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When the inmates take over the advertising asylum
Posted by Jeff Berkwits on November 18, 2008 at 04:00 PM PDT
As a marketer I'm certainly concerned about making sure online ads for my products don't inadvertently appear in inappropriate locations. Earlier this year when I considered placing some banner ads on an at-the-time up-and-coming, kids-oriented website run by a well-known company (trust me, you've heard of them), I expected to be hit with a standard list of "dos and don'ts." Well, when I received their "Specific All Ages Ad Content Guidelines" I couldn't help but wonder if the inmates hadn't taken over the asylum. I'll let you be the judge by showcasing a handful of highlights taken verbatim from the dozen-item, page-long list.
· No guns (only possible exceptions are ray guns or tranquilizer guns – as in, sci-fi or non-lethal – guns kids would not view as real or truly harmful in any way)
· No knives. Swords are taken on a case-by-case basis.
· The woman should not be overtly sexualized. Therefore, no boobs bigger than a B-cup, please
· Also, please avoid crop tops (as in no midriff skin/belly button showing), tiny tank tops or halter-tops.
· Please do not show underwear straps
· No low slung pants that might show ass cracks
That final bullet point I also assume eliminates any plumbers from potentially advertising on the site.
If any other brand marketers have similar wacky rules they've run across I'd love to hear about them. Meanwhile, I'll be out making sure our spokespeople are appropriately dressed, not too busty, and armed only with swords or tranquilizer guns.
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