Analysis of Advertising in The Telecom Industry NEW
Analysis of Advertising in The Telecom Industry NEW
Analysis of Advertising in The Telecom Industry NEW
Business Administration Department, College of Business and Social Sciences, Covenant University
1,2,4
Received: 5th July 2017/ Revised: 18th September 2017/ Accepted: 10th October 2017
How to Cite: Amah, E., Ogunnaike, O. O., Ayeni, A. W., & Ojo, M. (2017). A Thematic Analysis of Advertisement in the
Telecommunication Industry. Binus Business Review, 8(3), 221-228.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21512/bbr.v8i3.3713
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this research was to determine the types of appeals used in telecommunication advertisement,
explain how the themes and appeals used in the advertisement were presented, and see how it could attract
subscribers despite the challenges in the industry. Qualitative content analysis method was used to provide a
thematic analysis of the messages contained in numbers of selected advertisements shown on YouTube, social
media, and television stations in Nigeria. The findings show that the advertisements adopt emotional (love, celebrity
appearance, music, comedy, humor, drama) and rational appeal to persuade the subscribers. Moreover, the themes
of the advertisements focus on accomplishment and improve service regarding call charges, network coverage,
network quality, and customer service. It further shows that these strategies employed by the telecommunication
industry are capable of influencing the choice of the subscribers in the Nigerian market. The research recommends
and concludes that companies should consistently engage the appeals used with more emphasis on the emotional
appeal to retain their size of the market.
Copyright©2017 221
27,7% of people in Africa have approximately 9,3% of products or services, and persuasion was its second
internet users. This shows that the industry is uprising most important function. This means that advertising
and needs consistent reminders about the product to takes two forms, namely informative and persuasive
ensure patronage. This can be adhered majorly through through mass or new media to convince consumers to
advertisement. In addition, support to this sector from make a purchase decision. This is why Mary Hepner
government and customers must be continuous in as cited in Chand (2013) points out that advertisement
all ramifications because it is evident that there are stimulates competition.
contribution and impact from the operators in this According to Nichifor (2014), advertising is
sector (Olugbenro, 2014). based on a range of theories and explanatory models.
Bardi (2010) buttressed that although He further stated that these models and theories
advertising had grown over the years, it was still faced explained how advertising messages were developed,
with challenges. One of the challenges faced by the how it affected the consumers’ behavior and provided
advertising industry in Nigeria is the poor economy. new directions and perspectives of development of the
It reflects in the magnitude of advertisement, but it advertising practice. To this effect, there are various
has a low response to the usage as the customers tend theories of advertising. Those are AIDA model,
to claim the hike in price to solve the problems they DAGMAR model, and Lavidge & Steiners Hierarchy
have. This is done with the insight that low protonates of Effects model.
will increase the company publicity, but with the aid According to Karlsson (2007), the creation of the
of other checked variables, it cannot be realized. DAGMAR model can be traced back to Rusell Colley
According to NAN (2014), the operators’ who prepared a report for the Association of National
feedback as the continuation of poor services as social Advertisers which was titled “defining advertising
problems such as willful damage to telecommunication goals for measured advertising”. It explained the name
infrastructure and epileptic power supply are still of DAGMAR (Belch & Belch, 1995) and in 1969, it
lingering in the country. An example can be related became a book title (Mackay, 2005).
during the recent economic crisis in Nigeria, where Smith and Taylor (2002) in Karlsson
most of the mobile networks experience challenges (2007) suggested that DAGMAR was created to
in service delivery. This makes advertising fairly encourage measurable objectives for each stage of
ineffective and misleading because the services the communication and did not deal purely with the
portrayed in the advertisements do not align with what message. They also stated that focus of DAGMAR
the customers experience. Hence, on this premise, was on the levels of understanding that a customer had
due to the challenges faced by the industries, this to possess for the organization and how the outcomes
research seeks to analyze previous advertisements and of an advertising campaign could be measured (Belch
how it affects the target audience to determine if that & Belch, 1995).
method of delivering company’s message is effective Next, Bhasin (2016) agreed that DAGMAR was
or ineffective, and to see which appeal and theme are a concept used in advertising to set goals and objectives.
more effective. He explained the necessity of setting the goals and
The research examines the various themes objectives to show how return on investment could
and types of appeals employed in some selected be achieved with advertising alone. The DAGMAR
advertisements. It is to ascertain whether they help model was expressed in the four stages as shown in
in consumers’ choice and usage of the network. The Figure 1.
research provides answers to these specific research
questions. First, it is to find out what the types of
appeals are used in telecommunication advertisements.
Second, it is to see what the dominant themes are
drawn from the selected advertisements. Last, it is to
explain how the themes and appeals are used in the
selected advertisements.
It is believed that advertising is as old as a
man. This is why it has been an important institution
of the society. Broadbent (2001) as cited in Olalekan,
Babatunde, and Ishola (2015) defined advertising as
a paid communication to more than one person and
was intended to inform or change behavior. According
to Nwankwo, Aboh, Obi, Agu, and Syndney-Agbor
(2013), companies often hope that their advertisement
which delivers a message about company’s product
and services, people will purchase it. It is usually the
case because the advertisement is a kind of persuasive
communication.
Similarly, Terkan (2014) indicated that
Figure 1 DAGMAR MODEL
advertising was to inform and remind consumers of