There’s an exception to every rule. Take Microsoft advertisements for example. Having watched the company’s ads for various products over the past decade or so, I’d be hard pressed to say any of them have elicited a chuckle. (Nor should that necessarily be the goal when creating ads.)
However, the company’s latest (indirect) advertisement, rather video, for its upcoming Office 2010 product suite is an exception; it’s good geeky fun. The company gave a filmmaker named Dennis Liu of Traffik Film Works liberty to create a relatively amusing short film to promote the forthcoming product suite which is easy to appreciate it if you’re into computer geek humour. Anyway, the two-minute clip highlights the various products and functionality within Office 2010, the successor to Office 2007, in a slick, two-minute action-style flick.
Overall, I like the fact Microsoft has decided to have some fun with its marketing and advertising campaigns. Laugh and the world laughs with you – right? Presumably, it’ll help Microsoft convince consumers and businesses of the need to upgrade to Office 2010 which will probably be released at some point in the first half of next year. This is no small challenge – the world’s embroiled in a nasty economic recession of course, which typically makes people think twice about any purchase that’s not a staple. Furthermore, we’re in the ‘good enough’ computing era which may cause people to hang on to their products for longer periods of time because you guessed it, they’re good enough. The product does a job well enough to make people think long and hard before shelling out money for an upgrade.
Anyway, check out the video power; long-time Office users will appreciate it.
3 Comments on “Office 2010: Clever Ad, Tougher Sell”
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Sorry Kevin, couldn't disagree with you more. The Office 2010 movie is just plain dumb and instantly forgettable. At least the quirky video created for Microsoft Songsmith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oGFogwcx-E went viral due to it's lousy production values. I can't see The Office 2010 movie having legs.
Posted on July 13, 2009 at 12:20 pm.
No problem. I don't know if the video will have 'legs' as you say but I thought it was a relatively fun and innocuous way to plug a product that may be tougher to sell in this gloomy economic environment.
Posted on July 13, 2009 at 2:54 pm.
According to the well-respected blogger and noted Microsoft critic Mini-Microsoft, recent company ads are "…award worthy, coherent ads that aren't a demonstration of how best to destroy millions of dollars quickly."
Posted on July 14, 2009 at 5:01 pm.