1st ever Magazine Ad - care to critique?

[retro asian]

Hi Everyone,

I'm attempting to do my first ever Magazine Advert. I'm not trained in marketing or design or anything, so would be interested to hear what those in the biz (or who have the skills) think.

This is going at the bottom of a RH page.
The target audience is Electronics hobbyists/enthusiasts, and I'm trying to stay close to our company "design style" with the fonts and colours.

Would love any feedback or ideas.

Cheers!!

[EJK]

Just a little "debug" James?

[retro asian]

oops photo didn't work 1st time

[Blackshear]

Because I know nothing at all about effective advertising, it's natural for a witty comeback to make up for said lack of skill.


MORE COWBELL!

[EJK]

OK as a "dumb customer's" view (myself) I think it's quite good. Very simple and catchy, however it would look more comfortable if the title texts (not the URL) were alittle bit more bigger.

How about not too much objects scattered? Maybe have just 5 types of different electronics? (And make them bigger)

My $0.02

Note: Love the white background with black N red theme.

[Danae]

I would suggest "over one million" as opposed to "over a million"

Nice presentation tho

[popa griffin]

I hate adds like this.

Always makes me think to high priced for people with millions of dollars instead of "hey summit for the average jo smog"

[MidnightMike]

Keeping with all of your elements/ text etc I would have gone in this direction....

[retro asian]

I hate adds like this.

Always makes me think to high priced for people with millions of dollars instead of "hey summit for the average jo smog"

Interesting. Needs more sex appeal?
I have some more creative and funnier ideas, but I need to meet approval with the sponsor...which limits me somewhat.

Also some of our customers are design engineers in large corporates, so we have a "public image" to maintain.




I would suggest "over one million" as opposed to "over a million"



Thanks. That's better England.




more comfortable if the title texts (not the URL) were alittle bit more bigger.


Was thinking that myself. Although I've heard that text look bigger in Print.

[ready4whatever]

i think the components should stand out, instead of being a hundred little bits, you really need to focus to look at them. ads should jump out

[retro asian]

Keeping with all of your elements/ text etc I would have gone in this direction....

Wow, that makes the company name stand out a lot more...

[TOTO]

If the pages if the magasine are white, you may have a problem with the add not standing out enougn. Introducing a border(red ?) or your companys colour background can help with this.

Also agree that the components appear a little tiny. Making them bigger to fill the add, will help the the stand-out effect.

[Big Dave]

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5AxwaszFbDw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5AxwaszFbDw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

[MidnightMike]

Wow, that makes the company name stand out a lot more...

Exactly. I'm a bit of a grid nazi sometimes, but in the first one the companies name didn't jump out at you, so throwing that flow from the words and image into company wordmark / logo works well.



i think the components should stand out, instead of being a hundred little bits, you really need to focus to look at them. ads should jump out

You're right the ad should jump out. But the components shouldn't compete with the main text and Logo...

[Big Dave]

Best thing to make an advert stand out are tits. L-)

Next best is vacant space. Particular in a geek mag.

You've told them what's in it for them and the URL presents a call to action.

Midnight mikes lay is job done.

[Big Dave]

Here. I will give you the keys.


If the client moans and sighs,
make the logo twice the size.
If they still seem refractory,
show a picture of their factory.
But only in the most extreme of cases,
should you ever show their faces.


AIDAS
Attention
Interest
Desire
Action
Satisfaction

[PirateJafa]

You're right the ad should jump out. But the components shouldn't compete with the main text and Logo...

I find that clear space is quite good for getting attention. It's something that is quite unusual to see in magazines, where usually they are filled to the brim with text, pictures and ads full of bright shouty colours which all just blend into one.

My 2c.

[retro asian]

Let me guess...still needs more cowbell?

[Big Dave]

>>I'm trying to stay close to our company "design style"<<

You should have brand rules. In a Bible.

This specify typefaces, PMS colours, logo usage and style points.

Every document produced that carries the logo must adhere to the bible's commandments.

This is a brand.

[Big Dave]

Here's an example.

[retro asian]

>>I'm trying to stay close to our company "design style"<<

You should have brand rules. In a Bible.

This specify typefaces, PMS colours, logo usage and style points.

Every document produced that carries the logo must adhere to the bible's commandments.

This is a brand.

Really appreciate all your tips Dave.

Yeah, I've seen those before. I've got Pantone 032 as our Red colour, Futura and Frutiger as our OK'd fonts and must never lose the red triangles. Our resident graphix designer was supposed to make one, but she's too busy working at a tattoo parlour these days...

[MidnightMike]

Our resident graphix designer was supposed to make one, but she's too busy working at a tattoo parlour these days...

LOL, maybe she finds it more enjoyable than being a 'Mac Jockey'.

[retro asian]

You're right the ad should jump out. But the components shouldn't compete with the main text and Logo...

We are reaching out to a new market, so our logo is relatively unrecognised.
Nevertheless, I think it looks WAY better with the logo bigger.

My idea for lots of different components was to try and visually explain what our company sells i.e one million different small parts.

Everyone's ideas are awesome. Many Thanks. Lots to think over....

[retro asian]

Does something like this warm the cockles of your heart more?

For a bit of fun, a Back-of-the-Y type explosion in the background too...

[TOTO]

Does something like this warm the cockles of your heart more?

For a bit of fun, a Back-of-the-Y type explosion in the background too...

nah, those look a bit too "cheap"

[NighthawkNZ]

I hate adds like this.

I just hate adds... and I am a graphic artist :baby:

The best tips are;

White space sells... It depends where the add is going, and what its surroundings are... if the advert is surrounded by 30 other adverts in a newspaper then having an advert jump out at you is difficult to do, as they are all trying to do that... One thing if you saw a page of adverts and one was just white space with the website on it you eye will be attracted to that over the other gray or black & white ads... people will be intrigued and more likely to visit...

Less is more. Having too much to read or too much colour on an advert can defeat its purpose. People sub consciously "say bah to much to read" or "wow saw on the eyes" or "WFT" and simply move on with out actually reading or knowing they are doing it...

Over fonted: use 2 or 3 fonts at the most all headings are the same font and size, all sub headings same font and size etc... Make sure the fonts is easy to read, prints well in the media the advert is going on or in,

Branding: Big Dave says. If the the company has adverts in the past (recently) try stick to the branding theme. This way people start to recognise the company and its logo and what they are selling. People will recognise a logo before they realise what the company sells...

Overall all I personally think your first attempt is the best. Has enough white space, its clean, simple and effective. People know what the the company sells and where and how to get it.

Just remember everybody is different... you can't please all the people all the time only please some of the people some of the time. So what I like some one else will hate, others will think its tacky and yet others will agree with me...

[CookMySock]

Just a little "debug" James?Windows fail! It's a PNG.

Steve

[Big Dave]

I just hate adds... and I am a graphic artist :baby:

Designers seldom make good ad-men because they get so caught up in the beauty of the picture they forget that goods must be sold. - Ogilvy, D.

[vifferman]

Windows fail! It's a PNG.

Steve
So?

Not Steve