Advertising is an unmistakably unique way of communicating with the target audience that requires a profound understanding of the specific needs of the selected demographic, the specifics of its culture, and a thorough understanding of the issue that the offered service or product seeks to resolve. Though the core purpose, goals, and, ultimately, strategies of advertising a product to a specific demographic have remained the same, consumer culture has changed drastically, which has been reflected in advertising campaigns across decades. Procter & Gamble (P&G) is one of the accurate examples of the specified phenomenon. Specifically, its advertising campaign of P&G demonstrates the shift in consumer culture toward a more frugal lifestyle, while still upholding the status quo in regard to gender roles. The advertisement campaign launched by Procter & Gamble (P&G) in the 1940s reflects the described trends quite accurately. On the one hand, there is an obvious propensity toward Continue reading
Advertising Strategies
Case Study: Analysis of Gillette’s Controversial Advertisement “The Best a Man Can Be”
Gillette’s new ad was released on January 13, 2019; in the video, the cult manufacturer of skincare products has changed its 30-year slogan. Gillette has updated its old motto to “The best men can be.” This video shows the so-called male behavior that, according to the authors’ ideas in it, includes harassment, violence, and bullying. The main leitmotif of the ad is the fight against toxic masculinity. The video itself is an integral part of a new advertising and charity campaign, which might be called a battle against the old customs. The reaction to it was enchanting; it should be noted that many users are already saying that the video in the future may break the YouTube record for the number of dislikes. In such a situation, the word “criticize” in the framework of this reaction is not suitable as a wording. Because criticism, to put it mildly, does not Continue reading
Case Study: Lessons From the Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty
Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty has been started in 2004. The primary purpose of the campaign is to promote real images of women in contrast to thin and unrealistic images of models. This campaign shows that advertising is a strong communication medium that has a great impact on the attitudes and tastes, values, and choices of consumers. The campaign is based on visual communication and emotional appeal which influence perception of the message and forces information retrieval. The campaign was launched in England, the USA, and Canada as a response to declining sales caused by a saturated market and increased competition. The Purpose of the Campaign The practical purpose of the campaign is to increase sales and brand awareness. Dove is one of the top players in the body care market. However, Dove has many competitors, and thus it needs to come up with an efficient marketing tool to win Continue reading
Case Study: Social Anxiety Disorder Campaign by SmithKline Beecham
In 1987 Eli Lilly and Company won U.S. approval to sell Prozac, the first among a class of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) that treated clinical depression by elevating levels of serotonin–a chemical believed crucial to regulating mood–in the brain. Prozac’s effectiveness and lack of side effects compared to existing medications for depression revolutionized not only the way mental illness was treated by psychiatrists but also the way it was perceived by the public. By 1992, when Pfizer and SmithKline Beecham introduced their own SSRIs, Zoloft and Paxil, respectively, depression had lost much of its stigma in the United States. In the following years SSRIs became one of the best-selling prescription drug categories. For its first several years on the market, Paxil remained in third place among SSRIs, and SmithKline Beecham set its sights on new markets for the drug. In the mid-1990s Paxil won FDA approval for Continue reading
Case Study: Apple iMac Ad Campaign
In the late 1990s technology analysts speculated that Apple Computer, Inc.’s fate hinged on its new personal computer the iMac. Apple’s share of the worldwide desktop-computer market had plummeted since 1995, the last year the company had been profitable. Ever greater numbers of consumers were buying personal computers (PCs) that ran on Microsoft’s Windows operating system rather than Apple’s version. Although Apple had pioneered user-friendly computers, the company had not introduced a consumer-targeted computer since 1992. Hoping that its stylish new iMac would propel Apple back into this vast segment of the market, Apple released its iMac ad campaign. The iMac ad campaign consists of a series of seven television commercials. These commercials advance Apple Computers newest generation of personal computers: the iMac. The iMac is a personal computer that is an AIO unit (All In One) and is housed in a translucent white and green case. Apple has attempted Continue reading
Case Study: American Express “Do More” Advertising Campaign
American Express had built its reputation as a prestigious charge card. In 1976 the company began its famed ‘‘Do You Know Me?’’ campaign in which celebrities ranging from dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov to puppeteer Jim Henson appeared in ads that pictured them and an AmEx Green Card bearing their names. In 1987 the ‘‘Portraits’’ campaign followed a similar formula. By aligning the brand with stars, AmEx cultivated the notion that carrying one of its cards was more akin to joining an elite country club than making a financial transaction. As later ads sniffed, ‘‘membership has its privileges.’’ In the 1980s, however, AmEx’s careful positioning began to backfire. According to Brandweek, while AmEx ‘‘clung to its old, elite ways,’’ the credit card industry went through monumental changes. With so many cards vying for consumers’ attention, Visa and MasterCard (specifically, the member banks that comprised the Visa and MasterCard consortia) began to cross-market Continue reading