By E. Mahony – spotlightideas.co.uk
Cartoons / marketing is, obviously, not something new but it is a subject that has caught the attention of a few bloggers this year.
Seth Godin wrote a post back in August “Why cartoons work?” - how cartoons, although “one-directional” encourage dialogue because they invite the reader “to fill in the blanks”.
In “Comic Books as Business Communications Tool“ (October), PSFK looks at the work (32 page comic)of a Dutch design agency; as well of fashion designer, Diane von Furstenberg, who has collaborated with DC Comics to produce: “The Wonder Woman You Can Be: The Adventures of Diva, Viva, and Fifa”.
Future Now (Grokdotcom) laudsSean D’Souza’swork from a Google Optimizer presentation.
And in Cartoons as New Media Renaissance Valeria Maltoni of Conversation Agent discusses, for example, the ability of cartoons to communicate ideas, more economically, than words; the ability of cartoons to provoke ideas, and so on.
Just like to add to Conversations Agent: cartoons are images, and images appeal to a certain side of brain that induces creativity. Einstein often used to use mental images in his scientific work – not just to communicate ideas to others, but, also, to release ideas, connected to the idea of “imagination is more important than knowledge” (Einstein) – to help get out of a particular thinking rut, and jump to a new plane of thought. This is one important reasons why I like cartoons in marketing. Also, because cartoons have the extra engagement factor of being funny. The cartoonist is, also, able to create juxtaposing ideas to provoke new ones, and so on. Cartoons can help add an interesting ingredient to the overall brand story. But, above all, I like cartoons because of their economy to easily express an idea, that can, in turn, be passed on, easily, to others (social media / word of mouth, and so on).
Our Ten Favourite Mashable Comics - 11 Jul ’11
Free eBook: Inbound Marketing Told Through Cartoons!– Hubspot – Oct ‘09
Using Animated Flash Cartoons As A Video Marketing Tool - ReelSeo. 2009
Smashing Cartoons: June 2011 - Smashing Magazine - Jun ’11
Do you like cartoons in marketing – (yes:) why?
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“But, above all, I like cartoons because of their economy to easily express an idea, that can, in turn, be passed on, easily, to others (social media / word of mouth, and so on).”
Ultimately, that’s the ultimate strength of a cartoon.
And, if you can imbue some humour and an element that makes people think “Man, can I relate to that!” then you’re not just cementing an idea, but you’re making a very personal connection with someone…
Cartoons allow the irreverence of reality to peak through while positively or negatively endorsing a product or idea. Its strength lies in the ability to pull a viewer into the first person for empathy and mirth. I a single gesture, the reader both laughs with and at the communication message.