Advertisers are always on the lookout for clever, or even over the top ideas for their next ad campaign. It’s easy to understand why. After all, the marketplace is crowded, and often, that’s simply what it takes to get noticed.
Sometimes though, going the other direction can be amazingly effective, because it’s so unexpected. While everybody else is engaged in a perpetual game of one-upmanship, you do the opposite, keeping it simple to everyone’s surprise and delight. Here are a couple of examples of that kind of thinking:
The “Netflix is a Joke” Ad
Imagine a blank white billboard with giant black letters sending out the simple message “Netflix Is A Joke.”
Netflix themselves designed exactly such an ad and it has been amazingly effective. Defenders of the streaming platform immediately leapt into action, taking to a variety of social media channels to defend the brand, which was exactly what the company had hoped to see. It sparked a worldwide conversation that continues to this day. Not bad for simple block letters on a white background!
Chick-Fil-A’s “Don’t Have A Cow” Ad
This is another one that’s a delightful lesson in simplicity, though admittedly, there’s more going on here than the example we just mentioned.
The billboard features a closeup photo of one of Chick-Fil-A’s trademark sandwiches, along with the simple message “Don’t Have a Cow.”
This works on so many levels. The company has long used chicken/cow comparisons and contrasts in their advertising, but in this case, it gets even better because the phrase “don’t have a cow, man!” was popularized by none other than Bart Simpson, allowing this simple ad to tap into popular culture. That’s amazing and one of the many reasons this ad works so well.
These ads are proof positive that your next ad campaign doesn’t have to be overly complex. With the right idea, simple can work wonders. If that idea intrigues you, we can help. Give us a call at 770-391-8528.