What happens when big companies screw up? It's almost guaranteed that they write an apology ad & publish it in popular newspapers. Have you ever wondered...View More
what these ads have in common? I did & decided to track down a variety of apology ads from companies that messed up big time. Here's a breakdown of the core structure I discovered.
First, they must admit they're wrong. An effective way to do this, which you'll see in the ads below, is to talk about how the company has certain values & standards in place that they failed to meet. By saying it in this way, the company is essentially saying normally, their service is top-notch. After this, they must sympathize with the customer, showing they understand what they went through. Most importantly, the ad must mention a "comprehensive plan of action" that shows they're making corrective changes immediately. Lastly, most ads end by reiterating the apology & talking about the bright future ahead. In some cases, like the Volkswagen example below, they'll offer a gift.
