At Frame Makerzzz, we’ve seen the magic that a well-shot ad film can do for a brand. From animated explainer videos that make techy things feel like child’s play to emotionally-packed corporate films that tug at heartstrings — we’ve been in the front row of the advertising show.

But here’s the big question:

Is advertising good or bad for your brand?

Should you spend your budget on it? Or are there better ways to get noticed? 

First — What Even Counts as Advertising?

If your brand pays to place a message — be it on YouTube, Instagram, billboards, or TV — that’s advertising. From influencer shoutouts to animated TVCs (our favourite), it’s all about grabbing attention for a price.

But is that attention good? Effective? Trustworthy? Let’s find out.

Let’s weigh the pros and cons of advertising, and decide if your brand should whisper, yell, or simply dance on reels.

The Top Advantages of Advertising: 

• Brand Awareness Through Advertising? Off the Charts!

You can’t sell what people don’t know exists. One of the biggest advantages of advertising is its power to spread awareness like wildfire.

Example: Remember when Zomato plastered metro stations and airports with witty one-liners? You couldn’t escape the red and white posters — and suddenly, everyone had the app on their phone.

That’s advertising effectiveness in action.

Did you know that according to Statista, global digital ad spending hit $627 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $836 billion by 2026? Clearly, businesses aren’t investing in ads just for fun. 

• Full Control Over Message, Tone, and Timing: 

Advertising gives you total control over:

• What you say
• How you say it
• Where and when it appears

Example:

Amul’s print ads — for over 50 years, this brand has controlled the narrative with topical, witty billboard advertising. Every week, they say exactly what they want — and millions tune in.

You can’t pull that off with just earned media. 

• Immediate Visibility and Action: 

Need quick wins? Ads deliver. Run a Google campaign in the morning, and get leads by afternoon.

Example: 

Swiggy Instamart’s “30 minutes or free” campaign was a masterstroke. Bold banners, Instagram ads, and YouTube pre-rolls created urgency — and skyrocketed app downloads.

Advertising drives quick awareness, especially when time is money. 

• Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS) You Can Measure: 

Unlike word-of-mouth or organic growth, advertising effectiveness is trackable. You can measure how many rupees you’ve earned for every rupee spent.

Example: D2C brand Sugar Cosmetics scaled up using paid ads with a killer ROAS, which they track in real-time.

But Wait… Here Are the Disadvantages of Advertising: 

Let’s not get starry-eyed. There are real drawbacks of advertising that you should think about before you throw your budget into it.

• The Cost of Advertising Can Burn a Hole (Fast): 

A 30-second ad during IPL 2023 cost brands over ₹14–18 lakhs per spot. Add production, editing, and agency fees, and you’re looking at crores. 

Great if you’re Coca-Cola. Not so great if you’re a bootstrapped startup.

Many small businesses burn budgets on ads without seeing the promised returns. That’s why we always ask: Is advertising worth the investment for YOU?

• Ad Fatigue Is Real — and Brutal: 

Raise your hand if you’ve skipped a YouTube ad in under 2 seconds. Exactly.

You see the same ad five times a day — and suddenly, even a great product becomes annoying. 

Example: Dream11’s constant IPL ads. Effective? Yes. But by week 3, most viewers had muted it. Overexposure kills excitement.

That’s why smart brands rotate creatives, tweak messaging, and use ad frequency capping — things we help clients with all the time. 

• Trust Issues — People Know It’s a Paid Message: 

Consumers are smart. They know when they’re being sold to — and sometimes, they tune out.

Example:

YouTube skippable ads. 90% of viewers hit “Skip” in under 5 seconds. Unless your ad is super engaging, you’re spending money just to get ignored.

People trust earned media and peer reviews more than paid ads. That’s just human nature. 

• Ethical Issues in Advertising Are a Minefield: 

False claims, cultural insensitivity, or tone-deaf messaging can backfire — and badly.

Example:

Kent RO’s 2020 ad suggested housemaids are unhygienic and can’t bake bread. The backlash was instant and severe. The ad was pulled, and the brand had to apologise.

Misreading consumer behaviour and advertising responses can lead to more harm than good.

Types of Advertising and Their Impact: 

Not all advertising is created equal. Depending on your audience, budget, and message, the type of advertising you choose can make or break your campaign. So before you go blowing your marketing budget on a one-size-fits-nobody solution, let’s break down the major types of advertising and their impact — with real data and real results. 

• Television Advertising – The Big Screen Powerhouse: 

Example: Coca-Cola’s 2023 World Cup ads kept them front and centre.

Stat: TV reaches 900M+ viewers in India (BARC).

Merit: Massive reach, strong brand recall.

Demerit: Very expensive — both production and media buying can cost crores.

• Digital Advertising – The Data-Driven Darling: 

From Google Ads to Instagram Reels, this is where the action is — hyper-targeted, trackable, and adjustable in real-time.

Example: Zomato’s meme-based Insta ads = viral + sales.

Stat: GroupM’s 2023 forecast reveals that digital ad spending in India is growing at 20% annually, projected to surpass TV by 2024.

Merit: Precise targeting and real-time tracking make every rupee accountable.

Demerit: Highly competitive — CPCs (cost-per-click) are rising, and ad fatigue is real.

• Outdoor Advertising (OOH) – The Street-Level Stunner: 

Think big billboards, metro ads, and flashy digital screens — designed to make people stop, stare, and (hopefully) remember.

Example: Spotify’s metro station takeovers in Delhi and Mumbai used witty taglines tailored to local habits — a smart blend of location and humour.

Stat: EY’s 2023 M&E report states that OOH ad revenue in India surged by 33% post-pandemic as urban mobility returned to normal.

Merit: Great for brand visibility and repetition in high-traffic areas.

Demerit: Limited targeting and zero performance tracking — can’t tell who saw it or cared. 

• Influencer Advertising – The Trust Magnet: 

Influencers speak the language of their tribe — and if your brand fits their tone, the results can be magical.

Example: Boat Lifestyle collaborated with music influencers and athletes, helping them become India’s top audio brand without traditional ads.

Stat: According to INCA, influencer marketing in India grew 25% in 2023, with 49% of consumers trusting influencers over brand ads (Nielsen, 2023).

Merit: High trust and relatability — especially among Gen Z and millennials.

Demerit: Risk of misalignment or controversy if the influencer goes off-brand (or off the rails).

• Search Engine Advertising (Google Ads) – The Intent Hunter: 

People searching for “best headphones under ₹2000” are already in the buying mood. Search ads catch them right there.

Example: Flipkart’s keyword strategy during Big Billion Days made sure anyone searching for gadgets saw their deals first.

Stat: Google India’s data says that search ads deliver an average ROAS of 4:1, making it a top pick for high-intent targeting.

Merit: Catch users at the moment of intent, which boosts conversions.

Demerit: Can get expensive quickly, especially for competitive keywords.

• Video Advertising – The King of Engagement: 

Whether it’s a 6-second YouTube bumper or a 60-second emotional ad film, video sells with feelings.

Example: CRED’s viral ads during IPL (Rahul Dravid as “Indiranagar ka Gunda”) were video ads with cinematic flair. They built brand equity even before users understood what the app did.

Stat: Meta reports that video ads deliver 80% higher recall and 120% more engagement than static formats (2023).

Merit: Emotionally compelling and memorable — perfect for storytelling and product demos.

Demerit: Higher production cost and time — mediocre video = wasted spend.

• Email Advertising – The ROI Overachiever: 

It may not be glamorous, but email ads — when done right — deliver serious results.

Example: Nykaa’s personalised emails nudge customers with abandoned carts, special birthday offers, and sale alerts, driving repeat purchases.

Stat: According to Litmus’ 2023 report, email delivers an average ROI of ₹295 for every ₹8 spent — that’s a 36:1 return.

Merit: Personalised, automated, and cost-effective.

Demerit: Can feel spammy if not segmented well or sent too often.

• In-App & Programmatic Advertising – The Smart Automation Play: 

These ads follow users across apps and websites, targeting them based on behaviour, location, and interests — all handled by AI.

Example: In 2023, Swiggy used programmatic ads to target users browsing food apps around mealtimes, offering timely discounts like “Too tired to cook? Order now!”

Stat: Global programmatic ad spending hit $567 billion in 2023 (eMarketer).

Merit: Highly targeted and scalable — minimal manual effort, maximum precision.

Demerit: Privacy restrictions can limit tracking and personalisation.

How Does Advertising Influence People?

More than you think. A great ad doesn’t just sell — it shapes perception.

• It can make your product look premium (even if it’s not).
• It can shift buyer decisions in seconds.
• It can make someone feel FOMO, joy, nostalgia, or even rage.

Effects of advertising on customer decisions? Huge. Emotional storytelling is often more effective than logic.

And yes, that’s exactly what we do with our videos at Frame Makerzzz — tap into emotions to make people care, share, and click “Buy Now.” 

Is Advertising Good or Bad For Businesses?

Let’s simplify this into a chart — because charts are awesome. 

Pros	Cons
Boosts sales & ROAS	High cost of advertising
Builds brand awareness	Risk of misleading messaging
Influences consumer behaviour	Can annoy or fatigue users
Targets right audience	Takes time to see the impact
Great for launching products	May backfire if done wrong

 

So, is advertising worth the investment?

If done right — yes. If done without strategy — it’s money down the digital drain. 

Also Read: – Top 10 branding companies in india

Final Thoughts from Frame Makerzzz: 

So, what’s the final word on the advantages and disadvantages of advertising?

It’s powerful, no doubt. But it’s also a double-edged sword.

• Great advertising = brand love, fast sales, and high recall.
• Bad advertising = money loss, public anger, and meme status.

The difference? Execution.

And that’s where we come in.

At Frame Makerzzz, we turn boring ads into brand-building blockbusters. Whether it’s a 15-second animated explainer or a 60-second cinematic ad film, we make sure your brand stands out — for all the right reasons.

Need an ad that works hard and looks great doing it? Call us. Let’s make your brand the main character.