Media Biz: What 'Dilly Dilly' means & how Bud Light came up with its viral campaign

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What 'Dilly Dilly' means — and how Bud Light came up with its viral campaign
If you've seen or heard the phrase "Dilly Dilly" at your local pub or on social media in the last few weeks, you can thank Bud Light for turning the phrase into a cultural phenomenon. The company launched a series of ads created by the Wieden+Kennedy ad agency that has gone viral, thanks to their constant appearances during commercial breaks in NFL and college football games.

Recently at Business Insider's IGNITION conference in New York, we got to chat with the man ultimately responsible for the "Dilly Dilly" campaign: Anheuser-Busch InBev Chief Marketing Officer Miguel Patricio. We asked him about the origin of the campaign and — with the Super Bowl looming — if the brand has any plans to make any new "Dilly Dilly" ads. Following is a transcript of the video.

Graham Flanagan: What the hell does "Dilly Dilly" mean?

Miguel Patricio: "Dilly Dilly" doesn't mean anything. That's the beauty of it. I think that we all need our moments of nonsense and fun. And I think that "Dilly Dilly," in a way, represents that. A lot of people asked me, "How did you approve that?"

[You can thank this man for the "Dilly Dilly" campaign. He's the Chief Marketing Officer of AB InBev]

To tell you the truth, we never expected this to be so successful. It didn't test that well. We did that ad, actually, because of – the new season of "Game of Thrones" coming, but when we tested, it didn't test that well. We said, "Consumers will get it."

And especially with repetition. We have a chance here for this to become big. So, we went against the research and we gave a chance to "Dilly Dilly" and we are so happy!

[The spot was created by the Wieden+Kennedy ad agency]

I think that one of the proofs of success, nowadays, from a cultural standpoint, is when you go to Amazon and you don't do anything, there are people already selling t-shirts. Two weeks ago, I went on Amazon. There were like ten different types of "Dilly Dilly" t-shirts. I said "Yes! That's it!"

It becomes a cultural currency.

Flanagan: You're suing all those people, right?

Patricio: No, no. We want everybody to "Dilly Dilly" in their life, so no problem. We are gonna bring more fun, more Dilly Dillys ... Super Bowl is pretty close. Maybe we'll surprise you with a Dilly Dilly soon. I don't know. Maybe!

http://www.businessinsider.com/bud-light-dilly-dilly-viral-commercial-super-bowl-campaign-2017-12
 
Bud Light Sent a Hilarious Cease-and-Desist Scroll to the Makers of ‘Dilly Dilly’ Ale
Delivered by a town crier, along with two Super Bowl tickets
By Tim Nudd
|
2 days ago
dilly-dilly-cease-and-desist-hed-2017-840x460.jpg


Bud Light has continued its seemingly endless “Dilly Dilly” antics by responding benevolently to a craft brewer that made a “Dilly Dilly” IPA—with a friendly cease-and-desist letter written on parchment and delivered by a town crier.

Modist Brewing Company in Minneapolis made the new “Dilly Dilly” Mosaic Double IPA, named for the cryptic but popular catchphrase from recent medieval-themed Bud Light ads. Having trademarked “Dilly Dilly,” A-B InBev needed to nip this in the bud. So, it sent a guy in medieval garb to Modist’s lobby, where he read the cease-and-desist scroll aloud:




Modist Brewing Company
We’ve seen a number of chatty cease-and-desist letters from brands recently, but this one ranks up there with the best of them. First, much as Netflix’s note to a rogue Stranger Things bar did, this missive simply asks Modist to keep things to a limited run. Second, it’s amusingly written, in keeping with the “Dilly Dilly” humor. And third, adding in two Super Bowl tickets for Modist employees is a very gracious gesture—and shows some recognition that anyone’s “Dilly Dilly” beer, on some level, will benefit Bud Light.

Here’s the full text of the scroll:

Dear friend of the Crown, Modist Brewing Company. Congratulations on the launch of your new beer, Dilly Dilly Mosaic Double IPA! Let it be known that we believe any beer shared between friends is a fine beer indeed. And we are duly flattered by your loyal tribute. However, “Dilly Dilly” is the motto of our realm, so we humbly ask that you keep this to a limited-edition, one-time-only run. This is by order of the king. Disobedience shall be met with additional scrolls, then a formal warning, and finally, a private tour of the Pit of Misery. Please send a raven, letter or electronic mail to let us know that you agree to this request. Also, we will be in your fair citadel of Minneapolis for the Super Bowl, and would love to offer two thrones to said game for two of your finest employees to watch the festivities and enjoy a few Bud Lights. On us. Yours truthfully, Bud Light.

The friendly tone is particularly notable, given A-B InBev’s generally antagonistic relationship with craft brewers.

“This is a little out of character … I’ve gotta tip my hat to them,” Modist’s lawyer, Jeff O’Brien, told the Minneapolis City Paper. “We certainly would rather see it handled this way, with some humor.”

http://www.adweek.com/creativity/bu...sist-scroll-to-the-makers-of-dilly-dilly-ale/
 
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