Everyone knows about Old Spices clever new ads. They're some of the few commercials people will actually intentionally search out, and they are really sucessful: following the debut in 2010, sales went up 11% in 2011. Outside of how funny and clever and absolutely ridiculous these adds are, I think a large part of their appeal comes from the fact that they don't take them to seriously but are completely honest. This is in stark contrast to the Axe advertisements that seem to make silly promises of sexual prowess and attraction if their product is used; Axe's ads are absurd but it seems like they are taking themselves too seriously. The Axe campaign, if it was trying to be tongue in cheek, failed to do so well and completely turned me off to the product. Because I'm a spiteful little turd, I will not support a product with such a blatantly "HAHA, we're kidding, but seriously chicks will dig you" because, well they're doing it wrong. Old Spice is doing the same thing, but they tell you they are doing it, and that's fun. I'm not a big sucker, but I'm not even particularly fond of Old Spice's product, but I bought one because I like the ads and want to support the continuation of their running (also the product was called "Wolfthorn", and that is awesome and ridiculous).
Today's society is one with a complete saturation of endless advertisements. It's refreshing to see one that is fun and isn't trying to trick you someway. It just makes you associate its product with fun and humor and that makes me want to buy it.
So what if more companies used this approach to advertising (absurdity, transparency, comedy , etc)?
Well I decided to make some up.
