In the fast-paced world of modern advertising, the battle between high-budget, polished ads and their more affordable, raw counterparts is gaining prominence. The assumption that a more expensive ad equates to a better one is being challenged, leading us to question: What truly defines good and bad ads in the contemporary era, and how can businesses optimize their strategies to get more sales with good ads?

The Cost Conundrum: Polished vs. Purposeful

It’s a common belief that a well-produced ad with a hefty price tag is automatically categorized as a good ad. There is a difference between a good ad and a good-looking ad. While a polished ad might catch the eye with its visual appeal, it doesn’t guarantee effectiveness. A costly ad that fails to resonate with the audience or trigger engagement is, essentially, a bad ad.

Contrastingly, a cheaper ad provides the flexibility to experiment. The ability to conduct multiple trials without breaking the bank can lead to the discovery of a winning formula. However, a cheaper ad with improper scripting and relevance is also called a bad Ad. In advertising, the cost of production doesn’t necessarily correlate with success. Most companies focus on the cost per acquisition or engagement but not on their ad creation budget.

The Human Element: Originality Over Perfection

Viewers have developed a natural resistance in an age of meticulously crafted ads. The polished perfection seen in television and magazine ads triggers automatic ad-blockers in our brains. Ironically, an ad that appears more original, even if produced on a budget, can have a stronger impact on the buyer’s psyche.

Social media, the playground for modern advertising, is dominated by content created by amateurs. Viral videos often have a raw, unpolished quality, challenging the conventional notion that beauty lies in perfection. Authenticity is becoming the currency of successful advertising. Hence, new brands should focus on developing creatives out of their brand guidelines. Compared to brand guidelines, your ad message is supercritical. Frame your ad content on what your customers care about, their problems etc. You should also decide how to communicate that message i.e. in which format (text, image, video etc). So maintain your brand guidelines on websites and brochures and think out of the box when you are creating an ad.

Scripting Success: The Anatomy of Bad Ads

Bad ads often suffer from poor scripting and execution. In a world where users are bombarded with content, standing out requires more than just a visually appealing ad that does not look like a typical ad. An ad’s success hinges on its ability to evoke emotions and connect with the viewer personally.

The Social Media Paradigm: From Ego to Engagement

As users scroll through their social media feeds, they seek content from friends, influencers, and viral sensations. Breaking away from traditional, polished ad norms, brands need to focus on relevance and authenticity. The emphasis should be on creating content that resonates with viewers, not just sticking to brand colours and aesthetics.

The new trend in advertising is crafting content for performance rather than ego. Social content’s power lies in its originality, and businesses that adapt to this shift will find themselves better positioned for success. It’s time to move away from the traditional polished ads and strike a balance between authenticity and engaging content. In the realm of modern marketing, a good ad is one that connects, resonates, and performs, irrespective of its production cost.