Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Allstate Mayhem-Bungee



Allstate has been unleashing its Mayhem character since 2010. With almost two dozen commercials, Mayhem has been a very successful campaign for the Allstate Insurance Company. In Mayhem's newest commercial, he is a cheap bungee cord holding 800 lbs. of tailgating gear. However, the cord is so cheap it could only hold down a lid on a box of sweaters. Always happy to help, Mayhem unleashes himself on an unsuspecting tailgater. The slogan for these commercials is "Get an Allstate Agent, and be better protected from mayhem...like me. Mayhem is everywhere...Are you in good hands?" The Mayhem commercials are some of my favorite commercials because they are so creative and funny!

Humor: 5
The Mayhem commercials are some of the funniest commercials on television. They never disappoint in creativity and humor and can be enjoyed by all ages. Although targeted to those 17 and over (or those with a need for insurance), the commercials' humor is suitable for all ages. I am 100 percent positive that Mayhem will leave a lasting mark in everyone's mind if not their wallets.

Effectiveness: 3
Lisa Cochrane, Allstate's Marketing SVP said about the Mayhem character, "After Allstate’s hugely successful ad campaign, there’s a good chance you picture this guy. In just a few short years, the campaign has become an enormous hit. The Facebook Mayhem page has over a million likes and the campaign has been parodied on YouTube and of course endlessly discussed at the water cooler." Mayhem's popularity has only continued to increase. Mayhem's Facebook page now has nearly 2 million fans, almost 2 million likes, and is ranked in the top 5 pages globally. Mayhem commercials also boast over 100,000 views on YouTube. The campaign also holds many marketing awards. Allstate has definitely reached its target audience and they are responding through social media. However, Allstate has not been able to turn the reach of its Mayhem commercials into sales for the company. Allstate has lost significant market share in the last few years. According to Crain's Chicago Business, "more ad spending puts more pressure on profits, a fact not lost on investors wondering how "Mayhem" can garner so much buzz (500,000 Facebook fans and nearly 10 million YouTube views) without boosting Allstate's sales." The purpose of the Mayhem campaign was to "create doubt in people's minds about cheaper competitors." However, the mayhem that goes on in the commercials does not inform the customer on Allstate's advantages over other companies. Without a proper display of advantages or a reason to switch, Allstate will not be the market leader. 

Emotion: 1
Overall, I do not think this Mayhem ad or the campaign is meant to inspire purpose, or emotion. Yes, we may cringe as Mayhem runs rampant, but other than that he just wants us to switch to Allstate. But hey, it is nice of Mayhem to want to protect our wallets from a series of unfortunate events like himself.

Customer Reviews: 2
On Viewpoints.com, Allstate scored overall a 66. Not terrible, but its competitors GEICO and Progressive both scored in the 70's range. Both ConsumerAffairs.com and My3Cents.com showed Allstate with an overall score of 1.5 out of 5 stars. 
Although consumers love the Mayhem character, his company may be a little more trouble than it's worth. 

So remember, hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife, hide' yo wallet because Mayhem is everywhere! Are you in good hands?

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