What You Can Learn From GEICO's Advertising -- WTF? Episode #11

WTF? is a daily web show for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to learn how to naturally attract customers and get the FAME and FORTUNE they deserve.

Cavemen, Gecko, Eyeball Guy, Stack O' Cash… you've seen them. Maybe like us, you've seen a GEICO commercial and said - WTF? In this episode, we discuss GEICO's advertising and marketing strategy – the good the bad and the ugly. We've all seen their stuff…. There are lessons to be learned that can improve the results of your small business marketing, social media marketing and online marketing efforts.

Comments

[Tim Porter]

As the story goes...Taco Bell Franchisee Owners were BEGGING Taco Bell to STOP using the DOG!!! Reportedly sales actually DROPPED during the campaign. Sure...brand recognition was great...but it was annoying...much like GEICO's eyeballs, lizzard and unshaven males.

[David Blaise]

Three different campaigns, often running at the same time. Doesn't make sense from a consistency standpoint... but does it make sense from a dollars and sense standpoint?

Is it possible each of these concepts appeals to a different segment of the market, causing different groups to respond? Maybe the Gecko ads appear to lizard lovers, while the Cavemen ads appear to those who love cavemen... and the stack of cash with eyeballs appeals to... I don't know... weird people who love money with eyeballs...

The proof is in the pudding. It'd be interesting to know what effect the combination of ads is having in the marketplace... other than getting people talking about it, which we just did!

[3rdbillygoat]

I want to see the gecko start rocking his new suit that his boss suggested he wear. That little suit was classic!

Seems it could have been a great continuation commercial, but Geico hasn't done it yet.

And did you notice how frequent these insurance commercials run?!? It seems like every other commercial is Geico or Progressive. Auto ins must be hugely profitable because they blow so much $ on ad slots.

I would argue that their ads owe much of their success to sheer REPITITION. Whether I like the commercial or not, it's been SEARED into my brain!