campaign which has been dubbed Recession 101. Designer Charlie Robb explained, "The client wanted people to realize the country has been undergone recessions before and made it through."
Match the Brand to Its Value-Oriented Slogan
Consumers are determined to find value during the recession, and naturally advertisers have responded by slinging value-oriented slogans. Have you been paying attention to the in-your-face ads in magazines and on TV? Take the quiz to see if you're able to match the brand to its slogan.
Brilliant or Baffling: The Wearable Towel
Robes certainly have their fair share of critics these days. First, the Snuggie took over the infomercial waves with its robe-hating message, and now, the Wearable Towel ($20 + S&H) is on the Summer scene making claims that robes are just too heavy and hot. According to the infomercial, its leg up on regular old towels is that it "gives you the freedom with your hands" while staying totally covered.
Obama Lays Down the Law on Free Credit Report Ads
The original jingles for FreeCreditReport.com couldn't save the website from getting scrutinized by the law. The credit card reform bill signals a score of changes for the credit card industry and more, as demonstrated by the action taken against the scammy credit report site.
Notoriously, FreeCreditReport.com advertised its ironically named service through commercials that led consumers to believe credit reports ordered on the site were actually free.
Have You Ever Purchased Something From an Infomercial?
Late-night infomercials can cause people to act out of character and buy things over the phone that they don't really need. Have you ever fallen prey to the often-convincing advertisements?
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Have You Ever Purchased Something From an Infomercial?
FTC Calls Out Lies in Free Credit Report Commercials
We've all heard the silly, catchy commercials for the hidden-fee-ridden FreeCreditReport.com. The Federal Trade Commission wants to ensure consumers aren't paying for something they can get for free — in this case, credit reports.
You are eligible for three free credit reports every year, one from every credit bureau, and you should access the reports from FTC-approved AnnualCreditReport.com.
Brilliant or Baffling: Snuggie, the Blanket With Sleeves
Have you noticed there's been a whole lot of gab about a blanket with sleeves lately? The Snuggie ($19.95) has taken the infomercial scene by storm, though it's not the first invention of its kind. Two other blankets with sleeves were on the market for a few years before the Snuggie appeared in 2008.
How Money Are You: Celebrity Endorsements Gone Bad
Reputation can play a big role in your professional life, and nobody can attest to this more than celebrities. Last week we heard about Michael Phelps losing his endorsement deal with Kellogg's because of his bong behavior, but the young swimmer is hardly the first celeb to have deals pulled because of a bad rep. Do you know which other celebrities have been involved in short-lived endorsement deals?
Are Super Bowl Ads Worth the Money?
Every year at game time, advertisers commit millions of dollars for 30 short seconds of commercial airtime. They have a guaranteed audience of Super Bowl viewers, and the expensive ads have come to be a part of the overall tradition — people often talk as much about the ads the next day as the game's outcome. What do you think, are they worth their weight in ad dollars?
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