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The convinces me further that Armstrong is damage controlling for an ad that got way less organic interest in both the short and long run than FTX' Larry David

The convinces me further that Armstrong is damage controlling for an ad that got way less organic interest in both the short and long run than FTX' Larry David ad. When the ad failed to generate any sizable metrics worthy of story, Coinbase tried to spin this daring ad into a story itself.

iambateman 5y ago
Interesting take. The ad was a remarkable novelty at the time, but the lack of replay ability is probably a big deal. You can’t show a QR code ad on a phone, and potential coinbase users see a lot of digital ads.
listenallyall 5y ago
You're right. The FTX ad was also a big mistake, for different reasons, but it did get more buzz, and it is replayable. Coinbase's QR code gimmick was something that sounded super edgy in a boardroom with people super-invested in the process... but entirely forgettable among the millions of viewers who are drunk, full, watching Snoop Dogg, betting on football, and inundated with ads featuring the Sopranos, Larry David, Scarlett Johansson, etc etc
- willhinsa 5y ago
  What reasons made the FTX ad a big mistake?
  - listenallyall 5y ago
    FTX got the nature of Larry David completely wrong. He is an enormously successful, extremely wealthy man who, subconsciously, all of his fans love to cheer on and with whom they agree. Larry is socially awkward, but in a way people envy -- he goes right up to hypocrites and challenges them to their face. You don't stay on air for 10+ seasons without being the protagonist hero the audience wishes they could be. He is not, in any way, a buffoon or an idiot. But the takeaway impression from the ad is Larry David saying "naaah". That's it -- that's what people remember. Just throwing a tag up there, "don't be like Larry" isn't going to flip an internal emotion people have held for two decades. The affinity people have for "Larry David" the character or Larry David the person is far too large for that. Even in the focal point of the commercial itself, LD is the alpha with the office, the desk, the awards, the guy being pitched to... and FTX expects me to instead side with a random nerd with a cell phone? Oh, and the call to action is terrible -- FTX is hardly even mentioned. I would bet 9 out of 10 regular Joe's have no idea who the Larry David ad was for. postscript - the ad could have been saved, if the pitch was delivered by someone familiar, with equal stature and affinity. Because we always see Larry arguing with his closest circle -- and because they are also wealthy and successful (which, subconsciously, provides credibility). If it was Cheryl trying to get him to invest? Definitely. Leon? 100%. Jeff? Maybe. Richard Lewis? I think it would have worked great. Ted Danson? Possibly, hard to tell how that would go emotionally. Jerry, Jason or Julia? Could have been amazing. But some random guy with zero credibility? It's just a fatal error, self-imposed, no way around it.
    - dillondoyle 5y ago
      Why did he do this ad? He seriously can't need a few more million? Julia is maybe worth even more with family money? I would have loved to see a Leon bit though. That's a great idea. You got to get in that Ass... er NFTs i guess were slinging now
      - piker 5y ago
        Maybe equity or a large crypto position himself? I had the same questions.
    - CameronNemo 5y ago
      Got to give credit to Larry for conning a cryptocoin startup into paying him to shoot down their offering. Out there scamming the scammers.
      - psyc 5y ago
        This is exactly how I'm reading this ad, but I also wonder if you have to be very familiar with Curb to see it.
        CameronNemo 5y ago
        Larry: You mean to tell me, that I'll get paid $$$$ and all I have to say about their product is "nah"? Sure, I'll do it. Jeff: GREAT! I'll send the paperwork over first thing tomorrow. This is going to be good, you won't regret this. theme music plays
    - fairity 5y ago
      Larry David "fans" make up a minority of viewers. The majority of viewers just see him as a recognizable, funny face. And, to this majority, his character in the commercial was a great fit. A quick glance at Youtube view counts shows FTX commercial ahead of BMW's Zeus/Hera commercial which was supposedly ranked #1 by a number of online publications -- make of that what you will, but calling it a "big mistake" seems highly subjective, unless you've actually obtained viewer engagement metrics.
- ghiculescu 5y ago
  What was wrong with the FTX ad?
paulpauper 5y ago
That depends on the internal metrics such as signups. That data is private
i67vw3 5y ago
I believe both ads got their fair share of 'organic interest' or news. The Coinbase ad was also discussed quite a lot after it first appeared on-screen. https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/13/22932397/coinbases-qr-code-super-bowl-ad-app-crash https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/13/22932397/coinbases-qr-cod... And even other interest, such as using QR code for an ad, which in itself is a unique thing.

iambateman 5y ago

Interesting take. The ad was a remarkable novelty at the time, but the lack of replay ability is probably a big deal. You can’t show a QR code ad on a phone, and potential coinbase users see a lot of digital ads.

listenallyall 5y ago

You're right. The FTX ad was also a big mistake, for different reasons, but it did get more buzz, and it is replayable. Coinbase's QR code gimmick was something that sounded super edgy in a boardroom with people super-invested in the process... but entirely forgettable among the millions of viewers who are drunk, full, watching Snoop Dogg, betting on football, and inundated with ads featuring the Sopranos, Larry David, Scarlett Johansson, etc etc

willhinsa 5y ago
What reasons made the FTX ad a big mistake?
- listenallyall 5y ago
  FTX got the nature of Larry David completely wrong. He is an enormously successful, extremely wealthy man who, subconsciously, all of his fans love to cheer on and with whom they agree. Larry is socially awkward, but in a way people envy -- he goes right up to hypocrites and challenges them to their face. You don't stay on air for 10+ seasons without being the protagonist hero the audience wishes they could be. He is not, in any way, a buffoon or an idiot. But the takeaway impression from the ad is Larry David saying "naaah". That's it -- that's what people remember. Just throwing a tag up there, "don't be like Larry" isn't going to flip an internal emotion people have held for two decades. The affinity people have for "Larry David" the character or Larry David the person is far too large for that. Even in the focal point of the commercial itself, LD is the alpha with the office, the desk, the awards, the guy being pitched to... and FTX expects me to instead side with a random nerd with a cell phone? Oh, and the call to action is terrible -- FTX is hardly even mentioned. I would bet 9 out of 10 regular Joe's have no idea who the Larry David ad was for. postscript - the ad could have been saved, if the pitch was delivered by someone familiar, with equal stature and affinity. Because we always see Larry arguing with his closest circle -- and because they are also wealthy and successful (which, subconsciously, provides credibility). If it was Cheryl trying to get him to invest? Definitely. Leon? 100%. Jeff? Maybe. Richard Lewis? I think it would have worked great. Ted Danson? Possibly, hard to tell how that would go emotionally. Jerry, Jason or Julia? Could have been amazing. But some random guy with zero credibility? It's just a fatal error, self-imposed, no way around it.
  - dillondoyle 5y ago
    Why did he do this ad? He seriously can't need a few more million? Julia is maybe worth even more with family money? I would have loved to see a Leon bit though. That's a great idea. You got to get in that Ass... er NFTs i guess were slinging now
    - piker 5y ago
      Maybe equity or a large crypto position himself? I had the same questions.
  - CameronNemo 5y ago
    Got to give credit to Larry for conning a cryptocoin startup into paying him to shoot down their offering. Out there scamming the scammers.
    - psyc 5y ago
      This is exactly how I'm reading this ad, but I also wonder if you have to be very familiar with Curb to see it.
      - CameronNemo 5y ago
        Larry: You mean to tell me, that I'll get paid $$$$ and all I have to say about their product is "nah"? Sure, I'll do it. Jeff: GREAT! I'll send the paperwork over first thing tomorrow. This is going to be good, you won't regret this. theme music plays
  - fairity 5y ago
    Larry David "fans" make up a minority of viewers. The majority of viewers just see him as a recognizable, funny face. And, to this majority, his character in the commercial was a great fit. A quick glance at Youtube view counts shows FTX commercial ahead of BMW's Zeus/Hera commercial which was supposedly ranked #1 by a number of online publications -- make of that what you will, but calling it a "big mistake" seems highly subjective, unless you've actually obtained viewer engagement metrics.
ghiculescu 5y ago
What was wrong with the FTX ad?

paulpauper 5y ago

That depends on the internal metrics such as signups. That data is private

i67vw3 5y ago

I believe both ads got their fair share of 'organic interest' or news. The Coinbase ad was also discussed quite a lot after it first appeared on-screen. https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/13/22932397/coinbases-qr-code-super-bowl-ad-app-crash https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/13/22932397/coinbases-qr-cod... And even other interest, such as using QR code for an ad, which in itself is a unique thing.