In a shocking ad aired during a commercial break on ‘American Idol,’ Domino’s CEO David Brandon tosses a cease-and-desist letter from the Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust into the pizza oven. The ad has since gone viral, and there’s even a place on the Domino’s website where you can torch your own letter.
Let’s back up a bit. In December, Domino’s launched a taste-test campaign that claimed customers preferred Domino’s subs over those served up at Subway 2:1. Subway responded quickly, voicing their concern over how those results were obtained and the fairness of their product comparison.
In the viral ‘American Idol’ ad, Domino’s CEO David Brandon declares confidently, “Everything’s better when it’s oven-baked,” before sending the letter into the pizza oven. “Let’s roll the commercial,” he continues.
Check out the commercial that incited the firestorm during ‘American Idol’ below.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- CEO Brand Rivalry
- Innovative CEOs can leverage brand rivalry to create viral marketing campaigns that generate free publicity.
- Viral Marketing Videos
- Businesses can create viral marketing campaigns using short videos highlighting their product superiority compared to competitors' products.
- User-generated Content
- Companies can encourage customers to create and share user-generated content by providing platforms for them to do so, increasing brand visibility and loyalty.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fast Food
- There is a potential for fast-food restaurants to leverage viral marketing to reach a larger audience and communicate with their core customers more effectively.
- Advertising
- Innovative viral marketing strategies can revolutionize advertising by creating low-cost and high-impact marketing campaigns that engage customers and build brand awareness.
- Technology
- Social media platforms can be used to leverage viral marketing campaigns that create opportunities for businesses to build brand awareness and loyalty among social media users.
