Explore the nostalgia and influence of 90s advertising, the rise of soap opera marketing, and the birth of the iconic 'Got Milk' campaign. Discover how advertising has evolved from catchy jingles to performance marketing in the 21st century.
The 90s saw the rise of brand and image marketing, aiming to create lasting impressions and emotional connections with consumers.
The shift from mass marketing to performance marketing in the 90s was driven by changes in technology and media consumption habits, making it harder for brands to achieve widespread awareness.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Advertising: Soap and Milk as Marketing Tools
Advertising in the 90s was characterized by brand and image marketing, aiming to capture mind share over wallet share. One iconic campaign was the "Got Milk?" ads, which aimed to make people feel something about a previously dull product. While the ads didn't significantly increase milk consumption, they successfully defended market share. The 90s also saw the rise of performance marketing, targeting specific niche markets rather than appealing to the masses. This shift was driven by changes in technology and media consumption habits, making it harder for brands to achieve widespread awareness.
The OG of Advertising: Proctor and Gamble's Radio Dramatic Serials
Proctor and Gamble's radio soap operas in the 1920s paved the way for mass marketing. These dramatic serials, sponsored by soap companies, attracted listeners with compelling storylines and incorporated ads for the sponsored products. Proctor and Gamble even used a mail-in promotion to measure radio coverage and the effectiveness of their advertising. The success of these radio dramas laid the foundation for TV soap operas and the use of multiple ads on a single show through co-sponsorships.
The Impact of Advertising in the 90s and the Decline of Mass Viewership
The 90s marked the peak of mass marketing, with memorable ads, taglines, and jingles. However, the rise of digital technology, DVRs, and fragmentation of media consumption disrupted mass viewership. Advertisers faced challenges in achieving widespread awareness and measuring the impact of their ads. Brands shifted their focus to targeted performance marketing and niche markets, aiming for immediate sales goals rather than long-term brand recognition.
The best part of waking up, is _______ in your cup!
Got ____?
If you can identify these brands based on tagline alone, it's possible you... are a 90s kid.
The '90s were arguably the peak moment of advertisers trying to make an impression on us that could last for decades. They got us to sing their jingles and say their slogans. These kinds of ads are called brand or image marketing. And it became a lot harder to pull off in the 21st century.
On today's show, we look back at the history of advertising, and two pretty unassuming products that totally transformed ads.
This show was hosted by Sarah Gonzalez and Kenny Malone. It was produced by James Sneed, and engineered by James Willets. It was fact checked by Sierra Juarez, and edited by Molly Messick. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.