Obama Ad Campaigns – “No You Can’t!”
While older and recent hot marketing techniques may be dying out, new tricks and methods are being discovered daily. Most recently there has been a massive increase in marketing with President Obama. While there are many ways to market products or services using Obama’s picture or status, government grants have seem to be most successful and noticeable. Though that may soon come to an end…
As reported by Bloomberg News, the White House is trying to limit the commercial use of the President. The article states:
“Our lawyers are working on developing a policy that will protect the presidential image while being careful not to squelch the overwhelming enthusiasm that the public has for the president,†White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
Obama’s calls for change and his “Yes We Can†campaign mantra are being evoked to sell assembly-required furniture in Ikea’s “Embrace Change†marketing campaign, bargain airfares during Southwest Airlines Inc.’s “Yes You Can†sale and “Yes Pecan†ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. shops. (continue)
How long before we start to see legal effort put into place and people get made examples of? We already know the BBB and FTC are starting to crack down on the fake testimonial weight loss blogs… but with the White House getting involved on the President’s image, things may heat up even faster with Obama’s fake in the flog blog mix.
Ultimately, you have to take the positive with the negative. On another note, what is more impressive is Obama exclusively generating over $500 MILLION online. Here is a link to Barack's social media strategy.
https://www.taooftalani.com/tao-of-talani/2009/1/3…
I was thinking about this when I notice some of the advertiser using President Obama image to sell product. Its looks like he endorsing the product or support what is selling…
IIt's kind of a shame that people can make so much money from the President without paying him his respects. This can't be done with any other "celebrity" without their accord. I respect the people that have made money with it as fair marketers although I wouldn't call their methods respectable.
This is an interesting topic and I hadn' thought about it. People are essentially taking advantage of presidential fever and putting Obama's face on everything. But is he getting royalties for these? Probably not.
It's interesting to decide what you can and can't do here.
I don't know about the legalities of using celebrity images, but I know President Obama is not the first (hello, Oprah's picture attached to every Acai Berry ad on Facebook), nor will he be the last.
Maybe they should be more worried about the illegal or close to it Cash4Gold – I talked to someone that does there audits and she told me they MAKE SO MUCH MONEY. And they have very shady business practices and screw people over…..Total scam but they get way with it……How bout they deal with this type of thing and forget about a few people making cash off obama….
Zac,
Wow, there are some clever people out there.
I would not have wanted to use the President's image in my ads, it just seems dishonest as there has been no approval given.
Respectfully,
Nicholas Chase
http://www.twitter.com/nachase
I find it intertesting that no one has brought up "Bob The Builder, regarding Yes We Can campaign. Bob has a whole crew of "Can Do" machines and often say phrases like, "We Can Do It" and "Yes We Can"! I am sure the Obama Family watches Bob The Builder. Our house caught on really quick on the slogan, as we watched BTB for years!
This is the first thing you've posted about in a long time that actually makes sense. Some of the ads ive been seeing on Facebook are so over the line I am waiting for someone to get their ass handed to them over it.
i would imagine the advertisers on facebook advertising grants and bailouts are killing it using obama's pic. pretty clever. FREE GOVERNMENT MONEY! pay $1 using your credit card for a free trial???, if you don't cancel, you'll get charged $29 per month.. That's a good program! hahaha.. smells like ringtones..
Well I think there is a big difference between the people selling Obama's image on Facebook then on TV. ON Facebook it's totally unregulated and a anarchaic free for all, commercials on the other hand are regulated and the people behind them can be found out. Does anyone know what are the legal implications with using the Presidents image?
@Ad Hustler:
Yea Facebook ads are going to need regulation soon. They seem out of control in terms of content and images they place with them. Honestly, I think they really bring down the service.
@H-Town – Let's hope it doesn't come to that and that these retards can regulate themselves.
I think it's good they are doing this. Anytime they make it harder for affiliates that use questionable tactics, it makes it easier to compete for traffic for affiliates who don't resort to such things.
I cant blame advertisers for being so much of Obama because he's hot and new to the eyes of american people.
It's not a smart marketing move to tie your product to a president (unless it's short -term marketing). People are fickle. A twist here or there and there goes the marketing campaign. For niche products it works.
Its not so easy to become a president especially for the largest country as USA, even Obama is a human not a god, we'll see what he can do to bring a change for the entire of the world
It is rather sad that the positive energy associated with the Obama presidential victory has to now be trademarked and copyrighted. Good for the people who jumped on the bandwagon and ran successful campaigns on the back of Obama's success though.
It's good to be protective just not overly. There is a fine line though with profiting off others success.