Shockvertising!
Free Pretty Girl Shock and Awe Unedited Creative Commons D. Sharon Pruitt from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, USA • Wikimedia Commons
Shockvertising tactics make people angry, horrified, uncomfortable and offended.
Shock advertising tactics are extremely contrived and controversial.* This form of marketing relies on the emotional reactions of the public to sell products. Advertisers and marketers engage in approaches to communication that attempt to generate more than just water-cooler buzz. The more outraged the target demographic, the better. These kinds of tactics can get groups of angry people to flood social media with their complaints. Shock advertising doesn’t always work as intended, but when it does work, this technique shows us that even negative publicity can generate plenty of profit.*
(Mature content warning: The video below contains adult language not suitable for a general audience.)
Video: Shock Tactics In Advertising: The Shockumentary Starring BrewDog, Peta & More
Read More:
8 Controversial Marketing Campaigns That Paid Off • Should You Use Provocative Advertising?
Business Insider: 26 Incredibly Daring Ads That Were Made To Shock You • Shock Advertising Defined
Why Shockvertising Is So Good at Impacting Our Behavior? • The Flops and Successes of Shock Advertising
How to Create a Controversial Marketing Campaign That Converts
