Study: 57% Of Aussies Can’t Recall An Ad They Remember Feeling Positive About

Study: 57% Of Aussies Can’t Recall An Ad They Remember Feeling Positive About
B&T Magazine
By B&T Magazine
SHARE
THIS



Independent agency Magnum Opus Partners (MOP) have a long history of polling the public to find out what advertising they like and dislike, with their well-respected MOP Awareness Study, conducted by Think Global Research.

So imagine if you poll 1,500 people that reflect the general Australian population today and ask them which ads they’ve seen that really made an impact on them: ads that they really liked, or disliked, by just letting them nominate any ad from amongst the thousands they see every week.

And then the majority of those Aussies come back and tell you they can’t think of a single one.

In previous surveys there have usually been clear winners – in the past, for example, iconic ads like “Not Happy, Jan” for Yellow Pages, and “Which Bank” for the Commonwealth Bank stood out from the crowd.

But this year, a massive 857 people – 57 per cent of the sample – couldn’t indicate even a single ad that they could remember feeling positive about.

Not only that, but an even bigger percentage – 66 per cent – couldn’t think of one ad they actually disliked, whereas previously the survey had found ads that seemed to drive everyone nuts. While a few market segments – gambling ads, for example, “screaming retail”, and insurance and banking – seem to be polarising, no one advertiser seemed to be saying anything much that stirs people up very negatively.

Not being able to remember any ad may have been the top reply for respondents, however, Coles, Woolies and ALDi ads were equal second for the most recalled ads. Kmart came fifth, McDonald’s sixth and Qantas rounded out the top seven.

Commenting on the survey, agency director of strategy Stephen Yolland commented: “It’s been awhile, so we were very interested to see what’s changed. And it’s very obvious from the results that consumers today seem increasingly underwhelmed by the advertising on offer.

“Almost nothing seems to be both cutting through and impressing people. There are successful exceptions, but certainly very little is being spontaneously remembered. Which means we all seem to be spending an awful lot of money just to leave people ‘cold’, and as ad agencies if we’re going to be responsible with our clients’ money then we need to look at that.

“We all know that advertising works in different ways, and just because an ad or a brand doesn’t come up in an unprompted survey like this as being liked and remembered doesn’t mean it isn’t doing any good. It can perform better when people are prompted to recall it, or it can work well when seen or heard in conjunction with other mediums, such as radio, billboards, online, catalogues, or other reminders.

“But to have almost nothing producing a ‘watercooler effect’ that is strong enough to be picked up in a survey like this does suggest that both the creativity and the entertainment value of the work we do has declined somewhat, and also possibly that there is now so MUCH advertising in the market that many ads seem to be being effectively ‘tuned out’ by consumers.

“We also suspect that the big switch of media dollars into online has resulted in a fall
in product and brand awareness from the days when the vast majority of media money was spent on TV. Nearly two billion Australian advertising dollars now go into online. That’s a huge switch in advertiser behaviour. Where that growth in online expenditure has replaced expenditure in other mediums, as opposed to supplementing it, there may well have been a fall in both ad and brand standout.”

Online ads might be useful – indeed they are, just as with any medium – but we think these findings suggest that they are pretty much useless in terms of creating brand positivity, as they are nearly always transactional in nature. And frankly, it is very hard to convey emotion in a banner ad or create an emotional connection with it, when all’s said and done.”

Please login with linkedin to comment

Magnum Opus Partners

Latest News

Would TikTok Be Missed?
  • Opinion

Would TikTok Be Missed?

In this opinion piece, Alpha Digital’s head of performance Amir Rezaee outlines the impact to brands of a potential banning of TikTok in Australia The six weeks or so since TikTok announced its local Australian office has been a busy period. Aiming to make a similar impression on SMBs as it has on its 1.6m […]

Opinion

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
NextMedia’s frankie And Gardening Australia Magazines Report “Surge In Sales”
  • Media

NextMedia’s frankie And Gardening Australia Magazines Report “Surge In Sales”

Amid the sadness of magazine closures, the challenges of COVID-19, and industry concern as companies merge or change hands, some magazines are thriving. NextMedia titles such as the much-loved frankie and ABC Gardening Australia magazine have been enjoying a surge in sales during this period of home isolation. Gardening Australia retail sales have been robust […]

Mag Closures & The New Landscape For Earned Media
  • Opinion

Mag Closures & The New Landscape For Earned Media

In this guest post, MINT’s publicity director, Nathan McIlroy (pictured below), explores the new norm for Australian media and says Bauer’s/Mercury Capital’s recent mag closures should be viewed as an exciting opportunity for the brave… Last week’s announcement that new owners Mercury Capital were to permanently close eight of Bauer Media’s magazines sent shockwaves through […]

Opinion

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Jamie Whincup And A Host Of Aussie Personalities Star In Club Marine Series
  • Media

Jamie Whincup And A Host Of Aussie Personalities Star In Club Marine Series

In a first for the Australian insurance market, Club Marine, Australia’s largest provider of boat and pleasure-craft insurance, has released a new series of videos to help explain insurance cover. With a few familiar Aussie personalities to help out, Club Marine is helping its members, as well as the broader boating community, to understand the […]

KitKat Partners With R U OK?
  • Media

KitKat Partners With R U OK?

No one enjoys a chocolate finger for morning tea like the B&T office. On other occasions we might even have a KitKat.

oOh! Launches The Junkee Network
  • Media

oOh! Launches The Junkee Network

Junkee Media and parent company oOh!media have launched a powerful new way to reach young Australians – the Junkee Network. Combining Junkee Media’s content platforms with oOh!’s leading Out of Home assets in venues and universities across the country, the Junkee Network will be the largest and most influential youth content network in the country. […]

Research Reveals Aussie Small Businesses Upping Digital Marketing Spend
  • Marketing
  • Technology

Research Reveals Aussie Small Businesses Upping Digital Marketing Spend

Australian small business owners are turning to skilled local freelancers and upping their digital marketing spend as they move online to connect with customers and keep cash flow positive. The Federal Government’s pandemic response has earned a tick from small business owners as have those of New South Wales and Queensland, but one in three […]

Melbourne, Australia - August 6, 2015: A woman walks past an Optus store on Bourke St. Optus is the second largest telecommunications company in Australia.
  • Technology

Optus Assistant Chatbot Surpasses 2 Million Conversations

In the last 12 months, Optus’ AI Assistant Chatbot has surpassed two million conversations, with 1 in 6 Optus customers having their queries resolved immediately, providing a seamless experience without needing to speak to a person. Optus Assistant greets every customer that comes through My Optus App Messaging and its Web Messaging service with on average […]