Our annual Super Bowl reverie is as much about advertising as it is about the game of football.
In spite of this year's unplanned 35 minute blackout, companies doled out some serious cash, and you can bet lots of market research, to air more than $337 million in ads (during the game) aimed to tug on your heartstrings and capture your attention.
Some of the most well-received commercials were those that brought a lump to our throats or spread a grin on our faces, they played on our emotions.
Taco Bell gave us hope that even in our old age we can sneak out, party like a rock star, get tattooed and "Viva Young"; Volkswagen urged us to get in a Jamaican frame of mind mon and spread the feeling to help everyone "Get In. Get Happy"; and Coke led a chase across the desert with a surprise ending which made us want to go online to find out who won the race -- and have a Coke!
Budweiser, used not just a Clydesdale, but the love and joy which go into the raising of a colt to leave an imprint on our brains that will last all the way to the grocery store. Jeep and the USO made our chests swell with pride and put a tear in our eye with the grief and fear military families face, when they aired the 2-minute, military-homecoming spot; and Chrysler's portrayal of American farmers planted a seed of desire in our minds to hop in a (Dodge) truck and head to the country.
Watching these spots gives us an insight into selling. Sometimes we are driven by emotions. They can make us respond to what we feel and understanding emotions can help us be better managers, employees and human beings.
So the big game is great...but the really big game of life can be studied in the 90+ commercials aired between touchdowns and tackles, packed with research and strategies you can use every day.
