Advertisers: Stop Trying to be Cool

CNN tried to be cool by adding so called slang to their newscasts and it ended up being a huge joke.

Marketers have always tried to do the same with minimal success. Youth sees right through the attempt.

Teenage Research Unlimited, which has surveyed more than 100,000 teens in the past decade, says slinging slang is viewed as a hilarious and futile act of desperation.

Only two-fifths of youth surveyed said that advertisers are good at reaching their demographic. Their advice to businesses? Be original, funny and cool without trying too hard.

You can’t plan cool. Once it’s cool, it’s not cool anymore so don’t even try.

What you can do is listen. Listen to youth. Listen to what they have to say about your marketing and then follow their advice.

Picture of Steve Hall

Steve Hall

RECENT ARTICLES

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

If you do your best thinking after 10pm, psychology says you have these 8 distinct advantages

If you do your best thinking after 10pm, psychology says you have these 8 distinct advantages

Global English Editing

If a woman still does these 6 things after 50, she’s aging with incredible grace

If a woman still does these 6 things after 50, she’s aging with incredible grace

Global English Editing

I interviewed 50 people over 85 who still live independently — they all shared these 9 daily habits

I interviewed 50 people over 85 who still live independently — they all shared these 9 daily habits

Global English Editing

People who are socially brilliant but academically average usually have these 8 street-smart qualities

People who are socially brilliant but academically average usually have these 8 street-smart qualities

Global English Editing

You know you have a beautiful soul when these 8 things consistently happen to you

You know you have a beautiful soul when these 8 things consistently happen to you

Global English Editing

The 7 topics that quietly create distance between parents and their adult children

The 7 topics that quietly create distance between parents and their adult children

Global English Editing