Ads have to work fast. Almost light speed.
They have to be simultaneously clear and intriguing.
If they’re muddled, irrelevant, or boring, no one will pay attention.
This is equally true for ads in student portfolios.
Just 30 seconds before writing this post, I was looking at a student’s book online. The first four examples were case studies that looked more like brochures than ads. They weren’t ads. They were explanations of executions.
Here’s the thing: I don’t have time to sit and read paragraph after paragraph designed to help me better understand the problem, the target audience, what they currently think, what they should think. That’s a creative brief. And I don’t have time to read your creative brief.
I have time to read a few quick headlines that are thoughtful, engaging, clever, provoking, interesting, and clear.
I want to see your creative.
I don’t have time to read your explanations.
“But print is dead,” you say. “Digital solutions need more explanation. They need to be set up.”
Fine. Then set them up. Quickly. And clearly. Then get out of the way, and let the work speak for itself.
And never discount a quick, well-written headline. It’s the easiest way of showing me you can think. If you can write a great piece of copy, I’m willing to bet you can create any kind of compelling content a client needs you to.
MAKIN' ADS 