As I mentioned last week, Apple’s present iPhone Xs billboard advertising campaign is ubiquitous at the moment, especially this image, totally flooding the Minneapolis skyway system, and beyond:
Putting aside whether the unique lighting and reflective nature of the indoor billboards do justice to the art of the iPhone Xs ad, I’m also questioning whether the Xs repetition might be, excessive?
See what I mean? Above and especially below, with stretches of hundreds of feet — in the frozen tundra of our Minneapolis skyway, nothing in sight, but the same, glaring and reflective Xs ad:
A few questions come to mind. Repetition in branding, yes it’s important, but are there no limits?
In other words, we know Apple can afford to dominate our skyway billboard space, but should it?
And, if so, with what? Apple’s user-generated content campaign was welcome, brilliant and unique.
But, what is the end goal of covering the Minneapolis skyway, with a train of identical Xs boxcars?
Isn’t the art of the ad lost when it is the only thing in front of you, or should I say Outfront of you?
A boring train of Xs boxcar ads builds no momentum to a destination, like Wall Drug ads on I-90.
Where is this train of repetitive ads supposed to take us, online to drive more holiday unit sales?
That seems doubtful, the ad doesn’t explain why one should replace an earlier version with the Xs.
Ironically, Apple’s current struggle is distancing itself from the stock market’s focus on unit sales.
Billboard advertising is said to be effective for brand awareness, but Apple hardly struggles there.
I’m not seeing the point of this ad, and repetition won’t solve the problem of a saturated market.
I’m just left feeling like I paid too much for my Xs, because Apple wasted too much on these ads.