It makes me look, but will I buy?
By Megan Stout
This one might be a little out of the circle of comfort, but let's be perfectly honest sometimes that's the best place to be. You know what catches my attention? Humor, comedy, hilarity, and the likes. You know what else catches my attention? Condoms. Combine the two and you have a winning combination... like the commercial below.
I may not want to buy their condoms, but I'm sure as hell going to remember that when I walk by them in the store. Humor is something people talk about, something they're more willing to pass on, something that sticks in the minds of consumers... but is it actually something that sells products and clears shelves? I'm not so sure. Take the Pringles banner ad for instance.
Hilarious, witty, entertaining, and something I most definitely shared with those around me. But, did it inspire me to purchase more Pringles? Will I think of it while I'm in the chip isle deciding which artery clogger I'd prefer? Probably not. Which leads me back to my original question. What is humor's role in advertising and is it something that leads to product sales, increased brand awareness, accumulation of market share? I think the jury's still out on this one.
