I was watching television the other day…I seem to be doing more of that since my arrival to Belpre…but I noticed a lot more talking animal spokes models. Celebrities are suddenly being replaced for talking pigs, geckos, ducks, little babies and random animal shots from National Geographic.
Why in the world would companies use these new types of spokes models for their new marketing strategies? There are basically four reasons why I believe marketing through a an artificial spokes model is beneficial
- Cost – The price for a voice over is a lot lower than the cost of an actual model
- Reputation – If you as a company hire a spokes model celebrity and then they go crazy (Remember Chris Brown?) you then have to worry about your image since you have hired him or her to be your representative.
- Maturity – Cartoons do not age or die.
- Pay Raise – If your spokes model asks for too much money then all you have to do is hire someone else who can impersonate your current spokes model. Problem solved. Money saved.
So the next time you are watching your lovable duck screaming AFLAC on the screen, know the real reason why you are not watching a lovable person scream the same thing.