I know you are looking for feedback from non-Googlers, so I won't even try to answer your question.
I did want to say, though, that it is a pleasure to see the (legendary to me and others) abbottsys name appear here on WebmasterWorld.
Long may it continue. :)
So, who has TV ad feedback? I'd like to hear it too - whether positive, negative, or neutral.
AWA
If you have a visually appealing product, do it. By this I mean, do people tend to buy when they've seen the product? Do they prefer to see before buying? It can work for less-than-totally-visual-buying-experiences for sure, but if it's a see-and-buy type thing, you've got a very strong chance to make it work very well.
Running TV Ads this way is MUCH more affordable and targetable than any other TV method.
In addition to G TV Ads, SpotRunner is another avenue to distribute TV ads in a very controlled, affordable and measurable manner - plan your media to be compatible with both platforms to lower overall costs.
There's a difference between live action video (sets, actors, scripts, directors, sound booms, union laborers, etc) and motion graphics video (digital animation / digital graphics). You'd be amazed at what some motion graphics people can accomplish these days using computers! Plus, if you have a website, you have the graphic element inventory already that a motion graphics producer would need - no studio or camera or crew or actors needed. To keep your production costs low, try tapping into digital graphic and digital animation talent in the education pipeline (like Full Sail University). Check out this example, it's an average student project that shows how much can be achieved using Motion Graphics, and remember, this is a student who is new at this:
[youtube.com...]
Get some motion graphics videos made for your TV Ads, they're cool and WAY cheaper than live action video.
TV and the Internet are converging! There are video ads that you can distribute thru the G Content Network that will display on content websites - see here for more info on AdWords Click-To-Play Video Ads:
[services.google.com...]
So try to also produce your TV ad in a manner that can also be distributed via the Content Network as well. Ads are expensive to create and produce, do everything you can to get ALL of the mileage you can squeeze from the Ads you make. Besides, recycling is so hot right now.
:-)
These success stories are worth reviewing:
[google.com...]
[youtube.com...]
Some RhinoFish TV Ad Math:
**As a thumb rule (my thumbrule), live action is at least 10x more expensive to produce than Motion Graphics.
**Quality (and effectiveness) of a TV Ad is not directly proportional to the money spent producing and distributing it, it's much more about creativity and message and targeting.
**Convention says repetition is the absolute key to uptake in video advertising... because people tend to drink a lot at conventions.
**A bird in the hand is worth than two in the bush... meaning value what you can possess because you've got it captive... to capture, you need them on your website... in your video, provide one closing, starkly compelling reason to visit your website.
SpotRunner has precanned ads for a few hundred niches, look through their inventory to see if what you offer happens to have an available pre-made tv ad available (they lay down custom audio tracks). If so, start there, you can try the TV ad distribution channel for an extremely low entry cost. The canned ads aren't going to be the ideal way to sell - there are obvious shortcomings with highlighting your specific strengths - but you can get a feel for this distribution channel for a cost so low it's literally shocking.
Thanks a ton for thinking that out, writing it up, and then posting it for the benefit of others who might be thinking about moving into TV ads.
Much appreciated.
AWA
