Will they ever learn? I doubt it.

Let me ask you. When you see this picture for a couple of seconds, what do you think of?

Could it possibly be cocktails?

I thought so.

Now, remember, most marketing messages are only seen for a couple of seconds.

So if, for example, you are trying to get people to come to a marketing event, showing them a picture of a drink is pretty damn stupid.

And, yes, you've guessed it: this is a message trying to attract people to come to a marketing event.

Years ago the Ogilvy Centre for Research did an extensive study of what people think about when they see an illustration.

You might assume that any bloody fool would know that when people see a picture of something, that's what they think it's about. But this blindingly obvious fact is lost on the dear little creatures who create so many ads like this.

Sad, really.