Advertising Creative

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Generative AI Can Make Ad Creative Better Than Humans Alone

Have we reached the John Henry moment in ad creative where the machine can outperform a human in creating visuals for ads? Not quite. Generative AI does have a place in creative, however. This Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper found that GenAI when trained on ads which were rated the most effective by consumers can create ad visuals and text that outperform the originals in KPIs related to the purchase funnel and brand associations. Yet, the human element has not been cut out just yet. In fact, it might be pivotal to the process. The human AI combo saved time and effort and created pleasing visuals while maintaining a brand’s distinctive positioning.

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Retail Media Networks, Generative AI Top JAR’s Industry-Informed Research Priorities

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Retail media networks, generative AI across creative, market research and trust, ad effectiveness and attention: These are among the topics highlighted on the Journal of Advertising Research’s list of 2024 research priorities. The list is a result of one-on-one interviews with advertising professionals by Editor-in-Chief Colin Campbell, who asked: "What are your biggest needs and challenges?"

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Health, Charity and Green Messaging Highlighted in JAR Prosocial-Themed Issue

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

A JAR 2022 call for papers on prosocial advertising generated a deluge of submissions aimed at helping advertisers use more effective means of communicating in ways that benefit society. The result is the newly published March issue focused on messaging strategies that help consumers make informed decisions on health, the environment and charity.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

In Pro-Environmental Social Appeals, Just One Tip Drives Sustainable Behaviors

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Brands, nonprofits and social media influencers that are environmentally conscious often post tips to promote sustainable behaviors. Can one tip work as well, or even better than several tips? It depends on the audience’s level of concern about the environment, and the perceived authenticity of the source, new research finds.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Do Photos or Illustrations Drive Prosocial Behaviors in PSAs?

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

An image that tells a powerful story is vital for the success of a public service ad. Is a photograph or illustration better at motivating prosocial actions? The answer lies in whether the visual medium is paired with concrete or abstract messaging, and how intimately the audience can relate to the ad, new research shows.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Influencer Partners a Must for Branded ASMR Content

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

How can brand managers maximize their engagement with tingle-inducing ASMR videos? A new study, recently published in the Journal of Advertising Research, offers evidence that brands risk being perceived as “inauthentic intruders” when advertising within ASMR communities. They should instead consider collaborating with ASMR influencers, especially those who are highly visible and/or terrific at building emotional connections with viewers.

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Consider Arousal Level when Picking Cover Images for Pre-Roll Video Ads

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Cover images—the preview images that provide a glimpse of the content to be shown in pre-roll video ads—can determine whether or not someone clicks on the ad, depending on the level of arousal in those images and how well it meets their sensational needs, new research shows.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Established Activist Brands Have a Competitive Edge

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Does brand activism—taking a stand on a sociopolitical issue—influence attitudes and purchase intentions, and if so, how? These questions are addressed in new research that identifies a credibility gap between brands that have an established reputation as activists, such as Nike and Ben & Jerry’s, and those that do not. With few exceptions, established activist brands have a lot more to gain than their emergent activist peers when taking a stand.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Does Having Multicultural Marketing Mean Your Brand is Inclusive?

• MSI

Multicultural marketing is popular today. Its aim is to increase inclusion through consumption. But does propagating such marketing make a brand inclusive? An inclusive brand is one that creates, communicates and delivers offerings that serve underrepresented communities, say researchers in this Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper. In this way, such brands enhance lives through increased equality, acceptance, respect, belonging and empowerment.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Young People Respond Favorably to ASMR Ads on YouTube

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

For many college-age consumers, the tingles and relaxing sensations that come from experiencing autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) can be weird and fun, but off-putting when, say, an endorser is too chatty and loud in the video. New research uses these insights to guide marketers and suggest that ASMR ads, typically aired on YouTube and other, non-traditional channels, are more effective at gaining attention than on traditional media.