This report included three advertisements evaluations of different product categories. With FCB Grid, the inducement of advertisers strategies in these advertising has been revealed clearly. T
Introduction
This report included three advertisements evaluations of different product categories. With FCB Grid, the inducement of advertisers' strategies in these advertising has been revealed clearly. The emphasis on different issues as information (learn), attitude (feel) and behavior (do) in consumer process due to the applicability of various products categories, which classified by involvement and think/feel as two dimensions according to Vaughn's theory. The combination with specific emphasis on different hierarchy effect and usage of advertising appeals made those advertising works.
Advertising1: FUJIFILM FinePix F10 Digital Camera
This is a press advertising of the one of the latest range of Fuji digital camera, F10. The advertising combined with several classical 70s rock 'n' roll images and endorsement of Mick Rock - "The Man Who Shot the Seventies".
. General Analysis
This advertising of this product appeared on the Q magazine, which is a music and entertainment glossy magazine published monthly in United Kingdom. Q's readers are interest in pop/rock music; most of them are mature and sophisticated professionals. As the similarity of Q's readers, the target audiences of the digital camera could be reached by the exposure on the magazine.
This advertising aimed to increase awareness of the new revealed digital camera, and convince consumers the camera could satisfy their specific needs about taking ideal photos. The feature of F10 Digital Camera is the flash-free ability in low light, which means it could cope with the dark, and perfect for taking live pictures and other circumstances which with low light.
The advertising appeals to peoples who are professionals aged 25-45, have stable disposal income, interest in rock n roll music, especially be cognitive about 70s. They might like photography and go to gigs frequently.
2. How does it work?
Model : Learn --> Feel --> Do (Thinker)
Digital camera is a high price new product combined with latest technology. According to Vaughn's theory, it makes consumers consider more about cost-utilize and would like to collect adequate information before purchasing. Price, functions are what they concerned to make the purchase decision. This advertising attract consumers' by the images but then transfer the attention on the outstanding attributes about the product brought out by the credible endorser who might be the influencer of the target group.
This advertising uses those 70s iconic rock star images to attract consumers' attention. People could recognise these classic photographs of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed immediately. These images expressed a strong impression and remind people of the seventies, the legendary rock stars which might be very important influence of their life.
In the middle there is a quotation as the headline of the press advertising - "Sure, I'd like to go back to the 70s...do I get to take a camera too?" It is said by the legendary rock n roll photographer Mick Rock. ...
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This advertising uses those 70s iconic rock star images to attract consumers' attention. People could recognise these classic photographs of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed immediately. These images expressed a strong impression and remind people of the seventies, the legendary rock stars which might be very important influence of their life.
In the middle there is a quotation as the headline of the press advertising - "Sure, I'd like to go back to the 70s...do I get to take a camera too?" It is said by the legendary rock n roll photographer Mick Rock. As well-known by creating the key rock 'n' roll images such as those pictures showed in the advertising, Mick Rock undoubted is one of the authorities of photography.
Lower at this page, there is another quotation of Mick Rock about the digital camera. In this text, the feature and benefits of the camera has been revealed by his relative objective review, and said that he is satisfied by the performance of the camera. People could be convinced by his endorsement, because according to the quotation, it seems that he actually has used this product and there is a small portrait of Mick Rock holding a F10 in his hand to prove it. Due to the endorser, consumer would identify this product as a high quality digital camera which could satisfy the professional photographer's requirements.
Next to the endorsement text, the advertising provided more information about the camera, such as the long time lasting battery and 10 zooms, and some other outstanding attributes which are main functions that people care about.
As a high involvement product, consumer needs more information to be convinced to purchase. The EISA award of "European Pocket Camera of the year 05-06" is a virtual evidence to prove the excellence of this camera.
Advertising 2: Blacks
This is a series of print advertising of Blacks, which is UK's largest specialist outdoor retailer, selling various ranges of outdoor products. These advertisings appeared on two continuous issues of Q magazine.
General Analysis:
Black is an expert retailer sells quality outdoor products. Besides of the current success, they intent to explore new plots other than the existing traditional distribution channels. The major objectives of the advertisings are strengthen the awareness of the brand created by existed business; creating awareness of the new online business, and increasing the number of clicks of the website.
How does it work?
Model: Feel --> Learn --> Do (Feeler)
Black is an outdoor product specialist retailer, it is impossible to promoting different ranges of products on a print advertising. Besides, the process of the purchasing decision take place in the store or when people browse Black's website. Thus, the advertising is designed to build awareness of the brand, encourage people drop into the store and browse the website as they have online purchase services. To achieve these objectives, the advertising set up to affect people by emotional communication with humourous words and attractive image-focus format rather than long copy format.
Consider about the impression of advertising cannot last long; Blacks launched 2 different versions of print advertising separately on continuous issues. These 2 advertising stick to the same creative concept and appeared as similar scenes to ensure consumer could recognize the link between them. The arrangement works on the readers who purchase the magazine frequently and continuously. Once the previous advertising actually did some impressions, the latter one reminds them of the brand by the similar appearance and same concept. The repetition makes the memory last much longer than a single advertising.
The composition of these two advertisings is very similar and simple. The background of the advertising is a picture of a normal scene that could be found in anyone's home: an exercise bike or a TV set. The colour scheme is simple combined with mild undertone, which could stand out from other advertising due to the non-clutter positioning.
The copy is the highlight and "spirit" of the advertising; consumers can feel the sense of humour in it. The expression of the words amuses readers, it seems like said by a child or some unsophisticated people don't know the rules of the world. The exercise bike couldn't move; the people in the TV screen moving but not the one watching it. We see the scenes frequently and never think there is something wrong with it. But the copy indicates the inconsistency in it that we didn't find before. After be entertained by the advertising, the consumers might have no idea what is this ads about at first place, apparently not for exercise bike or TV; until they see the logo of the brand with the description - the outdoor experts. That gives the unsettled question an explanation. Consumers could be impressed by these comparisons of move and fixation; inside and outdoor. In conclusion, the series of advertising intent to arouse consumers' curiousness by using emotional involvement then encourage them to discover the brand through visiting stores or browse the website.
Advertising 3: AquaDrops Mint
General Analysis
AquaDrops is a refreshing sweet company offering different kinds of mints with fruity flavours. This advertising appeared at the latest issue of NME, which is a music magazine targeted at young people and students. The objectives of the advertising are create / strengthen the awareness of the brand, and what is more, stimulate purchase.
How does it work?
Model: Do --> Feel --> Learn (Reactor)
Due to the price of the refreshing sweet is low; people don't take much time to choose between the brands through researching the benefits and features of the product. They select the mint according to personal preference rather than rational evidences. It could be affected by the position of the shelf; design of the package or persuasion by the seller. For these reasons, the advertising intended to involve more emotional factors to impress the consumers and build the awareness of the brand, to convince them choose AquaDrops next time when they want to buy some refreshing sweet.
According to Vaughn's theory, products like candy, cigarettes or liquor satisfy personal tastes can be seen as "life's little pleasure"; the imagery and consumer's quick satisfaction from products are requisites in the advertising. As recommended by Vaughn, AquaDrops used imagery to build a scene of extreme dryness and offering the solution which could satisfy consumers' needs immediately.
This advertising employed colorful scheme to attract attention. The chief taster wears neat white work clothes which implied the boredom of her job. The background filled with different colours of biscuits, the material of the biscuits seems extremely hard and dry. What is more, the bone-shape biscuits implied the slang ingeniously: dry as a bone. This picture is a spur to consumers' imagination of describing a scene in their minds, and could image the extremely dryness that the chief taster feels. The disgusted expression on her face emphasized the feeling even more. This advertising expressed a feeling of taste through a smart picture. It visualized the dryness and impressed audience significantly. The only bright colour in the whole scene makes people feel delighted is the green text and the package of the mint. The bubble-shaped characters and the glossy reflection highlighted the "juicy" of the words. It implied the refreshing mint is the only solution to escape the extremely dryness in the scene; and the fruity flavour could get rid of the taste of the biscuits that will give people more pleasure. To sum up, this advertising uses an imaginary scene of dryness to affect people, let them image the extreme feeling and be involved in this scene; then provide their own product as the solution to overcome the comfortlessness of dry. The usage of emotional involvement is very impressive that amused people with the sense of humour.
Conclusion
Nowadays, the increasing number of advertisings appeared in different media, how to attract attentions, stand out from other advertisings and how to persuade consumer to purchase eventually are the questions that every advertiser confront. To understand the consumers' purchase process of different product categories, develop adaptable strategies according to theories of advertising and consumer behavour should be helpful for developing successful advertising.
References:
Vakratsas, Demetrios, and Tim Ambler (1999), "How Advertising Works: What Do We Really Know?" Journal of Marketing, 63 (January), 26-43.
Ziggy Stardust Companion, "Mick Rock: Ziggy Stardust Photographer" http://www.5years.com/rock.htm [2006.3]
(2005) Q Magazine, December 2005, p118
(2006) Q Magazine, January 2006, p37, p49
(2006) NME, 18 March 2006.