Ad Effectiveness & ROI

Utilizing FOMO to Increase Engagement with Your Brand

  • MSI

Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a phrase that social media has given rise to. Those who follow others on such platforms can be made anxious about their own life choices and use of free time when following friends and their activities online. If brands can properly understand this phenomenon, however, they can find ways to engage with customers, including through the content and events consumers most care about. Researchers in this Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper find that those who are most attracted to a brand are the ones who become the most engaged through such a strategy.

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Different Environmental Advertising Appeals Resonate with Young Men vs. Women

  • JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Previous research shows men under 30 care the least about the environment and taking steps to protect it, and are averse to traditionally feminine behaviors, which environmental appeals usually angle toward. A new study compares young men and women’s responses to a “take care of your planet” messages perceived as feminine, with other appeals emphasizing physical activity or “sweating” for the environment, seen as more masculine. Although “caring” is less effective, a gender-neutral-themed message resonates more broadly.

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The Age of Acquisition Effect Has a Small Impact on Brand Recognition

  • JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Things learned early in life are recognized faster and more accurately, according to the age-of-acquisition effect, a phenomenon studied widely in psychology research. A new study recently published in the Journal of Advertising Research explores how this effect works in the context of brand names. It finds that brand exposure frequency and usage recency have a much greater effect on recognition than the age of acquisition itself.

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Targeting Aids Consumers at Different Stages of their Purchase Journey

  • MSI

Although firms invest much in targeted advertising, little is known about when it is most effective. A new Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper now shows that such advertising helps facilitate the purchase journey along different stages. While targeting on social media is found effective for consumers during the early stages of that journey, retargeting is best served for consumers who are closer along the line to making that purchase. Another important finding was that cross-platform targeting does not motivate consumers who are unfamiliar with the product or brand.

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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.

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