Aviva: Why we launched our hard-hitting IP TV campaign
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Most Money Marketing readers will now be aware of our latest initiative to raise awareness of protection.
If you watched the first episode of Downton Abbey on Sunday you will have seen our idents – the short adverts either side of the ad breaks – which told the story of real-life Aviva income protection customer Gary as he recovered from a motorcycling injury.
Gary sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident which meant that he could no longer continue to do his job as an engineer. His policy provided him with an income while he was unable to work, and enabled him to retrain for another profession while continuing to receive an income from Aviva.
If you haven’t seen them, feel free to check them out at www.thedramacontinues.co.uk.
You might also be aware that they’ve created quite a bit of noise throughout the industry. Some people are asking if our approach was right to show such a “depressing” story in the midst of this much-loved family drama?
We are no stranger to debate in the protection space. This time last year we thought long and hard about how we could get more people to consider life insurance. The resulting ‘ghost dad’ is still one of the most talked about ads among the financial services industry.
While it prompted quite a variety of views at the time we still feel our approach was right – and we feel the same about our latest campaign.
We gave great consideration to the subject matter before we launched these idents. We’re aware that the approach we’ve taken is a bit different to the norm, but it’s important to us to reflect reality. The stories specifically show how the lives of everyday people can suddenly take a dramatic turn, but that financial support can help in their hour of need.
We want to help consumers protect themselves and we want to help advisers to be able to engage with their clients too.
We worked very closely with Gary, the customer behind Sunday’s story, to ensure that his case was handled as sensitively as possible, with the care and consideration people expect from Aviva.
We understand some viewers didn’t like the idents but we would welcome industry ideas on how we can find a way to raise these difficult subjects…
You can also see Gary’s his story in his own words through the above link.
Sue Helmont is head of brand at Aviva
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Readers' comments (15)
Anonymous | 20 Sep 2011 9:33 am
I think it's great you're doing this, and infinitely prefer using real people to Paul Whitehouse in a variety of Dick Emery style get-ups. Where you went wrong was choosing Downton Abbey. On a Sunday, millions of people in the UK want to settle down and watch inoffensive, fluffy drama from a bygone era. Shocking them back into real life 4 times and hour is obviously going to upset them, regardless of the message you're trying to get across.
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John Gould | 20 Sep 2011 9:40 am
I liked it. Anyway, what's wrong with a little bit of reality in the middle of some mindless fluff on a Sunday evening? ;)
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Steven Farrall | 20 Sep 2011 9:45 am
As I never watch any rubbish like Dowton Abbey, I did not see the ad. But anything any insurer does to show how anyone can buy suitable cover for very little money is a Good Thing. But, and it is a very big but, as Aviva and the like are private businesses they are now not in competition with each other but with the nanny state. All those lovely pointless bureaucrats are desperate to retain their pointless jobs and are going Hell for leather in trying to prove that they can provide universal benefits for everyone all at someone elses expense. Berks.
Best of luck with that Aviva.
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Nick Bamford | 20 Sep 2011 10:03 am
I am not sure that an episode of Downton Abbey showing battle scenes and the carnage of the First World War together a story line of a 100 maimed and wounded soldiers being hospitalised at the Lord of the Manor's residence can be described as a "fluffy drama"
Oh oh I think I have just "outed" myself as someone who watched it!!!
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Anonymous | 20 Sep 2011 10:42 am
Anytthing that makes people aware of the need for Income Protection cover is important and beneficial
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Whitebeard | 20 Sep 2011 11:16 am
I never realised people actually watched the adverts!!
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Anonymous | 20 Sep 2011 11:22 am
I thought it was a tasteless advert badly produced and reflects extremely poorly on Aviva.
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Mark | 20 Sep 2011 12:29 pm
@ Steven Farrrall - go check your state benefit tables.
Anyone still calling it the 'nanny state' needs a new script writer, and needs to get their head out of the clouds.
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Mark Myers CEO British Friendly | 20 Sep 2011 12:38 pm
The most important thing is to tackle the apathy which sees fewer people taking out this important protection year after year.
Many will disagree with the style and timing, but I say well done Aviva for creating the stir and keep doing it
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gaazza | 20 Sep 2011 12:49 pm
To 'Anonymous' posting at 11.22 am.
You don't work for the FSA do you??
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