In the World of advertising clutter - are shock tactics the best way to reach an audience due to stand out?

Answer 1

Just look at that awful Barry Scott who shouts about Cillit Bang. We all hate it but we remember it, same with Sheila's Wheels.

Answer 2

Shock tactics can grab the viewer's attention in advertising; yet shock tactics have been overused recently, and the viewer is therefore less likely to be shocked, less likely to pay attention; and some people like myself, and a few others I know are fed up with shock tactics, and just turn over or turn the sound down, and don't watch them. Once something is overused, it looses it's effectiveness.
I have noticed lately, that I am paying more attention to ads that are quieter, more traditional, even 'old-fashioned', like the cartoon toothpaste ad for Aquafresh.
So now those type are more unusual, they will stand out and grab people's attention.

Answer 3

Yeah overall I'd say so. I won't bore you with a whole explanation but you only have to look at some of the drink driving and smoking advertisments and the statistics show a severe decrease in their events i.e. less drunk drivers on the road and less people smoking. I think when people sit back and think to themselves "that's not right" and feel appauled then it finally hits home. Shocking is the new black and the best way to get someones attention.

Answer 4

It depends on the targer group of people, the product specifications, your company's strategy and approach. If you're trying to sell or draw attention to a new product - yes.
If you're addressing to young or middle aged people who are well educated and carriere orientated - yes. If you plan a short time advertising company - yes. If you don't care much about your company's immage and you're focussed on getting high income in a short period - yes. Otherwise think twice. However you should consider the fact of facing crittics from all conservative people of all relligeous and pollitical groups etc. There's no simple answer like yes or no to your question. It's one of the cheapest and most effective ways of getting the public attention for sure, but I would never use it myself - not to hurt somebodies' feelings.

Answer 5

i think they use shock tactics, because people won't pay attention otherwise. i mean, people have seen the adverts before, and although, some are busy doing something, they hear the adverts in the background, so some they have heard before, who sits watching a programme and waits for the adverts because they wanna know what's being advertised? we wait for the adverts because they want a cup of tea, or because they need the toilet, most of the adverts today are the same thing anyway, car insurance, loand, mortgages yawn! therefore they have to shock or they won't get anywhere

Answer 6

It will reach the audience, but it will not necessarily sell the product. Some of the most memorable commercials are not persuasive; they may be funny, beautiful, distasteful, or whatever. This doesn't always make people want to buy the product.

Answer 7

The best way....No.
Too often the buying public remembers the shock but not the product.
Advertisers have to take lessons from the old magicians for a good game of misdirection.

Answer 8

Hell yeah
In English we did something like this at one point

Shock is used to make the audience more interetsted
such as on the news, isnt Y2K more interestinbg than a kid saving a cat? Or Iraq wars going on, theyre all shock!

Answer 9

i have to try and be on the fence here but one that just springs to mind is the drink driving, where the girl is in the bar flirting and then all of a sudden smashed up, it does work, well if not work it makes you think definately, uncomfortable viewing but good, the cancer one is another great one, i am a smoker and this makes me turn over, but it hasnt made me give up yet, but i will because it is so so real , real people, real lives real deaths, s**t yes it works

Answer 10

depends on what you are advertising, don't think shock tactics would help ann summers on a prime time advert.