"The Lost Dog"

Three years may seem like a long time for a commercial to last, but MasterCard found a way to make it work. Each 30-second commercial premiering once a year during the superbowl, one was able to feel connected to the story of “the lost dog.” It was a genius way of advertising that kept people wondering what would happen or if the dog will ever return home, all while keeping the brand “MasterCard” trapped in their minds.

This commercial’s target audience was geared towards middle-class families. Many families go on fun road trips to connect with each other, and if they have a dog, you better believe he’s coming too! This would appeal to the families that have a sense of their lives being similar to the one in the commercial. Although they are on a family vacation, it’s easy to get wrapped up in whatever you’re doing (in this case the family is taking a family picture.) We are all familiar with the MasterCard advertisement slogan, “priceless” and this commercial was a clever way to expand on it.

Many people could view this ad and be touched, simply because we can all relate to the feeling when something that is very important to us becomes lost. I love how instead of showing how the family felt, the commercials took a journey with the Badger. You want Badger to make it home, and when he finally does, you can feel the excitement with the family.