Amature vs Corporate

After reading the Bulldog Reporters' Daily Dog blog, about Super Bowl advertising, the most interesting aspect of that post is the very last bit of information that we are given. The post states, " Michael Solomon, a consumer behavior expert and author of Conquering Consumer space. An ad "immediately gets a leg up in terms of credibility" if viewers know that the ad comes from a consumer, rather than a professional marketing department." This made me think...Do amateur ads really hold more credibility in the eyes of consumers? The answer is a hazy line, in some cases the amateur ads do give the consumer a different view at the product. If we as consumers know that someone just like us made the ads and not some corporate big shot, the ad does not necessarily gain more creditability, but the consumer may cut the ad a little slack and be more willing to accept the message. These ads usually employ humor to connect with the consumer, although this is a great tactic, there is more connecting the amateur ad maker and the consumer than a cheap laugh, they're both consumers. The amateur ad producers may have made the ad for fun, exposure, or a portfolio piece,( I am currently in the process of trying to make an ad for a beverage that I drink a lot of just because the process will be funny and a good portfolio piece,) situations like these make it possible for the target consumer to accept amateur ads and connect with them more than corporate ads. The link to the blog is..http://www.bulldogreporter.com/dailydog/issues/1_1/dailydog_pr_spotlight/6391-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

So that is how amateur ads are better, however, if the ad is done poorly or with lower standards than most corporate ads the may do more harm than good. For Example, many local ads are really bad, and make the business they represent look stupid. There is an appliance store that advertises in the city I live. This ad is so annoying and makes the store/owner look like a complete jackass. Not only would I not go to a store with an that bad of an ad but it also hurts his credibility as a quality place to service or purchase home appliances. However, tricks and goofy actions have helped small business's in the past, so the ball swings both ways. Quality is the most challenging aspect for amateur advertisers and will always hold some amateur advertising ideas back.