SEGA’s Ad Embraces Taboo To Create Buzz

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This particular ad that was created by SEGA was able to cause quite a buzz for them. One of the reason it was one of their successful and buzz causing marketing campaigns is because the ad is seen by many as taboo. Something that is not easily accepted by our culture. However, if you look at it closely and read the context of the ad there is nothing wrong with it. The ad says exactly what SEGA joystick could do for the gamers. The ad itself no doubt is controversial and can cause people to frown about it and I am sure some of you are frowning and thinking “what the hell,” right now. But that is what “Buzz Marketing” is all about.

There is nothing wrong with this ad. It is controversial and people might take it the other way but do you have to? Not exactly. Thats your personal choice as to how you want to see this ad. You can either see it as an ad that sends the message right to the point or you can see it as something taboo and unacceptable, this is totally upto you. But nevertheless, this sort of message gets the attention, makes people talk about it. It becomes a conversation starter. I am sure some of you remember the time when this ad debuted, share with us what it was like. Did you talk about it with your colleagues and friends? I can almost bet you did. This is what the purpose of buzz marketing is, to make you talk and get the message flowing with word of mouth marketing.

The text that on the ad that says “The More You Play The Harder It Gets” is actually true and once again its upto you how you take the message. SEGA also adds another text in the message that says “TO BE THIS GOOD IT TAKES AGES, TO BE THIS GOOD IT TAKES SEGA.” If you look at it closely you can see that SEGA spelled backwards is AGES and the marketing message ties in quite good with what they are trying to promote. The point is if you want to create some buzz, get some free advertising, you have to make people talk about it. And that is the essence of buzz marketing, promoting your products through word of mouth marketing.

Personally, there is nothing wrong with this ad. It is one of those ads that I have seen which I think embraces one of the holy grails of buzz marketing - taboo.[ad#336x280]