Brands Sure Can Waste Some Money on Super Bowl Commercials

Okay, I want to weigh in on the Super Bowl commercials and I always like to give a bit of time to reflect. My main take away this year was the dominance of beer commercials and not what I would have expected. These were the "greening" of the genre with brands touting their natural and organic qualities.

Bud placed a major communication on their lack of corn syrup in their Lite Beer, which was a well placed slap at their lite beer competitors. The famous Budweiser Clydesdale's even galloped into the wind against a backdrop of wind turbines. Again, Bud sent out a timely message to a growing market of eco-conscious and health-conscious consumers.

KIA? "What was KIA thinking" when they filmed their new large 8-passenger Telluride slogging through muddy water. Why not have shown it off in high end advantage against the ski slopes of Telluride for a little extra name impression.

Pepsi's "Just Okay" commercial certainly wasted big dollars selling the lack luster "We're okay" message. What smart company spends millions to do that? The same company that spent a million or so to tweak its classic logo into a "smile". Just saying, isn't there something about the product that is better than just okay? If not why not co-brand it with something else like your KFC or Taco Bell brands. Or, you could have jumped on the Super Bowl's health train and touted your Quaker Oat brand.

Olay's "Killer Skin" was another "why did they do that moment? Who wants to buy a product that gives them dead skin. I mean vampires are dead and that was their pay off visual. A shame that a well respected product line aimed at an older women had to fast forward to death.

Really, Hyundai spent how much for their Super Bowl viewing audience watch an elevator go up and down. Some advertising has complete lost track for trying to promote their product as part of their brand. Should I just ride an elevator and call Uber or Lyft? Why buy a Hyundai?

Bon & Viv's Spiked Seltzer was a complete waste. For what to me was a new product, I learned nothing. Why the under water tank setting? Why not some more emphasis on what they heck it is and what I should look for in a store.

The game was more riveting than the commercials.

Looking at My Own Soft Drink Preferences

In examining my own soft drink purchasing habits I've found that I'm loyal...kind of.

I will say that I prefer Coke to Pepsi, but if the beverages are self-serve and no Coke is available, I'll push the Pepsi tap.

I would always however choose a non-diet Pepsi to a diet Coke or a Coke zero. I want the taste and if it has a few calories, so what! I am having the drink as a small enjoyment.

That brings me to size and how it influences my purchase, because I prefer the small cans of Coke or Pepsi to the large cans. [That's how I manage calories.] I don't drink a full size can or a full size bottle. And once a bottle has been opened, to me the flavor is never the same.

I really don't think the design on the can could ever sway my personal purchase for myself as long as I knew what was inside. Having said that my husband only drinks diet colas and I find it easier to put Coke zero in the grocery cart than diet Pepsi. So in that sense the sophisticated Coke zero can does influence my decision, but I do not personally drink it unless there is no other choice in the fridge.

The only diet soft drink product, in my opinion, that tastes anything like its non-diet counterpart is diet A&W root beer. However, I don't prefer root beer to cola, But if I had to choose a diet cola versus a diet root beer, I would choose the latter.

In general, I choose ice water with a slice of lemon in preference to diet colas or any diet drink. The exception is if I am having chips, I prefer any cola to no cola. Go figure.

If price is a factor say on a six-pack of small Coke vs. a six-pack of small Pepsi I am Scottish enough to choose the less expensive, if there is a big difference. I consider this a blip and not a long time choice.

I have never worked for any soft drink company. This reflection was inspired by the fact that I just took a sip of day old Coke zero, which was still on my desk. Yes, I was out of other choices and yes I was having Cheetos, a bad habit occasionally indulged.