Microsoft has launched a test in Canada on an innovative advertising gimmick called NUads on the Xbox live.  NUads allows people to interact with the ad by answering short questions or filling out questionnaires. This new strategy has been proven to be quite successful.  Xbox’s ads have a much higher click-through rate than any other online banner ads, and people are willing to spend more time absorbing the information presented.

This is a great way to obtain direct feedback from customers as well as advertise a product.  Unlike the normal old passive ads that can only influence a consumer through repetition and time, the NUad engages the subject perceptually and intellectually.  The information presented is thoroughly processed by the subject on the first time they interact with the ad, whereas traditional ads need to be shown again and again to the consumer in order to be impactful.  However, filling out questionnaires may not be the best method to use on the Xbox because people would usually expect something that is more exciting and engaging when they are playing video games.  I suggest incorporating ideas from video games into the ads so that gamers will find the ads less monotonous.

Video of the interative ad: Interactive TV Ads on Xbox Live

Works Cited:

“Microsoft Xbox ads go interactive.”The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/microsoft-xbox-ads-go-interactive/article4568297/>.

“Interactive TV Ads on Xbox LIVE – Cannes Lions – Microsoft Advertising.”Online Advertising and Digital Marketing solutions – Microsoft Advertising – US. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://advertising.microsoft.com/video-gallery/view-video?uuid=24aabe25-94cf-532a-cbb8-d6f8dda23025>.