(8 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
A few days ago I read a post on adverblog about an agency called BooneOakley and how they created a different kind of agency website, for some reason I just skipped on by, but after writing a post on how agencies are going from flashturbation to wordpress, I thought I better go back and check out this website, and wow, I was impressed!
This is perhaps* one of the most creative websites I’ve ever seen, or is it just that no one has tried this yet? Either way, BooneOakley has created such a great experience that you find yourself wanting to go back again and again. What they’ve created is an interactive YouTube video that is essentially a full agency website from portfolio right through to the contact us page.
Very very cool, but that’s what you’d expect from the agency that looks after “the one show”, right? Click here to get the full experience on YouTube. Note the (*) is my disclaimer for all rants related to the fact this is one of the most creative websites I’ve seen yet! Not the world…! or is it?! Perhaps its one of the most creative executional ideas for a website ever seen?!
[...] I don’t know about that, but damn is it brilliant. Just saw this on digitalbuzz about BooneOakley’s website. It’s such a sweet idea that I couldn’t resist telling [...]
[...] June 9, 2009 · No Comments BooneOakley – most creative website ever?! | Digital Buzz Blog. [...]
Worst idea ever.
How do I look up their phone number from my iphone?
Or for that matter, how do I call them without watching that entire video.
Clever but shallow!
It’s it’s a mistake to apply the attribute of ‘most creative’ to any piece of commercial communication. Instead, the attribute should be “most effective”, which might mean “increasing brand preference” or some such result that bears directly upon effecting greater revenue growth for the client’s products.
Here’s why. Clients invest in commercial communications in order to accomplish a specific business result of greater value than the investment in communications. Commercial communications, such as web sites must be evaluated vis a vis this effectiveness objective. And it should be praised to the extent to which it does that.
Attributes such as “creative” or “memorable” are relevant only to the extent to which these contribute to that greater business objective. Otherwise, clients, and agencies will find themselves inadvertently wasting the investment.
Commercial communications be extremely creative, and yet be a waste of the client’s money. Commercial communications can also be memorable, and yet be a waste of the client’s money. Hence these attributes should not be used in a way that shadow or obscure the only objective, to be effective toward the fulfillment of its business objectives.
Yes, the BooneOakley website is a very creative execution. But it is a great execution of a poor strategy. This website appears to establish BooneOakley merely as being different. This is a me-too strategy. That’s what almost every agency promises. Even the big agencies owned by the four holding companies.
It’s not enough for commercial communications to be different. It’s not enough to be promised what one will NOT get, sameness, in this case.
No. It must provide the visitor/user with a reason to prefer BooneOakley over all the other agency. And this advertisement fails to do this.
[...] some time devouring the posts and watching way too many cool videos on youtube, especially this write up for the BooneOakley [...]
[...] plus side, the approach helps the agency gain tons of pubilicity from bloggers (like AdFreak and Digital Buzz) and mainstream media alike. On the negative side, it’s not doing much for the [...]
I must admit I liked it when I first saw it but after reading the comments above I would have to completely agree. Sure, it’s a lot of fun, but all it does is set itself up as different, not necessarily effective or strategic or experienced. If I were a client, I’d be impressed with these guys, but I still don’t trust that they can deliver on my objectives.
On the other hand, a friend of mine has just founded a business he is calling ‘my website is dead’ who’s argument is that if a business monitors buzz correctly, and activates it effectively, they do not need a website. A huge claim I think, but obviously something that BooneOakley have succeeded in doing to some degree.
You can look ‘My website is dead’ up on Facebook for more info if you’re interested – obviously they don’t have a website
I think it’s an excellent concept, with great illustrations. The whole project has a good, relaxed tone that resonates with ‘hey mr potential client, we’re very approachable so get in touch’.
However, I did feel a little let down by their actual advertising work at the end of the spot. Sorry, but I don’t think their work is anywhere near as good as the bigger advertising agencies in London or New York.
It made me laugh and I will remember it. Isn’t that the point?
Oh, let’s not over analyse this shall we? It is brilliant! New, funny, clever and I would want to work with these guys and probably kiss them if I wasn’t married! Well done for starting my day so well, I will now try and emulate your wit.
People are talking about them. While not all talk is favorable, its talk. They are different. You will remember their name and that they are different. Good job BO.
Its not massively original in its concept, I have seen other wireframe sites. But it is neat in its execution. You expect billy to find them not get killed. It tells a story, one about how “fun” and “engaging” they are. I wold expect to see a couple of clones sometime soon.
Not sure if my previous comment posted (I don’t see it up there). But if it did, please disregard because I didn’t see the other videos associated with the “website” before commenting. Makes a big difference. When you see everything together, it is pretty cool.
Much chat about how engaging the Boone Oakley website is (yes I am jealous how much attention and PR they are getting)- it’s right on the button in terms of matching brand identity, target audience and media.
Clearly not a design for everyone, and clearly not an agency for everyone, but then that’s the point….we say there’s always an Alternative, and good on Boone Oakley for showing there are alternatives to the norm!
On the point of creating something different we launched our site a year ago and have a unique feature which no one else has, we’ve got our own biccie booker, try it out and let me know what you all think at http://www.thealternative.co.uk
This is very creative and entertaining.
On another note, anyone have a clue what “The Ones” is about and who sings it(one of the pieces in their work)? Very addictive, but I can’t find a darn thing about it doing a google search.
Thanks for any response!
I don’t see any reason why I should not have a ‘YouTube’ presence for my business.
Brilliant. Perfect. Super simple, but massive buzz. The best ideas are like that. And look, someone up there compared you guys to agencies in London and New York.
BO rocks.
[...] when I posted up the BooneOakly YouTube Site? It created some amazing buzz within the industry and since then that style has been used in only a [...]
[...] one of the year’s most innovative viral ads, and Digital Marketing Blog listed as the “most creative website ever [...]
I love this idea! It really increases the possibilities of the online media. I am thinking about making a semi rip-off, where I use youtube as homepage, but with real film footage, since I have a marketing film production company. I haven’t been able to find a tutorial on how to build a site like this on youtube – anyone?
/Smatis
I certainly spent more time looking at their stuff than I have spent browsing any other agency website lately. It’s a great eye-catcher and POD, how practical it is in the long run (in terms of website administration and content management) remains to be seen. In the end, I suspect this type of website attracts a certain type of client, which is why they put it together this way in the first place.
[...] to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates!Last year I challenged everyone to see if this was the most creative website ever? At the time, YouTube annotations were brand new, every agency was doing the same old thing, a few [...]
[...] and immediately it can connect brands and consumers. I was blown away by what Modernista! and BooneOakley did with their sites. That was truly cutting edge and cool stuff, which is something you don’t [...]
While Ravi has a point, i have been to hundred of agency websites that deliver “the effectiveness objective”….. however the B&O site is the only one that i have twitted about, sent to my friends and visited again and again…… plus i am not a potential client, i am a competitor, wish i had a website where people want to spend time….
i think this web page has hit it “effectiveness objective”
Well, I have to say it was basically the most frustrating experience online I’ve had. I use the web for critical information on solving problems quickly in the advertising/marketing genre. My experience was ANYTHING BUT THAT. DO they want new biz or not? In trying to research the company and find out the basics, who are they/ why would I hire them for my needs…….I must watch a cartoon and get stuck out in UTubes video land! I have an advertising background myself….and their site seems to be a masterurbatory exercise online…aren’t we cool with a quasay “southpark-esk video”….why they kill the bunny… I still don’t understand, much less care to know. I can not get critical info. on the advetising co. that I need. I click on the BIOs box to find out who the key partners and who the creative folks are ….and get booted to “JOIN UTUBES/GOOGLE VIDEO GROUP”…..aaaaaagh! Glitch or not……..it deters me and makes me think your creative guys are drinking too much of their own coolaid in the back and don’t care about new biz. C’est la vie…..just my opinion.
[...] the correct term would be) are extremely creative and do a great job of utilizing this feature, but some people would argue that these sorts of campaigns are more award-bait than effective branding strategy. What do you [...]
I really don’t think this is brilliant. Yet another scratch drawn animation. But’s it’s fun and charming. However, complaining about big agencies is not a positive message and far too many small agencies do this. It’s the buy IBM philosophy (no one got fired for buying IBM), big clients play safe and don’t get fired (or killed by their wives). You won’t persuade them to go to small agencies that way. Stick to the work.