Simplicity in Marketing: Ad Example

Marketing is everywhere these days. It’s in our emails, on our screens, on bus stops, on billboards, on leaflets we get through the post, and on the products that we use. On any given day, you might see up to 5,000 ads during your daily activities (unless you’re alone on a remote desert island with no internet connection).

But good marketing, the kind that makes you stop and think: “Oh that’s clever”, “I like what you did there’ or even “That’s refreshingly different”, is rare. Many brands are constantly shouting for attention, but the good news is you don’t have to do that.

Some marketing just really hits the spot. And in terms of simplicity, the one that hit it for us (and still does) is the National Trust's ‘Everyone Needs Nature’ ad. True to brand, National Trust created a tranquil, peaceful ad because ‘everyone needs nature’ – but many weren’t able to be among nature due to various lockdowns (when the ad was released on TV).

Not seen it yet? Watch the ad below.

What we love about it, is how it isn’t screaming for attention, quite the opposite. Because it’s quiet and calm, it grabs people’s attention; it stops them from aimlessly scrolling through their phone (during TV ad breaks) and actually look up.

Keep it simple and true to you!

As consumers we’ve grown all too conscious of just how much marketing we take in daily, so we’re able to tune it out. For brands to stand out from the crowd and actually resonate with their audience, they need to create something that is a.) simple and b.) aligns with their brand – just like the National Trust did.

If there’s anything to take away from this ad, it’s that simplicity and staying true to your values as a brand are the two keys to effective marketing.