Compare the Meerkats: Advertising that becomes cult TV

I have long been aware that advertisers know their stuff. I remember as a child at school one particular teacher questioning the class about the effects of advertising. As one we all proclaimed that advertising had no effect on us.

It did not take out teacher long to prove that we were so wrong.

He simply said a few words and phrases and we finished them of in rapid time. It was the late sixties and the sixth form class proved that advertising was affecting they way we shopped like it or not. A few examples of the day were:

• A double diamond..................................................works wonders
• Go to work..............................................................on an egg.
• Beanz, Meanz.........................................................Heinz
• Happiness is a........................................................cigar called Hamlet
• Snap, crackle and...................................................pop. Rice Krispies
• Guiness is...............................................................good for you

You get my drift I guess.

In modern times the advertisers have become far more clever at sucking us in. In fact some of the car advertising needs a brain like a rocket scientist to understand them.

A recent UK advertising campaign has gone from strength to strength. From initially seeming brilliant to some and silly to others this advertising campaign looks set to enter the hall of fame of cult and classic adverts.

The product advertised is the website Compare The Markets.

As we all know there are so many compare web sites these days. It must be hard attracting trade unless you have a gimmick. The Meerkat advertising must be one of the best gimmicks ever.

Meerkats are interesting creatures. A Meerkat is a small African mammal which is famous for its stance. It stands on its hind legs and sniffs the air in what most people would think is a cute way.

The advertisers do not use real Meerkats. Instead they have stuffed animated toys I guess to play the part.

From a small basic advert this campaign has grown. Initially the main pun was simply that meerkats have their own website which is not to be confused with Compare the Market. It was stressed that Compare The Meerkats was not to be confused with Compare The Markets.

These days we have quite long adverts shwoing the "history" of the Meerkat and why they deserve their own recognition.

There is even a Compare The Meerkats website but of course if you click on it you will find another version of Compare The Markets.

All of this just goes to show how clever advertising can work. It almost brainwashes the viewer and will remain in that person;'s mind for years.

The next time the commercial break comes on take a proper look at the adverts. See if you know what they are going to say and if the slogan's have forced themselves into your brain.

They have?

Who said advertising does not work?