Ok its a funeral… but something is out of place… LOL.. just kind of strange. As my friend David Naylor pointed out on Mel Carson dot com (Adcenter UK Rep blog) “you are trying to compete with Ask for this years most confusing video ?”


Video: Microsoft- context matters

Other Adcenter videos:


Video: Microsoft – Context matters


Video: Microsoft – context matters

I dunno what to say =P…. I think this is what happens when web 2.0 graphic thinking meets tv advertising… I wish them luck with it 😉

By Jeremy Schoemaker

Jeremy "ShoeMoney" Schoemaker is the founder & CEO of ShoeMoney Media Group, and to date has sold 6 companies and done over 10 million in affiliate revenue. In 2013 Jeremy released his #1 International Best selling Autobiography titled "Nothing's Changed But My Change" - The ShoeMoney Story. You can read more about Jeremy on his wikipedia page here.

70 thoughts on “Microsoft AdCenter’s Confusing Commercials”
  1. I think it is an attempt at viral videos. I think it is not working like they hoped.

  2. How can this confuse anyone? They perfectly illustrate their point that context matters.

  3. I don’t know. Personally I thought ShoeMoney’s performance in the first commercial was pretty good. He was believable as a priest as well as a Mai Tai mixing crazy DJing bartender.

  4. BTW , Did I see the “adstripe” on top of the blog earlier today? Is showmoney.com going to be offering text links?

  5. Shoe, that is a fantastic job you did in the video. Seriously, did they provide the Hawaiian shirt or was that your own idea?

  6. I too am amazed at Shoe’s hidden talents. He even did the accent right and he danced like a pro.

  7. i am utterly speechless. One question is who is the ad agency that they used because i would def love to shadow the rep who sold them these p.o.s.’s

    – if this IS an attempt at British humor I’m guessing Benny Hill time frame?

  8. ShoeMoney, with that button up shirt on over top of the red one, I couldn’t see what company you were trying to promote. Too bad the commercial cut out before you got the button up shirt off to get to the red “Free Shirt Friday” shirt.

  9. Great? Unless you’re in the funeral business, why would you want to associate yourself with a funeral and someone being a ridiculous tool at a funeral?

  10. they try to go viral with that… those videos are not great at all… Today I saw videos of bill gates .. those videos were actully funny especially the one when bill gates was playing guitar heroes… or talking to hilary clinton LOLL
    again microsoft miss the boat

  11. I can see what they were trying to do, but those just are terrible. It’s a clever idea but they could have used better context examples. I didnt really understand the context confusion in the 2nd commercial, but I only watched it once.

    It have been better if they use those horrible poor context examples that have been floating around the internet for years.

  12. LOL … I liked them. I laughed out loud at the first two … third one was a bit lame.

  13. The first one was frickin’ weird. It seems like Microsoft is a bit out of touch some times.

  14. And the second one is completely stupid. It won’t keep me from using them to advertise though, but I don’t know if it will be effective cause it’s so lame.

  15. I don’t think they’re going to get too many people on board with those ads.

  16. exactly they are emphasizing your point, that is why the commercials are great. they are kinda a spoof.

  17. Okay, I get the concept…but the execution leaves something to be desired. Hey, sorta like Microsoft Vista.

  18. Yea, he kind of looks like the bald dancer dude. But Jeremy isn’t that far out of context like mr dancer is.

  19. OMG that bald guy is you!!! nah j/k :p some of the ask commercials are pretty good. The one where they are dancing and singing like a musical theatre performance was pretty cool. Yea it was random, but the viewer is left with “Ask” in their minds.

  20. Yeah, they are certainly weird but they get the “not where it belongs” point across for contextual advertising.

  21. that reminds me… have any of you guys seen adwords commercials? Maybe I missed something.

  22. I just thought of a better commercial.

    In the funeral one a guy jumps out of the casket and high fives the dancing guy. The old woman faints and everyone walks out in disgust. Tagline: “Microsoft AdCenter: We’re not really dead. Everyone just thinks we are.”

  23. Um,
    They need to re-evaluate how their spending their own advertising money. They got ripped off so bad. Who approved this crap at microsoft? Thats pretty sad.

  24. Wierd stuff..but then again that is what they are going for. you are supposed to think /feel how wierd it is..but they do a shitty job of tying them up at the end. The viewer is left still feeling weird when it’s over, when they should feel more of a resolution. Just my ANALysis. Also “context matters” …no shit sherlock. If you’re gonna advertise to marketers, ya gotta do better than that!

  25. I don’t get it , why people try to create things like this . First rule of advertising make the message very clear AND call for action . I bet there are lots of US business who don’t know how to use contextual advertising etc . Show an example , wow what a big ROI and show a damn old fat rich guy in hawaii with a beauty near him , throu something funny and voila .

  26. I can´t help and think they are pretty funny. A bit strange but still fills its purpose and the message is clear.

  27. […] Microsoft Adcenter UK guy Mel Carson (sorry mel I dunno your title ) has written a great in depth article which shows what they were doing with the commercials I talked about last week. […]

  28. Microsoft has never been know for its ad campaigns. Remember the “You’ve got Microsoft office; time to dance!” campaigns….

  29. […] the adcenter videos from a microsoft employed blogger. See more comments about the adcenter videos here, here and here. Sorry MSN Live Adcenter Search team, these ads just don’t speak to me. Please […]

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