HUMOROUS ADVERTISING : A STUDY OF U.S. TV ADS IN SWEDEN

Abstract: Globalization has resulted in cultures becoming more alike in many ways. The challenge is determining when communication methods can be common for a global market as opposed to targeted messages for a specific geographic area or demographic. When companies try to expand internationally they face the challenge of adapting their advertisement when communicating with customers from a new market. This study strives to analyze the impact of U.S. humorous television advertisements on Swedish consumers. Theory suggests that if the culture between the markets are close to each other, standardization is the most cost efficient plan. Humor is a common tool for companies to employ when communicating with consumers through television advertisement. It has many positives affects, but can also result in negative impact if the humor is misunderstood by the consumer. A case study was applied for this project, and all data was gathered from two separate focus groups. The focus groups included six members each, equal divided between genders. Both focus groups were introduced to five humorous television ads that have been aired in the U.S. market but not in the Swedish market. After the participants were introduced to the humorous ads, the moderator had four questions to the participants which led to discussions within the focus groups. The result of this study indicates that U.S. companies must adapt their humorous television advertisements when communicating with Swedish consumers. The Swedish consumers experienced the ads as confusing and hard to understand. Findings also indicates that the culture and the language became an issue for companies when trying to convey a message to Swedish consumers without any adaptations of the ad.