In the days where anything and everything can go “viral” on Youtube, it becomes increasingly harder to get your brand’s message noticed and out to the masses. The answer for creating highly effective ads doesn’t always lie in the future. It can lie in the past and specifically the 1990s. Here are five things advertisers can learn from 1990s toy commercials.
5. Never Underestimate The Power Of A Catchy Jingle
Catchy jingles can do wonders for brand recognition. The catchier the jingle, the more likely kids and adults alike will remember your product.
No jingle was catchier in the 90s than the Moon Shoes commercial. Remember those, gravity-defying, guaranteed to break an ankle shoes?
4. The Creepiest Ad Concept Will Always Turn Heads
When in doubt, go for the most disturbing idea. It’s guaranteed to turn heads, and get people talking about your product. Just make sure to have a good PR crisis communication strategy beforehand in case anything would backfire.
One of the best examples is the Don’t Wake Daddy Game commercial. I’m not sure if “daddy’s” an alcoholic or if he’s just a mean man who hates to wake up early, but this commercial takes the disturbing idea to the next level.
One example is the Trapper Keeper phenomenon. If you grew up in the early to mid 1990s and you didn’t have a Trapper Keeper, everyone made fun of you. Those things were the must-have school supply every year. One of the reasons for that is the creative and fun way advertisers portrayed how Trapper Keepers were useful. In this case, it’s an easy way to stay organized.
It’s not rocket science. People buy stuff that is fun. So, show people having fun with your brand/product. Who did that better in the 90s? You guessed it Chuck E. Cheese.
