Advertising is a great tool for turning what might be considered a boring or banal topic into something fun. Insurance companies have used television advertising both to compete with other companies and to make viewers laugh, which could incline them to buy the policy. Over the years, ads have gotten more fun and creative. These are some of the funniest ads from the insurance companies currently in play.
Geico’s oldest trick in the book
Geico has used a variety of advertisements to grab the viewer’s attention. Most notable is the Geico gecko, who is referenced at the beginning of this commercial, but does not contribute to the meat of the humor. Have you ever heard the saying “the oldest trick in the book”? Geico takes this saying and literally describes the joke claiming his first victim. By taking this sentence and making it literal, the audience is sure to laugh.
Esurance Facebook Wall Writer
In a competitive spirit, Esurance cites Geico’s motto “fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent on auto insurance” and claims the notion is out of date. By doing this, they portray an older woman, who has misunderstood the concept of Facebook and the writing on a person’s wall. She takes this literally by writing on physical walls while claiming to be cool and saved fifteen percent with Geico. By representing a woman who is far behind the technological times, Esurance can claim that her policies are for the modern world.
Jingle Insurance Agent
Perhaps one of the funniest ads currently in play, an agency has created a jingle for its clients in need. When sung, an agent magically appears and assures the person of their cover. The person nearby, whether it’s the other car accident victim or a friend, tries to mimic this jingle with their own nameless insurance companies. Instead of an agent, a questionable-looking character appears who offers neither comfort nor security.
Uninsured Farmer Robot
All the advances in technology make us wonder when cars will be able to drive themselves or if robots will be invented. This commercial places a futuristic robot in a human situation (in the seat of a driver education car) and shows him fleeing after crashing into the car ahead. Farmer’s cleverly portrays an uninsured driver while playing with the notion of advanced technology.
The Nationwide Giant Baby
We have all heard men refer to their precious cars as their babies. In this commercial, instead of a car, we see a giant baby. Here the owner cries, protects and washes his “baby”. Like the Geico commercial, figurative turned literal is the means of laughing in this ad.
Whether these commercials produce more business is a question for the accountant, but every company seems to know the importance of laughter. Laughter is sure to inspire positive thoughts in the viewer, leaving them with a positive impression of the brand as the company name flashes on the screen.