Friday, October 5, 2012

BOC Week 1: Volkswagon "Lemon"


Volkswagon Advertisement "Lemon"

There were plenty of successful ads in the 1960’s but only one that stands out forever.  The “Lemon” ad, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach in 1959, changed advertising forever.  In the 20th century “Ad Age” ranked it the best advertising campaign.
What made this ad so positive was it grabbed the attention of readers and made them want to read more; it persuaded the reader into believing it was a good car.  Ads during this time were all information based, more fantasy then reality, and just lacking persuasion.  Usually titles of an article give away what it is about so why read the article.  This approach just had one word, making the reader curios and anxious to find out what is was about.  With the ad being so simple and to the point who wouldn’t want to read it?  I know when I flip through a magazine or newspaper and see an ad that’s just a paragraph as appose to one that’s a whole page, I prefer to read the one that’s a paragraph especially if I have no interest or connection to the product.  Besides the fact that is was simple it as well connected with the reader on an emotional level and sent a message that they could relate to.  If you think about it that ad states that the chrome strip on the glove compartment was blemished and had to be replaced.  The message is clear; If this was their idea of a lemon then the Beetle must be a well-made car.
This approach to advertising was so impactful that it wasn’t to long after other ad agencies began to mock this approach. As bizjournals.com states, “It became a movement that industry professionals now refer to as the creative revolution.”  Now in todays society this approach still exists and they have websites dedicated to Volkswagens cars called “Lemon Free”.

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