Dobara yahaan mat (kh)aana!

Dobara yahaan mat (kh)aana!

 - Kitchens of India

Scene: At an expensive restaurant

A waiter is taking an order from a couple who asks for Paneer Malai and roti. The waiter says that they will be demonstrating it on their table as that was the restaurant’s specialty and he hoped it was alright. They are nonplussed but agree.

So a small stove is brought in, on which the chef places a small kadai with a cup of boiling water. He takes a packet of Kitchens of India and shows them that this is indeed Paneer Malai. The two are bewildered but just nod. The chef then asks the woman to read the instructions aloud while he proceeds in ‘making’ the dish.

 They are served the hot food and later billed at a cost that is equivalent to the cost for two at an ITC hotel’s restaurant. Bewilderment mounts to consternation.

What transpires next forms the rest of the event which is uploaded on YouTube.

 The two on realising that the joke is on them are amicably sent away with a hamper of ITC Kitchens of India with best compliments from ITC.

Yet another ...idea?

 Yet another ... idea for Ford Motor Company!

Is this FMC’s lucky week or what? Three times in a row is one too many, no? 

Anyway, here it is, one for the road:

A customer has just bought a car of some other brand. The agency follows him around until he goes into a shop. Two Ford cars drive in and swiftly take position, one in the front of the customer’s car and one behind with very little leeway for movement. The ‘owners’ of the two cars then disappear with little hope of appearing any time soon.

The customer comes out of the shop and moves towards his spanking new car with the intent to get in and drive away, only to realise that he cannot, sandwiched as his car was between the two Ford cars.

What transpires next makes up the rest of the event which is uploaded on YouTube.

One ‘owner’ saunters in after what seems to be ages and quite easily drives the Ford out of the scene, leaving the customer flummoxed.

In the end, the rather harried customer is treated to a nice meal courtesy the agency and told it was all in jest and as a sweetener for the trouble is given a free service contract at a local but established service centre courtesy FMC.

[An alternate idea would be to make the customer a Ford customer and the two Ford cars natural upgrades from the stables of FMC.]

Not another... viral?!

Not another... viral?!

For want of a better word, let’s give you another example of ... not a viral but definitely of an idea that could tickle some pink. And my example is once again for a car from the stables of Ford Motor Company.

Let’s imagine this time that the ‘customer’ (actually a senior and responsible member of the agency or Ford) parks his just bought car in front of a gas station or a grocer’s shop. The road normally registers a thumping footfall but not on a lazy winter morning, when there are early morning joggers only.

The ‘customer’ intent on buying his monthly grocery is gone awhile now. But dear me, he has left the car key on the ignition!

What happens next forms the rest of the event, the best of which is uploaded on YouTube. Will the police be so kind as to help, just in case? Just kidding! But do take the authorities into confidence to resolve misunderstandings with the anti-social kind!

Will it garner the interest needed to go viral? No! Does it make you smile? I don’t know; you tell me! And while you are at it, I’d sure as hell like to hear some of your rib-tickling encounters with the quirky ideas kind. So, don’t forget to share some and laugh some.

So do write (you know where)

To (you know who)

Until the next, adieus!

P. S. This is the second mention of Ford Motor Company in as many days! Has FMC taken the hint?!

Catching a Viral on the 'Tube!

Catching a Viral on the ’Tube!

Every copywriter dreams of his ad going viral. Or at least wants it to, and I am no exception. But how can you tell when an ad will go viral? 

I’m not sure I can although this one seems pretty decent to me. It’s the one I wrote for Ford Motor Company. Here is how it goes:

Imagine that a customer goes to test drive a Ford car. It is pretty obvious then that Ford is one of the brands that the customer wants to buy. He goes back but not before scribbling his name and address on the visitor’s book.

Are you with me? Good.

Now, a salesman picks up a brand new car and drives it to his house and parks it in front of his gate. The salesmen and a few members of the agency leave the keys in the car.

This is where the ad starts. What happens after the salesman and members from the agency go (after seeking prior permission from the relevant authorities) forms the “just for fun” video which is recorded and uploaded on YouTube.

It is hoped that he will look around, touch and feel it and then even perhaps sit inside it. Or perhaps he would want to park it elsewhere as it is right in front of the gate and the thought of driving the car a little tickles him a pretty pink? These are just conjectures.

It is hoped that after this episode the salesman and the members from the agency drive the car and park it in front of the next ‘victim’s’ gate!

Will it work? Your guess is as good as mine, but it’s certainly worth giving it a try, don’t you think?

Did you find this useful? Can you think of something of your own? Share it with me on this channel that is meant for people just like you.

Until the next, adieus!

P.S. Do you have a brand that you would like me to write about? Do let me know!

What is the Secret of Writing Interesting Headlines?

What is the Secret of Writing Interesting Headlines?

What is the secret of writing the kind of headlines that I do? It’s very simple really once it becomes a habit. 

Devote two hours a day - yes, that’s all it takes - in crafting the headlines. Make sure that you format the line as you type along. This makes your work look more professional and it saves your seniors the headache of having to correct the elementary stuff that should have been done by you anyway.

In those two hours, you should have written at least twenty different headlines, sans typos and incorrect grammar. 

Body copy and tag lines should be treated with as much respect as the headlines. Check your work, and edit, edit, edit! Let each word justify its presence in your copy. That takes away six hours worth of office hours at your desk!

Once you have ensured that you’ve pretty much finished your work fair and square, you could take a well-deserved break. And I’m quite sure your supervisor would treat your laidback attitude indulgently.

No matter what else you have to do, if you ensure doing these tasks consistently day in and day out along with the other assigned work, you are well on your way to reaching the stars!

With best wishes and until the next, adieus!