I participated in a survey today. I know, who has time for that? I was mostly curious (and also had no idea that it was going to take more than an hour of my time).
I had to watch a DVD, then they called and asked me a bajillion questions about what I watched. What was most interesting was that they asked about the ads and I couldn’t remember what they were for. When they described what happened in the commercials, I remembered seeing them, but I didn’t remember what products the ads were trying to sell.
I have a business selling products. If I spent millions on an ad campaign and no one remembered what my product was, I would consider that ad a failure! I found it stunning that they continued asking me the nitty-gritty about the ads when I couldn’t even remember the product. Who cares if I felt happy, inspired, or indifferent? I don’t even know what you’re selling!!
This is not the first time I’ve noticed this. I may be really entertained by a commercial, but truly, it escapes me how these little dramas are selling products when I can’t recall what the product is. Am I alone in this? Do ad agencies have delusions of grandeur producing their mini movies, or do I have ADD?! Weigh in, folks!
Yes, some very creative ‘n entertaining ads often outshine the product itself, making it hardly noticed at all.
Then there’s the problem of far too many of ’em. Who cares …. just another ad.