Day in and day out I design ads for the Sidney Sun-Telegraph, I love every minute of it. Even when I get told that “no one reads the paper, so why should I advertise?”.
Last week I was given an anonymous, paid ad to create. It was a half page ad. They provided the wording, and the rest was up to me. The person didn't want their name on it, they wanted it straight, and to the point. They wanted the focus to be on the ad and not on who paid for it. They didn’t even want to see a proof. WOW! Really!? Intrigued, I stepped up to the challenge. Yesterday was the first day it ran. By 9:30 AM we were already getting calls about it. By the evening, we had so many people talking about it, I couldn’t believe it. Now, granted, most people were very upset about the ad and what it said. The ad wasn’t vulgar, it wasn’t racy, it wasn’t even crude. It was however, an “in your face” “get people to wake up” kind of ad. On one hand, I am pretty excited that something I designed is being talked about all over town. On the other hand, the contents of the ad makes me a little sad. See, it’s an ad that pretty much tells the residents that if they are just going to give up, move away, and not fight for this town to grow - then to make sure the last one to leave turns off the light.
Do I agree with this ad? Not really. Am I offended by it? Nope. Do I pray everyday that neither me or my husband loses our jobs? I sure do. Do I feel this person has the right to post an ad like this? Yes. The day we start censoring the tough questions out of things is the day we might as well throw our hands up in the air and give up.
What can you do to prove this ad wrong? Shop local, get involved, create positivity, encourage people around you, pray for those that have lost their jobs, help out where ever you can, and most of all continue to pray for the future of our small towns.
Oh, and on a side note, the loudest people complaining about the ad are the ones I have actually heard say, in the past, “no one reads the paper, so why should I advertise?”. UMMMM.... Well.... I guess some do. LOL
Last week I was given an anonymous, paid ad to create. It was a half page ad. They provided the wording, and the rest was up to me. The person didn't want their name on it, they wanted it straight, and to the point. They wanted the focus to be on the ad and not on who paid for it. They didn’t even want to see a proof. WOW! Really!? Intrigued, I stepped up to the challenge. Yesterday was the first day it ran. By 9:30 AM we were already getting calls about it. By the evening, we had so many people talking about it, I couldn’t believe it. Now, granted, most people were very upset about the ad and what it said. The ad wasn’t vulgar, it wasn’t racy, it wasn’t even crude. It was however, an “in your face” “get people to wake up” kind of ad. On one hand, I am pretty excited that something I designed is being talked about all over town. On the other hand, the contents of the ad makes me a little sad. See, it’s an ad that pretty much tells the residents that if they are just going to give up, move away, and not fight for this town to grow - then to make sure the last one to leave turns off the light.
Do I agree with this ad? Not really. Am I offended by it? Nope. Do I pray everyday that neither me or my husband loses our jobs? I sure do. Do I feel this person has the right to post an ad like this? Yes. The day we start censoring the tough questions out of things is the day we might as well throw our hands up in the air and give up.
What can you do to prove this ad wrong? Shop local, get involved, create positivity, encourage people around you, pray for those that have lost their jobs, help out where ever you can, and most of all continue to pray for the future of our small towns.
Oh, and on a side note, the loudest people complaining about the ad are the ones I have actually heard say, in the past, “no one reads the paper, so why should I advertise?”. UMMMM.... Well.... I guess some do. LOL
P.S. On a positive note, I have seen the residents of the town start to defend the town. Why is this important you ask? Because it gives people motivation to make a change, to improve, and to band together to make sure this town doesn't become a ghost town. #sidneystrong #smalltownstrong #chappellstrong
This was created and placed on the Sidney, Nebraska Facebook page and now people are using it as their cover photo in solidarity. Let the Light Shine!
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