If You Saw "IB" Written Everywhere, Would You Know What It Means?

[Blackhatjack]

I raise this because I recall reading several years ago that the most effective ad campaigns for introducing products and services have the following characteristics: (paraphrased from memory)

1) Use a symbol or acronym that the public does not readily identify with the product or service, and give no further information to the observer.

2) Penetrate the marketplace with the symbol BEFORE the ad campaign's purpose is revealed.

3) As people question what it means they begin to consult one another and their opinions.

4) Once the marketplace is penetrated, begin to disclose clues that limit the set of possibilities that answer the observers' questions, but do not confirm it.

5) Overwhelm the marketplace with the 'answer' all at once disclosing the purpose of the ad campaign.

This is particularly effective in that it raises public interest by picquing their curiosity before they know the purpose of the ad campaign.

Would a similar campaign work with "IB"? Would you know if you saw "IB"?

[semillama]

1. I would.

Obviously it's about 9/11 conspiracy theories, and "IB" stands for "Ignitable Bunnycages."

[RedStateShame]

2. Me, yes. Joe Public, eh.

How about a letter M + and then an image of a peach?

[jollyreaper2112]

50. how's this?

[meegbear]

3. IB Apply directly to the forehead

IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead
IB Apply directly to the forehead

[TwilightGardener]

6. God, that commercial....

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. But they say that stuff really works!

[rasputin1952]

31. So does a hammer, and you don't have to repeat it 45 times...

Hammer: Apply directly to the forehead...:D

[Blackhatjack]

33. That commercial is carefully crafted to make no claims it works....

"...but your product is amazing" is no claim that it relieves headache pain.

"...apply directly to the forehead" also makes no medical claim.

They have crafted a commercial that follows the letter of the law by making no explicit claims that is remedies any medical condition, but it definitely creates the false impression in the mind of the viewer that it is a headache cure --exactly what they intended!

[TwilightGardener]

38. Yep--it's homeopathic: "The FDA has not evaluated this product"

[Blackhatjack]

42. Whoa! I just saw the commercial for 'arthiritis formula' - says 'safe & effective pain relief'

I wonder if they got FDA approval or they are pushing the boundary before the FDA comes down on them?

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. I mean I know people who have taken it

My DH is one. He swears by it and so do a couple other people I know. Odd, I know.

[FatDave]

63. Your designated hitter?

IB I got though, but I might not outside the context of DU.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

11. good god...i hate you

until i can get this out of my head...yet one more product that is nothing but filler...

sP

[donsu]

23. lol oh you are mean

nt

[Throwing Stones]

54. too funny,

ever hear the Stephanie Miller bit -

Bush's voice: September the 11th
Voiceover guy: Apply directly to the forehead
Bush's voice: September the 11th
Voiceover guy: Apply directly to the forehead
Bush's voice: September the 11th
Voiceover guy: Apply directly to the forehead

ad infinitum

[meegbear]

57. ...

:spray: sad, but true.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Irritable Bowel?

[aquart]

7. Close. Very close.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Inflammatory Bowel?

edit: I apparently have a fixation.

[supernova]

21. IBS was my first

thought as well.

Although, I guess it really means Impeach Bush.

[TwilightGardener]

36. Oh. Thanks. Glad to know I'm not that weird.

[youthere]

5. I give..what does it mean?

[hfojvt]

19. I think tis supposed to be 2B

or not 2B


Something to do with imps in peach Bushes?

[youthere]

32. Aha!

Thank you very much!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. seems like AT&T tried this once with M-Life

I think that was the campaign, but my memory is failing in my youth. M-Life everywhere...no idea of what it was...didn't even know it was AT&T. Promised revelation during the superbowl...pissed me off...all that hoopla for a f^%#ing cell phone plan. I have not had an AT&T product since...but of course, with all the mergers, I may not have a choice for long.

IB...imbecillic banter? Just kidding...

sP

[Zywiec]

10. International Baccalaureate?

Anyone with kids in high school probably know about the IB program.

[lander]

43. I'm the proud owner of an IB Diploma.

Class of '98 :)

[muriel_volestrangler]

56. That was my first thought (just on seeing the thread title)

I presume the real purpose is "Impeach Bush", but I can't say I think it would work for a political slogan. 'Teaser' campaigns are for persuading people you'll look cool if you're an early adopter.

[Catherine Vincent]

12. One Billion?

[AndyA]

13. Yes, I would get it but I had to think for a second.

The average citizen might not, though.

I like the M + image of peach. That is a nice visual that people would remember, plus it's colorful and would catch the eye.

[blondeatlast]

14. I would, but Jennifer Tahoe-Escalade wouldn't have a clue.

Like it or not, we gotta reach the voting but apathetic market; a vast one indeed.

[alfredo]

15. Impeach Bush

[EnviroBat]

16. Indiscriminate Buttocks?

[eppur_se_muova]

62. thought that was Incontinentia Buttocks ... nt

[EnviroBat]

70. You may be right...

:rofl:

[karlrschneider]

17. Took me a minute but I did figure it out

;-)

[librechik]

69. that's medical slanguage/abbreviation for Ibuprofen

as well as what you and I first think.

After all, we popularized a coined Acronym, ABB. I'll bet everybody here knows what THAT means...

[karlrschneider]

74. Yeah, I still have my big red ABB button.

:-)

[dogday]

18. Check out my signature line, it says it all... nt

[rug]

20. IB clueless.

[Catherine Vincent]

24. IB a DUmmie.

See my post above. I didn't figure it out. :crazy:

[rug]

27. At least you had a scratch-hold on making sense of it.

[Bake]

22. Itchy Buttcheek?

Bake

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. IMPEACH BUSH!

[Nickster]

Hell Yes! I love this idea. n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

30. LOL!

Beat me to it by like 10 seconds--sllooowww tyypre.

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. *light goes on* IMPEACH BUSH!!!

IB/C works for me, too!

[Blackhatjack]

29. We need a symbol to penetrate the marketplace to reach ALL Americans...

Think about the fact that 70% oppose the war in Iraq. Do you see indications around you that 70% oppose the war?

Effective symbols are powerful in communicating an unambiguous message, and noticing the saturation of symbols builds a sense of community among those having similar beliefs.

We need something to help us demonstrate the agreement in the population with the belief that we must end the war in Iraq now.

[radfringe]

34. It would catch my attention

for a moment or two, I might even say 'IB????'

that being said - I took IB as meaning Impeach Bush - but only because of the context - meaning it's on the DU

if it's on my grocery list - it would be short for IBuprofen

[Norquist Nemesis]

35. How about if it's in the middle of an outline of the White House?

:evilgrin:

[radfringe]

39. that would work great!!!

[Blackhatjack]

37. Start with "IB"... then "Would You IB?" .... (take it from there) n/t

[Blackhatjack]

40. Anyone recall the use of the Peace Symbol during the Vietnam War?

As a child during the '60s I recall seeing the Peace Symbol all over.

[spinbaby]

41. Irritable bowel

First thing that came to my mind.

[supernova]

44. Write it differently

If you spraypaint just "IB" there will be a significant bunch of people who think it means "irritable bowel," based on those of us here who had that connection. Ads for IBS medications often use "IB" in their presentation.

I'd opt for something like IB/C, as noted above.

[Marnieworld]

45. switch B to W and you have a shot

But then IW usually means Iraq War so who knows?

This same philosophy was used by the marketers of Aqua Teen Hungerforce. Disregard the chaos it created in Boston, no in spite of that publicity, it did not do well at the box office.

[kwyjibo]

60. Yeah, I think IW is better.

[calimary]

46. Like it! Like it a LOT!

Good thinking!

I think this, and other campaigns to press the message in ALL venues, in ALL types of media and information exchanges, in ALL gimmicks, are ALL TO THE GOOD.

The point is - getting it out there EVERYWHERE so it becomes SO unavoidable that it's literally forced into the national zeitgeist. You know - "to kind of catapult the propaganda" by repeating it and repeating it and repeating it and repeating it and repeating it. Relentlessly, at all possible opportunities. That eventually makes it true. As it becomes a more commonplace idea, it becomes far less strange, alien, and threatening, and far more accepted. It becomes true. It becomes a fact. We can turn it into reality.

And please, also, CALL YOUR REPS. If you have an extra moment, CALL SOMEBODY ELSE'S REPS. URGE IMPEACHMENT. I mean, after the shit we just heard from McNulty and Comey - have we finally reached the "High Crimes" level YET??????

Just do it. Keep pushing. Keep the pressure on.

TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers conveniently located for your use in my sig line below.

[Sapere aude]

47. There is a commercial for some cream you rub on your penis for male erectile dysfunction.

It is advertised on the comedy channel. The ad shows sexy women dancing around with a smile on their faces. What a load of shit!

[FatDave]

64. Sexy smiling women dancing around usually works for me, no cream necessary

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

48. Well, that's all nice and dandy, but by posting it in public, you blew it.

The way to do it would be exchange PMs with a few co-conspirators and actually START doing it.

I guess you have to find another acronym.

[Blackhatjack]

52. I am not wedded to any particular symbol, just the idea ... which I believe could be powerful

[Blackhatjack]

51. A grocery cashier mentioned you would not believe what is written on currency....

It is against the law to deface printed currency. However, just look a the currency that passes through your hands and you will realize that all kinds of things are written on it, corners torn off, etc.

Some people will find ways to get the message out, not always legal.

But if 70% of the American Public is against this War, there really should be more saturation of the environment confirming that fact. We sure cannot depend on the MSM to do it.

[FatDave]

65. Technically it's illegal to deface money

Happens all the time though, and is pretty much unenforcable. Might want to get a rubber stamp though. Of course, cash is less and less common these days.

Completely unrelated, I once saw a catalog selling a pair of tinsnips they said was strong enough to cut a penny in half. The description was followed by a disclaimer that cutting a penny was actually a federal offense, and just because you could do it doesn't mean you should.

[Blackhatjack]

71. So true --but how about the machines that shape pennies into keepsakes?

You have probably seen them at resort areas. You put in a penny and some quarters, it shapes the penny into a medallion with symbols or messages. Sounds like defacement of public tender.

[FatDave]

78. Hmmm.... Very true.

Maybe if you look at the fine print on the machine it says "Not to be used for its intended purpose". :evilgrin:

[seemunkee]

53. International Baccalaureate

[OnyxCollie]

55. You mean a symbol like this?

[AlCzervik]

58. i would think i was in a place with reality based citizens.

[TygrBright]

59. uuuhhhh.... "Irritable Bowel?" n/t

[uncle ray]

61. make sure you make signs that light up with LEDs.

and put them under bridges. you'll get LOTS of attention for the cause!

[slackmaster]

66. In my region, IB means only one thing

Imperial Beach, home of the US Open Sandcastle Competition!

[DireStrike]

67. It would not work.

It's not the sort of thing that works that way. You have to be selling a NEW idea, like a new type of disease that you are trying to convince people they have. The goal is to make them believe they are behind in understanding a concept that has always existed. That way they are primed to construct and cement the definition in their heads when the information becomes available, doing the advertising work for you.

The campaign would teach people that "IB" means "Impeach Bush". It would not increase the number of people that approve of that action. Their political scripts and opinions of impeachment are much deeper than anything such a campaign would implant. The reaction of people who were against it would be to immediately revert to their partisan mindset when they find out its meaning and ascribe the entire campaign to "bizarre", "freakish" lefty behavior. They would avoid and disdain anything to do with it from that point on.

Besides, as this tactic becomes more common, people are beginning to simply ignore unknown acronyms until the definition is thrust on them anyway, as they assume it will be when it's necessary.

[FatDave]

68. I think what you're talking about is called a teaser campaign

Could be wrong though, I've got no marketing background or anything. Think it's a good idea though. The peach version is funny, but a little too obvious off the bat. The whole point is that initially, nobody has any idea. They just see this thing everywhere and scratch their heads. They ask their friends "what does this thing mean?" they don't know. Eventually the cat's let out of the bag, or better yet, is slowly leaked out. Eventually somebody asks their friend "what does this mean?" and they get "impeach bush, of course". There's a huge aha moment, and (theoretically) they are so enamored with that moment (and presumably your ingenuity) that you've won them over to your product. But the key is that initially, it's incomprehensible.

It's failed for corporate america before (the afforementioned m-life comes to mind) but I'm not sure if it's ever been tried in a grass-roots graffiti context. It might be a real hit there. I'm all for it.

[Blackhatjack]

72. Comedy could be as biting as any serious criticism of Bush/Cheney...

You could have billboards with this:

(Print to the left, Picture of Bush to the right)

We made a list of reasons NOT to impeach Bush:
1.
2.
3.

(Sheesh! THis is not easy. Anyone? Bueller?....)

[Marie26]

73. Impeach Bush?

Guerrilla marketing, cool. Maybe we could install some "IB" Lite-Brite signs on the subways & bridges?

[Blackhatjack]

75. I just wonder what people would say if they could not go anywhere without seeing one....

Penetration of the market is one thing.

Saturaton of the market is another.

Would serve us well if it were brought to the attention of people everywhere they go.

[Marie26]

76. Very few people would get it

& those people are probably liberal Bush-haters too. I like the idea, but maybe just introducing the topic of impeachment into political conversations would be a better way to go about it. It does seem to be getting some "word of mouth" now.

[supernova]

77. What about if you just wrote "Impeach"

everywhere?

That is already a heavy-weight word and the only thing we associate it with is the Presidency. You could even say "Impeach W" People would NOT confuse it with other messages.