The ads that lived rent-free in my head -- and what it taught me

"I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…"

    What's the most compelling ad you remember seeing? For me, I think it's been what may be considered the most controversial or the most annoying. The Pepsi ad where Kendall Jenner hands a Pepsi to a white police officer, suggesting that years of systemic racism can be resolved with a cold soda. Or the American Eagle ad, "Sydney Sweeney has great genes jeans". At its most extreme interpretation, the brand promotes eugenics and Nazi propaganda. 

    On the other hand, the most annoying ads become a core memory from their catchy and recognizable song tunes. Like the Meow Mix commercial, where a cat is reciting a jingle only using the word "meow", or Chili's "I want my baby back" ribs jingle. 

    Whether it's social commentary or a melodic tune, these ads have been effective in generating focus, diverting eyes towards brands, and becoming the talk of the time. If that translated to sales, I would consider it to be strategic marketing. If it generated backlash and protests instead, then the marketing team had the right idea, wrong execution. 

    As I begin this marketing course, I'm drawn to remembering old advertisements and evaluating how they've been effective in leaving an imprint on my memory. How they've been able to target me as a consumer and what that's resulted in. By breaking down the techniques used to carry out effective strategic marketing, I hope to use this in my own practice.

Week 1 post- w/e 5/31