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Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Some ads are clever, some dull, some nonsensical, some insulting. Do they reflect the person who creates them?
RosieG

Some ads are clever, some dull, some nonsensical, some insulting. Do they reflect the person who creates them?

Posted - February 22, 2019
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  • 46117
    How am I supposed to answer something like this? 


    There are a zillion ads and a zillion people who make them.  
      February 22, 2019 11:38 AM MST
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  • 113301
    I can't answer your question. You can't answer mine. We're even.
      February 23, 2019 12:56 AM MST
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  • 46117
    You have never answered any questions of mine.  No kidding.
      February 23, 2019 1:12 AM MST
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  • 6023
    To a degree.
    Ads are designed for what the company believes will appeal to their target demographics.

      February 22, 2019 11:42 AM MST
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  • 113301
    Ads are supposed to induce you to BUY something Walt. I can't tell you how many ads Jim and I see and never know what it is the product does or sometimes even what the product is. Like meds. I guess you have to know what it's prescribed for in advance. Now ads with cats we always love. Animals and babies are really good hooks. Then there are those that are really dumbly done. I don't know how they get approved by the client. Thank you for your reply. Any ads you like/dis? This post was edited by RosieG at February 23, 2019 1:00 AM MST
      February 23, 2019 12:59 AM MST
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  • 6023
    I don't like ads for prescription medicines.  
    I firmly believe they contribute to hypochondria ... or "Illness Anxiety Disorder", as I think it's now called.

    I believe that if I need a prescription, my doctor will try his best to get me the correct one.
      February 25, 2019 7:45 AM MST
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  • 10778

    No.  Some ads can be created by more than one person (group input). 

    The purpose of ads are to grab the consumer's attention.  While this sounds simple enough, there's actually a lot more to it.  Companies put millions of dollars into creating ads.  Aside from having a flashy ad, companies also look at demographics.  They want to target the group who will spend the most money on their product.   Ever notice that the "models" in many ads are young?  That's because many ads are targeting the 24-40 age group.  That's the age group that statistics show to have the most "surplus" cash  that they are willing to spend.  The 5-14 group are targeted by toy ads.  The 35-50 age group has ads featuring families targeted at them.  The 45-60 group (empty nesters) are the prime target for sex aids  They are also targeted by drug ads, and ads for helping their senior parents.  

    Notice that many ads targeted to kids are full of vibrant colors yet have white backgrounds.  This lures the eyes to the specific color (usually red).  Ads targeted at teens and young adults are more "fuzzy" (fast moving) and have somewhat darker colors.  This is to set mood (do your own thing, be your own boss).  Ads targeting the 25-40 group have bold vibrant colors, are are many times humorous but dont move as fast as ads target to a younger group.  Ads targeted to the 45-60 group are slower, mellower - relax, the kids are gone now you can take it easy. 

    Companies like catchy tunes.  Music is a major part of memory.  If a company can get at tune stuck in your head chances are you'll remember it for the rest of your life  - and when you do, you automatically think of their product.  Besides creating jingles, companies will purchase the rights to songs heard during certain eras.  For example, companies are using songs/music from the 80's to "entice" the 35-60 crowd.  

    While some people may find certain ads insulting, one has to remember that companies are doing broad targeting with ads.  Not everyone thinks alike.  Plus, some people remember really bad ads.  If someone remembers an ad - for whatever reason - then that ad did its job.

    A catchy slogan or mascot works wonder as well  - "Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids";  "I can't believe I ate the whole thing"; "Flick your Bic"; "Where's the beef?"; "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?", "It keeps going, and going, and going, and..."

    Even if the product no longer exists, sometimes its slogan will still stay in memory - "It slices; it dices, it makes julienne fries" (Veg-O-Matic); 

      February 22, 2019 2:17 PM MST
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  • 113301
    Thank you for a very thoughtful and information-filled reply Shuhak. Years ago I worked at Southern Counties Gas Company as a secretary in the advertising department. We worked with McCann-Erickson. Our department prepared brochures pitching the benefits of using gas. I even used to work on little brochures myself. "The heart of the home is the kitchen". You know. Stuff like that. We'd meet with our main contact and he'd show us a variety of ideas. There isn't a lot of wiggle room in that area. Gas is gas. But the ads we ran I always thought were tasteful, sensible and appropriate. Nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed by. I realize that each product requires a specific pitch. But sometimes I just wonder what the he** they were thinking? One comes to mind. They are pitching insurance I think. A guy is standing in front whose face is not in the light with a very deep voice telling you about the benefits of whatever but says he can't reveal his identity. Then a light flashes and we briefly see his face and a couple of folks call him by name so he turns around and runs to a railing and jumps over it into the water. Now what exactly is intelligent about that? I think it's quite stupid and  whether it was a single person or a group who thought it up they are all wackadoodles. Why the client bought it I have no idea. Thank you for your reply and Happy Saturday. So what ads are your favorites and which do you deplore and why?
      February 23, 2019 1:09 AM MST
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  • 10778
    It may have been a stupid ad, but you still remember it.  It was so stupid that it stuck with you.  Maybe not the name of the company, but the ad did.  

    I like ads that are funny.  I can't say I have any favorites.  I dislike nonsensical ads.  Like the perfume and car ads of the 80's and 90's.
    I know ads work as I can still recall a few ads I saw on TV when I was 5 or 6 (i've always had a great memory).  I still remember the bulk of a Gulf gasoline ad from the late 60's - it's just before dawn and a sort, balding man man gets out of a car carrying a bowling ball bag.  He creeps up the stairs to a house.  As he's fumbling his keys in the door, a light comes on in the house and a grating woman's voice says, "Knock, knock, Leonard."  (the man freezes on the porch) , "It's 5 am, Leonard.  I heard you coming...ping, ping, ping all the way up the road!" (The man drops the bag and his bowling ball slowly bounces down the wooden steps) If you think for one minute that...." (announcer's voice interrupts says something like 'next time fill up with Gulf no-knocks')  It ends with the nagging wife saying "You and your bowling systems, Lenord!" 
    I have no idea why, but that ad has stuck with me for over 50 years (the Gulf ads where the people are driving without cars ...not so much).
    I can still sing the Big Mac ingredients ad  (2 whole beef patties...) as well as the Burger King jingle from 74 (hold the pickle hold the lettuce...) and even a cigarette commercial (Salem).
      February 23, 2019 11:06 AM MST
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  • 113301
    True Shuhak. I remember it.  But not for any GOOD reason. The purpose of advertising is to SELL PRODUCTS, right? To the extent they do that they are very successful ads. That ad annoys me. I will never buy whatever it is selling. So it FAILS for me and I cannot be the only one so affected. I don't remember the Gulf ads to which you refer. "A little dab'll do it". "See the USA in your Chevrolet".  "Mikey likes it". "Nuthin' says lovin' as something from the oven". "Snap crackle pop". Bits and pieces of commercials float around in my brain. "It's the watch that keeps on tickin'" Remember the ENERGIZER BUNNY? I cannot remember any ad I saw on TV prompting me to buy a product though it may have and I just have forgotten. They used to have small shops in malls titled "As seen on TV" and they carried all kinds of products that you'd see advertised. I don't remember ever buying anything from them either but maybe I did. The best sales tool for that? Seeing it in the store and investigating it. That's why I LOVE to go to the grocery store. I'm a Foodie and ya never know what new and delightful thing you'll find foodwise. Now I clip coupons so sometimes a new product is being introduced and they run coupons in advance I guess so the consumer will ask about it but the stores don't have them in yet. I do SEARCH for those product. So I guess coupons are advertising too aren't they? But I get a reward for paying attention to them. What reward do I get by being forced to watch commercials on TV? Thank you for your thoughtful reply and Happy Sunday!  :) This post was edited by RosieG at February 24, 2019 2:08 PM MST
      February 24, 2019 3:04 AM MST
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