When Subtlety is not Your Strong Point

Most of the time consumers want marketing to be just a little bit coy. We like things that make us think a little. Cleverness, done correctly, is interesting. Subtlety is fun and entertaining. Innuendo is okay, even encouraged most of the time. Hitting us over the head with your, um, somewhat crude message will get you very little … except maybe some scorn.

Burger King is entering the scorn territory with its new Super Seven Incher Ad. If they meant to hint, they, ahem, blew it.

Image: Burger King

While sex may sell, who exactly is Burger King trying to sell to with this ad? If it’s women, they miss the mark with likening this sandwich to the male anatomy and a certain, shall we say, sexual act. And if they want to sell to (heterosexual) men, do they really think guys will relish putting something like that (with all that it implies) in their mouths?

Seriously, Burger King. Between the words (blow, fill, juicy, yearn) and the image of a woman with her mouth wide open, could you hit us over the head any harder?

What do you think of the ad? Clever? Trying too hard? A little bit tasteless? Let us know.