My immediate reaction to this billboard advertisement was laughter. This is mostly because it really does not apply to me as I am not a paunch middle-aged man who seems to be heavy enough to tip over a billboard, and if I was I'm not sure if I'd be laughing at this. However, I think that humor is the best way to connect with a large pool of possible clients because who doesn't like to laugh? Also, I along with most other consumers tend to remember humorous advertisements more consistently than we remember ads that simply say, "Come to Siberman's Fitness Center".
I also noticed that besides the man, and the words and numbers, the billboard appears fairly empty, which I think is a good thing. When I drive by billboards and other advertisements that are packed with color, words, and images, I often don't get a clear message out of them like I do with this image.I can clearly see that I am supposed to call Siberman's Fitness Center at the given phone number, which really is all I need to know.
This ad may offend obese people, however I do not think that obese people are really the target audience, so while the advertisement may offend people, it will not offend the target audience. I think that most gym-goers are people who are already conscious about their health and fitness. Moreover, the problem with this ad is the fact that it in no way attracts these type of people who might consider going to a gym or switching gyms if they already go to one. These types of people are looking for quality facilities, good deals, and good programs.
Even though I admittedly appreciate the simplicity of this advertisement, I think it would be nice to maybe be able to visualize Siberman's Fitness Center, or have some small amount of information about it besides the phone number. There are a lot of places that I could go if I was in the same boat as the man on the poster, so why on earth would I go the Siberman's? I mean, they obviously employ people with a good sense of humor, and that counts for something, but is it affortable? Do they have good facilities? I do not know based off of this, which is a problem.
Helen, I agree with you that this is originally funny, and that is a good thing. If i were someone in this situation, i would be leaning towards this place. I think that the things you are wanting to know, could probably be answered by calling the number. That is how you find out if the have good facilities, or if they are affordable. I could see that it is a little more of an inconvenience to call them and ask the questions you want to ask. it would be simpler to give a little more information on the billboard.
ReplyDeleteI do find this billboard very funny, but I don't know if many people do. Most of the people in America are obese and I feel that someone who is obese might be offended by this advertizement. If I were obese and saw this advertizement, I would be insulted. I don't think the company used a good marketing strategy because I believe the majority of obese people would lean away from the company.
ReplyDeleteWho do you think this ad is appealing to? I doubt that the man in the picture would actually end up going. Most of the people I know who need to go to a gym wouldn't be caught dead in one. They'd either be embarrassed to go or it would somehow be against their values (the cost, the conformity, etcetera). Do you think that this ad is trying to appeal to people who already go to the gym, but might remember a funny ad? When it comes down to it, how many people who need to go to the gym would actually show up at one?
ReplyDeleteThis Billboard catches my curiosty with its many bizzare atributes. First of all the Billboard is tilted showing that that man is fat and is failing in life. it is creating a mental picture in people that they don't want to ever be in that position so they must work out at siberman's fittness center or they will be fat like the man on the billboard. it also is more directed to people who are fat lonley and have no social life. looking at this ad they would feel my life is going under i need to change now i must look beautiful and people will like me. those are the messages that i can see in the billbaord.
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