The first time I saw this video, I was completely shocked and mortified, but I think that’s exactly what the CDC wanted when they created their “Tips from Former Smokers” campaign.
The message is simple:
The Tips from Former Smokers campaign features real people suffering as a result of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Their compelling stories send a powerful message: Quit smoking now. Or better yet — don’t start.
Trust me, this is reaching and affecting lots of people. According to HealthcareCommuncation.com, In the week after the March 19 campaign launch, calls to the national support hotline 1-800-QUIT-NOW doubled and visits to the anti-smoking website www.smokefree.gov tripled.
Seriously, read this article: 3 reasons why the CDC’s anti-smoking campaign caught fire. In this article, they discuss the three main reasons that this campaign is so successful…
- Get Real (Real people– not actors & real stories that are authentic and believable)
- Don’t just Scare, Surprise (New issues that haven’t been discussed before, and they are eye opening and memorable)
- Point the Way to Help (Each piece of the campaign– commercials, website and other materials– have a call to action)
Makes sense, right?
