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Imagine this: A woman in her late 60s, a retired teacher, is scrolling through her favourite news app. She sees ads for anti-ageing creams, cruise holidays, and mobility aids. Each one screams a single, monotonous message: “You’re old, and this is all you need.” She closes the app, feeling unseen for who she truly is—a vibrant, tech-savvy individual with a lifetime of experiences, passions, and untapped potential.

Or think of a young man with a disability, bombarded by charity ads that portray people like him as objects of pity rather than participants in everyday life. He uses cutting-edge tech, travels the world, and runs his own business, but in the advertising world, he’s invisible unless he’s a symbol of “inspiration.”

These are just two of the millions of consumers who fall outside advertising’s narrow spotlight. It’s not just an oversight—it’s a cultural blind spot with massive consequences.


Who Are the Invisible Consumers?

Advertising tells us who matters. But who does it leave out?

1. Older Adults: The Forgotten Spenders

Older adults hold more wealth than any other demographic, yet their ad representation is abysmal. When they do appear, they’re either portrayed as frail and dependent or as unrealistically youthful, dancing through retirement as if ageing were a myth.

But older adults today are running marathons, launching startups, and embracing technology at record rates. Why does advertising refuse to reflect this reality? Ignoring them perpetuates ageism and sends a clear message: “You’re not relevant unless you look or act young.”

2. People with Disabilities: Stereotyped or Silent

Over a billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. They represent a diverse, dynamic consumer base, yet they’re either absent from ads or pigeonholed into narrow roles—the brave hero overcoming adversity or the charity case seeking pity.

Brands often miss the mark entirely, failing to normalize disability as an everyday part of life. Imagine seeing an ad where a person with a disability is simply buying groceries or going to a concert, without their disability being the focus. That’s the kind of representation that’s still shockingly rare.

3. Low-Income Communities: Erased or Exploited

Advertising largely ignores low-income consumers, except when pushing payday loans, fast food, or discount retailers. The underlying narrative? These individuals aren’t aspirational enough for mainstream brands.

This not only alienates a significant portion of the population but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Low-income consumers are as diverse and aspirational as anyone else—they want access to quality products and services that respect their dignity, not exploit their circumstances.


The Cost of Ignoring Diversity

The exclusion of these groups isn’t just morally wrong—it’s economically foolish. Together, these “invisible consumers” represent billions in untapped purchasing power. By ignoring them, brands leave money on the table and risk alienating a significant portion of their potential audience.

But the real cost is cultural. Advertising doesn’t just reflect society; it shapes it. When entire groups are erased or misrepresented, it reinforces harmful biases and perpetuates inequality. Ageism, ableism, and classism become ingrained in the cultural fabric, shaping how we view ourselves and others.


Real-World Failures and Successes

Failure: A notable example is the 2018 ad campaign titled “Dear Young People, Don’t Vote,” sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Acronym. This advertisement depicted older individuals as selfish, uncaring, and out-of-touch, suggesting they were responsible for ruining the future due to their lack of concern for younger generations. While the campaign aimed to encourage young people to vote, its portrayal of older adults was divisive and derogatory, reinforcing negative stereotypes about aging.

Success: On the flip side, Tommy Hilfiger’s adaptive clothing line is a masterclass in inclusion. Designed for people with disabilities, it’s marketed without fanfare, simply showing real people living their lives. It’s a powerful reminder that inclusivity doesn’t need to be performative—it can be seamless and authentic.


How Advertising Shapes Our Worldview

Advertising influences how we see ourselves and each other. When certain groups are constantly stereotyped—or worse, invisible—it impacts their self-perception and how society treats them.

For older adults, this means feeling pressured to fight aging rather than embracing it. For people with disabilities, it means being seen as exceptional only when they fit an “inspirational” mold. For low-income communities, it means internalizing the idea that they don’t deserve quality or aspirational products.


Breaking the Cycle: What Needs to Change

  1. Authentic Representation
    Ads must reflect the full spectrum of human experience. Older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals need to be shown not as outliers or exceptions but as everyday consumers with diverse interests and lifestyles.
  2. Inclusive Storytelling
    Move beyond tokenism. Show older adults as tech innovators, people with disabilities as fashion-forward consumers, and low-income individuals as empowered decision-makers. Normalize diversity without making it the story.
  3. Community Collaboration
    Work directly with underrepresented groups to ensure authenticity. Co-create campaigns that resonate with their lived experiences rather than relying on outdated stereotypes.
  4. Data-Driven Inclusion
    Brands need to stop underestimating these audiences. Leverage data to understand their behaviors and preferences, recognizing them as valuable consumers, not fringe markets.
  5. Accountability and Metrics
    Just as diversity is measured in workplaces, it should be tracked in advertising. Brands should set goals for inclusive representation and hold themselves accountable for meeting them.

Imagine a world where advertising reflects all of us

A world where older adults see themselves as vibrant contributors, people with disabilities are shown in every aspect of life, and low-income communities are respected and celebrated. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a necessity in the current world we all living

The invisible consumer deserves to be seen. They deserve to be valued. And it’s time for the advertising industry to step up.

I had an interesting chat today about whether magic in advertising still remains .

In the golden age of advertising, campaigns weren’t just about selling products—they were about selling ideas, dreams, and emotions. Think of Coca-Cola’s “Hilltop” ad, with its chorus of voices singing about unity and peace, or Apple’s iconic “1984” spot, which heralded the dawn of a new era in personal computing. These weren’t just ads; they were cultural moments, etched into the collective consciousness. They worked because they dared to be different.

But today, the creative spark that once defined advertising seems to be flickering out. In its place, we have an industry increasingly dominated by algorithms and data-driven decision-making. The rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning has brought unprecedented precision to ad targeting and performance measurement. Brands can now tailor their messages to specific audiences with incredible accuracy, optimizing every element of a campaign in real-time. On the surface, it’s a marketer’s dream. But beneath the surface lies a troubling truth: the relentless pursuit of optimization is strangling creativity.

The Algorithmic Trap

At first glance, it’s easy to see the appeal of data-driven advertising. Why take risks when you can use algorithms to predict exactly what will resonate with your audience? Why rely on intuition when machine learning can tell you the perfect color for a call-to-action button or the ideal length of a video ad? The problem is that data only tells us what has worked in the past. And when decisions are made purely based on past performance, the result is often a race to the middle—a homogenized landscape where every ad looks, feels, and sounds the same.

Take the rise of programmatic advertising. By using algorithms to buy and place ads, brands can ensure their messages reach the right people at the right time. But what’s often sacrificed in the process is the human element—the bold, unexpected ideas that grab our attention and linger in our minds. The irony is that while algorithms excel at optimizing for clicks, shares, and conversions, they struggle to account for the intangible qualities that make an ad truly memorable.

The Creativity Crisis

This reliance on data and AI is fostering a culture of risk aversion. In an era where every decision is scrutinized through the lens of performance metrics, there’s little room for experimentation. The result is a flood of safe, formulaic ads designed to maximize short-term gains at the expense of long-term brand building. Creativity thrives on uncertainty, on the willingness to take risks and embrace the possibility of failure. But in a world governed by algorithms, failure is a luxury few are willing to afford.

Consider the case of Super Bowl ads. Once a showcase for daring, innovative storytelling, many of today’s big-game spots feel more like calculated exercises in brand-safe messaging. The stakes are too high, and the data too abundant, for brands to take a chance on something truly groundbreaking. Instead, we get a steady stream of feel-good montages, celebrity cameos, and humor that’s been tested to within an inch of its life.

Finding a Balance

Does this mean data and AI are inherently bad for advertising? Not necessarily. When used thoughtfully, these tools can enhance creativity, providing valuable insights and freeing up time for human ingenuity. The key is to strike a balance—to use data as a guide, not a crutch. Some of the most successful campaigns of recent years have managed to do just that, blending data-driven insights with bold, creative ideas.

Take Spotify’s “Wrapped” campaign, which uses personalized data to create highly engaging, shareable content. Or Nike’s “Dream Crazy” ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, which leveraged data to understand its audience but still took a bold stand on a divisive issue. These campaigns show that it’s possible to harness the power of data without sacrificing originality.

The Way Forward

The future of advertising depends on our ability to reclaim creativity from the clutches of algorithms. This means embracing uncertainty, celebrating bold ideas, and recognizing that not everything can—or should—be optimized. It means trusting in the power of human intuition and storytelling, even when the data says otherwise. Because at the end of the day, the ads that truly resonate aren’t the ones that are perfectly optimized; they’re the ones that dare to be different.

Donald Trump’s political resurgence in 2024 offers a masterclass in wielding influence with audacity. His win wasn’t just a political triumph; it was a cultural earthquake that shook the very foundations of societal norms. The tools he used—provocation, narrative control, and an unrelenting drive to dominate the discourse—are the same tools that modern advertising must embrace to remain relevant.

If Trump’s victory taught us anything, it’s this: disruption wins. Comfort zones are for losers, and middle-ground messages get lost in the noise. It’s time for advertising to take a page from his playbook and step into the ring, ready to smash outdated paradigms and build something new.


Advertising as Cultural Warfare

Trump’s campaign didn’t just run ads; it waged a cultural war. Every speech, tweet, and rally became a piece of a larger narrative designed to hijack conversations, polarize audiences, and solidify loyalty. Advertising today must adopt a similar approach: dominate the narrative or be drowned out by the competition.

The strategy is clear:

  1. Control the narrative before anyone else can.
  2. Be so loud, you’re impossible to ignore.
  3. Force people to take a side.

1. Polarization as a Power Play

Trump’s 2024 campaign thrived on polarization. His ads and messaging didn’t aim to unite—they aimed to draw a line in the sand. You were either with him or against him, and that clear dichotomy energized his base like never before.

For brands, this is a wake-up call: neutrality is dead. The most impactful advertising will alienate as much as it inspires.

Your New Mantra:

  • Forget safe messaging. Safe is invisible. Safe is ignored.
  • Be divisive. If your campaign doesn’t spark debates, it’s not working.

2. From Movements to Uprisings

Movements are slow, incremental, and often bogged down by bureaucracy. Trump’s campaign didn’t rally movements; it ignited uprisings. His messaging created immediate reactions—outrage, passion, and action—all of which translated into votes.

Brands can harness this same energy by crafting campaigns that don’t just invite participation but demand it. Your ads should feel like a rallying cry, compelling your audience to act now.

Your Ad is the Catalyst. Society is ready to combust.


3. Hijack the Conversation

Trump’s genius lay in his ability to hijack every conversation. Even his critics couldn’t stop talking about him, inadvertently amplifying his message. Advertising must learn to operate with the same relentless strategy: take over the dialogue and reshape it around your brand’s vision.

How to Own the Narrative:

  • Shock and awe. Lead with bold, provocative messaging that forces attention.
  • Substance beneath the spectacle. Once you have their attention, hit them with a message that sticks.

The New Playbook: Propaganda, Provocation, and Relentless Messaging

Advertising in 2024 and beyond must borrow from the same unapologetic strategies that fueled Trump’s political machine.

  1. Propaganda 2.0
    Saturate your audience with a single, compelling message. Repetition breeds belief, and belief breeds loyalty.
  2. Provocative Design
    Your visuals and copy should challenge conventions and spark visceral reactions. Forget polished perfection; aim for unforgettable impact.
  3. Relentless Narrative Control
    Don’t just participate in cultural conversations—own them. Shape how your audience thinks, feels, and acts.

Who Has the Guts?

Not every brand can handle this level of cultural disruption. But for those willing to take risks, the rewards are monumental.

  • Underdogs: New players ready to make noise without legacy baggage.
  • Mavericks: Brands with a history of bold moves, ready to double down on their identity.
  • Innovators: Companies introducing groundbreaking products that naturally disrupt norms.

The world of advertising is more brutal and competitive than ever

. Trump’s 2024 victory proves that those who dominate, disrupt, and polarize are the ones who thrive. Brands must adopt the same unrelenting, high-stakes approach if they want to survive and lead.

The future isn’t for the timid. It’s for those who are ready to smash, rebuild, and repeat.

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Remember when advertising was just about catchy jingles and flashy billboards? Fast forward to 2025, and while the mediums have evolved—hello, AI-driven ads and immersive VR experiences—the heart of advertising beats with the same timeless rhythm. Some wisdom is simply evergreen, and the legends of advertising knew a thing or two about capturing hearts and minds. Let’s dive into seven classic quotes from the greatest minds in advertising and explore how their insights are more electrifying than ever in today’s dynamic landscape.


1. David Ogilvy: “The consumer isn’t a moron; she is your wife.”

Why This Matters More Than Ever

In an era where consumers can fact-check claims with a single voice command to their smart glasses, underestimating your audience is a perilous game. Think about it: today’s consumers navigate a sea of information daily. They crave authenticity and can spot insincerity from a mile away. Imagine crafting an ad campaign that respects their intelligence, speaks their language, and resonates with their experiences—just as you would when communicating with someone you deeply care about. That’s the Ogilvy magic still at work!


2. Leo Burnett: “Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.”

Simplicity in a Complex World

Amidst the whirlwind of holographic ads and AI-personalized content, simplicity shines like a beacon. In 2025, attention is the most coveted currency. Picture this: a minimalist ad that cuts through the noise with a clear, compelling message, paired with eye-catching visuals that linger in the viewer’s mind. It’s not just about grabbing attention—it’s about holding it long enough to leave a lasting impression. Burnett’s advice is a golden ticket in today’s overstimulated environment.


3. Bill Bernbach: “The most powerful element in advertising is the truth.”

Truth as a Superpower

In a time where deepfakes and misinformation can muddy the waters, truth has become a superpower. Consumers are not just buying products; they’re buying into brands they trust. Imagine launching a campaign that lays it all bare—no gimmicks, no half-truths—just genuine stories and transparent practices. Such honesty doesn’t just build customer relationships; it forges unbreakable bonds.


4. Seth Godin: “Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.”

Storytelling in the Digital Age

Stories have always been the threads that weave societies together, and in 2025, they’re the heartbeat of successful marketing. Envision a brand that doesn’t just sell eco-friendly sneakers but tells the tale of each shoe’s journey from recycled material to your doorstep, involving you in a global mission for sustainability. This is the power of storytelling—transforming ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences.


5. Mary Wells Lawrence: “You’ve got to be brave and you’ve got to be bold. Brave enough to take your chance on your own discernment.”

Courage in Creativity

The future belongs to the bold. Consider the brands that have dared to venture into the uncharted territories of the metaverse, creating virtual worlds where consumers can interact, play, and shop. These aren’t just marketing strategies; they’re leaps of faith that redefine consumer engagement. Lawrence’s words remind us that bold moves, backed by conviction, can propel brands to new heights.


6. Howard Gossage: “Nobody reads ads. People read what interests them, and sometimes it’s an ad.”

Content That Captivates

In a world overflowing with content, the lines between advertising and entertainment have blurred. Imagine crafting content so compelling that people seek it out—not because it’s an ad, but because it’s genuinely interesting, informative, or entertaining. From interactive TikTok challenges to binge-worthy branded web series, the goal is to create content that people love, share, and remember.


7. John Hegarty: “Do interesting things and interesting things will happen to you.”

The Ripple Effect of Innovation

Innovation isn’t just about new products; it’s about new ways of thinking. Picture a campaign where a brand partners with environmental organizations to clean up oceans, using advanced robotics and AI. Not only does this generate buzz, but it also makes a tangible difference. By doing something truly interesting, the brand doesn’t just advertise—it inspires, engages, and creates a movement.


As we navigate the thrilling twists and turns of advertising in 2025, these timeless nuggets of wisdom serve as our compass.

They remind us that at the core of every successful campaign lies a deep understanding of people—their desires, their values, and their stories.

So, next time you’re brainstorming the next big campaign, channel Ogilvy’s respect for the consumer, Burnett’s simplicity, Bernbach’s truth, Godin’s storytelling, Lawrence’s boldness, Gossage’s engaging content, and Hegarty’s innovative spirit.

After all, the tools may change, but the art of connecting with people is timeless. Let’s keep creating advertising that’s not just seen or heard, but felt and remembered.

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