To continue this week’s discussion about controversial ads – here are a few more for your viewing pleasure (or pain)…

This ad was recently pulled by the Milk Board due to it’s controversial nature (that’s right guys, PMS jokes still aren’t funny…)

This ad from Google stages an “email intervention”… AOL fans, it’s officially over.

Got comments?

When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, his quote, “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” resonated with the world. An article in The Guardian made a similar stride in the world of beauty, and even as an advertiser I have to say – this is one giant leap for womankind!

There are two issues at hand; the first being the American ideal of beauty from a cultural standpoint, the second our Constitutional rights.  Now it is true, we as a society want to look at beautiful people.  We want them to act on screen, pose in pictures and model clothes for us.  Unfortunately, however, this can be a double-edged sword; especially when you compare the rates of eating disorders and self-esteem issues in our country to other nations.  It seems the rest of the world holds the statement “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” more true.  But maybe if Europeans are pulling overly airbrushed ads from their magazines, Americans can’t be too far behind.  As a woman and an advertiser, I see both sides of the coin.

The purpose of advertising is to deliver a message, but it becomes a slippery slope when the message gets lost in the art of retouching…  So who’s to blame?  The American standard of beauty or the Advertising Standards Authority?  What do you think?

In a media world that moves faster than the speed of light, I constantly find myself opening emails or publications FILLED with spelling and grammar errors. It’s not rocket science folks, nor does it take a degree in English for that matter… It’s called spell check!! Whether you’re a Mac or PC person, both systems have this function – not to mention a plethora of online dictionaries and resources to help you properly (and professionally) express yourself.

I’m not saying it doesn’t happen… We’re human after all. In fact, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve posted an entry, only to find my own error! But I think the lesson here is that we’re becoming far too careless and not taking advantage of the various tools at our disposal.

Of all the faux pas, however, misspelling someone’s name is perhaps the biggest mistake! In today’s world where John is spelled ‘YJon’ (and the y is silent) it becomes that much more difficult to get it right. But simple spelling errors can be the difference between getting that job, landing that deal or closing that sale. All it takes is an extra minute of your time (and perhaps a second set of eyes.)

So, the next time you hurriedly type that email to a client from your smartphone, remember three things:

1. Save it as a draft
2. Proofread it when you have time
3. Spell check it before sending

You’ll ‘bee’ a great speller in no time;-)

If you’re anything like me, music is everywhere… And anywhere!  It’s my alarm in the morning, my drive into work, streaming from my computer all day and finally, it sings me to sleep.  So I got to thinking, with all the new technology as it relates to music, what do most people turn on?  Or maybe (like me) you have your iPod for running, CD player in your car and Pandora on your computer…

But if you had to pick just one, what would it be?  Feel free to leave a comment as well!

Recently I came across a saying worth repeating:

A man wakes up in the morning after sleeping on an advertised bed, in advertised pajamas.  He will bathe in an advertised tub, wash with advertised soap, shave with an advertised shaving cream, eat a breakfast of advertised juice, cereal and toast (toasted in an advertised toaster), put on advertised clothes, and glance at an advertised watch.  He will ride to work in an advertised car, sit at an advertised desk and type on an advertised computer.  Yet this man hesitates to advertise, saying advertising doesn’t pay.  Finally, when his unadvertised business fails, he WILL advertise it for sale.

So, what happens when you don’t advertise?  NOTHING.  Absolutely nothing.

With bated breath, I await my Google+ invitation.  I am curious as to whether or not Facebook will have real competition with this “project” (apparently they are leery to call it a product since most of their social networking attempts, like Buzz, have flopped.)

So what exactly is Google+?  Simply put, it’s Google’s answer to Facebook (and I for one have been counting the days!)  This Pocket-lint article delves into the details, but the basic premise is set around a stream, or news feed, where your “circles” and “hangouts” can respond and interact.  But where does this network fit exactly?  Furthermore, will loyal Facebook users be willing to switch, despite Facebook Fatigue?

The major differences are increased privacy, multiple-user chat function and the “real-life sharing” component. Google wants to fix what is broken. Can they do it? The answer is yet to be determined, but I for one am anxious to explore the possibility!

Have you tried Google+?  What are your thoughts?