People are People & Ads are Ads

People are People&

Ads are Ads

Perspectives on B2B Copy TestingMarch 19, 2007

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My Perspective

• 15+ years experience

• Testing ads

• Briefing ads

• Making ads

• Developing ad strategies

• 1000’s of ads

• Mostly B2C, but lots of B2B

• Still on a journey of discovery

People Are People

Ads Are Ads

Therefore...

Testing B2B adsis the same as

testing B2C ads

People Are People

B2C

• Passive mediums

• Looking to be entertained

• While some media are active (online and print, it’s still entertainment that driven)

• Claim not to be influenced by advertising

• Still buy based on ads

B2B

• Fundamentally the same perspective on creative

• More of an obligation to review materials

• It’s my job syndrome

• Fun stuff breaks through to the top

• Ads drive consideration

It comes down to understanding the target

Targeting

Purchaser

End User

Influencer

Targeting

• Hands up if you making purchasing decisions for a business?

• Who has a cell phone for work?

• Who has kids?

• Who is currently involved in testing B2B ads - i.e. a supplier of research?

• Who needs B2B ads tested - i.e. a buyer of research?

Ads Are Ads

What Makes Great Ads?

They Get Noticed

They’re Unmistakably Ownable

They Say Something

They Influence People

Great Ads

• Need to get noticed– Entertaining and enjoyable

• Be about the brand

• Tell me something important– Rational

– Emotional

• Make me want to buy, or consider

Let’s Look At Some Ads

• Who are they talking to?

• Would they gain attention?

• How unmistakable are they?

• What’s the message?

• Is it motivating?

How Do You Test Ads?

Start With The Creative Brief

• Figure out the advertising objectives• Ask why they are advertising• Ask who they are trying to influence• Ask what makes them think the ad will influence them• Is it supposed to be funny• Will it remain animated• What’s it all about• Ask everyone to tell you how it works

– marketing, agency, creative, media. whoever

Make Sure You Understand the Ad!

How Do You Test Ads?

B2C• Identify the target audience• Find a representative sample• Figure out what you need to

measure and what the tolerances are in your organization

• Then:– Rely on your gut– Ask your friends and peers– Do some focus groups– Conduct one of many copy tests

available– Post track– Sales Evaluation

B2B

• Fundamentally the same

• Usually much harder to find a sample of the audience in a cost effective manner

• Often rely on qualitative

Remember Targeting

• Is this a:– DM piece to a very limited list of people

– Print ad in an industry vertical

– Print ad to a wide end user audience

– Mass TV commercial for influencers and end users

B2B Qualitative

• Avoid groups, consider one on one’s– Business types don’t want to share trade secrets

– They want to be heard right away and feel important

– They can tend to brag in groups

– You are paying a lot for their time so you might as well focus it

• If using groups– Get them to right their responses down

– Don’t ask them about likes and dislikes, ask them about the objectives outlined in the brief

– Don’t be afraid to cut someone off, it’s business

B2B Qualitative

• Allow for much more rational responses, but break through them

• Use non-verbal techniques and projection to measure the emotional impact of ads

• Allow respondents to project to the opinions of others in their firm, avoid the ‘we only want to hear what you think’

• Their skepticism is natural, the purchase cycle is much longer and they really do need time to review

B2B Quantitative

• Consider the opinions of influencers and end users in the make up of the sample, not just purchaser decision makers

• Press for norms or benchmark against another ad or competitor

• Consider more in-depth post media interviews - i.e. contact people on subscription lists

• For cost effectiveness, consider on-line

B2B Market Tests

• Seed different response channels

• Measure response rates

• Test matched lists

• Test matched cities

• Conduct post interviews among magazine subscribers

• Solicit participation from your media partners

Reconstruct / Deconstruct

Transcontinental DM

Transcontinental DM

• No testing

• Go big mentality

• Small target

• Huge cost

• Measured response

• Won an award!

Amex Small Business

Amex Small Business

• Focus groups with small business owners

• DM Testing– Multiple cards offers

– Multiple DM packages

– Several creative pieces

– Tested over many cities

Air Canada Print

Air Canada Print

• Product development work with corporate travel specialists

• Qualitiative research with frequent flyers

• Brand and product awareness tracking

Microsoft Vista Launch

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Microsoft Vista Launch

• Strategic development research

• Testing among– tech community

– buyers

– influencers

– users

• Multi counrtry

• Benchmarking against norms

Discussion

Thanks!

• You’ve been great people• Now here’s my ad...

Contact

Anik KarimjeeRank Research Group Inc.

688 Richmond Street West, Suite 204 Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

M6J 1C5

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Fax: 416-366-9890

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