Contagious Insight /
Altered assets / Altering your label and distinctive brand assets is certainly not something every brand can or should do. Not least because you run the risk of consumers failing to recognise your brand. However, Anheuser-Busch InBev can pull something like this off because, having been consistent with its labels across multiple touch points for many years, its lead products have built up a visual identity that are still easily recognisable even when altered slightly. This has earned the brand the right to tap into the creative potential of its distinctive assets.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen big name brands playing around with their logos as a marketing tactic. In 2015, Contagious reported on a campaign by the UK’s National Health Service which did just that. The organization convinced high profile brands to remove letters representing blood types from their names to encourage donations. So, for example, the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square became ‘de n’. Whilst it might seem simple, altered assets can earn plenty of attention and generate discussion about a much more serious message. We’ve also seen award winning campaigns from Greggs, McDonald’s and KFC that featured similar tactics.
Engaging curiosity / AB InBev’s Global Smart Drinking Goals aims to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by 10% in six cities by the end of 2020, including Brazil. But telling customers to drink responsibly can be tough. A recent survey conducted by Kantar Millward Brown found that 69% of people think advertising has become more intrusive and there’s nothing worse than a brand telling you to be sensible when you want to have fun.
However, rather than shoving its message down the throats of audiences, Ambev just tweaked its most post popular brands’ assets and waited for people to notice. This tactic managed to pique people’s curiosity to the point where they wanted to engage with the campaign.
Hijacking an occasion / Ambev found an occasion to create maximum noise by unveiling its campaign during a national football game. Latin Americans have a reputation for being passionate about football. Neilsen’s 2018 World Football report revealed that 60% of the Brazilian population (that’s 75 million people) are avid football fans. Not only will eyes be peeled on TV screens during the game, but social media also sees a surge of activity with as much as 80% of sports viewers likely to be interacting online. Beer consumption also significantly rises during these sporting events. By tapping into this occasion, the Brazilian brewery managed to supercharge the campaign’s visibility and reach.
