Today I found myself staring off into space as I watched the morning launch of the Hubble repair payload (STS-125). It made me think…. Harley-Davidson – never known for a delicate marketing touch – should look to NASA and launch the mother of all campaigns, an everywhere you look, invade your dreams advertising campaign in support of HD product placement strategies.
The situation is this: People follow the space shuttle. From TV to the internet. Even the astronauts are getting in on the twitter-first-century with @astro_mike providing “tweets” as he roars into outer space. The shuttle has a lot of “white space”, literally. The shuttle’s external tank is burnt orange in color and is a HD advertisers dream. Harley-Davidson wants to obtain broader reach so, why not combine the two?
Currently as a government agency, NASA does not promote or endorse a commercial product or service. But that’s 1950 thinking and everything now days is full tilt, in your face with amped up product noise. Nothing is spared from the marketing pro who senses an opportunity to peel off some more mind share. Stadium’s have naming rights and the companies who buy the privilege do so with a lot of $$. A joint shuttle ad campaign would help NASA solve funding issues and save us tax payers some coin. For example, American Airlines pays over $6M a year for the privilege of hosting the Dallas Mavericks and Reliant Energy pays out over $10M for Reliant Stadium in Texas.
In the photo I provided logo placements. This is an example of what a space shuttle advertising campaign might look like. At first I suggest being subtle and classy with a reversed emboss look on the foam insulation of the External Tank and then place black logo’s on the shuttle flaps. Of course if this works (meaning youth are inspired), I could see a day where the payload door opens and as the world looks on…. a sort of NASCAR theme or a paparazzi of logo soup looks down from the sky as TV crews film the astronauts in action. The HD custom shop could even craft some of those special faux flames and pin stripes.
Congrats to NASA and the shuttle crew on a successful launch!
Photo courtesy NASA and HD.
HD advertising, hey why not…didnt they just sponsor a boxing match or tournament too…what they heck, they’ve got money to burn i guess (just as everyone else is realizing they shouldnt boast their uber spending…go figure…). another great post!!