Chrome Ads Are Google's 'Biggest Offline Campaign Ever'

Clean, inspiring piano track? Check. Drums for emphasis? Yup. Children doing cute things? Got it. Cello and violin alternating as the story comes to a close? Of course!

Whether it's the Apple-esque gadget on front of a white background or an uplifting spot about a new iOS Twitter client, tech ads clearly have their tried and true techniques these days. The New York Times reports that Google is kicking off its "biggest offline campaign ever" by going to an old school form of media: TV ads. The series of 90-second spots started last night, and advertise the company's three-year-old Chrome browser.

The first Chrome ad, called "Dear Sophie," follows a dad over the years as he creates a digital scrapbook for his daughter with Gmail, YouTube, Picasa, Google Maps and more. The New York Times notes that Google's strategy with getting people to use its browser is straightforward: more Chrome users simply drive the use of Google's Search products. Last month, Google's chief financial officer Patrick Pichette told analysts, "On a tactical basis, everybody that uses Chrome is a guaranteed locked-in user for us in terms of having access to Google."

As with many of its videos, Google said that the ad tells a true story, though it changed the real names and used actors. The spots lack the playful aesthetic of earlier Chrome campaigns, but they're clearly going for a wider audience.

Today's ad, It Gets Better, has already racked up over 170,000 views and mixes YouTube videos, Blogger and news videos. It tells the story of the It Gets Better project for LGBT teens facing harassment through Google Chrome.

Keep an eye out for more Chrome ads at the official Google Chrome YouTube channel

WATCH: Dear Sophie

WATCH: It Gets Better

Comments

[no repub ever]

05:35 AM on 05/06/2011

nice commercial too bad I google can't be trusted.

[Zack Garbow]

12:09 AM on 05/06/2011

This is a brilliant ad by Google - it really hits an emotional note.

Our site, Moment Garden - http://momentgarden.com - started from the exact same inspiration as what Google displays here. We created it as a better way of quickly and securely saving moments of your child. We even give you a custom email address for your child, and anything you send to it gets saved in your child's garden!

[lilylee86]

10:17 PM on 05/05/2011

That is amazing..
joyfax

[FreelanceWriter]

05:04 PM on 05/05/2011

Sorry, I don't care how cute any of these ads might be, but I'll NEVER use Chrome simply because it comes from Google. Want to be surprised? Go online and do a little research as to just how much Google tracks your every move and records it. And the Chrome browser is equally invasive, in comparison to others out there such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.

For crying out loud, given how much people used to complain about Microsoft and Windows being "everywhere" and on "every" computer -- and thus they (as a company) were too invasive -- who ever thought we'd reach a point where people would now be turning TO Microsoft to AVOID Google's invasion backdoor tricks?

[Tmboy]

04:00 PM on 05/05/2011

That is an awesome idea. Like interactive multi-media scrapbooking.

[McG97]

02:35 PM on 05/05/2011

Aack! This is so sweet, great ad. But now I feel like the world's laziest parent.

[TrickyDOTcom]

11:51 AM on 05/05/2011

/tear

[dramaglama]

10:28 AM on 05/05/2011

This seems like a fresh marketing/branding concept...and it seems simple and genuine. I love it.

[planetjeffy]

12:49 AM on 05/05/2011

it sure doesn't take much to get me to cry anymore

[Hookedonfashion]

01:14 PM on 05/05/2011

Me, either. I am blubbering like a baby, and can't even see the keyboard. Must be hormonal.

[planetjeffy]

02:36 PM on 05/05/2011

ha...fanned

[JCMiller32]

11:37 PM on 05/04/2011

Hey, Chrome.
I have a Sophie and a blog for her.
Did you know that?
dearsophie.com
And she's (half) Asian too!

[onionboy]

08:15 PM on 05/04/2011

THAT is one cute frickin' baby

[French Toast]

06:50 PM on 05/04/2011

This is a very tolerable form of advertising, most especially the anti-bullying one.

[Doc Wattson]

03:07 PM on 05/04/2011

While I think "gaydom" is become to much of a fad in popular media (ever show has a gay character, can't have a reality show without gay people, etc) and actually lead to more gay stereotypes I am extremely proud to see a large, influential company like Google openly support gay people and gay culture. Not enough large corporations even acknowledge gay people exist let alone support them.

[AllyCat7]

02:52 PM on 05/04/2011

They're using the cute Asian baby trick! Don't fall for it! jk lol

[Rich Phitzwell]

04:49 PM on 05/04/2011

its super effective!

[Hookedonfashion]

01:19 PM on 05/05/2011

She certainly is adorable.