GANGSTA Recruitment Ads

Banned 14 years ago

I liked this one...

Sharpen your wits vampires.

Very simple, gets the 'point' across...

...with a direct call to action with minimal text:

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JohnWiz

14 years ago

In case anyone's missed it, there's a swipe-worthy headline in the 3rd frame.

"If you think the job is crap, wait 'til you see the pay."

I had no choice but to lol.

Makes me wonder what kind of copywriter one would become if he copied only these kind of ads by hand as practice.

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Adrian Int

14 years ago

I think

...was my favourite. Though I also enjoyed...

I think they're doing a great job of reaching the intended audience, here.. haha.

Thanks for the share!
-Adrian

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Cam Connor 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Adrian Int

044.876.8000 ... God I have to get a life!
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briancassingena

14 years ago

At the risk of going against the grain, I have to say that every one of these ads is typical ad agency crap with none of the copywriting elements which people reading this part of the forum should really be aware of.

I can see ZERO:

- Headlines
- Emotion
- Proof
- Benefits
- Urgency
- Calls to action

The pencil vampire one? I think I need glasses because I don't see any call to action. These ads are just like any "world's funniest TV ads" show . . . some of them might give you a laugh but I'd write an ad in 7 minutes and put it up against any of these, anyday, and make more money on royalties alone.

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The Copy Nazi

Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by briancassingena

At the risk of going against the grain, I have to say that every one of these ads is typical ad agency crap with none of the copywriting elements which people reading this part of the forum should really be aware of.

I can see ZERO:

- Headlines
- Emotion
- Proof
- Benefits
- Urgency
- Calls to action

The pencil vampire one? I think I need glasses because I don't see any call to action. These ads are just like any "world's funniest TV ads" show . . . some of them might give you a laugh but I'd write an ad in 7 minutes and put it up against any of these, anyday, and make more money on royalties alone.

And why, pray tell, would these Recruitment Spots need any of that stuff?

If you were a designer looking for a gig...wouldn't this, for instance, tickle your fancy?

How do you propose to "make more money on royalties alone" from a recruitment ad?

And this comment

none of the copywriting elements which people reading this part of the forum should really be aware of

has me LOLing.

"None of the copywriting elements" eh? I see.

ZERO headlines? Strange - i just went back and saw plenty. ZERO emotion? You really think so? ZERO proof - they're recruitment ads. ZERO benefits? Again I see plenty. ZERO urgency - they're recruitment spots. ZERO calls to action? Wrong. Take another look.

But really...this is a specific genre. Its not internet marketing per se.

Me - I see a LOT of creativity and some great ideas - including the vampire pencils.

Perhaps you'd like to educate us with a world-beating "Copywriter Wanted" ad?

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briancassingena

14 years ago

hehe. I didn't say they weren't creative, I just said they were crap ads. Ever heard of Halbert's personal ad with the headline: "Generous, Creative Businessman Wants To Find A Hot, Sexy Woman With A Good Sense Of Humor"? That's a "world beating" ad

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Mark Andrews Banned 14 years ago

Get away with you lad lol. What on earth are you twittering on about? (I say with all good humor).

Your above comments are nonsense.

You can't just single out one single Gary Halbert creative ad to compare the others by. Mal is right though I hate to say it lol.

These creative ads are excellent, well some of them at least. Sure, others leave a little more to be desired but that's besides the point.

I actually clicked on the report button last night trying to save you the embarrassment of what I knew would happen should Mal see your post.

Seriously... you need to rethink your approach to this and yes of course I know you're one of Australia's top copywriters. Still...

...your comments are rather strange and very weird to say the very least.

It's blindingly obvious even to a blind man we're talking about a different kettle of fish here to the usual long form sales letters many of us here in the Interneting marketing industry are accustomed to.

They're for another target market altogether. A completely different copywriting sub-niche. Combining cool graphics with minimal text to get the point across in minimal time.

Take the Creative Blood advert as an example...

Fair dinkum mate, I don't know the publication for which this ad was designed for, so we'll take it on face value and assume the magazine this was placed in was your bog standard A4.

It's eyecatching, simple and to the point.

It's going to appeal to the young professional creative copywriter / graphic designer who is quickly flicking through the magazine concerned. Taking up the least amount of his or her time to instantly see the point of the advertisement. Fair do's, it's nothing special in a myriad of other similar ads but in it's own right - it's still a very clever piece of advertising.

The sharpened red pencils are all about sharpening your teeth or 'getting your teeth into' this creative design agency.

It says, "We're on the ball, we're not afraid to try new ideas." It's giving permission to the reader to come work for us to unleash your own thinking outside the box design creativity skills.

The red sharpened nibs of the pencils against a black background strike a good contrast which works not only visually but also appeals to the subconscious mind too. The outer two pencils designed to make this look like an open vampires mouth. The red dripping off the end of the pencils obviously symbolizing blood. You know as in...

"We're looking for fresh blood to join our team."

Instantly in a split second, as soon as I saw this advertisement, I got it. I'm just surprised I have to explain this so simply especially to another top copywriter. And I say this with all due respect Brian.

On seeing the pencils which are all in effect pointing downwards the eye against the black background natually flows to to the bottom of the page to see how the above image ties in with the text used above.

we thirst for more creative blood

...and below it a very simple direct call to action... Call us on your phone right now.

The ad is simply a nudging device. A nudging device which achieves it's purpose in all of about 2 seconds. It's an impulse decision. To get their target prospect saying in their own mind...

"Cool ad, I'll call them right now to find out what they're all about."

Dead simple and probably for the life of the magazine ad concerned deadly effective.

Tell me you didn't see this instantly?

Best regards,

Mark Andrews...
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briancassingena

14 years ago

Oh right, I DO see the "fax us your CV" part now. Silly me. I see now it's as clear and obvious as a punch in the face.

Of course, every single one of the prospects the advertiser is looking for are going to scan the whole ad carefully looking for the call to action. Because it's a fact that people read the magazines/websites for the ads and not the articles, right?

I guess I must be wrong, turns out pretty pictures and cutesy clever graphics sell, not words. Geez I feel like an idiot now. But what about guys like Halbert, Carlton, Bencivenga, Makepeace, etc, who have based all their copy on words?

Imagine how much more successful they would have been if they had used clever graphics and crafty slogans with near invisible calls to action like these ads? How did they ever make so many sales with all those 'wordy' ads, when they could have done ads like these?

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Mark Andrews

Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by briancassingena

Oh right, I DO see the "fax us your CV" part now. Silly me. I see now it's as clear and obvious as a punch in the face.

Of course, every single one of the prospects the advertiser is looking for are going to scan the whole ad carefully looking for the call to action. Because it's a fact that people read the magazines/websites for the ads and not the articles, right?

I guess I must be wrong, turns out pretty pictures and cutesy clever graphics sell, not words. Geez I feel like an idiot now. But what about guys like Halbert, Carlton, Bencivenga, Makepeace, etc, who have based all their copy on words?

Imagine how much more successful they would have been if they had used clever graphics and crafty slogans with near invisible calls to action like these ads? How did they ever make so many sales with all those 'wordy' ads, when they could have done ads like these?

Different horses for different courses.

Mark Andrews

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The Copy Nazi

Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by briancassingena

Oh right, I DO see the "fax us your CV" part now. Silly me. I see now it's as clear and obvious as a punch in the face.

Of course, every single one of the prospects the advertiser is looking for are going to scan the whole ad carefully looking for the call to action. Because it's a fact that people read the magazines/websites for the ads and not the articles, right?

I guess I must be wrong, turns out pretty pictures and cutesy clever graphics sell, not words. Geez I feel like an idiot now. But what about guys like Halbert, Carlton, Bencivenga, Makepeace, etc, who have based all their copy on words?

Imagine how much more successful they would have been if they had used clever graphics and crafty slogans with near invisible calls to action like these ads? How did they ever make so many sales with all those 'wordy' ads, when they could have done ads like these?

Know what? In this genre it is indeed "pretty pictures and cutesy clever graphics" that sell. Especially to designers and copywriters. And they may well be reading the magazines/websites for the ads.

Dude - once again - they are recruitment ads. And seeing as though you keep bringing Halbert up - yes I can see him having written the spot that says "If you think the job is crap, wait 'til you see the pay" - the one in the OP(from your neck of the woods - Adelaide, South Australia - by the look of the clients).

Call to action?

Apply now, because chances are no-one else will.

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briancassingena

14 years ago

I suppose some of the ads have a call to action, however they are all what Aussies call piss weak.

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Mark Andrews Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by briancassingena

I suppose some of the ads have a call to action, however they are all what Aussies call piss weak.

Get away with you lad, you're trying to defend the indefensible.

Which is quite funny and I hope you are reading this with good humour nonetheless it's true.

By gum this place cracks me up sometimes.

Mark Andrews
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briancassingena

14 years ago

I think you're spending too much time in this place (I am too). We all are, especially if ads like that can draw rave reviews. Don't confuse being busy with being productive.