Unit 1 fact sheet Gracie Curran
Advertising
Advertising of Empire:
Advertising is the promotion of a media product to the specific audience that the company wants to
target, which is why this is called the target audience. They can do this by highlighting specific
characteristics, elements and features that will appeal to the target audience. Doing this helps to ensure
the company or product that their advertising is a success, it also helps to ensure that they are reaching
the target audience, helping generate engagement and income. There are four key formats of
advertising which include: digital advertisements being online on social media or banners and
websites, print advertising in magazines on posters and billboards, audio advertising being radio and
podcast and lastly video advertising on TV ads.
The Four Key Formats Of Advertising
- Digital Advertisement
- Print - magazine, posters
- Audio - radio, podcasts
- Video - TV ads
Advert 1 - Empire Magazine X - Empire on X: "Our new #WickedForGood issue is on sale now!
Inside, we take flight with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jon M. Chu as they embark on their
spellbinding second act. Plus! Predator: Badlands! Josh Brolin! And much more! ORDER A COPY:
[Link] [Link] / X
This is an announcement post which
has been posted by Empire magazine
on their X Social Media page,
announcing their new magazine issue.
On their post, key topics and notable
celebrities that are featured throughout
the magazine are listed, which will
appeal and attract the audience into
reading this post making them curious
and want to find out and read more
about what is featured in the
magazine. The post strategically uses
buzzwords such as “New” and
“Exclusive” on the magazine to grab
the audience's attention with
intriguing and eye grabbing words.
This magazines main focus is on the
movie ‘Wicked’ and not only is the
magazine’s colour scheme linked to
the movies colour scheme and the
magazine cover being Cynthio Erivo
and Ariana Grande who star in the
movie, there is also connotations to
the movie on the post too as the
strategic use of words are Wicked,
fantasy themed, for example the use of the word “Embark” which correlates with the fantasy theme of
wicked, inviting the reader of the magazine on a journey or adventure whilst they read it. The choice
of wording makes the reader feel included in the fantasy movie which will attract fans of wicked but
also people who enjoy the fantasy genre too. The choice of the statement “Inside, we take flight” will
appeal to the audience, making them interested in wanting to read what's inside and be included,
“embarking on the journey”. This can lead the viewers to feel compelled to act quickly before the
opportunity slips away. Furthermore, it can create a sense of urgency among consumers. Limited-time
offers or restricted availability can prompt individuals to make impulsive purchases out of fear of
missing out (FOMO). Therefore, this advertisement creates a parasocial style relationship by
presenting Empire as a friendly voice that gives the audience privileged access to celebrities, making
followers feel personally connected to both the brand and the stars featured.
Not only is Wicked featured in the magazine but other topics are too which can open the audience up
to more readers and not just sticking to a certain topic/interest.
Advert 2 - Empire Magazine Youtube
[Link]
E7EF7FA37696ACB74399E7EF&mmscn=stvo&FORM=VIRE
This photo is a screenshot of Empire Magazine’s youtube video that has been uploaded from their
youtube channel, announcing and advertising their new digital magazine. Uploading the content to
Youtube allows Empire to reach a much wider audience than print alone, especially since youtube is
free, shareable and algorithm driven, meaning the video can appear in recommendations even for
users who don't already read Empire.
The title of the posted video reads “Coraline Introduces Laika’s New Wildwood Hero On Empire’s
World-Exclusive Stop-Motion Digital Cover”. When consumers perceive something as exclusive,
they often associate it with higher quality. Consumers are drawn to products that are perceived as rare
or limited, as these items often symbolize a higher social standing so the strategic buzzwords used in
the title of this video, “New” and “World-Exclusive” attract viewers, giving the readers a sense of
privilege and status, leaving them wanting to read more and buy the magazine because it is advertised
as new and exclusive. The advert is very visually appealing as the setting is based in a woodland
giving a mystical, fairy-tale feel which reflects the stop-motion fantasy genre and appeals to fans of
films like Coraline. Including Coraline in the introduction of the clip and in the title taps into an
already established fanbase, increasing clicks through brand recognition and nostalgia. Instead of
directly telling the viewers to buy the magazine, the video shows value by offering exclusive content,
making the audience feel they're gaining something special and also creating a parasocial style
connection with the brand. Overall, by using Youtube, Empire reaches a broader audience and attracts
the target audience while advertising the digital magazine in a way that feels informative, creative,
visually appealing and exclusive, making the audience more likely to engage with the brand.
Advert 3 - Empire Magazine Website
This advert appears on
Empire’s own website, a
space already used by
loyal fans. This reinforces
an ongoing relationship, as
regular visitors feel part of
Empire’s community
rather than casual
consumers. This is an
affective advert because it
promotes a clear offer, “3
issues for £5”, which
attracts the audience by
showing good value for
money. By displaying
multiple magazine covers,
the advert also shows that Empire covers a wide range of film topics and genres, appealing to different
audience interests. This opens Empire up to a broader range of audiences. The strategic, eye grabbing
phrase “Summer Sale” suggests a limited-time offer, creating urgency and encouraging the audience
to act quickly and encouraging impulse buying. Audiences associate sales with discounts and savings,
which can pressure them into purchasing quickly before the deal ends. The season reference also
makes the offer feel timely and relevant, as summer is often linked to leisure time, the audience is
more likely to make quick, impulsive decisions rather than carefully considering the purchase
increasing the likelihood of purchase. The call to action “View Empire Offers” makes the advert more
effective because it encourages immediate interaction without directly pressuring the audience to buy.
The word “View” feels inviting, which makes audiences more likely to click impulsively. Once they
engage, they are exposed to more deals, increasing the chance of a spontaneous purchase.