Insight

Communicating through a crisis: the five themes most resonant during Covid-19

We know that now is not the time for brands to be going dark.

Consumers need to be entertained, supported and communicated to, now more than ever. But equally, we know that now is not the time when brands can afford to spend on ineffective advertising that potentially causes more harm than good.

So, what’s the recipe for success? Is there even one? Opinium’s Brand & Comms team have been looking at the brands daring enough to have started those conversations to understand which approaches are cutting through, resonating and strengthening connections.

Using a cut-down version of Opinium’s advantage advertising optimisation tool, the team analysed 18 ads that have addressed coronavirus, covering all angles from the likes of HM Government, frontline retailers such as Lidl and Amazon through to services like Deliveroo and FMCG giants such as McCain. The full list of ads is shown at the bottom of the article.

From the group of 18 ads, five key themes emerge that have resonated most with viewers at this current time.

Keeping it simple

Many of the stronger performing ads are not creatively challenging. Relatively straightforward, they do not challenge consumers visually or in terms of message processing but given the current state of uncertainty, keeping things simple has been appreciated.

Comforting normality

Brands that have been at the forefront of the crisis such as supermarkets and that have chosen to supply comforting normality in their communications have also been appreciated. Aldi and Cathedral City top the charts in terms of sincerity and evoking an emotional reaction of comfort.

Although elements of our daily lives have been thrown upside by the coronavirus restrictions consumers have welcomed signs of normality – particularly from those brands that form part of everyday life.

Tell me the facts

It’s fair to say in normal times a government ad delivering information straight to camera wouldn’t exactly set the world alight, and creatively it doesn’t right now either.

However, the clarity of concept and message, and obvious relevance and sincerity of this execution means that consumers have appreciated the role that this type of communication has to play in the current climate

Offering some hope

Google’s real-life footage ad is easily the most enjoyable and instinctively engaging execution of the group. Delivering a strong positive emotional reaction.