How Do You Advertise to a Divided Country?

As advertisers and marketers in DRTV and E-Commerce, we are in the business of speaking directly to people who may not think like us. We make efforts to understand their wants and needs as we pursue direct to consumer advertising.  

Today, there’s a growing demand for brands to speak up on societal issues, whether sustainability, racism, or gender equality. But there’s caution on the political side due to the scale of possible negative repercussions. Leaning towards one way or another can make or break a company’s optics. Advertisers have a tough job of navigating the deeply divided political, social, and ideological landscape of the United States. Now more than ever, it’s a challenge to promote products and services to a diverse group of consumers in the TV and digital landscape.

One possible route to take is creating variations in advertising, thus speaking separately to each group. But this is not always the most pragmatic approach.  So what are advertisers supposed to do when faced with the tension between trying to align with various causes and navigating a divided –and often hostile– public?

The answer to this question remains unclear, but the best way brands can advocate for causes they stand behind without causing a divide amongst their audience is by sending a message of unity and positivity. Americans are so divided from of all the negative messaging they’re exposed to. If you use positive messaging in advertisements and seek ways to bring people together, regardless of their beliefs, the chance for unified messaging and positive customer response remains strong.