Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Message heard around the world




Creative advertising is said to be the best way to get your message across about your product. However, one of the new commercials by GlaxoSmithkline has crossed a line.....or has it? The commercial is titled "Message in a Bottle" and the message is Cervical Cancer Kills. GlaxoSmithkline has a new vaccine to compete with Merck's Guardasil and GS is not taking the subtle approach. But is scaring the best method of educating us to the preventative measures to take for cervical cancer?

The reviews are mixed. Some are horrified and have gone so far as to post on Ihatecommercials.com that the marketing technique GS has used is one they do not like. When I first saw this commercial I was taken back. I was wondering what new perfume was on the market. What a surprise it was to me to see on the pretty bottle the words, "Cervical Cancer." Another commercial in GS's campaign to educate America was an instant message conversation between two friends concerning another girlfriend who wasn't able to partake in drinks with the girls. When the other girl questions "why not?" the response is that "she just found out she has cervical cancer." GS is getting down and dirty about this subject.

I agree that cervical cancer is nothing to take lightly. My family has been crushed by the loss of a very young mother of two to cervical cancer. So our fear was one of reality and enough to have the women of our family to have anual Papsmears, educate our friends, and to simply speak openly about it with our children. I also support parents vaccinating their daughters, as I myself have chose to do with my own.

So is the new commercial harsh and tasteless??? It has many women talking about it...therefore bringing awareness to the reality of cervical cancer.....so yes it's a strong message....but one that is being heard. Knowledge is power. Learn about cervical cancer prevention at helppreventcervicalcancer.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I just watched the commercial. I actually was not offended by it. After reading your post, I was not sure how i was going to react. I actually agree that it gets people talking and that is good.

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