The 3 Main Types of Commercials 

By Webmaster

  • The 3 Main Types of Commercials 

    Commercial actors can benefit from understanding the distinctions

    (by Javier Guerra)


    A commercial is a commercial is a commercial. They’re all the same, right? Except, they are not.

  • Advertisers use different strategies and techniques to sell their products, based on the objective they wish to achieve. For instance, the company’s goal might be to help consumers understand how to use their product. Or, the goal might be to show how their product can solve a customer’s unique problem or how it can improve their lives. Commercial actors can benefit from understanding these distinctions.

    Understanding what type of commercial you are auditioning for helps you plot a winning strategy to book the role.

  • Here are the three main types of commercials you might audition for:

    #1: Spokesperson


    A spokesperson spot is just as the title suggests. A brand will choose an actor or celebrity to be their spokesperson for that spot and, possibly, for future spots. In this type of commercial, the goal is relatability. The advertiser usually seeks an actor with a friendly, trustworthy face; one that its target audience can relate to, identify with and be influenced by.

    Think of some of the “characters” you’ve seen in television, like “Jake” from the State Farm commercials, “Flo” from the Progressive Insurance spots or the “Can you hear me now?” guy from the Verizon Wireless commercials. These could all be classified as spokesperson spots.

    Testimonials 

    Testimonials are another form of a spokesperson spot. In a testimonial, an advertiser will use an actor or, in some cases, a real person who will “testify” that they have used the company’s products and have seen a dramatic improvement in their quality of life.

    Testimonials are one of the more effective ways to advertise, even when the person giving the “testimony” is a paid actor reading from a script, as long as the testimony is believed to be authentic.

  • #2: Problem/Solution 

    In a Problem/Solution spot, the advertiser’s goal is to demonstrate how their product can solve a specific problem better than their competitors.

    The advertiser introduces a specific problem that many people in its target audience can recognize as a problem they experience in their own lives. Then, the advertiser demonstrates to the audience exactly how their product can solve this problem effectively.

    An example of this would be a paper towel commercial. An actress attempts to wipe up a spill made by her new baby. She wipes and wipes, using the inferior brand, yet the spill is not absorbed. But when she uses, say, Brawny paper towels, the spill is quickly absorbed and her problem is solved.

  • #3: Slice-of-Life 

    In a slice-of-life commercial, the advertiser’s goal is to tell a believable story while demonstrating how their product can make a real difference in people’s real lives.

    In slice-of-life commercials, actors often don’t have speaking roles. Instead, a narrator speaks while the actors go about their make-believe lives, which are improved thanks to their use of the advertiser’s product or service.

    Pharmaceutical companies and automobile companies use this type of spot to great effect. A narrator introduces a new line of Ford trucks, for example, while a relatable actor uses the vehicle in real-life situations, such as hauling wood or driving off-road.


    Understanding these distinctions will help you strategize what to emphasize, what to wear, what to say and how to say it.


    Understanding the type of commercial you are auditioning for, and understanding what the advertiser hopes to achieve, can help give you a better understanding of how to approach your audition.

    You might, for instance, make an extra effort to be well-groomed, likeable and relatable when auditioning for a spokesperson spot. Or, you might plan to be super enthusiastic about the brand’s ability to solve your problem, when auditioning for a problem/solution spot.

    Understanding these distinctions will help you strategize what to emphasize, what to wear, what to say and how to say it.


  • You Might Also Like:
    How to Sell Yourself in 10 Seconds or Less


     

    Recommended Posts

  • Ad

  • Who is the actor in the Jeep commercial?

    Who is the actor in the Jeep commercial? Inside the story of Hollywood legend Harrison Ford starring in Jeep’s Super Bowl “Owner’s Manual” ad (By Carmichael Phillip) A Legendary Face Delivers a Simple…

    Who Is the Bald Guy in the Farmers Commercials?

    Who Is the Bald Guy in the Farmers Commercials? Unveiling the actor behind the iconic “We know a thing or two…” campaign (By Carmichael Phillip) Introduction: That Familiar, Bald-Faced Trusted Voice If you’ve…

    Are Kevin Miles and Patrick Mahomes friends?

    Are Kevin Miles and Patrick Mahomes friends? A playful bromance born in State Farm commercials that has spilled into real‑life camaraderie (By Carmichael Phillip) An Unlikely Buddies: Jake and the MVP Kevin Miles,…

    Is Jason Momoa in the Mountain Dew commercial?

    Is Jason Momoa in the Mountain Dew commercial? Unpacking the viral rumor of Aquaman’s cameo in the Mountain Dew “Mountain Dude” campaign (By Carmichael Phillip) Intro: A Man in Green Sparks a Celebrity…

    Who Is the Guy in the Green Coat in the New Mountain Dew Commercial?

    Who Is the Guy in the Green Coat in the New Mountain Dew Commercial? Meet the Mountain Dude: Mountain Dew’s buzzy new mascot bringing fun, adventure, and fur. (By Carmichael Phillip) Introduction to…

  • Ad

  • Whose tongue is in the Super Bowl commercial?

    Whose tongue is in the Super Bowl commercial? The quirky Coffee‑Mate spot with a singing, dancing tongue—here’s who brought it to life (By Carmichael Phillip) 1. A tongue steals the show As viewers…

    Why did they switch Jake from State Farm?

    Why did they switch Jake from State Farm? The real story behind the iconic character’s facelift—and what it reveals about branding, diversity, and marketing strategy (By Carmichael Phillip) 1. Who was the original…

    How much does Subway pay Patrick Mahomes?

    How much does Subway pay Patrick Mahomes? A look into the NFL superstar’s Subway deal and what it reveals about athlete marketing (By Carmichael Phillip) 1. Patrick Mahomes: Subway’s latest quarterback recruit Patrick…

  • Ad

  • Who was the Seal in the Super Bowl commercial?

    Who was the Seal in the Super Bowl commercial? The singer turns into a seal—here’s the wild story behind Mountain Dew’s biggest ad of the year (By Carmichael Phillip) 1. The surreal seal…

    Who is the guy in the Black Ops 6 commercial?

    Who is the guy in the Black Ops 6 commercial? The man stepping in so you can step out—meet The Replacer (By Carmichael Phillip)   1. Enter The Replacer: a Call of Duty…

    Who is the Guy in the Mac Commercial?

    Who is the Guy in the Mac Commercial? From Justin Long to the Newest Faces—Uncovering the Man Behind Apple’s Latest Mac Ads (By Carmichael Phillip) The Man Behind the Icon: Justin Long, “I’m…

    How Much Does State Farm Pay Patrick Mahomes?

    How Much Does State Farm Pay Patrick Mahomes? Breaking Down the Multi-Million Dollar Partnership Between the NFL Superstar and America’s Favorite Insurance Brand (By Carmichael Phillip) Image Source: State Farm / YouTube The…

    Who is the Guy in the Sierra Ads?

    Who is the Guy in the Sierra Ads? Unveiling the Outdoorsy Charmer Who’s Becoming the Unexpected Star of Sierra’s Commercials (By Carmichael Phillip) Image Source: Sierra / TJX Companies What is Sierra, and…

  • Ad

  • Who is the Guy in the Ultra Commercial?

    Who is the Guy in the Ultra Commercial? Unmasking the Chill, Charismatic Man Behind the Michelob Ultra Ads (By Carmichael Phillip) Image Source: Michelob ULTRA / YouTube The Rise of the Michelob ULTRA…

    Who are the 10 Most Popular Commercial Actors From Iconic Catchphrases to National Fame: The Faces You Know But Might Not Know By Name (By Carmichael Phillip) 1. Stephanie Courtney – The Woman…

    How much does Capital One Bank Guy make?

    How much does Capital One Bank Guy make? Behind the scenes of advertising pay: the Capital One “Bank Guy” salary revealed (By Carmichael Phillip) Who Is the Capital One Bank Guy? The clean-cut,…

  • Ad

  • Who is the big guy in the MT Dew commercial?

    Who is the big guy in the MT Dew commercial? Unearthing the towering figure behind the Mountain Dew “Mountain Dude” craze (By Carmichael Philip)** Introducing the “Mountain Dude” The towering, fur‑coated figure climbing cliffs, sipping…

    Who is the guy in the Hanes commercial?

    Who is the guy in the Hanes commercial? Unveiling the charismatic star of Hanes’ “Ball‑ance” underwear ads (By Carmichael Phillip) Meet Tony Cavalero, a.k.a. “Hans” The energetic actor featured in the popular Hanes “Ball‑ance” campaigns…

    Who is the guy in the Truly commercial?

    Who is the guy in the Truly commercial? Unmasking the face of your favorite hard seltzer ad (By Carmichael Phillip)   Meet Keegan‑Michael Key: The Star of Truly The charismatic face you keep seeing in Truly Hard Seltzer ads…

    Who is the Famous Infomercial Actor?

    Who is the Famous Infomercial Actor? The unforgettable faces behind the “As Seen on TV” revolution (By Carmichael Phillip) The King of Infomercials: Billy Mays When discussing famous infomercial actors, one name stands…

    Who is the Actress in the Vaseline Lotion Commercial?

    Who is the Actress in the Vaseline Lotion Commercial? Exploring the Faces Behind Vaseline’s Iconic Skincare Campaigns (By Carmichael Phillip) Introduction: A Glimpse into Vaseline’s Skincare Campaigns Vaseline, a brand synonymous with skin…

  • Ad