Microsite.com

Last week, I suggested that three recent events would mark the tipping point in the migration from the traditional advertising model (the one based on interrupting programming and forcing selling messages on to viewers, listeners, and readers) to a post-advertising model. The three events were:

1) InBev’s purchase of Anheuser-Busch and its need to cut costs drastically to fund the transaction, which will likely mean significant cuts in Bud’s marketing budgets.

2) GM, fourth-largest advertiser in the U.S., announced it was cutting its marketing budget, again.

Years from now, when the history of traditional advertising is written (or shot in something like HD 3D), I bet the events of the past two days figure prominently. No, you didn’t miss a headline proclaiming the end of an era. Nor did you miss a top-level media executive issuing a formal surrender.

I would like to apologize to Eric and Allyson, the spokespersons for the Budget Rental Car “Flip for Budget” contest, featured on the flipforbudget.com Microsite.

I have to admit I completely missed your tongue-in-cheek charm and the Microsite's kitschy design for what it really is.

Not that there weren’t obvious signs. Really bad clip art and phrases like “Wow! What a contest!” and “Thank you. You are the best!!!”? (That’s three exclamation points, people!.)