What’s the Hype with Bandwagon Advertising?
Bandwagon advertising is one of the most prevalent advertising styles applied by modern businesses. This type of advertising is designed to appeal to the consumer’s need to belong or fit in with a specific group. It creates an illusion of popularity or acceptance among the target audience. By using the bandwagon technique, advertisers aim to convince consumers that their product is the best by portraying it as the most popular choice among their peers. In this article, we will review the hype with bandwagon advertising, explain its focus, and its benefits.
The Focus of Bandwagon Advertising
Bandwagon advertising is an approach where advertisers create the impression that everyone is using their product or service, making the consumer feel left out unless they also use it. This approach targets the consumer’s need to belong by creating the idea that those who do not use their product are missing out on the action. Advertisers use this form of advertising to create an atmosphere of legitimacy around their product, asserting that because so many others use it, it must be the best choice. Some typical examples of bandwagon advertising are, “Everyone is doing it,” “Join the millions who have already tried it!”
Benefits of Using Bandwagon Advertising
The use of bandwagon advertising has significant benefits for businesses. Some of these benefits include:
1. Increased Sales: The aim of any advertising campaign is to increase sales, and using the bandwagon technique helps to achieve this objective. By creating the impression that everyone is using their product, businesses stimulate the perceived need in the consumer to have it as well.
2. Improved Brand Image: The use of bandwagon advertising helps to position brands as winners in the marketplace. Consumers naturally associate the popularity of the product with its superior quality and trustworthiness, creating a positive image of the brand.
3. Cost-Effective Strategy: The use of bandwagon advertising is an affordable advertising strategy compared to other advertising strategies, such as celebrity endorsements or paid sponsorships.
The Pitfalls of Bandwagon Advertising
Despite its benefits, there are downsides to using bandwagon advertising. Some of these pitfalls include:
1. Loss of Consumer Trust: Overuse of bandwagon advertising techniques can result in the loss of consumer trust. Consumers can become skeptical when they recognize that the advertisement reflects something that is not genuine or real.
2. Limited Engagement: Bandwagon advertising can be disadvantageous to businesses who want to create lasting relationships with consumers. While the approach may succeed in boosting sales initially, it does not necessarily lead to customer loyalty.
3. Decreased Credibility: Overuse of the bandwagon technique can make a brand seem less credible. Using the same basic advertisement repeatedly can impact the audience in a counterproductive way, seeming redundant and less effective.
How to Use Bandwagon Advertising Effectively
The following tips will help businesses to use bandwagon advertising effectively:
Develop a Target Profile
To use bandwagon advertising successfully, businesses need to develop an understanding of their ideal customer groups. This targeting profile should include critical demographic data such as age, income, and purchasing habits. By profiling consumers, businesses can determine how best to promote the product and the most appropriate platforms to use.
Choose the Right Platform
Businesses should select the platform or channels with the highest potential to reach their target audience. This could include social media, radio, or television advertisements. The choice of platform will influence the type of message put out, and appropriate tools for the message to be sent to the right segment.
Create a Compelling Message
The message is the most vital element of an advertisement. It needs to be creative, engaging, and easy to understand. The message should communicate the benefits of the product or service, including creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. The sentiment around the message should reinforce the product’s strong characteristics, emphasizing the key benefits and competitive advantage.
Stay Connected with Consumers
Once businesses have captured customers’ attention, it is essential to keep them interested by building a relationship with them. For example, businesses can post articles online about their industry, share company news or upcoming events on social media platforms.
Common Questions and Answers
- What is bandwagon advertising?
- What is the focus of the bandwagon advertising style?
- What are the benefits of using bandwagon advertising?
- What are some pitfalls of using bandwagon advertising?
- How can businesses use bandwagon advertising effectively?
Bandwagon advertising is an approach where advertisers create an impression in their promotions that everyone is using their product or service, making the consumer feel left out unless they also use it.
The focus of bandwagon advertising is to convince consumers that their product is the best by portraying it as the most popular choice among their peers. It creates an illusion of popularity or acceptance among the target audience.
The benefits of using bandwagon advertising include increased sales, improved brand image, and cost-effective strategies.
Some of the pitfalls of bandwagon advertising include loss of consumer trust, limited engagement, and decreased credibility.
Businesses can use bandwagon advertising effectively by developing a target profile, choosing the right platform, creating a compelling message, and staying connected with consumers.
References
Duncan, T., & Everett, S. (1993). Client perceptions of integrated marketing communications. Journal of Advertising Research, 33(3), 30–39.
Martin, D. W., & Sterling, R. J. (2018). Strategic public relations management: Planning and managing effective communication programs (4th ed.). New York: Routledge.
Oparah, G. C. (2012). Advertising as a Tool for Increasing Sales Volume and Profitability in a Small Scale Business. Greener Journal of Business and Management Studies,2(1), 001-006.