Marketers Need To Better Understand Creativity
by Dr. Bob Deutsch, Brain Sells via The Inspiration Room
It can be said that creative advertising is like brain surgery. When advertising is artfully done it cures people of the status quo by activating neural circuitry.
To be creative artfully requires a dynamic mix of imagination and understanding of how the world might work. This is not a matter of being correct, but rather a matter of making the audience wonder, provoking a self-referring reverie that elicits an expanded idea of ones-self and how the world works. As a result, we see anew.
This, of course, flies in the face of traditional methods of measuring advertising effectiveness. It also runs counter to today’s corporate metric-mania and near incapacity to conceive bold strategies and innovations.
Insight is the coin of business success. While numbers can provide a means for measurement they cannot “embody,” or suggest, meaningful insights into the human experience. At worst, numbers provide an excuse to abdicate decision-making responsibility while placating executives desirous of propagating ‘business-as-usual’.
What’s Needed for Creativity?
Creativity requires two things: focused subjectivity and doubt. One needs the ability to focus on something long enough to conjure possibilities not overtly manifest in the moment, along with an acknowledgement that not everything is known.
The unknown is fertile soil from which a world of wonders can be conjured. Here mere facts and data are circumvented in a non-linear, symbolic, not wholly rational way. The mind plays a cognitive trick on itself by creating metaphor. “I call what I don’t know by name something that I do know.”
This mental leap-frogging allows the creative impulse to extrapolate unknown scenarios. It moves from the past, which instigates an inkling that lays the basis for the beginning of a new narrative, to a springboard that weaves a web of new patterns and associations, to an insinuation of the future kicked up by metaphor.
This process produces, from the outside-objective point of view, what can be perceived as seemingly off-topic meanderings. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
An Open Playfulness without NO
What is in operation is a kind of playfulness with ideas that is essential for creativity. This toying around contains a bunch of NOs—NO analyzing (yet), NO doubts. NO pressure to conform. NO pretense. NO restrictions. NO judgment.
Those who are playfully creative possess a curiosity given backbone by their expectation that they will find what they seek even though they don’t know what exactly that is.
People from many walks of life actually live this way: writer, designer, scientist, parent, small business owner. All share a belief in a beautiful human quality—Directed Serendipity.
Just listen to them, “I have a plan which allows me to begin to move forward, and in doing so I learn about myself such that when other doors open I sometimes walk in. But you have to have a plan to switch from the plan.”
Another version, “You go down a path and things evolve. By adapting to randomness you shape, but do not control, your end point. You define your end point by your own reaction to it: Ah, ha! I like this. This is for me. This is me.”
Buffeted by a Directed Serendipity
People who allow themselves to be buffeted by directed serendipity live at the creative point of becoming—who they are and what they do are the same. They don’t know—and don’t need to know—the end. They are open to the process as process, and are gregarious with their fledgling notions. They share ideas before they are fully formed. They want camaraderie. They want feedback. They’re excited.
In a state of directed serendipity you first focus on problem structuring rather than problem solving, seeking to understand rather than to explain. You try to comprehend meaning from the inside out, in its unfolding. You are not approaching the world from an intellectual stance.
Einstein, in a 1945 speech at Princeton, gave elegant voice to this perspective:
“Words or data, as they are logically written or spoken, do not seem to play any role in my primary mechanism of thought. The psychical entities that do seem to serve as elements of thought are certain signs and images. These elements themselves are visual and muscular in type, originating in the intuition of the body.”
The creative communicator is an alchemist of thought, attending to the reasoning of emotion. That’s what they should get paid for. That’s what they need to have time to do. In their natural habitat, they are artful image-gatherers, whose only enemies are cynicism, number crunchers and arbitrary tinkering.
Corporate executives should embrace their creatives and let them attack the status quo. Then CEO, CMO and their courtiers can sit back and count the profits.
PeakBiety and Mindclay put Hospital’s “Bigger Picture” on TV screen
TAMPA, FL – PeakBiety branding + advertising®, the agency for Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, teamed up with mindclay creative to bring the hospital’s message to television through the production of a :30 commercial entitled “Bigger Picture.” The spot uses a unique image-morphing visual approach to communicate the concept that Florida Hospital Waterman sees patients as more than their diagnoses; it sees the bigger picture of health as part of people’s lives.
The commercial is part of a multi-media advertising campaign developed by PeakBiety that includes a series of print ads and multiple outdoor boards built around the hospital’s brand promise, “A Community of Health and Healing.” The campaign focuses on communicating that Florida Hospital Waterman is the hospital to trust because it delivers clinical excellence in a safe and compassionate environment of patient-centered care. Florida Hospital is part of the Adventist Health System, known for its holistic approach to healing the mind, body and spirit. To view the commercial and see samples of the print and outdoor ads, go to http://peakbiety.com/fhw.php.
Production of the commercial was done in conjunction with mindclay creative, the creative services division of Spectrum Productions, a nationally recognized, Emmy Award winning television programming and post-production firm. The mindclay team of top producers and artists provides a full range of services including animation, design, live action, brand identity, interactive media, and high definition post production. For information on mindclay and its services, go to www.mindclay.tv.
PeakBiety branding + advertising serves local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”
PeakBiety is also one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.
Psychology of Color
by Kathryn Clark, Art Director
Color—a difference of a few shades can stimulate, depress, provoke, soothe, and even make us shiver or sweat.
In fact, according to a study at Washington State University, people who are surrounded by the color green can endure more pain, and recover more quickly from surgery using fewer drugs.1 Pink, on the other hand, has been shown to have a subduing and calming effect on violent prision inmates.2
If color is this powerful, what is it saying about your brand?
Here are a few of the ways color can influence brand perception:
• People will make riskier bets and gamble more under red lights as opposed to blue lights. This is why you see so much red neon in Las Vegas.3
• Being in a blue room can lower your heart rate and suppress your appetite. Red and yellow have the opposite effect—which is why so many fast food restaurants use these colors.4
• Yellow and red are also the best selling candy colors. Dylan Lauren, the owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar in NYC says that “Yellow is nostalgic, and red is passion. It makes people hungry.”
• Recent studies suggest that nearly all sports are enhanced in blue surroundings—including weight lifting. This may be because people tend to be more calm and focused in a blue environment.5
• Purple stimulates the area of the brain used in problem solving.6
• White pills are the most effective at soothing ulcers, even if they are merely placebos. Green tablets reduce anxiety, antidepressants are best in yellow and blue ones make the most successful tranquilizers.7
While the response to color is altered by personal and cultural experiences, many are universal and can be used for more effective brand positioning. From the office to the candy store, from your house to the grocery store, color affects our lives in amazing ways. Why not harness this power for your brand?
The Infinite Power of One—A Non-traditional Fundraising Campaign for the Cancer Research Alliance
Challenge:
What happens when there is no product to sell, and all you can promise a customer is a warm, fuzzy feeling? This is just one of the hurdles we had to overcome for the Cancer Research Alliance. Home to nine Nobel Prize winners, CRA member centers have a long history of groundbreaking achievements in cancer research. There was, however, virtually no awareness of CRA or what it stands for among a target audience that includes pretty much everyone.
Strategy:
Convince potential donors that they can have the satisfaction of pushing cancer research ahead by donating $1 and passing the message along to others who will do the same.
Promise:
PeakBiety developed a cause marketing campaign around the theme, “The infinite power of one.” Email marketing, Web banner ads, radio spots and a Web-aired video explain that, if everyone gave just one dollar and passed the message on to their friends, the face of cancer would be forever changed.
One of the animated online banners from the campaign
Results:
The campaign is still running, so no final numbers are yet available.
To see more of the work from the campaign, including radio spots and e-blasts, click here.
Software firm launches new brand identity.
TAMPA, FL – Persystent Technologies, the developer of the fastest automated PC recovery solution on the market, has changed its name to Persystent Software. The name change is part of a dynamic new brand identity designed to reflect the company’s focus on providing software solutions to a broader market, including individuals and small businesses, with their new Persystent SOLO product.
PeakBiety branding + advertising, the branding agency for Persystent, is spearheading the marketing effort which includes a refreshed logo graphic and a new brand promise, “Damage Controlled™,” to emphasize the key benefit of the company’s proprietary software. Persystent’s software can restore a degraded computer’s operating system and applications to work-ready status in a matter of seconds – whether it is on or off a network. It foils viruses, malware and other unauthorized programs and returns the PC to fully functional, simply by rebooting.
In addition to developing the brand platform, PeakBiety has designed a new, dynamic graphic identity for Persystent. The logo features a strong, clean typeface with a dramatic graphic “P” to draw attention to the “power on” aspect to the product.
The new Persystent Logo
Glen Peak, President of PeakBiety branding + advertising said, “to anyone who’s ever had their PC fail on them and didn’t have access to an IT help-desk, this product is really spectacular. Now, with their new SOLO product, this dynamic product will be available to individuals and small businesses that have the same frustrations. This was a great project to work on.”
PeakBiety branding + advertising® serves local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”
PeakBiety is one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.
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PeakBiety puts drama into Persystent Software sell.
TAMPA, FL—It’s the ultimate nightmare: in a matter of seconds a virus wrecks havoc on your computer’s operating system and applications, destroying your work and devastating your business. But what if you could simply reboot and have your PC fix itself in 30 seconds or less? It may sound like a fairytale, but it’s a reality – with Persystent Software, a unique product that keeps PCs always available and functional, on or off network.
The challenge facing PeakBiety, the branding agency for Persystent Software, was how to grab the attention of IT directors and communicate the dramatic power of Persystent. “This is the fastest automated PC recovery product out there,” said Glen Peak, President of PeakBiety. “We wanted to tell the product’s story quickly and clearly … differentiating ourselves from other technology company marketing.”
The agency’s solution is a colorful “graphic novel” presentation based on experiences of real Persystent customers. The approach quickly illustrates the product’s powerful benefit to both the end users and IT directors. “Using bold visuals and minimal copy, we tell the whole story with drama and impact,” noted Peak. Pretesting was conducted to ensure that the approach was on the mark and would engage the target audience.
To see one of the Persystent Software graphic novels, please click here.
PeakBiety branding + advertising® serves local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”
PeakBiety is one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.
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Locally created TV commercial gets second life on YouTube.
TAMPA, FL – Sometimes the best kinds of publicity can’t be bought. When Tampa-based PeakBiety branding + advertising created a 30-second television commercial for Nokia Latin America, they never expected it to receive around-the-world viewing—especially 7 ½ years after its initial airdate.
Actually, the Nokia media plan included nine countries for the commercial’s scheduled airing. YouTube visitors, however, had other plans. To date, the spot featuring the Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter, Shakira, has been posted 15 times and viewed more than 60,000 times by various devotees of the YouTube Web site. Viewer responses have ranged from “excelente video!!!” posted by a Spanish-speaking viewer to “classic phone…Nokia rox,” and comments about Shakira such as, “I love her hair straightened like that!!!!”
The spot opens with Shakira stuck in a traffic jam as her fans anxiously await her appearance at a concert. The enterprising Shakira hitches a ride with a passing motorcyclist and phones in her lyrics via her Nokia cell phone. At the time the commercial was produced, Nokia was promoting Shakira’s Latin America tour, “The Power of the Human Voice.” The concert name and television spot were part of a multimedia campaign that included on-site merchandising at concerts and a limited edition Shakira faceplate for the Nokia cell phone featured in the ad—all created by PeakBiety here in Tampa.
Although PeakBiety no longer works with Nokia Latin America, the agency’s creative director who helped create the Shakira spot admits, “We’re always looking for opportunities to produce the kind of classic commercials YouTube followers will want to upload. This kind of viral marketing is a way of giving our clients more for their money.”
PeakBiety branding + advertising services local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”
PeakBiety is also one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAAs). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.
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