PSAs... A form of Advertising

With the holiday season coming up, I have noticed that several companies have released Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in an effort to extend their concern, or brand, into the conscious of individuals. I have noticed them in the form of t.v. commercials, radio commercials, and billboards.

Prior and throughout the holiday seasons, you will see various alcoholic beverage companies asking individuals to not drink in drive, tobacco companies promoting not smoking, billboards from the Dept of Public Safety asking individuals if they are ready for the holiday rush driving season, and now I am beginning to see Verizon launching a "Don't text and drive" advertising campaign. As I was searching the internet, I came across a creative PSA that was not in the traditional servicing method. In Romania, a company placed a "road" with a dotted line in the men's urinals to see if they can "drive a straight line," with the intention of creating the message that if you can not relieve yourself in a straight line, you sure cannot drive one (see below).


I have began to notice, even with myself, that as a consumer if you realize that the company is out for your own best interest despite profit interest, you will be more likely to become loyal to that brand and they even may become part of your evoked set. But even more benefit to the company by creating a PSA is the free advertisements that they receive. By creating an advertising campaign based upon the "announcements regarded as serving community interests" and not the promotional aspect of a company, a company is able to gain brand awareness in the form of little to no cost.