The Copywriting Maven

photo credit: bark

Since the market is tanking yet again today, I thought it was time for a little fun here at the Maven’s nest. I’m introducing a new category - WTF. This will be a catch-all for products, ads and services that make me pause and say, wait for it, WTF!

My previous mention of the pee and poo stuffed dolls aside, this new one is, as the old folks might say, a corker.

Introducing Little Baby Wee Wee.

Wow. How wrong is this and at how many levels?

Can you imagine being the copywriter behind this ad? Would you even admit to being the copywriter for this ad?

At least we don’t have to show our faces. That can’t be said for the adult actor here who I’m sure can no longer leave his house for fear of being accosted as Baby Wee Wee’s um, daddy.

Discuss among yourselves but do share the comments.

My mother used to talk a lot about the accident of birth.

Maybe you get lucky and get a family that’s functional in a society/culture where all dreams dreamed by all have a shot at thriving. Or maybe your luck derives from the serendipity of your own personal drives where, come hell or high water or the worst of circumstances, you take the next step up.

Then again, through an accident of birth or gender, maybe you don’t.

The focus of this year’s Blog Action Day is all about poverty. Bloggers like me get a chance to take a little piece of this deeply complex and enormous global challenge and make it deeply personal with posting and a call to action.

Empower the Women. Strengthen the Family. Raise up a Nation.

“When women are afforded equality of opportunity that is their basic right, the results for the economic advancement of society as a whole are striking,” stated Joanne Sandler, acting UNIFEM Executive Director. “The Economist estimates that over the past decade women’s work worldwide has done even more to fuel the global economy than has the stunning growth of China. We know what is possible when women are recognized as agents of change.”

When I opened MGP Direct, Inc. I wanted to make my own opportunities and create a job or two, as well. I believed then as I do now, that success lies in what you do for yourself and what you, in turn, do for others.

Today, I’m asking you to consider the vital work of The Women’s Funding Network, a consortium of 132 organizations that fund women’s solutions across the globe providing women money and tools to transform  ideas into lasting change — from combating poverty through achieving advances in healthcare, education and human rights.

“Remember the ladies, John.”

Abigail Adams wrote this now famous exhortation to her husband as he and other leaders wrestled with creating a nation from a fistful of colonies. When government not only protects but supports and encourages the imagination, talent and hard work of all its citizenry, we all benefit.

Today, in advance of World Poverty Day, October 17, I ask that you, too, remember the ladies with a donation that will fund our global ability to rise up with strength, heart and clarity of purpose.

photo credit: jblyberg

With markets tanking across the globe and mainstreeters worried about jobs, I’m thinking this holiday season is going to be heavy on the practical and light on the whimsy.

“These stuffed toys absolutely reek of fun.”

Consider this gift item, for example. A set of pee and poo plush dolls set. $38. Yep, your kids can have their own pee and poo dolls to cuddle with and cart around.

In flusher economic times, this might be a fun gag gift. Today? I can do a whole lot better with $38.

What about you? How has your thinking about holiday giving this year changed? If you work in B2C markets, are your clients asking you to take a different tack? (I notice Target’s ad have begun to focus on having fun with the basics - like cutting your children’s hair. Like I would think that was fun.)

photo credit: tvol

My mother-in-law uses the phrase “you people” or “those people” a lot in conversation.

Neither phrase, through my albeit uniquely personal lens, ever sounds good or flattering. My emotional hackles rise because in my head, I’m filling in the blanks of “you people” to you [DESCRIPTOR, DESCRIPTOR, hot menopausal mamas - okay, maybe I like the last one

When I ask her what she means by "those people" she generally responds with "Oh, you know ..."

Code talking.

In last night's debate, we saw John McCain - not having the best of nights in his preferred town hall format - respond to a question about energy. He pointed to his side and without even looking at Senator Obama, snarled “ ... do you know who voted for (2005 energy bill)? That one!"

Uh, oh, John. Your code is showing.

Now here's the thing. I really don't believe McCain meant anything beyond the usual round of political insults and pointed jibes. But when I heard him use the phrase "that one" I knew, I felt, the wrenching wrongness of it.

And as we smart marketers understand, it's how we feel that makes the difference whether we're buying things or voting for presidents.

[We've seen similar tactics used before. Not too long ago, when cornered about his extra-marital "orality" with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton shot back with a wagging finger proclaiming how he ... didn't ... have ... sex ... with ... that woman. Another fine moment of nasty, demeaning code-talk if there ever was one. From Presidential squeeze to non-entity delivered with a snappish, syncopated beat.]

This whole us vs them thing is probably the biggest reason I made the decision long ago not to do ANY political direct marketing work, even for candidates/causes I support. To do it well, I’d have to learn the”us/them” code. (That and the fact that it’s hard to get paid when your candidate loses.)

What about you? Have you worked in the political marketing arena? Would you if given the opportunity?

I know that cute cat videos are everywhere. I generally avoid them since they’d completely kill my work day once I got started. Perhaps you’ve even seen this one already. If not, have some fun.

It just got me to thinking … are cats and people all that different when it comes to puzzling out technology?

Let’s go to the videotape and find out.

All done? Then shoo, shoo … get back to work, play or whatever it is YOU do on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.