Who Won the Super Bowl of Advertising?
The big game brings a lot of discussion around the big plays, or in the case of this year’s Super Bowl, the final plays. But another major topic surrounds something outside of the game, the ads. And the same question comes up every Monday morning following a Super Bowl: Who had the best Super Bowl commercial? We take a look at who, what, and why.
Best Commercial
So who accomplished the best ad in one of the biggest and most expensive time slots on television? Well, it should come as no surprise that Budweiser has once again captured the hearts of Americans everywhere. Their “Lost Dog” ad had a couple of key ingredients to being a huge success.
- A story. In fact, it was a continuing story. The ad uses an actor who’s character is responsible for clydesdales, and his golden retriever puppy that came to him in the 2014 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. This year’s ad even ends very similarly to the previous year’s.
- The sentimental factor. Budweiser always tugs at the heart strings in just the right way. Whether it is with a puppy who is lost from home, or mourning with its country at a difficult time, they make a connection with the viewing audience without selling.
- An adorable puppy. It is very hard to mess up an ad that contains a golden retriever puppy. We’re not saying it can’t be messed up, but Budweiser has yet to do it.
In case you missed the ad, or would just love to watch it again, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsjRRMMg_Q
Best Campaign
Some brands take the opportunity of the Super Bowl to beef up a campaign or introduce a new one. For example, Budweiser continued their #BestBuds campaign, while Nissan introduced a new #WithDad campaign. But one brand in particular knocked it out of the park during Super Bowl XLIX: McDonald’s.
The fast food company used their millions wisely, introducing their “Pay with Lovin'” campaign, a Valentine’s Day inspired idea. Starting Feb. 2 and running through Feb. 14, McDonald’s restaurants across the country will randomly select customers to give a new form of payment when they order.
In this simple yet genius strategy, an ad was created using the sentimental factor as mentioned before, as well as a little humor. The commercial also came to a point where viewers may have forgotten they were even watching a TV commercial and started thinking about what they would do if they were asked to dance for their food, or call and tell their mom they love her. If you missed this one, watch it below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq2Sm2XGv_s
If we’ve learned anything here, it’s that the best marketing strategies appeal to a wide audience and make a special connection. If you want to watch any ads again, click here for a full list of the 2015 Super Bowl commercials.
Published on: February 2, 2015