I’m a listmaker. I like lists. They help me remember things, organize my thoughts, and visualize what all I have to do. I’ve been making lists for a long time, and sometimes looking back on those lists is beneficial. Other times it’s just funny looking back and wondering what on earth I was thinking. I found a key chain the other day that I hadn’t seen since before college and when I looked at what was on the thumb drive, I laughed at all the silly things I had on it and shook my head at my high school self. Among the collection of desktop backgrounds and puppy pictures, I found a list that I had written a few years back. The document properties said it hadn’t been opened since march of 2012 and reading the perspective of 2012 Elizabeth as 2014 Elizabeth was enlightening for a number of reasons. Knowing what I know now and reading that list, I see that I was supremely naive and yet wise beyond my experiences. But what was it a list of? you ask. Well, that’s the sort of embarrassing part. It was a list of things I included in the description of my ‘perfect guy’. Yes yes, cue over-dramatic eye roll, I know it’s cheesy. But back then, that’s who I was. I hadn’t been in a serious romantic relationship yet at the end of my high school career so I didn’t really know what I was looking for. The list sort of helped me figure that out. I looked at relationships around me and chose the things I wanted in mine and some of those things still hold true two years later. For me, the perfect guy still has to be able to humor me and my antics, carry on a meaningful conversation, and talk about any problems we have. Some of those old qualifications also carry far more weight for me now than they did when I wrote them. I said that I wanted “someone I would want my brothers to look up to” and WOW that’s powerful. That standard, a role model for people I care most about, is a pretty high bar to set but I still think it’s one well worth setting. So now that I’ve background-rambled, let’s reel this back in to the goal of these posts. Since I like lists so much, writing a list of traits that make up the ‘perfect car’ is a fun parallel to the other list.
So the idea is a (check)list that qualifies the perfect car and obviously the goal is to show that VW fits all the criteria, but there are so many ways to implement it, I don’t even know where to start. Should I write MY list for what makes a perfect car? Should it be interview style, where someone (preferably not me) goes out and asks other people what their perfect car would be and then shows them how VW fits that? Should it be an actual parallel between the ‘perfect guy’ and the ‘perfect car’? That could be humorous.
Now that I’ve wasted twenty minutes on the back ground, I may as well actually pick an idea and present it. Let’s go with both the ‘perfect boyfriend/perfect car’, since that has the most funny factor potential, and the interview thing, because people like hearing about other people. So let’s have an interview-style set up asking women what qualities they think “Mr. Right” would have. For each answer, show how VW embodies that quality. Examples:
- “Listens to me.” Easy-peasy, VW has you covered with Car Net, which connects to your smartphone and enables you to do everything from ask for directions to check you VW’s status (locked, etc) anytime, anywhere. You’ll be constantly connected.
- “Makes me feel safe.” With everything from adaptive airbags to an intelligent crash response system, you can even be comfortable letting him drive (ha, reverse sexism) because VW cars will protect you from everything life throws at you, including lemons (ba-dum-ch).
- “My parents approve.” VW has been making great cars for decades, your parents definitely approve.
- “Takes me out.” VW can take you anywhere you want to go, whether you’re going around the corner or around the world.
- “Is eco-conscious/ cares about the planet.” (how hippy-dippy) VW always has the Earth in mind, with patented fuel-efficient Clean Diesel engines, hybrid options, and greener manufacturing processes, you can feel oh-so-good with your very own VW.
- “Is down to earth.” “Spoils me.” VW vehicles are luxurious without being ostentatious and with features like premium audio from Fender, you can pamper yourself when and wherever you’re driving.
- “Likes helping others/is generous.” VW’s “Think Blue” philosophy doesn’t just stop at making cars that are good for the environment, VW is giving back around the world with Think Blue projects like planting trees to sponsor a 10k in Italy and supporting the protection of wolf populations in Germany (dahwww).
This one was kind of fun, but it required more research than I would have liked. It’s kind of cool knowing so much about the brand though, since I’ve been keeping myself uninformed somewhat intentionally so as to not sound so ‘adverty’. This idea definitely manifested as an ad but I think I’m okay with that. It definitely focuses on the innovative design aspect of the brand, but in a fun sort of way by asking women what they want (in a man) and flipping that to show how Volkswagen provides those things. Not half bad, Elizabeth.
Copy Write Paste 