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Online Ad Blocking Trend

A new study by PageFair and Adobe has found a staggering growth in the number of Ad blocking users.  Ad blocking refers to various software programs which block known online advertisement servers.  The study found Ad blocking usage in the United States grew by 48% during the past year, increasing to 45 million users during Q2 2015.  Ad blocking in Europe grew by 35% to 77 million users.  The estimated global revenue loss due to Ad blocking software will surpass $21 billion in 2015.

Study Link: http://downloads.pagefair.com/reports/2015_report-the_cost_of_ad_blocking.pdf

Cocktail Friday the White Bat

It is cocktail Friday at Elarbee Media, and we are rounding out this week's bat theme with a White Bat Cocktail. To make a White Bat, you will need the following ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Bacardi white Rum
1/2 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 1/2 oz milk
3 oz Coca-Cola

Instructions:
1) Build all ingredients in a glass over ice
2) Stir and serve

Cheers!

Throwback Thursday Bacardi Point of Sale

It is Throwback Thursday at Elarbee Media and this week we are all about bats. We love this Bacardi Bat coaster as it carries on our theme.

Coasters used to be a significant marketing tool, making their presence known in bars at "point of sale". We see them less and less these days and wonder if the glamour of other media have distracted advertisers from the basic premise - interact with your customer where and when they purchase your product.

Encourage and reinforce the purchase.

Wit & Wisdom Wednesday - Batman

“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” Batman

It is Wit & Wisdom Wednesday at Elarbee Media and we pulled this Batman quote to continue our bat theme for the week. Actions are the true expression of who we are.

Businesses so frequently miss this connection. Spending time developing strategy, then failing to execute defines the business. Theory is only theory. What you put into practice is what will determine your success.

This Batman rendition is by Brent Woodside. WoodsideIllustrations.com

Art Tuesday Hanged Man Bat

It is Art Tuesday at Elarbee Media, and today we are continuing with our Bat theme. This picture is actually a Tarot card, the Hanged Man. We own the original of the "Six of Bones" (Pentacles) in this entirely wooden representation of the Tarot deck. All of the images come from nature.

We love the cheekiness of the Hanged Man being a bat, When artists make you smile with their wit, it is an extra bonus.

Power of Imagery - Rorschach Plate V

In our segment the Power of Imagery, we explore the impact of pictures on ourselves as consumers and individuals. This image is of the Rorschach Plate V, commonly known as the "Bat"

How much of traditional imagery is also laced with symbolism that we don't credit when first viewing an image, and does it really matter?. "Bats are symbols of rebirth - the facing of fears and being reborn." Do I really recognize that in any form when viewing the image?

To some degree when the symbolism of images is pervasive in a culture we do add that into the mix, but fringe or subtle suggestions may not translate.

Cocktail Friday Birmingham Travel

It is Cocktail Friday again at Elarbee Media. Travelling for business this week, we were fortunate to spend the evening in Birmingham. Alabama where we were served our craft cocktails in these adorable vintage glasses.

The cocktails were frankly “not good”; but, trying new things and keeping an open mind is always important. While business travel is rarely a glamorous adventure, it is always an opportunity to learn. We had a great time this week in neighboring Alabama. Cheers Birmngham!

Throwback Thursday Jean Nate

It is Throwback Thursday at Elarbee Media and this Jean Nate ad screams summer. You can almost feel the sunshine coming off the page.

Of course you would want a refreshing tingling splash of Jean Nate to refresh you and keep you smelling great in the heat.
The photograph of the product being poured to splash is cooling just looking at it.

There is ad copy that no one will read past the headline, but it doesn't steal form the message of the image, and the placement of the product as the star is perfect. We think this is a win.

Art Tuesday Is it Art?

And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart, till the Devil whispered behind the leaves 'It's pretty, but is it Art?' Rudyard Kipling

It is Art Tuesday at Elarbee Media and this week we thought we would have a bit of fun! Is it Art? What a great question. We ask that time and again within the office even after we have made a new purchase.

Is this Art? No. It is a cast iron mermaid wearing a pair of Monster High plastic shoes. It is the product of an unfettered 6 year old imagination which is even more beautiful than if it were "Art".

The Power of Images - Rorschach Plate IV

These Rorschach slides were originally produced in 1921. The inkblots are a projective test using “bilaterally symmetrical inkblots”. What you see in the inkblot is expressive of your personality. The fact that not everyone sees the same thing is essential to the test. As with art, these inkblots evoke responses based on what we bring to the table. They are not fixed or finite. They are reflections of who we are when we look at them. What does that have to do with advertising? Everything.

Evoking emotion with an image can create either a bond or a revulsion. Always test the impact if imagery on your target audience before rolling it out into the marketplace. It is often surprising that what seems innocuous to one person stirs deep emotion in others. We all have our own lens created by the lives we have led. Whether we are viewing the images through our baggage or our hopes, we always see them through a filter. Look at your customer to determine what they are likely to see and test first.