Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Pavlovian Theory

Classical conditioning and Consumer Behavior

In the few clips below Pavlovian theory of classical conditioning is explored.






So how is this applicable to consumer behavior?

Well, think of the possibilities if your customer base were to be classically conditioned to your brand. A simple ring of a bell, jingle, or other conditioned stimulus could be utilized to stimulate a conditioned response, in this case, consumption.


A Marlboro ad can cause a smoker to crave their cigarettes. Seeing the golden arches of McDonalds can cause a high speed swerve into the exit lane of the interstate. Hearing the laugh of the Pilsbury dough boy makes you feel all warm and amazingly enough leave you craving cookies. These responses, while completely governed by the autonomic nervous system have their widespread use in marketing because they can actually alter consumer behavior, unbeknownst to the individual. 

Any stimulus that can make an individual crave and consumer your product without a conscious decision making process, is a marketers dream come true. 

So what does conditioning have to do with consumer behavior? EVERYTHING. 


Of all of the Pavlovian theory videos available on the internet, this one has to be my favorite! 


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

The Olympics have always been a little gay

By far my favorite Olympic ad! Albeit a little political, way to stand up for what you believe in Canada!

Thank you, mom



 “For teaching us that falling only makes us stronger. Thank you, Mom.” (P&G, 2014)


Procter and Gambles Raising an Olympian ad campaign, to me is genius.

As we delve into the world of emotional advertising, I can't help but praise this advertising campaign. Following the overwhelming success with the Vancouver 2010 games, Proctor and Gamble are at it again with this emotionally charged ad directed to not only target athletes success, but to strictly appeal to their greatest target audience- moms.

I don't think anyone with a living pulse could watch this ad and not feel the emotion. I may be impartial and biased because the skier in the ad is one of my friends, but I am not a mother and I felt the love. As an athlete I know very well how much my own mother has helped me accomplish my goals, but the greatest part of this campaign is that it is universal.

Some of the slogans behind this campaign are "before the world saw them as Olympians, mom saw their potential" (P&G, 2014). This shift of focus from the athletes to their mothers at the games is something that is incredibly powerful and absolutely brilliant. Well done P&G, in the world of appealing to an emotional audience, the Olympics were a perfect choice.

"Thank you mom, you deserve the best" (P&G, 2014)




This P&G ad was closely followed by this hilarious Old Spice commercial, targeting moms in a slightly different fashion... What do you think? Which ones better?



Below are a few links regarding P&G's campaign:

http://news.pg.com/press-release/pg-corporate-announcements/procter-gamble-debuts-pick-them-back-follow-award-winning-b

http://www.wcpo.com/money/local-business-news/procter-gamble-co-pg-expecting-more-than-150-million-sales-lift-from-sochi-olympics

And Old Spice's rebuttal:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2014/01/06/old_spice_moms_make_you_cringe_olympic_moms_make_you_weep.html


But don't forget about dad!