What a great game huh? You know, the Super Bowl? Oh maybe you didn’t watch the football game yesterday but you caught the ads that ran in between breaks in the action. Among most notable ads was the ever notorious GoDaddy who has garnered a reputation for their racy and risqué Super Bowl ads that run yearly.
This year’s ads caught me off guard though. While there was a Superbowl ad from GoDaddy that featured Bar Refaeli and a nerd kissing, there was another that was worth catching. It features people from all over the world who have a big idea and in every scene the wife is prompting the husband to do something about it while he stalls to take action. It ends on a man and wife on a private jet celebrating the success from taking action on their “big idea.”
But it’s Godaddy, c’mon!
Yeah I know. As a WordPress consultant and development company we tend to steer our clients away from most of GoDaddy’s offerings. They also have been accused of taking advantage of the simpleton business owner who does not truly understand what they really need. That’s still a valid concern for our community of developers.
Do I personally hate the company? Of course not. We happen to be from the same city as GoDaddy and do wish to support local businesses when we can (even sometimes GoDaddy). But the decision to best serve our clients and their project goals is our most important focus. So I’d heartily tell anyone considering using a GoDaddy service to be careful and educate yourself before you buy anything.
The message of the ad…
Getting back to the ad. I want to say, business practices aside I do like part of their messaging for one of their Super Bowl ads this year. While the ad with Bar Refaeli and the stereotypical web nerd was a little over the top and a bit disturbing, the “big idea” Super Bowl ad was a good motivator to use GoDaddy and what they’re good for.
The ad runs and by the end it’s a clear call to action to buy a .CO domain from GoDaddy. They don’t try and tell you they’ll build you this “big idea,” but (seemingly) offer their service as a starting point. This could be a good thing! Now, the jury is still out on whether .CO is a good investment or not, but the bottom line is that if you’ve been sitting on the idea, it’s time to get moving.
Get off the couch and take action.
I know education that consultants and developers have to make at times in order to express value in our services. It’s not often we see a worldwide audience being prompted to take action in this way. As people in this industry we can thank GoDaddy for this aspect of the messaging in their Super Bowl ad this year. Simply put: “get off the couch and take action on your big idea.”
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Video of the ad:
I’d love to get your comments below and continue this discussion. Whether you’re a casual observer or a web developer your opinion is equally of value here. ;)
Cody Landefeld
#WordPress Designer & Developer. Director at @gpavondale. Occasional speaker at @wordcamp's and enjoyer of the AO, Family, Travels, Sports, and #PHX.
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First, I found the Bar Refaeli offensive and I DO hate GD. If that ad was a one off I’d excuse it, but it is just more of the same objectifying and stereotype baiting crap GD has been perpetuating for years. Enough on that.
The big idea commercial was objectively pretty good (and thankfully not offensive). However, it perpetuates a who different problem with GD which is why so many of us who don’t hate GoDaddy for other reasons still would never recommend them. GD has made it super easy to buy a domain name, but they’ve made everything else about setting up a site and managing that domain a royal pain that is absolutely drowned in often confusing up sell offers.
Cody:
Thanks for expressing your thoughts on what might seem to be a minor point in the overall scheme of things. Your intention as I read it in your blog post is to encourage entrepreneurship and now. I applaud your intention if I am reading it correctly.
I also thank you for having the courage to express your thoughts regarding the impact of both the Go Daddy ads. Like you, I was left with a very mixed impression from both ads. I completely agree that the notion of universal (i.e., worldwide, global, family…) desire to take action on our ideas for creating new business and value is truly an inspiring message. I also applaud your desire to support our local businesses regardless of their size.
Indeed, the Super Bowl has emerged as an event and forum to showcase the best, brightest and most innovative advertising talent the world has to offer. This event has become the Super Bowl of advertising as well as the Super Bowl of the game of football.
Part of innovation and becoming the best of the best is taking risk. The risk taking in both the Go Daddy ads fell short in my opinion. At least part of the intention in the .CO domain ad by Go Daddy had merit in my view.
Again, thank you for taking the time to open this discussion. Thank you for the tone of your post which I read as being constructive.
Jay
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JayCarpenter@1-800-PHONEWORD.com
The first ad was humorous. I didn’t find the model offensive, but the stereotype of the web developer. Lame.
As for the “big idea” ad, it was also clever, but trite. You could say that registering a domain name is the first step in getting off the couch, but it’s also too damned easy. Registering a domain name is a minor point in making your big idea come to life. It’s the execution on that big idea that really counts.
I think their ad did an excellent job of capitalizing on the “dream” of cashing in on your big idea by getting people to make the impulse buy — a domain name. They make money, and they don’t care whether you take that idea any further than that.
I’d love to hear how many domain were registered as a result of their commercial. Now that’s a big idea.