AGD needs some Feedback on this Ad

[zads27]

I don't think it would be that effective using people's AO handles are, but definately put the most widely known paintball people, and different topics, tech tip teasers, etc,.

I think you should put E-mags with polished/black powerfeed hopper left, centerfeed, warp feed [w/attached warp feed] bodies on one page (with loaders to show the difference.
On the other page put SFL E-mags, one vert body, one powerfeed, with attached 4500 flatlines, then maybe the new superbolt at the bottom. (all with the proper captions) Then, at the top, use those comparison pictures of the warp feed profiles coming out of a bunker.
I guess it's a lot for one ad, and you probably thought of all these ideas, but these are the visions of what I would put.

[Speedy]

Both ads looked great to me!

I liked both ads! I quite frankly am not a very creative person I am more mechanically inclined but they both looked great. There are a lot of people that play paintball who need a place to go and the more that come here the more business tom will have.

I bought an e-mag because of this board.

[Dave]

Thanks Manual...I got a kick out of it too.

Graycie-Now that I think about it, your right, just change the words. Some how get across that it is a friendly place to talk about whatever w/other AOers.

what would be cool is a black background for the whole thing....then in very subtle grey, barely noticable, include on one page in the background the Fantasy Emags, and on the other side, AO member list in tiny print...remember, hardly noticable, but readible if you look close. Then have a huge red or blue X-treme Emag on the front comin' at you w/warp. Kind of like in LoadSM5's sig, how the front of the gun is bigger, to a perpective picture like that....then list all the cool stuff about AO. Definitely get a catch phrase to begin with...something like:

"When's the last time the president of your gun's company answered your question about *insert new AGD product in development* ?"

"Come on board with Tom Kaye and his host of AGD techs to hear the latest news about the most radical advances in paintball and add your opinion to new product feedback still under development!"

Somethin' neato like that. The product development feedback on this forum is incredible.

-Dave

[Vegeta]

Wait.. i had a similar idea a few days ago.. Tom Kaye... on a billboard.. with a Mag.. with WWW.AUTOMAGS.ORG at hte bottom! He could be wearing one of his mavelous Blue AGD T-Shirts!... or.. the rarely seen AGD sweatshirt!

[paintdevil1]

the idea of everyones name in the background was good I like it

[Vegeta]

Maybe do this, with the names of member is the BG:

[ThePatriot]

Definetely, im with Vegita...we arent trying to sell Emags with this ad..why put one in the background, what we are trying to sell is a friendly forum with alot of nice people and a good atmosphere, therefor put all the names of someone registered..I KNO, make a thread asking who wants their name on the ad...whoever replies gets their name on it, and whoever doesnt, doesnt get it put on there...

[shartley]

I am caught between a rock and a hard spot on this issue.....

First of all, I get PAID to do this type of thing. So offering ideas is giving away services for free.

Second, it is hard to be honest about what I have read up to this point without offending anyone. I personally think asking for opinions on AO for even a AO Ad is the wrong thing to do. AO should be used to see what people like... by studying them and reading their posts... but asking the general membership to "assist" in this is a bit on the foolish side. Again, that is just my opinion.

I could say NOTHING and I would be kicking myself in the rear for NOT saying anything and watching Tom run an amateurish and substandard Ad (to say the least). Or I can say something and get attacked personally for stating professional opinions. What to do..... here goes....

The only thing I will say about what I have read so far is that I would not let any client of MINE run an ad like it.

How about this? You take the idea of the average player and the pros, toss in Tom Kaye (the big cheese)... what do they do.. they play paintball. But what do they do when they are NOT playing paintball? They are on AO!

The idea for the Ad is to gain membership, right? So you have to make them WANT to come. You have to highlight the selling points of the Site AND Forum. Some of these things were already mentioned, but they were not SOLD, they were listed. There is a big difference.

Also, I would not make it a two page Ad... but if you were going to use two pages, make one for Automags.org and the other for Airgun.com. If it takes you two pages to sell someone on the idea to come visit AO, then you didn't design the Ad correctly.

An Ad is to entice the reader to do something else, buy something else, or go someplace else. It should have enough information that it is clear what the object is, but should not be more than can be read quickly. It is an Ad for Christ's sake, NOT an Article.

With that in mind, envision a two part Ad split visually diagonally.. one side primarily being player and action shots, the other being Computers and the Internet. You can even show various Ages of people, some on laptops, some on desk systems, but ALL going to Automags.org. You can even show Tom himself typing on the forums! You can even have some of them still in paintball gear.

Then in comment boxes you list the fantastic advantages of AO, its great features, and why so many have chosen AO as their source for Paintball help, advice, assistance, and extended families. Blah blah blah

You can also have a comment box listing some of the Industry Leaders, Pro Players, Forum Regulars, and yes the Moderators. This gives them more of a reason to visit, and when they get here, they already feel as if they know you. They are familiar with some of the most active names, and the AO Staff. You know.. gives them that warm and fuzzy.

I always encourage my clients to use elements that their clients or customers would see if they went to their business IN their Ads. This makes people feel as if they have already been there, and not so much of an outsider... again, the warm and fuzzy. So seeing screen shots of the actual forum (or actual photos of someone using the forums) makes it so that when they DO go to the forums they know they are in the right place!

You have just begun what is called BRANDING. And this is almost as important as the Ad itself.

Also, what you actually use in the Ad for copy is important, and even more so is not using TOO MUCH. Get them interested, but make them COME to AO to learn more. And it should be arranged in a manner that guides the eye from topic to topic, not a simple laundry list of names, topics, and "selling points". It should be as visually appealing (if not more) as it is informative... and TEXT does not inspire the reader to look at the ad.

Just pick up any mainstream magazine and look at the full page ads you see. DON'T look at the ones in Paintball Magazines! Looking to how others in the Paintball Industry do things has been one of the major downfalls of the industry itself. You will never expand unless you stop looking at the same things.... and things that have just not been working the way they should, or even close to their potential.

These are just a few things to think about. More goes into an effective ad, than just coming up with the right text. There are reasons things are done, and not done. And if you don't know WHY, you should not be making the Ad, or giving advice. Good intentions and nice people don't make an effective Ad.... a professional does.

And I have only touched on a few issues. I did not get into colors, fonts, additional layouts, camera angles, or any of the slew of other issues that MUST be taken into consideration for this type of thing.. if it is to be done right.

I know, this was not a totally "feel good" reply... but Tom did not ask for just rear kissing comments. And if he is truly serious about this, he should think seriously.

Also, if you do not agree with me, fine. I have no problem with that. But I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear comments on what people think of me personally, or any attacks they feel they need to make. I did not insult anyone, nor did I attack anyone, and I expect nothing less in return. And the only reason I even say this is that far too often it happens.

But I DO warn folks... if the Ad is effective, expect problems.... and I will leave it at that.

[MajorDamage]

HOO HA! That rules! I'm gonna be in a magaziene! I AM THE KING! MAJORDAMAGE RULES!!!! Oooooooh, I RULE! lol *I am talking in a boastful voice at this moment!*

ENDO!

[Aliens-8-MyDad]

sheesh took me awhile to read all that... but yea everything he is saying is true the readers should be "invited in" dont say people's names they wont know (unless its me ) use the pro's names and of course yours tom, show pictures not a mass of text like i just got done reading (tho nicely laid out and spaced so i could stop and take a breath :o ) LISTEN TO THIS GUY HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS SAYING (shartly not me i have no idea where i am half the time anyways )

[Vegeta]

The pic I attached was a collaboration of the peoples ideas. howeve I dont think it should be that way... I like JT's ads.. you ever see them in PM/APG? its got a picture of some player, wearing their stuff right? Well.. to tell you the truth, I liked hte one (cant remeber hte sayign that wnet with it) that was a guy, leaning out of a bunker, getting about 16 balls in the mask. They were pink. yea you ppl remember that dont ya.. anyways.. so I say we souold put excitement liek that, along with hte things good about AO...

Here she goes:
Tom Kaye (like shartley said- big cheese attraction of this site)
+Laptop with AO site up on it
+EMag
+Paintball Feild
+Getting railed by a case of paint
=
All the good stuff pus excitement!

lol

Shartley, we oughta juts let you do everything around here... first the contest now all this! your just a bowl-o-knowledge eh?

good ideas nevertheless.

[hardr0ck68]

this is an outrage!! inviting comon vermin into our church!!


i dunno if bring more people to the forum is a good idea, but if tom thinks its good ::shrugs:: it is mad cool that the ad may mention names of members, its just one more cool thing agd dose for its customers

it will be intersting to see what comes of this...

Rocco

[pumpamatic]

I don't really think we should use regular members for the ad. I mean, I think people will get disappointed when they see only a couple of weird posts by Major Damage, and I can't remember the last post I saw of Battlegroup. But when they see all those classics, with the giveaways and contests and stuff, they really will think Tom gives a rat about them.
Shartley, my brain now hurts from reading your post.

[Vegeta]

We oughta just list all the stuff tom has done for us / gave away... like the z-grips.. and nubbins.. not to mention all the help... and also all the people on here that are tech certified or just know a ton about mags...

[Failure]

What you should really be concentrating on is selling that emag Tom, and advertise the X-treme Emag. Just put the airgun.com and automag.org addy's on the page. Sales should be coming first here. Without advertising, you have a lot less sales. Build up the Emag, give some away, boast its performance....we all know it out performs other guns toe to toe. Sell it. The website should be in the ad but it isn't as important as staying in business. There are like 5 different versions of the Angel, there should be more Emags. There should be more recognition in the players minds about it. Everyone always says angels, shockers and bushy's...never Emag. I don't think that the Emag is getting the recognition it needs and deserves.