Ail - the Italian Association against Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma is a non-profit organization. The core function of Ail is the activity developed in partnership with the main Hematology centers coming from both universities and hospitals. The objective is to improve the life for the diagnosed patients by helping them to confront and fight with the disease.
The Association is concerned in particular with:
∞ Moral and economic support for both patients and their families
∞ Home care for patients
∞ Registration and assistance for people diagnosed with leukemia and thalassemia
∞ Purchase of medical/scientific equipments
∞ Funding of related research
∞ Granting study scholarships for doctors and biologists
∞ Organizing symposiums and study conferences
WHAT IS IT ?
In this step you will find information about the Brand Builder, who is asking you to propose a Solution for the challenge. He introduces himself (as a Brand of course :) The more you understand about the Brand, the more chances you have to create what is wanted.
IMPORTANT: There is a possibility that the Brand Builder prefers not to disclose who he is, usually for confidentiality reasons. Such Briefs will be published in an anonymous way. In this case the Brand Builder will say as much as he feels comfortable saying.
Here are two EXAMPLES
In case there is no problem with disclosing the identity (VISIBLE):
“NMN -No More Nicotine- is a Brand that promises to counteract the damages to the skin that can be caused by smoking. NMN is distributed in pharmacies and drugstores and its price positioning is middle-high; it is mainly promoted through professional endorsement and is not massively advertised.”
In case the Brand doesn’t want to disclose his identity (ANONYMOUS):
“Brand counteracting the damages to skin caused by smoking. Its products are distributed in pharmacies and drugstores with a middle-high price positioning; they are mainly promoted through professional endorsement and are not massively advertised.”
In summary: Who is your client (in a visible or “anonymous” way :)
The goal is to develop an advertising campaign that emphasizes the link between the world of sports and the disease by using a testimonial from the football environment.
!!! Update as of December 17, 2009!!!
After a close analysis we agreed to use Massimo Ambrosini – football player and Capitan of AC Milan FC – as an exponent of the AIL Campaign.
Few details about the testimonial:
Ambrosini covers a midfield position and he is a gritty player, generous, sharp and tactically pliable. Often, especially in place kicks, he moves in the adversary field to make use of his ability to jump and hit the ball with the head. He is a young player coming from the region of Marche, he is widely known both in Italy and worldwide, and he embodies the classical image of the nice and respected guy, prominent and admired by all, regardless of football knowledge.
The objective is to turn the player into a testimonial symbol. He is not suffering from disease that makes the object of the campaign but he decides to fight for the cause by proving emotional involvement.
!!!The end of update!!!
Concretely the campaign will be realized through the creation of:
∞ Umbrella concept of the campaign (general idea)∞ Concept communication by means of: outdoors manifestation, posters, radio (text for the spot)
WHAT IS IT ?
This is the task the Brand Builder asks you to accomplish. If you don’t understand it, you are completely out of luck !
EXAMPLE
“We ask the Creators to develop a print advertising campaign in order to increase Brand’s visibility. It will be used in national magazines this spring.”
In summary: It’s the objective of the client, therefore your objective too !
The campaign addresses both existing and new customers.
The actual target is mainly composed of medium aged people (50+) with lower-average income who approach our Organization as they appreciate our initiatives or because they are directly involved having a sick family member or a friend.
We intend to expand our contributors’ data base by starting to approach a new target that includes people aged under 40. This is exactly the reason why it was decided to choose a football player who is popular among young groups.
WHAT IS IT?
People that the Brand Builder wants you to entertain and persuade to think, feel or do something using your creation. Usually you will read about their age, sex, social level and behaviors. You should always keep that information in mind while creating, as the target audience is the final recipient of what you create.
EXAMPLE
“Smoking girls and women who would like to quit smoking but can’t. Usually health-conscious adults who care about their looks. They feel guilty about smoking because they know it is harmful. They read books about it. This is a real problem for them: it’s like “My brain wants something, but my body acts of its own accord”. They don’t relate to my brand, they are just waiting for a trustworthy “helping hand”.
In summary: Get under their skin !
Develop an advertising campaign by using a special and effective communication able to encourage and stimulate directly and indirectly voluntary cash contributions straight to Ail. Compared to other non-profit organization, the contributor will become a rightful member of Ail upon reaching a quota donation.
WHAT IS IT?
The thing that the Brand Builder wants to make the target audience think/feel/do because of your creation.
Here are some very concrete examples:
∞ Some things people can think/feel:
- There is a new Brand (or product or idea or...) out there
- This Brand is better than the alternatives or than it used to be
- This Brand is worth paying more for
∞ Some things people can do:
- Start buying the Brand’s products
- Buy the Brand more often
- Stock more products of the Brand in their outlets
The above written examples are very concrete whilst often the proposition of the Brief is emotional. That’s even better as it can be more inspiring!
EXAMPLE
“We’d like to encourage smokers to use NMN in order to minimize the damage to their health while they are keeping giving up smoking (especially if they’ve already tried and failed before).”
In summary: Get inside their brain !
The elements that give credibility to Ail and its campaign are:
∞ 40 year of activity in the field
∞ Full approval from all Institutions
∞ Recognition for great results in research studies done to defeat leukemia
WHAT IS IT?
This is the key to achieving the objective. It is what supports the proposition and makes it believable. Usually it is a rational statement.
EXAMPLE
“Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage to your appearance. A recent study took several pairs of identical twins where one twin was a lifelong smoker and the other had never smoked. The smokers’ skin was a quarter thinner than that of non-smokers, and in some cases there were differences of up to 40%. NMN contains thinning-blocking anti-oxidants which counteract the effect of nicotine on the skin.”
In summary: You are looking for arguments? You’ll find them here!
The communication must be done in a captivating and original way, that goes beyond the standard communication techniques used by non- profit organizations.
WHAT IS IT?
It’s who the Brand is. Yes... who!
Treat the Brand as a human being, as it has its own personality. To know the personality of the “client” is fundamental in order to provide a tailor-made job. So, read carefully the listed adjectives...
EXAMPLE
“Scientific, trustworthy, result-oriented, ‘a party’ to achieve your goals.”
In summary: Imagine the live person !
During the campaign the following communication channels wil be used:
∞ Radio spot 30 seconds
∞ Billboards (6 x 3 and 1,4 x 2)
∞ Page for newspaper printing
∞ Posters
WHAT IS IT?
A list of places (or media, or things) where the target audience will see the outcome of your creation. In this step sometimes the Brand will also acknowledge you how much he plans to invest into production. This information will give you an insight whether to create a BIG project or make it small... :)
EXAMPLE
“This campaign is going to appear in lifestyle- and health-focused women magazines of New Zealand, during the spring of 2009. We plan to invest 500,000 USD, which means approximately buying 100 single pages.”
In summary: Consider the medium !
∞ Ail logo must be always present
∞ Slogan and body copy (tag line) must be provided by the Creator
∞ We are interested in having ideas/concepts before starting the photo session with the football player
If the Brand has preferences or technical requirements that your Solution has to match, you will find them here.
Here are some items that you may find in this section:
∞ Guidelines or mandatory inclusions (do’s and/or don’ts)
∞ Business objectives
∞ Market and competitors overview
∞ Good and bad samples
Depending on the Brief, you may also find some files attached with a logo, pictures of product(s), a template that you should use in order to submit your ideas, or any other file that the Brand wants to share with you. So, study the attachments before starting creating.
In summary: Anything else you need to know (not written in the 7 steps before) !
