The Mercedes Chicken Ad: When Viral Marketing Ruffles Luxury Feathers
When Mercedes-Benz released their "Chicken" advertisement featuring chickens dancing to Diana Ross while demonstrating their Magic Body Control suspension system in 2013, they created more than just a viral moment - they sparked a fascinating case study in automotive marketing, competitor response, and brand positioning.
The Creative Concept and Its Impact
Created by German agency Jung von Matt/Neckar, the advertisement took a unique approach to demonstrating Mercedes' sophisticated suspension technology. By showing chickens maintaining perfectly stable heads while their bodies moved to music, the ad created an entertaining parallel to how the Magic Body Control system works in Mercedes vehicles.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Over 26 million views across social media platforms
- Winner of Auto Express's "Best Car Ad of the Year" with 51% of reader votes
- Generated significant organic social media buzz and discussion
The Criticism: Entertainment vs. Value Proposition
Despite its viral success, the advertisement faced several legitimate criticisms:
1. Product Information Gap: The ad prioritized entertainment over clearly explaining the technology's benefits to drivers. While viewers remembered the dancing chickens, the meaning behind this was lost on some, who struggled to connect this to the actual value of the suspension system. Personally, to me, it was clever and cheeky and more related to their value proposition than the Jaguar advertisement.
2. Brand Alignment Concerns: Critics argued that the whimsical nature of dancing chickens didn't align with Mercedes' prestigious brand image. The luxury automotive sector typically emphasizes sophistication and engineering excellence - elements that some felt were overshadowed by the advertisement's playful approach. Again, we might be splitting hairs here and bordering on being snobbish with this line of thinking.
3. Originality Concerns: The concept wasn't entirely new, as FujiFilm had previously used chicken head stability to demonstrate their camera stabilization technology. This raised questions about creative integrity in advertising. This to me is the biggest issue though some might argue that it’s similar to using say a fast-running animal to demonstrate speed, which is quite common. Chickens in this case, is rarely used in that context.
The Jaguar Response: A Lesson in Competitive Marketing
Ironically, Jaguar came up with its own ad to show a Jaguar eating the chicken. Their response ad, showing a jaguar eating the chicken and promoting "cat-like reflexes," achieved approximately 2 million views - significantly less than Mercedes' original. Jaguar's attempt to capitalize on Mercedes' viral moment provides interesting insights into competitive marketing dynamics.
This disparity in engagement highlights an important marketing principle: derivative content, even when clever, rarely achieves the same impact as the original. Ironically, Jaguar's response may have actually reinforced Mercedes' market position by drawing more attention to the original campaign.
Critical Lessons for Brands
1. Balance Entertainment with Brand Messaging
- Viral potential shouldn't overshadow core brand values
- Complex features need clear, compelling value communication
- Entertainment should enhance, not replace, product understanding
2. Brand Consistency Matters
- Even successful viral content needs to align with brand positioning
- Luxury brands can maintain their sophisticated image without losing their creativity and sense of humour
- Innovation in advertising shouldn't compromise brand identity
3. Competitive Responses
- Response campaigns need strong independent value propositions
- Timing and execution are crucial for competitive marketing
- Simply riding on a competitor's success rarely yields equal results
4. Ethics and PR
- Mercedes' transparency about animal welfare (the chickens were well-cared for and even laid eggs during filming) added positive PR
value
- Ethical considerations can enhance campaign success
- Behind-the-scenes positivity can create additional marketing opportunities
Conclusion
The Mercedes "Chicken" advertisement represents both the opportunities and challenges of viral marketing in the luxury sector. While it achieved remarkable reach and engagement, it also raises important questions about brand alignment and value proposition communication.
For marketers, this case study demonstrates that viral success alone doesn't guarantee effective brand communication. The key lies in finding the sweet spot between entertainment value and brand message - a balance that becomes increasingly crucial as brands compete for attention in the digital age.
The campaign's legacy serves as a reminder that even highly successful viral content should be evaluated against broader brand strategy goals. As the consumer industry continues to evolve, maintaining this balance between innovation in marketing and brand consistency will become ever more critical for success.
Curious about the Mercedes chicken ad versus the Fujifilm ad? Watch them here for yourself:
- Mercedes
- FujiFilm
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Citations:
https://digitalsynopsis.com/advertising/mercedes-benz-chicken-magic-body-control/
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/mercedes-chicken-crowned-best-car-ad-year-auto-express/1303871
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15368820/mercedes-benz-chicken-magic-body-control-commercial-a-pluckin-rip-off-the-ad-section/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mercedes-benzs-chicken-ad-dancing-feathers-stability-yash-dixit-9mk3f
https://blogs.ubc.ca/ian0623/2013/10/10/mercedes-benz-magic-body-control/
https://www.branding.news/2020/11/05/tbt-whats-the-resemblance-between-a-mercedes-car-and-a-chicken/
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/mercedes-uses-disco-chickens-prove-driving-comfort/1213633
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mercedes-benz-new-campaign-demonstrates-chickens-steady-head/articleshow/23768861.cms
https://www.cars.com/articles/jaguar-spoofs-mercedes-chicken-ad-1420663037124/
