62% of social media users would let brands sponsor their photos

YouGov finds many Thais would allow brands they like to use them for advertising in unusual and personal ways

In October, a British man legally changed his middle name to display his love for one of his favourite brands. Nathan Yorkshire Tea Garner made the move after a colleague said his 20 cups a day habit meant he should probably change his name.

While Mr Garner took the steps to show his love for Yorkshire Tea of his own initiative (although the company did reward his dedication with a goody bag), how many people would be happy for brands to approach them directly to advertise their product in unusual and personal ways?

New YouGov Omnibus research shows that a third (32%) of Thais would follow in Nathan Yorkshire Tea Garner’s footsteps and would be willing to change their first name to that of a brand they like. However, other means of sponsorship are far more popular.

Social media

Brands have already started advertising by paying popular social media users (so-called "influencers") to promote products to their legions of followers. However, while no such opportunity is currently available to the majority of social media users, there is an appetite for it.

Nearly two thirds (62%) of social media users would be willing to have a brand logo and the words “sponsored by” in the bottom corner of their profile photo on all their social media accounts. Similarly, 63% would be up for allowing a brand to do the same for each post on social media.

Looking at recent users of individual social networks shows that Google+ and Twitter users are the most likely to allow a brand they liked to advertise on their profile photo for cash (72% and 68%, respectively, would be willing). Seven in ten (72% and 71%, respectively) would also be willing to let brands sponsor all of their posted photos.

Clothing and appearance

When brands sponsor major sports teams they already get bonus advertising from fans buying and wearing shirts – emblazoned with the brand’s logo across the centre – while they are out and about.

Half (51%) are willing to take this a step further by wearing a shirt or top with a large picture of a brand's logo on it for a year. More drastically still, nearly one in five (17%) would be willing to get a permanent tattoo of the logo of a brand they liked.

Home

While sponsorship on buildings is already widely practiced, currently it largely takes place on dedicated billboards. However, two thirds (65%) would be up for a brand placing a billboard on the outside of their home.

Appearing on TV

Finally, 60% of Thais would be personally willing to appear on television endorsing a brand they liked in an advert. While this was one of the most popular forms of advertising overall, it is also one of the most divisive, with young people being far more willing than older people to star in an ad (62% of 16-24 year olds compared to 32% of 55+ year olds).

*Data was collected online by YouGov Omnibus between 5 and 12 December 2017 among 1,002 respondents in Thailand. Results are representative of the online adult population.

Photo source: Getty Image