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Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Colorado State University Global
Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Story
Every year, the most watched event in America hits our TV screens: the NFL Super Bowl. While the main purpose of the event is the culmination of a football season, for many viewers, the moments between plays—the commercials—are as exciting as the game itself.
Super Bowl ads showcase the biggest budgets and best ideas that the marketing world has to offer. These commercials, anywhere from 10 to 60 seconds long, are the result of months of hard work by dedicated advertising, marketing, and creative professionals.
Great commercials don’t happen by accident. There are high expectations, huge budgets, and tight regulations to navigate along the way.
Some of the most iconic moments in the history of advertising have become so ingrained in our social consciousness that we’ve forgotten the Super Bowl is where they got their start. Apple’s 1984 ad, directed by Ridley Scott, set the company apart from its competitors (at the time, primarily IBM) while establishing the innovative, free-thinking image Apple still holds today.
Old Spice’s 2010 ad, The Man Your Man Could Smell Like, had a similar effect. At the time, Old Spice’s brand was associated with an aging demographic from the 1950s. To appeal to a younger audience, Old Spice successfully used the Super Bowl’s massive audience to share an ad featuring Mustafa Johnson and an over-the-top monologue.
Super Bowl marketers have to walk a very difficult line. The audience for a Super Bowl ad is likely to be the largest, most diverse one they’ve ever seen. It’s difficult to appeal to the emotions or sense of humor of nearly 100 million people. Some viewers could be offended by a particular political or social stance, so marketers, and the brands they represent, must be confident in their message and prepared for possible backlash. Marketers must have a strong handle on the way their product is perceived and the way their customers think.
Also, these ads are a financial investment, too! According to Variety, CBS was asking approximately $5.5 million for a 30 second spot in 2021—and that doesn’t include a company’s months or years of research, planning, and production.
If you see yourself making a career in high-stakes marketing such as the Super Bowl commercials, a degree in marketing is the first step!
| Did You Know? The average annual salary for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers is $135,900 (BLS, 2019). |
If you’re interested in starting a career in marketing, CSU Global can help. Our Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing will show you how to define markets, analyze buyer behavior, and evaluate the success of marketing campaigns. You’ll have the skills to explore a career in a number of related fields, including advertising, research, promotion, and public relations. Marketing skills are applicable across almost every industry, which is why the BLS reports that the number of marketing manager jobs will grow 10% through 2026.
Take the next step toward becoming a marketing professional at CSU Global. We offer comprehensive coursework on a flexible schedule to meet your needs, affordable tuition, and a network of alumni who can help you find your place in the marketing world. Contact CSU Global today!
