6 Ways 1950s and 1960s Nostalgic Ads are Still Used Today in Digital Marketing
Nostalgic marketing from the 1950s and 1960s are sometimes troublesome to examine. The messaging is oftentimes incredibly dated, sometimes offensive, and not always application to contemporary audiences. That said, there are some ways nostalgic ads are still used in digital marketing today and rather effectively!
An artful style.
Ads beginning in the early 1940s applied contemporary art trends, creating a visual style that was extremely successful at selling a wide variety of products. Similar and also, distinct from what has been used in the past, different geometric and symmetrical forms still work to this day although now we have typefaces, new shapes, and new designs to work from. A lot of contemporary advertisements playing off nostalgia such as Banana Republic’s 1960s-Esque Mad Men-inspired campaign utilized various artistic shapes and emphasis.
Catchy headlines in bold.
Across any ad in the 1950s or 1960s, you will find a big, bold headline that’s immediately identifiable as unique. Although not every ad needs a big, bold headline today, they still work just as well. If you know how to wield your words, an attention-grabbing and memorable headline’s always going to win the audience’s eyes. Coca-Cola still uses the near identical headline from decades prior and customers wouldn’t have it any other way.
Simplicity heightened to the highest degree.
The 1960 Volkswagen ‘Think Small’ campaign featured a simple photo of a small car on a large white background. It didn’t need much more than that to be successful. The philosophy ‘less is more’ still works today. You don’t need image after image and useless information. Don’t let anything distract from your main selling point. Clothing stores and technologies companies continue to use minimalism to heighten the attractiveness of certain products.
Long-form copywriting.
Some ads in this era, and decades before, incorporated long texts detailing the benefits or advantages of a product or service. Cadillac in 1915 released an ad with more than 400 words attached, as an example, which proved to be very successful in its time. Today, although marketing enjoys images and videos more than text, an article or long-form version of a video works at establishing why to buy from you rather than a competitor.
Slogans with a real meaning.
Across many pre-1970s era ads, you’ll find slogans included in image-based advertising. These slogans always carry a real meaning with them, like M&M’s 1954 slogan, “Melts in your mouth, not your hand.” In today’s digital marketing, a memorable, relevant slogan will still stick as well as it ever has.
Creativity in color.
Vintage ads from the 1950s and 1960s make careful use of color, blending reds, blues, greens, yellows, and whites to capture attention and direct the eye. To this day, you can evoke any emotion using vibrant color! Applied strategically in an image or video, it can help at communicating the feel you want and generate more sales. McDonald’s is one brand that manipulates color creatively to emphasize different aspects of its marketing and the customer experience.
Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Cadillac, and Honda are some of the brands that have used these strategies then and which continue to use them today. Nostalgia marketing is used by brands in all categories, evoking feelings of comfort and attracting audiences. If you’re ready for digital marketing for your brand, Unlimited Exposure wants to help. Learn how to maximize your company’s marketing to grow your audience and see real results. Join us today!