Guest Column: How brands can use controversy to their advantage?
Controversy gets brands the eyeballs, but for it to generate sales, brands need to have a well demarcated strategy, as shared by Saurabh Parmar, CEO & Founder, Brandlogist

Is controversy good for business?
That’s a question which came up at a seminar that I was attending a few days back, and though a lot of advertisers would tend to agree with that, I have a different take.
Controversy gets you eyeballs. It definitely does. Saying something controversial will get people to notice you, some to talk about you, and a few to even remember you.
Eyeballs/ awareness does not always lead to sales. In fact, in a world with more brands and more advertising, awareness beyond a point just becomes noise.
Yes, we have to be aware of a brand before buying it, but think about this, there are so many brands that we are aware of, but what fraction of them do we actually buy?
The key today is increasingly becoming quality of voice and not share of voice.
A few pointers from my perspective when it comes to controversy and its role in marketing/ business:
Who is this controversial for: Most controversies have at least two perspectives to them. A lot of marketers when looking at something controversial think of either the opportunity for buzz or get scared of the negative publicity. Rather, they should be looking at the connect with their TG or potential TG.
If something I say agrees with the people who are my customers, no matter how controversial it might be for everyone else, it makes sense to share it. In fact, it can become an opportunity for my customers, who go beyond a one-off connect, to identifying and rallying around the brand. Think Apple or even Tehelka, brands that have done controversial stuff, but have a loyal base of followers.
Never controversy for the sake of controversy: A controversy which generates short-term buzz in the minds of the right TG, but may not connect with the brand’s long-term agenda, is something that definitely should be avoided. A controversial marketing stunt may last only a few weeks, but its impact stays on for some time. If it is something which does not resonate with your target audience later, then there is a problem.
Be honest: Controversies that work best for businesses in terms of long-term impact are based on reality, what you as a brand genuinely believe in. Your customers are not fools. Sooner or later they will be able to see through any fabricated lie and that will hurt your brand. But something which is true, even if controversial, pulls in the right people.
An example is the original Brandlogist blog for our April Fool’s day campaign. Though it was controversial for the advertising fraternity, but it was something that we truly believed in. As a result, despite existing in the market for just one and a half years, we generate good interest from people who identify with the same values, and those who don’t… well that’s no “skin off my back”!
Also, remember that there is a difference between a controversy and a marketing gimmick. A gimmick does not upset people and yet is different enough to generate consumer interest. If done well, it gets the right engagement for the brand and even resonates with the target customer. Following is an example of a smart marketing gimmick – pop-up shop selling air, moonlight and sunshine.
The author is CEO and Founder of Brandlogist.
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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