If you’re a frequent Mad Men watcher, I wonder if you’ve started to notice the strange phenomenon I’m noticing. The ads, you know those “annoying” commercials, are getting a hell of a lot better. When Mad Men first launched the commercials were your run of the mill, everyday ads. In short, they were boring, expected and lacking soul. Even the BMW ads (and you know I’m a huge BMW fan) were nothing to tune in for. But, as Mad Men has taken off we’re seeing advertisers up their game. The content in Mad Men is so good, advertisers are having to make their ads better.
This is a win-win for the user. Commercials are simply part of a TV viewing experience. Yes, even if you have Tivo, they are part of the experience, because you have to skip them. But, when the ads become enjoyable, entertaining, riveting and immersive, the user almost doesn’t mind watching them…almost.
Not unlike TV Shows mailing it in for an entire quarter, until just before sweeps week or an awards cut-off date, we’ve grown accustomed to ads being horrendous all year, until the Super Bowl. That’s the one time when marketers and advertisers and clients and agencies come together to create ads that are interesting, emotional, fun and more importantly, worth hunting for on USA Today or YouTube, to watch again. I’ve long lamented that marketers and advertisers should treat every day like it was the Super Bowl, bring their A game and never mail it in. But, let’s be honest, that just doesn’t happen with the exception of a few brands (eg Nike and Apple). It’s fun to see marketers and advertisers alike acting like Jr. Art Directors fawning for the approval of Don Draper.
Am I the only one noticing this?
Head of Social Media at Walgreens. Interactive marketer, innovator, boat rocker, continuous learner, movie lover, risk taker, dad and all around good guy. I'm always up for a spirited conversation. These are my thoughts and ramblings, not those of my employer.
