The last one...

So I've missed the last class.. again. I seem to be constitutionally incapable of waking up before 8 a.m. But from what I've heard this last post is about our overall feeling on new trends in advertising and our fav trends. First of all, I have to say this was my favourite class despite the fact that I didn't show up for each class (it was my body's fault, not my mind's, I swear!:) If it wasn't for this class, there is no way I would have learnt about all those cool trends and have checked out and found all those new sites. And even more, I would have nothing to talk about in my internship interview. So thank you!

Guerrilla marketing and branded utility are definitely my favourite trends. I would love to work in an agency that specializes in guerrilla marketing. From the consumer's point of view, I can say that I've learnt quite well to ignore traditional advertising. The only reason I pay attention to it is because I'm in this industry. I also have to admit I don't believe almost anything I hear or see in ads. Very skeptical. Word of mouth has much more effect on me than a super expensive TV spot. That's why guerrilla advertising, in my opinion, has so much power. People see unusual and cool stuff and spread the word. Then I get hooked and go and learn for myself. Same with branded utility. Checking out something useful is awesome and makes me so much loyal to the brand than any traditional advertising.

Right now, in my career, I'm taking a road of media planning. What I have realized is that media planning can be so much cooler and so much more creative than traditional NewCap and Ottawa Citizen mix. And new trends are constantly changing media planning. Remember a solar-powered billboard for Nedbank in South Africa? Or "Save Our Climate" billboard for WWF Canada that used sunlight to show the effects of global warming? Here is the link if you haven't seen it yet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpvnnu66v8. It's pretty cool (was a nominee for Media Innovation Award from Marketing Magazine). This stuff is innovative use of media but it's guerrilla marketing in a way that it creates buzz and even those who haven't seen it themselves will hear about it from others. As a media planner, I need to be aware of this stuff, and I need to be aware of those trends. Online videos, shows, movies and podcasts are also something I have to constantly keep updated on - a big media placement potential lies there. Same goes for all the social news and networking sites. I need to know what's new and coming and working in the world of branded apps, widgets and other manifestations of branded utility. Basically, I need to constantly update and educate myself on all those trends we have talked about in this course since my career will have everything to do with them.

I also want to mention one really great site I came across while doing research for one of the blog posts - New York Festivals (http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/). That's where you can learn about International Advertising Awards In All Media. I have learnt about so much cool and different stuff in their Innovative Advertising Awards section.

The last thing I want to say is thank you. For baring with barely awake us each week. Reading all of this each week. And just helping us to see the bigger picture of the ad world. I've realized there is so much that I don't know yet and have to learn (in life and in this industry) and it's AWESOME!