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Role of Local Celebrities in T.V. Ads: Case Studies from Around the World

Introduction: Impact of Local Celebrities in T.V. Advertising


For most advertised brands, local celebrities are turning to help enhance local engagement. Known personalities make a brand more emotional and increase recall than any other advertisement. Local celebrities provide authenticity, which forms trust; they are more accurate and thus have a more profound positive effect on a campaign than global stars, who may never connect with regional sensitivity.


The practice of local celebrities is a common phenomenon across most global markets, from Asia's mania about T.V. personalities in commercials to the Americas' infatuation with sports icons and famous actors. What makes local celebrity endorsements so effective? How do countries differ in their use of local stars to enhance their brand image?


This article will look at the phenomenon of local celebrities in ads on T.V. by using case studies in different regions worldwide, researching the critical factors that influence successful campaigns, and the future trends related to celebrity endorsements in advertising.


Role of Local Celebrities in T.V. Ads

Why Local Celebrities? Understanding the Attraction


The value of local celebrities in television advertisements is that they easily link with the desired viewers. By nature, consumers tend to be more trusting and identifiable with an individual they are familiar with, especially if they hold cultural significance to society. Local celebrities tend to be more symbolic of shared ideals, experiences, and emotions, which makes them a perfect fit for branding to achieve trust and long-term impressions.


Key Reasons to Use Local Heroes in T.V. Advertisements


  • Cultural familiarity makes the brand's message more relevant to the viewing audience with the use of local heroes.


  • Greater emotional love and attachment due to familiarity are built by the faces, which is a superb reason.


  • The customers will believe suggestions from local heroes much more than ideas from personality icons they admire in their cultural environment.


International Cases of Celebrity Advertising in T.V. Advertisement


1. Asia: The Strength of Local Stars in T.V. Commercials


Local stars dominate most television commercials in Asia, particularly in Japan, China, and South Korea. For example, in Japan, as many as 55% of T.V. commercials use local stars, 'tarento' or multi-talented celebrities, which are aplenty to infuse beauty care products into household appliances. They have mass appeal and can capture the attention of diverse demographics.


Japan


Arashi is one of the boy bands in Japan; the band members can be seen frequently in a plethora of television advertisements on companies, like a mobile network provider, AU, and such appeals can be considered as effectively grabbing customers.



2. Europe: Role of Sports Icons and Actors


In the European region, television commercials contain sports celebrities and film stars. Local sports celebrities, such as footballers, are considerably used by brands to exploit most people's enthusiasm for sports. Recently, Walkers Crisps has been using former footballer Gary Lineker for more than 20 years in the United Kingdom.


U.K.


Gary Lineker has been the face of Walkers Crisps for over 20 years, creating a strong brand association between Walkers and him, laying down why Walkers dominate the snack market.



3. America: Celebrities in Hispanic T.V. Ads


T.V. personalities or singers in Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market frequently endorse products. Celebrity status can be merged with cultural relevance, thus making these personalities great brand ambassadors. Famous Latino actors and musicians like Sofía Vergara have appeared in several T.V. commercials targeting Hispanic audiences.


U.S. Hispanic Market


Sofía Vergara has been the face of several brands, including Pepsi, leveraging her Latin American background and Hollywood fame to appeal to a broad audience.



Global Case Studies: What Works


Reflecting on successful local celebrity endorsement campaigns, several factors that help ensure these campaigns hit the mark include the following:


  1. The celebrity naturally fits the brand and its target consumer base.


  2. Celebrity ads must win people's trust and command respect and excitement.


  3. The celebrity selected depends on his current popularity and relevance in the local market.


For example, the partnership of Samsung with BTS, a widely known K-pop group in South Korea, resulted in an effective ad campaign; this stunned young consumers and reinforced Samsung's position in the highly competitive smartphone market.


What Makes a Campaign Succeed with a Celebrity Endorsement?


Several factors determine whether a celebrity will be viable:


  1. The celebrity image should resonate with the brand message and ethos.


  2. Long-term partnerships, such as Gary Lineker and Walkers Crisps, are better at creating the association of a brand in the long term.


  3. Brands must not use celebrities who have ended up overexposed in the market as this may dilute their effect.


  4. In the present scenario, a celebrity must adapt to the traditional media, which comprises television and modern media, including social media.


How Social Media and TV Ads Work Together with Local Celebrities


Social media has changed the fate of advertising. Therefore, advertising T.V. commercials is a function of a more extensive cross-channel campaign. Brands pay substantially for celebrities on television and social media.  By combining TV commercials with social media campaigns, brands can reach a wider audience and create multiple touchpoints for engagement.


Most local celebrities have adopted this two-in-one role, as influencers such as Kylie Jenner and football star Cristiano Ronaldo make their impressive social media following a subsidiary to boost their respective ad campaigns on television.


Celebrity Endorsement Challenges: Pitfalls and Considerations


Though celebrity endorsements can be a potent tool, they carry some risks. A celebrity scandal or controversy can quickly tarnish the image of a brand. In addition, celebrities endorsing too many products lose credibility and are no longer very effective. Thus, brands should vet their celebrity partners very well and have contingency plans for unforeseen events.


Conclusion: Future of Celebrity Endorsement in Advertising by Locals


Continuing on the subject of advertising, where marketing keeps evolving and embracing local celebrity endorsements, will be more of a trend for brands to connect with their audience on a deeper level. With the emergence of micro-celebrities, there will be a move toward finding these niche personalities with a loyal audience, opening the door to more targeted forms of engagement.

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