Impact of Advertisement: Are Brands Creating Influence or Noise?

Brands today spend heavy amounts on advertising, and yet most consumers forget the ad within three seconds. 

Crazy, right? Unfortunately, that’s how fast people scroll today. 

Now this brings us to the real question, which is not “how much should you spend on Ads?” but “whether or not it’s creating any genuine impact?”

Let’s break down the actual impact of advertising on consumers’ behaviour and how brands can create campaigns that actually spark change. 

What Has Changed in Consumers’ Responding to Advertising?

The current audience is very different from even just five years ago

• They scroll more quickly and skip ads without a second thought. 
• Most ads look or sound the same. 
• Trust in brands has shifted to everyday users and communities.
• Messaging should be emotional and connecting, rather than loud and abrasive. 

These changes significantly impact modern creative advertising strategies, which directly affect whether a brand stays memorable or gets ignored. 

Why Do Many Ads End Up Creating Noise Instead of Value?

Making your ad reach the audience is not the same as influencing them. Many ads fail because:

• Too many brands are competing for attention, all at once. 
• Messages get lost because they feel predictable and repetitive. 
• Ads lack personal or emotional relevance. 

This creates your brand visibility, but without a meaning. In other words, a loud message without any real impact.

So, What Does Real “Impact” in Advertising Mean?

Real impact cannot be calculated from impressions or views, as it is more about:

• Being remembered without reminders. 
• Changing consumer perspective and how they feel.
• Provokes small moments of reflection or action. 
• Staying in the mind long after the ad ends. 

The true impact of advertising is through emotions and memory, not metrics. This is where a brand storytelling approach makes a big difference. 

Can We See an Indian Ad That Created Real Impact?

Yes, Swiggy’s #WhatsInAName campaign is a strong example, 

The ad showed a story of a delivery partner whose actual name was ”Swiggy”, and people kept joking that he must work for the company. Using humour, Swiggy highlighted a meaningful fact that delivery partners have real names and real identities too. 

The message was simple; instead of referring to the delivery partner as “Swiggy Bhaiya”, use their actual names, which are shown in the app. 

This idea led to a high sense of awareness, respect, and engagement throughout India. 

That’s the impact of advertising: even a small message can lead to a shift in consumer behavior.

How Can Brands Create Advertising That Actually Makes an Impact?

Creating impact doesn’t require a lot of money. It requires a clear objective. 

• Tell a story that people can relate to. 
• Use basic human insights. 
• Target a specific audience, not everyone. 
• Skip complicated scripts, keep it clean and to the point. 
• Maintain the same tone everywhere. 

Honesty and clarity will have a greater impact than any other big-budget shoot. 

Are Brands Measuring the Right Things When They Analyse Ads?

Metrics like impressions, clicks, and reach don’t reveal the actual influence. 

More useful measurements would be:

• Recall: Did it stick in your audience’s memory?
• Emotion: Did it evoke a feeling?
• Perception: Did it improve trust or understanding?

Just because someone saw an ad, doesn’t mean it impacted them. 

What Should Brands Focus On Going Forward?

The future belongs to simple, meaningful connections:

• Emotional messages.
• Honest, real stories.
• Consistency over loud noises.
• Relevance over reach.

At the end of the day, real impact in ads comes from ideas that feel human, not those that shout the loudest.

How Do We Bring It All Together?

Ads don’t fail because of small budget pockets. They fail because they are mediocre.  

But when an ad makes someone stop, smile, think, or care – that’s real impact. 

And that kind of impact is priceless in this overcrowded digital world. 

For brands that want to move beyond the chaos, the right digital marketing services for brands can help in transforming plain concepts into ideas that help build real influence

Looking for Advertising That Creates Real Impact?

At Brandshark, one of the best digital marketing agency in Bangalore, the focus is on advertising that goes beyond the noise to help brands build memorable campaigns. Whether it’s through strong storytelling, clear messaging, or smart execution, we bring together website design and development services, social media marketing services, and creative strategy to deliver work that truly connects.

Let’s work together to make an impact with your next campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do people forget ads so quickly today?

Most people scroll fast, skip ads, or multitask while watching content. Because attention is low and ads look similar, only a few messages actually stay in the mind.

2. Does spending more money on ads guarantee better impact?

Not really. A big budget can increase reach, but impact comes from the idea. Even a simple ad with a human insight can create stronger recall than an expensive shoot.

3. What makes an ad truly memorable?

Ads stick when they feel relatable, emotional or honest. People remember stories, not features. A single strong message often performs better than a long script.

4. Why do many digital ads feel repetitive or boring?

Because brands follow trends instead of understanding people. When every ad uses the same format or tone, nothing stands out, and everything feels forgettable.

5. How can brands measure the real impact of advertisement?

They should look at recall, perception and emotional response, not just clicks or impressions. If people talk about the ad or remember it later, it has real impact.