Billboard Contest Discussion Thread

[Riotz]

Originally posted by johnny_boy
Sure WDP, and many others use women to sell products. Look through APG, or any other magazine. Almost everyone has a girl.

I guess that's why WDP is #1

[shartley]

I guess that's why WDP is #1

[Riotz]

To think that only hot girl ads will make the markers #1 would be ignorant.

OF COURSE gun quality is important. But to get your product out there and to have people notice you, you NEED something that will grab their attention. IE: Hot females.

WDP is #1 because they have ads like that. People "notice" their ads. People buy the products. They like the products. And the rest sells itself over and over.

You never see ugly people in ads do you?

If you know how to promote things, then you have to know what people like. You have to focus on your primary audience. Which in this case, are males. You should know better shartley.

Think of it this way. You are flipping through a paintball magazine one day, "picture of a marker, picture of a marker, picture of a marker, HOT CHICK!" You stop and read it.

Boring ads don't sell...

[johnny_boy]

To say the only way to get the attention of the male demographic is by including slutty women in ads is not only a wrong statment, its insulting :)

I agree, it does work, it grabs attention, it makes people look, and WDP uses it, and it is working for them. But, I am sure there is more than one way to get attention. Sticking some chick in an ad can't be the only way.

There are many methods of advertising, there are many advertising demographics, and there are many ways of tapping into each demographic to seperate them from their money. And, I am hoping right now, that sticking a naked girl in an ad with a marker isn't the only way to do it for the Paintball demographic. I know we aren't that dumb an narrow minded.

A girl will grab attention, I admit, its true, and it is tried and proven. But stop and remember the ultimate goal. Is it the best method of attention-getting for this situation, a public billboard for all to see? This isn't limited to the pages of one of our magazines that are viewed mostly by males, this billboard will be seen my a much broader audience, one that includes anyone that drives by.

WDP is using girls, models, beautiful boobie women, as are many others. It is working, people buy, and thusly these companies get money. But where are these companies advertising? They are advertising in the confines of APG, PB2X, Facefull, etc. They are at Paintball events, they are advertising within Paintball its self. AGD plans to go beyond that and take their image to the non-paintball world. The same things that works for one small group of people wont work when you take it to a bigger spectrum and toss in people from all sorts of other demographics.

[shartley]

[Riotz]

Originally posted by johnny_boy
To say the only way to get the attention of the male demographic is by including slutty women in ads is not only a wrong statment, its insulting :)

I didn't say it was the ONLY way. It is the best way though.

I'm a male, and I'm not insulted. I think maybe some older folks (no offense) here get more insulted for some reason. I think that it is more insulting calling the women "slutty".

Originally posted by johnny_boy
I agree, it does work, it grabs attention, it makes people look, and WDP uses it, and it is working for them. But, I am sure there is more than one way to get attention. Sticking some chick in an ad can't be the only way.

Yes, it works. Why change what works. Don't mess with perfection. :)

Originally posted by shartley

It's NOT porno. It's just an attractive women on an AD. NO nudity.

Originally posted by shartley

Right, something sexy, non-pornographic... I think that ad already has that.


I think with an advertisement of this magnitude you need to go with the BEST you can. In that case, it's hard to reach ALL audiences the best. So you may just want to focus on the majority. I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but I think about 90% of the people who play the sport are male. Unless you put a male and female liek shartley said, but I don't know how well that would work...

[johnny_boy]

Ok, for arguments sake, lets say 90% of Paintball players are guys. So, advertise with women. Fine, if it works, as you said don't change it. Keep in mind though, we now aren't advertising directly in Paintball. We are out in the public, out where anyone is driving by on that hi-way (or whatever). In this case, it isn't 90% of Paintball playing guys seeing this billboard. It is families, kids, priests, nuns, doctors, garbagemen, cats, dogs, birds, teachers, and who ever else is driving by that day. Its not in a Paintball only zone. How many billboards do you see up with sexy women? And the ones you do see, what sort of companies are they for.

I agree, if the women advertising works *within* paintball, keep it, do what needs to be done. But, when this billboard is erected, we are no longer advertising to the 90% of paintball playing males.

Just remember, you have to use the apropriate form of advertising depending on the situation. The majority driving by on that hi-way wont be paintball playing males. So, as you said, advertise to the majority, which will be people who have never played Paintball.

On a side note, I am 16. Not an old guy.

[skirts]

call me an idiot or immature but it would seem that the one entry that has been talked about the most is the one with the half naked woman...

the questions are:
did it do its job?
did you go back and look at it a second time?
will you remember it over the other pictures?

i guess i must be immature when i say that i like to look at nearly naked women then see what its advertising for.

marketing is about publicity, its about the "buzz"

tell me im wrong

skirts

[Riotz]

Originally posted by johnny_boy
It is families, kids, priests

Kids and priests... GOOD combo there. =P



The POINT of snagging this billboard was to advertise DIRECTLY to the people going to IAO. That is why Tom got it at THAT location durring THAT time frame. I'm sure he wants to advertise to THAT crowd. The paintballers... Which are mostly males.

Read thordic's reply for more of what I wanted to say.

[Riotz]

Originally posted by skirts
call me an idiot or immature but it would seem that the one entry that has been talked about the most is the one with the half naked woman...
...

marketing is about publicity, its about the "buzz"

You are EXACTLY right, that is why IT IS the way to go. People will talk about it one way or another. "Wow did you see that AGD ad". Maybe it will even get Jerry Fawell's attention. (some people around here already act like him)

[Thordic]

"families, kids, priests, nuns, doctors, garbagemen, cats, dogs, birds, teachers, and who ever else is driving by that day."

Those people are NOT your target demographic. You aim your ads at people who either A) are already in a position where they will be considering your products (current paintball players) or B) those who are LIKELY to come into a position where they will buy your product.

Families could play paintball, yes. Are they buying thier own markers? Doubtful. Run through the list, and tell me if those categories are the target demographic.

Skirt's concept will attract the TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC. Marketing is ALWAYS about that single concept. You don't waste time and money trying to drag people into the sport who are very unlikely to try it. You spend money so you make money, which means attracting people who are LIKELY to be shopping for a high-end marker.

In this case, the billboard isn't targeted at random passer-by. Those people most likely won't even know what the billboard is. No one expects a billboard to explain paintball to a newbie and explain why they should buy a mag. The point of the billboard is to attract current players (people at the IAO) to AGD products. Given that those players are at LEAST 90% male, and the age range will be centered around 15-25 I'm guessing, sex is probably the BEST way to sell. Paintball's unique demographic makes it pretty easy to market to, actually. You don't need to appeal to a broad range of people.

Say 90% of the players are male. 75% of those are between 15 and 25. Say 15% of those would be "turned off" by sex advertising. You've just reached 57.375% of the players at IAO in a positive manner. Chances are even more, since that 15%, in my opinion, is rather high, and I didn't even count the 25+ year old males who would appreciate the ad.

How can you make it even better? Pay the model from the board to come, or a different model, or just a decent looking girl, to hang around the AGD booth. She doesn't even have to be dressed skimpy. Hot women attract customers. Rob scares people away

Tom can't try to get everyone in Pennsylvania to like his ad. That's unrealistic. What he needs to do is identify his target audience and cater to them. Skirts hit that on the head, IMO.

[shartley]

[The Frymarker]

Tom must be eating this up! Or it is giving him a big headache!

[Havoc_online]

just save the debates and everyone vote for me!

[johnny_boy]

lol, when ever these forum arguments take place, I always remember the song "Why Can't We Be Friends" by Smashmouth.. or, wasn't that a cover on someone else? Meh.