Marketing Diary 1 (Butterfly Pads)

A few advertisers have tried to jump on the back of the WikiLeaks story, unpleasant
as it may be. Perhaps the simplest tie-in has been this billboard in Pakistan for
Butterfly maxipads. "WikiLeaks. Butterfly doesn't," says the ad, from RG Blue
Communications in Karachi. Art director Munir Bhatti explains the complex and
daring strategy: "I could have also shown a girl like other ads have. But the idea was
to make it very different and to use the word WikiLeaks—and that's what this is."

Pakistan is the LAST place I'd think I'd see a culturally relevant ad...but good use of
humor to simply sell a product that often makes many blush or cringe. Great use of
fundamental advertising principles while mixing in politics in a humorous way that
will resonate with many.
Marketing Diary 2 (Mr. Bean in TV Commercial from
HBL Pakistan - Phone Banking & Internet Banking)

While following the world cup matches closely, you cannot completely ignore the the
unusually annoying ad by HBL that uses the Mr. Bean look a like to portray the
simplicity of using HBL’s various services. I dislike this ad for 3 reasons

1. HBL’s Brand vs Mr. Bean

The values and personality for which HBL stands for do not resonate with being
funny and cheap. Like using some look a like to create some humor around the
brand. Never before, we associated HBL with fun and humor.

2. The Customer
I am not an HBL customer, but if I were, I would have felt embarrassed showing my
HBL debit card to someone. And next time if I see someone using it, I WILL make fun
of them.

3. Mr. Bean Look a Like

Mr. Bean real fans shouldn’t like this ad because look a like guy doesn’t pose him and
I think this insults Mr. bean as well.
Marketing Diary 3 (DAWN News Channel)

This is general corporate ad published by Dawn News. The objective is positioning

the brand as reliable, serious and less noisy news channel. The overall look and
feeling of the ad was good, however the picture used showing the megaphone and
people doesn’t seems to connect well. This ad unlike other ads of Dawn News TV is
not creative. The copy however is good enough and communicates the message well.
Marketing Diary 4 (BBC Urdu Service – Ad Campaign)

These days you would notice BBC Urdu Service ads on various billboards around the
city. The service is available through various local FM Channels and has a decent
following. The ad I saw in Dawn Newspaper is an adaptation of the same billboard ad
with a different image.

Overall the ad just clearly stands out. The colors, the powerful and compelling
message all make it one of the best ads in today’s papers. I specially appreciate how
the ad carries BBC’s rich brand personality in it. I am sure the designers or the client
itself might have their reasons for not using a local image, but that is the only change
I would make.