Global first neuro study identifies iconic triggers to optimise TVC for OOH

Australian advertisers can now increase the effectiveness of their Out-of-home campaign by more than 40 per cent by applying neuroscience to their creative, according to findings of a ground breaking new ‘Iconic Trigger’ research study.

The ‘Iconic Trigger’ research by Neuro Insights, the world leader in using patented neuroscience technology to measure the effect of advertising and media content, was commissioned by Australia’s largest Out Of Home media company, oOh!media.

The study found that by identifying the most powerful, or iconic, moment in TVC or video pre-roll and applying it to Out Of Home environments, advertisers could increase a respondent’s long term memory measure by an average of 42%.

The findings are the result of testing 60 commercials from the past two years with consumers to identify a TVC’s iconic triggers. Further neural testing was then conducted to identify the impact of using iconic trigger images in the Out Of Home signage environment compared to other creative executions.

Carlton Draught’s CANNES award winning TVC, The Great Beer Chase, can not only be analysed to understand what the iconic moments within the TVC, but actual demonstrate how to utilise these moments on Out Of Home formats to increase the effectiveness of the campaign by tapping into the viewers long term memory.

CEO of oOh!, Brendon Cook, said the results showed that Out Of Home campaigns using ‘iconic trigger that were identified in their creative produced more impact by tapping into consumers’ long term memory which is linked to enhancing the overall ROI of a campaign.

“This research provides advertisers with an actionable tool that identifies moments from their TVC or Video pre roll, most strongly held in the long-term memory, which we know has a positive impact on ROI” Mr Cook said.

“Our Neuro Iconic Triggers tool removes much of the creative guesswork and gives clients the brain power to more accurately engage and influence growing audiences in Out Of Home environments.

“It works by using the iconic image from the TVC or Video pre roll on a billboard or shopping centre ad panel; the image effectively acts as the ‘replay button’ – re-triggering those memories which have been previously stored when originally watching the TVC or Video pre roll.

“Using an iconic image dramatically increases long term memory and recognition.”

Peter Pynta, Director of Neuro-Insight, said: “Our research and testing has broken new ground by empowering advertisers to yield the best integration between TVC’s and Video pre-rolls with Out Of Home media channels.

“This approach is grounded in decades of neuroscience evidence on the way the brain stores and retrieves experiences – with the recent addition of some very specific TV and out of home advertising campaigns.”

Mr Cook said “With TVC and Video pre roll being a significant component of most campaigns, the Iconic Trigger contained within offers a scientific approach to identify the most effective creative link, or consumer touch points, across multiple media channels.”

“Advertisers can now confidently plan and buy Out Of Home and other media that utilise TVC and Video’s”.

The ‘Iconic Trigger’ study follows on from earlier research powered by The Leading Edge “Out Of Home Effectiveness”, which also found that when comparing different formats independently and in combination with each other, demonstrated that those using TV and Out Of Home together delivered 15 per cent increases in ROI.

About the Neuroscience Iconic Trigger Study

Focus groups were held to view television commercials, whilst the individual’s brain patterns were monitored. Then a week later the same respondents came back and were shown a series of images from the ads as well other random images on various Out Of Home formats. Results showed on average, long term memory increased the most for those outdoor scenarios that used the Iconic Trigger (vs those that didn’t). And through numerous studies, it is long term memory that can directly influence behaviour and drive sales.

The Neuro Iconic Trigger research findings from the last two years will be released in a whitepaper in the coming weeks as a global first for Out Of Home media.

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