Is Marketing and Advertising a Joking Matter? The Marketoonist thinks so...

Dilbert.com

Marketing should not be a joking matter. 
Or should it?
Sometimes humour and jokes make the point better than a serious approach can. Humour can exaggerate and be more extreme than real life examples can usually do. They can also be less risky and less threatening to those you making the point about or to. As my mother says: "many a true word is said in jest"!


Dilbert and the Gaping Void
Almost everyone is familiar with the Dilbert by Scott Adams Cartoon series that although about office life in general, will often make comment and observations about marketing and advertising. I have also referred in the past to a website by Hugh MacLeod called "Gaping Void" where he uses doodles and witty observations to make strategy and marketing points.


The Marketoonist: Funnies that comment on marketing issues
I recently came across another site that was much more targeted to marketing and observations about it that I found not only has amassing cartoons, but they are very well observed and there is always articles and observations linked to them. The site is Tom Fishburne: Marketoonist, he describes himself as follows: "I draw cartoons about marketing and create cartoon campaigns as marketing". His cartoons comment on marketing issues and challenges, and he also creates cartoons for companies and brands to use internally and externally.


His cartoons really resonate with me, as he touches on many of the hot issues that I feel passionate about. And often blog about on the Marketing Unleashed Blog.


Here are 5 of my most favourite Marketoonist cartoons, and why:

http://tomfishburne.com/2012/06/your-ad-here.html

Your Ad Ignored Here.
So many ads blend into one big noise. To work the first thing that ads must do is to BE NOTICED. They need to STOP PEOPLE.


I have written about the key attributes of all successful ads. The common factor of all of them, is that they first stopped people. They were noticed.

http://tomfishburne.com/2012/02/what-ads-say.html

What Ads Say Vs. What Consumers Hear.
A great ad only has one thing to say. it.


Don't try to say more than one thing.
Consumers hear and see so much, and are exposed to so many brands they will at best remember one thing about your brand. One word marketing is something I have blogged about. Make sure you decide what that 1 thing is.

http://tomfishburne.com/2012/05/marketing-clutter-2.html

Marketing Clutter.
Marketers get excited by small differences in their product versus the competition. But to really succeed and stand out you have to properly differentiated.


In practice, products in a consumer's mind are more similar than different (one anti-wrinkle cream is like another). As I have blogged: You need really meaningful differentiation to stand out in rush hour!

http://tomfishburne.com/2012/04/going-digital.html

What's the Big Campaign Idea?
It is not the MEDIUM for delivering it. Digital and Social Media are not the "big idea". The risk today is that digital and social is seen as the idea. But you cannot do any media well until you are clear on your big creative idea.


I have written about "Why big ideas are BIG", and once you have it then you can adapt it for any media at any time. Beware focusing on the HOW!


Do you have great marketing funnies to share? Leave a link and comment.


If you enjoyed these, I have a Marketing Funnies Board on Pinterest that I will add to as I find more. Please also help share this post using the social sharing buttons below.