{"id":321,"date":"2009-03-23T00:37:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-23T07:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/danoday.com\/blogWORDPRESS\/2009\/03\/23\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/"},"modified":"2009-03-23T00:37:00","modified_gmt":"2009-03-23T07:37:00","slug":"winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST"},"content":{"rendered":"<a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s1600-h\/Confetti.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 270px;\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316283553502797282\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\n<p>At last, the winner and the runners up in the competition that has rocked the advertising world and entranced several nations (some of which prefer not be identified).<\/p>\n<p>Here is the original &#8220;Target&#8221; radio commercial that was so patently bad that I couldn&#8217;t even begin to critique it.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">The Original Target Commercial:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><center><\/center><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=3558656&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FTct6B%2F%7ES%2DY%2Cw%24lEjblngCDn%7B%2F2RC\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor= 9451520&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FTct6B%2F%7ES%2DY%2Cw%24lEjblngCDn%7B%2F2RC\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>It was such a terrible commercial that it&#8217;s impossible to determine the Core Message they were attempting to communicate. (Or, more accurately, that they <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">should<\/span> have attempted to communicate.) That made it pretty difficult for our contestants.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Brian Haymond:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><center><\/center><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=3558656&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Fhc%2EBLwl%2D9C%2Cur%2Ejqnefg%2B%28UMP%3Fcw%3FF\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor= 9451520&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Fhc%2EBLwl%2D9C%2Cur%2Ejqnefg%2B%28UMP%3Fcw%3FF\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m giving this entry an Honorable Mention because, to my surprise, some people disliked the child performance. I thought the girl&#8217;s dialogue was well written, well directed, and well performed.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest problem is that the person doing the buying is a child, while the targeted consumers are adults. The child does deliver the sales message (&#8220;under $10&#8221;), but the listener is unlikely to identify with the little girl.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the tiny 30-second frame forces the actors to hurry through the dialogue \u2014 a bit too fast for the average listener to pay attention to. If they had 60 seconds for essentially the same copy, the story could&#8217;ve been much more inviting to the audience.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the tag line distracts from the sales message, rather than reinforcing it.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">David Sprague:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FDcx8Acxt%28I%21s%24htiftVK%24%25Wa%2F2RC\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FDcx8Acxt%28I%21s%24htiftVK%24%25Wa%2F2RC\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I love his delivery, which is why David earns an Honorable Mention. But his story doesn&#8217;t invoke a picture of the Target sale. It show us his misery but not the presumably positive results of the sale. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Jessica Seabourne:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FJguHFliV%2DCl%2F%25ypguati4QcQNp%7D%2A%2E%2F0\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FJguHFliV%2DCl%2F%25ypguati4QcQNp%7D%2A%2E%2F0\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>This doesn&#8217;t sell Target at all. But her off-center delivery has a <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">lot<\/span> of potential. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Oh! I went to&#8230;Target&#8217;s home design event sale&#8221;<\/span> \u2014 Her character hasn&#8217;t been spending every waking moment thinking about Target. It&#8217;s only when someone expresses interest in her new decor that the character has to pause for a moment to recall it was Target that made it possible.<\/p>\n<p>And I&#8217;m sorry, but someone whom I assume is in her 20&#8217;s so skillfully setting us up for a <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Help Me, Rhonda&#8221;<\/span> punchline? I have to give her props for that. (I&#8217;m guessing the first voice is Jessica&#8217;s.)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Andy Riggle:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FApfN%7Broi1G%3Fo%21ngvqhqd88cQNp%7D%2A%2E%2F0\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FApfN%7Broi1G%3Fo%21ngvqhqd88cQNp%7D%2A%2E%2F0\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Very listenable. But it doesn&#8217;t sell Target at all. If Andy learns to create such easy-to-listen-to vignettes that also actively deliver the sales message, he can do very well for himself and for his clients.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Adam Garey:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FafcBD%2Fit%3AG%3FF5aKNFNU%2FBMB\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FafcBD%2Fit%3AG%3FF5aKNFNU%2FBMB\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t understand the story at all. But I quite like Adam&#8217;s off-handed conversational delivery. Hence, the honorable mention.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Amit Rathore:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><center><\/center><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=3558656&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FAokI%7Bj%2Cj4Sor%21lcoUING%5E%7D%26urd\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor= 9451520&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FAokI%7Bj%2Cj4Sor%21lcoUING%5E%7D%26urd\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Good focus on the consumer, painting pictures.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;30% off on design accessories&#8221; <\/span>\u2014 that line was delivered completely flat and out of sync with the rest of the spot.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Honorable Mention \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Steve Stone:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FTCS%2C%25bbv%2DXoh%24vpgUING%5E%7D%26urd\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3FTCS%2C%25bbv%2DXoh%24vpgUING%5E%7D%26urd\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Great opening.<\/p>\n<p> <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Problem:<\/span> The guy talking isn&#8217;t the target (no pun intended) audience, which is predominantly female. Steve is portraying a character. As the only character in the spot, he needs to represent the target audience.<\/p>\n<p>If his character had fit the audience, I might have selected this spot as the winner.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Second Runner-Up \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Steve Anderson:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><center><\/center><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=3558656&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Fsic2Oniv%7EXo6pvoofreKv%2BcQNp%7D%2A%2E%2F0\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor= 9451520&amp;bUseText=true&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=Text=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Fsic2Oniv%7EXo6pvoofreKv%2BcQNp%7D%2A%2E%2F0\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>A number of readers criticized this spot as being &#8220;not creative enough.&#8221; All I care about, though, is the commercial&#8217;s ability to attract and keep the attention of the targeted listener and to sell the results of whatever is being advertised.<\/p>\n<p>While I don&#8217;t think this spot is great, I think it&#8217;s pretty good \u2014 considering the limitations of the original commercial&#8217;s direction.<\/p>\n<p>His delivery, with its underlying sense of urgency, propels the spot from the very first words \u2014 despite the fact that those first words usually would be very weak: <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Spring is coming&#8221;<\/span> \u2014 yawn. But before you can yawn, he pulls the opening line directly into your life. Steve defines a specific problem<span style=\"font-style: italic;\"> (&#8220;your house&#8217;s same old tired decor&#8221;)<\/span> and offers a solution.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the original version, Steve&#8217;s spot isn&#8217;t about Target. Target is important only because it offers a solution to the problem that&#8217;s already been identified.<\/p>\n<p>Great commercial? No. Better than the original? Absolutely.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: bold;\">First Runner-Up \u2014 <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Ryan Patrick:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Fr%2EcCMj%2Ct%7EEu%25nyiguSKNz%3Db%5Eo5%2E\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Fr%2EcCMj%2Ct%7EEu%25nyiguSKNz%3Db%5Eo5%2E\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Ryan defines the consumer problem from the outset.<\/p>\n<p>Alas, no commercial that includes the word &#8220;affordability&#8221; can achieve greatness.<\/p>\n<p>The spot&#8217;s effectiveness would be greatly enhanced by a deadline for this &#8220;design event sale&#8221; \u2014 but, unfortunately, no such deadline was mentioned in the original commercial.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\">The Winner \u2014 <\/span><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 153);\">Gary Burgess:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><center><object height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\"><\/param><param name=\"play\" value=\"true\"><\/param><param name=\"loop\" value=\"false\"><\/param><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Ftct6B%2F%7D%2D%3AC%2C%295iwtheuu%2B%28UMP%3Fcw%3FF\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/siteaudioplayer.swf\" play=\"true\" loop=\"true\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"bUseColor=true&amp;sCustomColor=9451520&amp;bUseText=false&amp;sBrandText=&amp;sBrandUrl=&amp;bAutoPlay=false&amp;bCloakUrl=true&amp;mp3url=jvIM5%2A%21BY%24%2Bqhpqea%2E%2F2Lv%2Ad1Qqo%25kkq%3Ftct6B%2F%7D%2D%3AC%2C%295iwtheuu%2B%28UMP%3Fcw%3FF\" pluginspage=\"http:\/\/www.macromedia.com\/shockwave\/download\/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash\" height=\"79\" width=\"204\"><\/embed><\/param><\/object><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Although this was written by a man, it wisely cast a woman \u2014 because the majority of Target&#8217;s home design customers are women. <\/p>\n<p>Her opening line is likely to attract the target audience \u2014 without telegraphing where the commercial is going. She gives an excellent, confident performance. <\/p>\n<p>Gary&#8217;s copy is sparse enough for the performer to pause repeatedly \u2014 to the benefit of the spot.<\/p>\n<p>Gary&#8217;s was one of the few entries <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">not<\/span> to focus on the &#8220;nature&#8221; theme that supposedly inspired the items being sold. Why is that smart? Because no one is going to buy that stuff because it&#8217;s &#8220;inspired by nature.&#8221; They&#8217;re going to buy it because they need\/want stuff like that in their homes&#8230;and it&#8217;s cheap.<\/p>\n<p>The key phrase in the original commercial is <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;under $10,&#8221;<\/span> not <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;nature inspired.&#8221;<\/span> Gary spotted that and ran with it.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Now on&#8221;<\/span> is the British equivalent of <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;going on now,&#8221; <\/span>which I absolutely hate. I&#8217;ll give Gary the benefit of the doubt by assuming if there were an actual deadline to refer to, he wouldn&#8217;t have said &#8220;now on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So, Gary, you won your choice of any one of my <a href=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/ebooks\">e-books<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/ebooks\"> <\/a>of my <a href=\"http:\/\/www.danoday.com\/mp3seminars\">mp3 seminars<\/a>. Small solace for the tremendous resentment you already are sensing from everyone else who thought their entry was better. But congratulations nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>(Please come pick up your prize during normal business hours.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At last, the winner and the runners up in the competition that has rocked the advertising world and entranced several nations (some of which prefer not be identified). Here is the original &#8220;Target&#8221; radio commercial that was so patently bad that I couldn&#8217;t even begin to critique it. The Original Target Commercial: It was such [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-321","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST - DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST - DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At last, the winner and the runners up in the competition that has rocked the advertising world and entranced several nations (some of which prefer not be identified). Here is the original &#8220;Target&#8221; radio commercial that was so patently bad that I couldn&#8217;t even begin to critique it. The Original Target Commercial: It was such [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DanODayRadio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2009-03-23T07:37:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dan O&#039;Day\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Dan_ODay\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Dan_ODay\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dan O&#039;Day\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dan O'Day\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/afe504342187ed9676675802d9c9b19c\"},\"headline\":\"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST\",\"datePublished\":\"2009-03-23T07:37:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":965,\"commentCount\":5,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/4.bp.blogspot.com\\\/_JygV9WxRKKc\\\/Scc7uZvJHeI\\\/AAAAAAAAAf8\\\/tqpYBZc1wEc\\\/s320\\\/Confetti.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/\",\"name\":\"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST - DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/4.bp.blogspot.com\\\/_JygV9WxRKKc\\\/Scc7uZvJHeI\\\/AAAAAAAAAf8\\\/tqpYBZc1wEc\\\/s320\\\/Confetti.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2009-03-23T07:37:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/afe504342187ed9676675802d9c9b19c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/4.bp.blogspot.com\\\/_JygV9WxRKKc\\\/Scc7uZvJHeI\\\/AAAAAAAAAf8\\\/tqpYBZc1wEc\\\/s320\\\/Confetti.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/4.bp.blogspot.com\\\/_JygV9WxRKKc\\\/Scc7uZvJHeI\\\/AAAAAAAAAf8\\\/tqpYBZc1wEc\\\/s320\\\/Confetti.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/2009\\\/03\\\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO\",\"description\":\"Straight talk about radio programming, radio advertising, radio production...Well, you get the idea.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/afe504342187ed9676675802d9c9b19c\",\"name\":\"Dan O'Day\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/danoday.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/assistant\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST - DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST - DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO","og_description":"At last, the winner and the runners up in the competition that has rocked the advertising world and entranced several nations (some of which prefer not be identified). Here is the original &#8220;Target&#8221; radio commercial that was so patently bad that I couldn&#8217;t even begin to critique it. The Original Target Commercial: It was such [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/","og_site_name":"DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DanODayRadio","article_published_time":"2009-03-23T07:37:00+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Dan O'Day","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Dan_ODay","twitter_site":"@Dan_ODay","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dan O'Day","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/"},"author":{"name":"Dan O'Day","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/afe504342187ed9676675802d9c9b19c"},"headline":"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST","datePublished":"2009-03-23T07:37:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/"},"wordCount":965,"commentCount":5,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/","url":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/","name":"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST - DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg","datePublished":"2009-03-23T07:37:00+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/afe504342187ed9676675802d9c9b19c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_JygV9WxRKKc\/Scc7uZvJHeI\/AAAAAAAAAf8\/tqpYBZc1wEc\/s320\/Confetti.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/winner-can-you-write-a-better-radio-commercial-than-this-junk-contest\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"WINNER: &quot;CAN YOU WRITE A BETTER RADIO COMMERCIAL THAN THIS JUNK?&quot; CONTEST"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/","name":"DAN O\u2019DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO","description":"Straight talk about radio programming, radio advertising, radio production...Well, you get the idea.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/afe504342187ed9676675802d9c9b19c","name":"Dan O'Day","url":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/author\/assistant\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}