Good job Ford marketing!

Focused · 15-01-2014, 03:41 PM

You don't need to look far to see us Ford fans bitching and moaning about Ford's marketing effort so I thought it would only be fair to complement them when it's due.

Some of you may have experience Ford's outside driving event at he Syd motor show last year? I thought it was great and it was very popular. Well Ford are doing what appears to be a similar thing in Melbourne (near Jeff's shed, where the car show used to be) starting this Friday and running until the 2nd of Feb.

It's great because it get's everyone's attention (driving a Ranger up a steep 45ish degree ramp onto a shipping container will do that), it gets people into Ford cars (and hopefully pleasantly surprising them when they find it's nothing like the last BA XT taxi they were in) and it's all raising money for a good cause (breast cancer foundation).

Check out Ford's website: http://www.ford.com.au/smartdrive?in...martdrive_home
or Ford's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/227448617379128/

Adamz Ghia · 15-01-2014, 04:19 PM

It's a brilliant idea, was waiting for them to bring it to Melbourne. But I will say it again. The issue, from my perspective, isn't the type of marketing they do, it's the lack of it. The last time they saturated the market with adverts was back in the BA days and they sold more than they could make or ship in. With the range they have now being best in their class (Falcon aside, hopefully soon to be fixed) do it again. TV, Internet, radio, print, buses, trams, trains the lot.

xisled · 15-01-2014, 04:32 PM

Ford doesn't have a marketing problem, I see and hear Ford adds all the time.

The problem is Ford not marketing Falcon.

Itsme · 15-01-2014, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xisled

Ford doesn't have a marketing problem, I see and hear Ford adds all the time.

The problem is Ford not marketing Falcon.

Just like flogging a dead horse, they will market what sells best.

The fate of the falcon is sealed.

rdmr · 15-01-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trublu

Just like flogging a dead horse, they will market what sells best.

The fate of the falcon is sealed.

They market fiesta constantly however Falcon outsells it constantly. Your logic doesn't stack up.

chevypower · 15-01-2014, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdmr

They market fiesta constantly however Falcon outsells it constantly. Your logic doesn't stack up.

But the costs of the Falcon are much greater for Ford Australia as its local sales have to cover all the development and production costs plus make a profit. Easier to make a profit on a car the local division does not have to pay to produce.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

It's a brilliant idea, was waiting for them to bring it to Melbourne. But I will say it again. The issue, from my perspective, isn't the type of marketing they do, it's the lack of it. The last time they saturated the market with adverts was back in the BA days and they sold more than they could make or ship in. With the range they have now being best in their class (Falcon aside, hopefully soon to be fixed) do it again. TV, Internet, radio, print, buses, trams, trains the lot.

So the word about Falcons and Commodores didn't get out in Australia?

Adamz Ghia · 16-01-2014, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevypower

But the costs of the Falcon are much greater for Ford Australia as its local sales have to cover all the development and production costs plus make a profit. Easier to make a profit on a car the local division does not have to pay to produce.

So the word about Falcons and Commodores didn't get out in Australia?

I didn't mention Advertising Falcon specifically, all I said was BA days, 2002! You saw Ford everywhere. The brand was in people's faces everywhere. More ideas like this one in Sydney and Melbourne is what they need, taking the brand to the people. Never said I hate ford advertising, quite the opposite. They just need more of it.

I have a good understanding of the auto market, no expert of course, but I follow it closely. I also have a good understanding about numbers and when your market share is falling year after year after year something is going wrong. This is just my opinion of course but Toyota is the king of getting its brand out there. Every year for 26 or so weeks they shove their brand in front of an average crowd of 33,400 across 9 games of AFL. That's just under 7 million people a year not including finals seeing the Toyota brand. They even promote specific models on the turf! Ford have free run of Skilled Stadium and they used to have several cars there for fans to check out but no more, they even used to put them at the SCG inside the stands where the fans sit but they stopped that there too. The AFL is just an example of course, but being the largest sporting code in the land it's an important one that they dont seem to be capatalising on.

turbodewd · 15-01-2014, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdmr

They market fiesta constantly however Falcon outsells it constantly. Your logic doesn't stack up.

Now that is interesting!

NX74205 · 15-01-2014, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdmr

They market fiesta constantly however Falcon outsells it constantly. Your logic doesn't stack up.

It's not volume that counts, but profit. Which car makes Ford Australia more money? I'm willing to bet that it isn't the Falcon, or else they wouldn't be stopping production of it.

AndyXR6T · 15-01-2014, 05:40 PM

... And we are back to hating falcon advertising again

Focused · 15-01-2014, 05:56 PM

Oh come on... when will you(s) just accept that the Falcon doesn't sell simply because it's not what people want. Had advertising helped the Commodore? No. Has it helped the Aurion? No. Did it help the 380? No.
Half of the medium sized cars (which are essentially Falcon size) are selling rather poorly as well.

Move on, get over it and say something constructive for once.

Honestly, comparing the current market to back when the BA was launched and stating that the only difference was advertising just demonstrates you have very, very little understanding of the Australian automotive market...

*shakes head in frustration*

end rant/ - it's 30 degrees inside at the moment...

tranquilized · 15-01-2014, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focused

Oh come on... when will you(s) just accept that the Falcon doesn't sell simply because it's not what people want. Had advertising helped the Commodore? No. Has it helped the Aurion? No. Did it help the 380? No.
Half of the medium sized cars (which are essentially Falcon size) are selling rather poorly as well.

Move on, get over it and say something constructive for once.

Honestly, comparing the current market to back when the BA was launched and stating that the only difference was advertising just demonstrates you have very, very little understanding of the Australian automotive market...

*shakes head in frustration*

end rant/ - it's 30 degrees inside at the moment...

Its a bit of a joke isn't it, the notion that blanket tv advertising would bring Falcon sales back to respectable numbers.

I don't see a problem with the amount of advertising Ford do. I see Ford ads a fair bit in inner Melbourne - sides of buses and trams, billboards. I dont watch tv so cant comment there - and thats another point, who does watch tv? It's no where near as an effective medium as it used to be.

Also, products that are at the end of their product life cycle never have advertising dollars thrown at them - its common practice.

Focused · 15-01-2014, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Its a bit of a joke isn't it, the notion that blanket tv advertising would bring Falcon sales back to respectable numbers.

I don't see a problem with the amount of advertising Ford do. I see Ford ads a fair bit in inner Melbourne - sides of buses and trams, billboards. I dont watch tv so cant comment there - and thats another point, who does watch tv? It's no where near as an effective medium as it used to be.

Also, products that are at the end of their product life cycle never have advertising dollars thrown at them - its common practice.

No it's not a joke at all. Look through some of the threads here (or Godforbid you make the mistake of reading Ford Aus's Facebook page) and you'll see plenty of people suggesting that the only reason the Falcon isn't selling is because of the lack of TV ads.
But otherwise I agree with you. Barely anyone watches TV any more and the ads on billboards and websites work far better (which is exactly what Ford are doing).

**buggerlugs** · 15-01-2014, 07:37 PM

I see and hear Focus adds non stop.............

Cuyper · 15-01-2014, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

I see and hear Focus adds non stop.............

Yes and its the only new Ford you see out on the roads

. Oddly they are actually a pretty big car now.

mik · 15-01-2014, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuyper

Yes and its the only new Ford you see out on the roads

. Oddly they are actually a pretty big car now.

not really , i see new falcons fairly frequently, but i see many more fiesta's and rangers than anything else in the ford range.

TC200six · 15-01-2014, 11:26 PM

Good effort by Ford, but it won't satisfy everyone though, due to the lack of any Falcon mentioning.

usernametaken · 15-01-2014, 07:43 PM

I shudder every time I see that guy point out and wave to another focus driver...

Focused · 15-01-2014, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usernametaken

I shudder every time I see that guy point out and wave to another focus driver...

Yeah I've seen that ad now and agree that it's quite painful.

SpoolMan · 15-01-2014, 08:03 PM

Can we focus our attention and posts only on the FIRST post all other griping belongs elsewhere.

csv8 · 15-01-2014, 10:18 PM

Ford need to advertise the features of their cars..not just one thing. Look at Isuzu MUZ ad, Toyota Corolla ad, VW Family ad, Commodore ad. etc..Kuga only has the kick open tailgate shown, that was on Titanium only, now on Trend...haven't seen an Ecosport ad ????

Road_Warrior · 15-01-2014, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Ford need to advertise the features of their cars..not just one thing. Look at Isuzu MUZ ad, Toyota Corolla ad, VW Family ad, Commodore ad. etc..Kuga only has the kick open tailgate shown, that was on Titanium only, now on Trend...haven't seen an Ecosport ad ????

All the Focus ads are like that, they show one feature of the car but an advert full of stupid acting.

superfly · 16-01-2014, 01:41 PM

It's great fun going over the ramp in the Ranger! It certainly shows what the car can do! I've done it twice now at Movieworld on the Gold Coast. They were there again last week. This time they also showcased the autostop feature in the Fiesta. That's quite nifty.

They also did this late last year in the city in King George Square.

Focused · 16-01-2014, 04:37 PM

Here's a video for those interstate (or locals that can't stand this weather

)
Great event and a great cause! Good job Ford!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lymH8hPkns

munners · 16-01-2014, 08:05 PM

I saw Ford promoting the Ultimate Smart Drive on Facebook and though it looked good. I read the comments though and most of them are "boo hoo there's no falcon, I'll never buy another Ford, you're un-Australian"

Seriously, why do people even bother posting that rubbish? As my Gran used to say, come down of your cross, somebody needs the wood!

Joe5619 · 17-01-2014, 07:44 AM

They actually had this thing (all though I think it was a smaller version) at the V8's in Homebush.

It nice to get people into the cars, as most people (I think) would be going to this thing as just a "bit of fun"..

SpinX8 · 17-01-2014, 02:14 PM

I took my kids today to the Polly Woodside and the Ford display is virtually next door, out front of the exhibition halls - it is well worth a visit. We went in the Kuga and it was pretty impressive, especially the automatic reverse park.

After the drive you get to go in the kids area where they have mini electric Mustangs for the kids to drive plus the Disney Cars the Movie Car - it was as good as Christmas for my kids. Taking them back over the weekend when its not so hot. I nearly melted but the Ford guys looked after us all with water and ice blocks for the kids because of the heat.

Ford have done a good job.

Gadgetman · 18-01-2014, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpinX8

I took my kids today to the Polly Woodside and the Ford display is virtually next door, out front of the exhibition halls - it is well worth a visit. We went in the Kuga and it was pretty impressive, especially the automatic reverse park.

After the drive you get to go in the kids area where they have mini electric Mustangs for the kids to drive plus the Disney Cars the Movie Car - it was as good as Christmas for my kids. Taking them back over the weekend when its not so hot. I nearly melted but the Ford guys looked after us all with water and ice blocks for the kids because of the heat.

Ford have done a good job.

Sounds like you had a great day out. I will do the same over the weekend. I think one of the reasons why Ford aren't doing as well as they should (given how good the product range is) is because of people bagging the brand like some of those that are quick to turn anything good they do into a Ford bashing session. Have a look at this thread for instance. If I was someone considering to buy a Ford and while doing some research on the net came across this forum, I would be put off by the sheer negativity that exists on this forum. Some of the posts on this thread is proof that even when ford does something brilliant, there is always the usual suspects that can the brand with a Ford lowlight reel. If you want to keep caning the brand, go buy something else.