Inherent Drama In Advertising

Finding the Inherent Drama Another approach to determining the major selling idea is finding the inherent drama or characteristic of the product that makes the consumer purchase it. The inherent drama approach expresses the advertising philosophy of Leo Burnett, founder of the Leo Burnett agency in Chicago. Burnett said inherent-drama "is often hard to find but it is always there, and once found it is the most interesting and believable of all advertising appeals." He believed advertising should be based on a foundation of consumer benefits with an emphasis on the dramatic element in expressing those benefits.

Burnett advocated a down-home type of advertising that presents the message in a warm and realistic way. Some of the more famous ads developed by his agency using the inherent-drama approach are for McDonald's, Maytag appliances, Kellogg cereals, and Hallmark cards. Notice how the Hallmark commercial shown in Exhibit 8-13 uses this approach to deliver a poignant message.

Positioning The concept of positioning as a basis for advertising strategy was introduced by Jack Trout and Al Ries in the early 1970s and has become a popular basis of creative development. The basic idea is that advertising is used to establish or "position" the product or service in a particular place in the consumer's mind. Positioning is done for companies as well as for brands. For example, the ad shown in Exhibit 8-14 is part of a campaign designed to reinforce 3M's image and position as an innovative company.

Trout and Ries originally described positioning as the image consumers had of the brand in relation to competing brands in the product or service category, but the concept has been expanded beyond direct competitive positioning. As discussed in Chapter 2, products can be positioned on the basis of product attributes, price/quality, usage or application, product users, or product class. Any of these can spark a major selling idea that becomes the basis of the creative strategy and results in the brand's occupying a particular place in the minds of the target audience. Since positioning can be done on the basis of a distinctive attribute, the positioning and unique selling proposition approaches can overlap. Positioning approaches have been used as the foundation for a number of successful creative strategies.

Positioning is often the basis of a firm's creative strategy when it has multiple brands competing in the same market. For example, the two top-selling brands of motor oil, Pennzoil and Quaker State, were merged into the same company when the two companies merged a few years ago. The Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. creates separate identities for the two brands by positioning them differently.36 Pennzoil is positioned as a brand that stands for protection, while Quaker State uses a performance positioning. Advertising for Pennzoil uses the "we're driving protection" tagline, while Quaker State ads use the "stay tuned" theme.

The USP, brand image, inherent-drama, and positioning approaches are often used as the basis of the creative strategy for ad campaigns. These creative styles have become associated with some of the most successful creative minds in advertising and their agencies.37 However, many other creative approaches are available.

Some of the more contemporary advertising visionaries who have had a major influence on modern-day advertising include Hal Riney of Hal Riney & Partners, Lee Clow and Jay Chiat of TBWA/Chiat/Day, Dan Wieden of Wieden & Kennedy, and Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. In describing today's creative leaders, Anthony Vagnoni of Advertising Age writes: "The modern creative kings don't write books, rarely give interviews or lay out their theories on advertising. They've endorsed no set of rules, professed no simple maxims like Mr. Ogilvy's

Continue reading here: Find An Example Of An Advertising Compaign And Evaluate The Creative Strategy And Tactics Used In The Ads.

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Readers' Questions

  • Alina
    Which of the following is an inherent strength of advertising?
    1 year ago
  • Advertising is an effective way of communicating a message to a large audience in a relatively short amount of time.
    • Stefan
      How to write the inherent drama for the company?
      1 year ago
    • The company's story is one of drama and determination. It was built from the ground up, with hard work and dedication, to become the thriving and successful business it is today. Despite adversity, the company has persevered, facing challenges and obstacles head on and overcoming them to remain at the top of its game. There have been ups and downs and times of great success, as well as moments of disappointment and even failure. But through it all, the company has come out on the other side and has become a symbol of resilience, strength, and success.
      • michael
        How to write the inherent drama for the product?
        1 year ago
      • The product is a revolutionary innovation with the potential to drastically improve lives. It promises to bring newfound convenience and ease to those who use it. With its groundbreaking technology, it looks to revolutionize the world of convenience. But, as with any brand new product, there is a risk of missteps and potential for failure. How will those using the product respond? Can the product live up to the hype? Will it be accepted by the market and embraced by consumers? Will it be worth the risk? These are the inherent dramas that surround the product and will be explored over time as more people become aware of its potential.
        • hallie
          What is the inherent drama approach from leo burnett?
          1 year ago
        • The Leo Burnett approach to inherent drama is focused on storytelling that is based on a simple, clear, and relatable story arc with moments of emotion, surprise, and resolution. This approach is based on the belief that if brands can create a dramatic experience, consumers will be more likely to remember and respond to the message. The goal is to create an experience that transcends the logic of traditional advertising, relying on emotion and engagement to tell the story.
          • William Tarrant
            How using drama in a ad makes it successful?
            1 year ago
          • Using drama in an ad can be successful because it captures the attention of the audience. Drama elicits an emotional response from viewers, which can help make the ad more effective and memorable. It can also help make the ad more relatable and more likely to be shared. Drama can also be used to make the ad more impactful and elicit a stronger reaction from viewers. Visuals, sound effects, and an engaging story line can all help add drama to an advertisement and make it more successful.
            • TOBIAS
              What is inherent drama in advert campaign?
              1 year ago
            • Inherent drama in an advertisement campaign is the use of certain techniques and strategies to create an emotionally charged message that engages the audience and creates a sense of suspense or urgency. Techniques such as emotive music, powerful imagery, and unexpected plot twists can all be used to craft a compelling ad that draws viewers in and keeps them watching.
              • stefania
                What does finding inherent drama means in marketing?
                1 year ago
              • Finding inherent drama in marketing means discovering and leveraging the exciting and compelling stories and components that already exist within a product or service. It involves identifying the tension, drama and excitement that is naturally present in the product or service’s features, benefits, history and personality. By emphasizing these elements, marketers can create exciting, engaging campaigns that will resonate with and motivate their target audiences.
                • anja
                  What is budweiser inherent drama?
                  1 year ago
                • Budweiser's inherent drama is the tug of war it plays between its classic American style lager and the urge to stay in tune with the cutting edge of beer trends. The beer has maintained a connection to its heritage and legacy, while at the same time releasing new products, such as "revolutionary" low-calorie beers, IPAs, and spiked seltzers. This combination creates a consistent and exciting theatrical performance of American beer that both honors the past and respects the present.
                  • elia romano
                    What is finding the inherent drama?
                    1 year ago
                  • Finding the inherent drama refers to discovering the underlying conflict, emotions, and stakes present in a story or situation. It is the process of uncovering the ‘drama’ that lies beneath the surface of everyday occurrences and can be done through exploration, observation and/or reflection. The result of this process can be an understanding of the true power and impact of the story or situation.
                    • adelbert zaragamba
                      What is inherent drama style?
                      1 year ago
                    • Inherent drama style is a form of drama that focuses on using rich theatrical language, poetic imagery, and physical actions to explore challenging and emotionally charged issues. It is a style that does not rely on stereotypical depictions or external conventions of theatricality, but rather works at a personal, intuitive, and imaginative level. It is often linked with modernist drama, which is informed by a more chaotic and abstract aesthetic.
                      • CIRILLA
                        What is brand image and inherent drama?
                        1 year ago
                      • Brand image is the perception created by the overall identity of a brand, both conscious and subconscious. It is the way a brand is seen or thought of in the minds of consumers and is created and maintained through a variety of marketing strategies, such as advertising and public relations. Inherent drama is the emotion that is inherent in any creative work, such as a painting, novel, play, or film. It is the emotion that the audience experiences as they read, watch, or experience the story and is not necessarily tied to any specific plot points. It is a sense of tension, excitement, and anticipation that comes from a story and provides intrigue and interest for the viewer or reader.
                        • Mhret
                          What is inherent drama in advertising?
                          1 year ago
                        • Inherent drama in advertising is the act of using storytelling, powerful visuals, and emotion to captivate an audience and create a memorable advertisement. By creating suspense, anticipation, conflict, and drama, ads can create a powerful sense of engagement and leave a lasting impression on the viewer. Advertisers frequently use dynamic visuals, such as contrasting colors, characters, or settings, to draw attention to their message. Music, sound effects, and even cleverly-crafted scripts are also all part of creating dramatic ads.
                          • marmadoc
                            What is inherant drama in marketing?
                            1 year ago
                          • Inherent drama in marketing is when a company uses dramatic stories or visuals to evoke emotion, create suspense, and draw attention to a product or service. This type of marketing can be used to focus on a product’s unique features, or to showcase its potential benefits to consumers. Inherent drama can come in the form of a commercial, advertisement, or even a presentation. It often builds anticipation and encourages those watching to take action.