Does Advertising Motivate Gay Consumers Differently than Non-Gay Consumers?

New study by Witeck-Combs and Harris Interactive highlights attitudes and preferences related to print, online and broadcast media

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – November 15, 2005 – According to a recent nationwide online survey, gay and lesbian consumers and heterosexuals may agree on many things related to advertising across three media: television, print and the Web. However, recent survey results show that there are some differences in how they feel about advertising, and in how advertisements may affect their buying considerations.

Although higher percentages of gay men and lesbians report that advertising "rarely" shows people like themselves, they also have a higher propensity than non-gays to report that advertisements, particularly TV and magazine advertisements, can motivate them to consider buying an advertised product.

Whether commercial advertising is presented in a magazine ad or a television commercial, greater proportions of gays and lesbians report they may be motivated to consider buying products shown in these ads. In magazines, one-fifth (21%) of gays and lesbians say this, compared with 16 percent of heterosexuals. With television spots, 12 percent of gays and lesbians versus eight percent of heterosexuals say this.

"Last year with more than 800 brands advertised to the gay market, as well as a quarter billion ad dollars invested in reaching same-sex households, it is critical to measure the impact of these investments," said Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. "According to the Commercial Closet Association, more than a third of Fortune 100 companies have developed advertising and marketing campaigns that speak to or include gays and lesbians, and more do so each year. As this study confirms, gay men and lesbians may be more motivated to respond to advertising messages, especially offers that are sensitive and respectful of their needs and identities."

These are a few highlights of a nationwide online survey of 2,121 adults aged 18 or over of whom 1,715 are non-gay/lesbian adults and 351 are gay/lesbian adults. The survey was conducted online between October 7 and 11, 2005, by Harris Interactive^®, a worldwide market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) market.

These results show some of the attitudes and responses to commercial advertising – whether online, television and print – by all consumers, and measures differences, if any, between gay and non-gay consumers. The results reveal that gays and lesbians are less likely to find that print ads "clutter magazines" (46% compared to 55% of heterosexual consumers), and a smaller proportion of gays and lesbians say that television commercials "interrupt programs" (57% compared to 62% of heterosexual respondents.) Both groups – gay/lesbian and non-gay – express annoyance with online ads that pop up, waste space or block content (88% of gay/lesbian respondents and 86% of non-gay respondents).

More significantly, gays and lesbians are more likely than their non-gay counterparts to report that print and television advertising ads give them "information they can use" (20% of gays and lesbians, 15% of heterosexuals). Nearly a third (32%) of gays and lesbians feel that magazine ads are informative compared with 28 percent of heterosexuals. Gay/lesbian and non-gay respondents appear to have similar responses to the usefulness of information found in online advertising (4% of each group says it is "valuable" and 6% of gays/lesbians and 9% of heterosexuals say they "give them information they can use")..

Gays and lesbians are less likely than heterosexual consumers to declare advertising "boring", and gay and lesbian consumers tend to find advertising equally or more "entertaining" than non-gay respondents. Not surprisingly, half (49%) of the gays and lesbians agree that they prefer everyday brands that target gay consumers over competing brands that do not. Only one in five gay and lesbian respondents (20%) disagrees that they prefer these brands and 30 percent neither agree nor disagree. Nearly half (47%) of the gays and lesbians also agree that they trust brands more if they have seen them advertised in gay media such as local gay newspapers or magazines; while 23 percent of gays and lesbians disagree with this statement.

"In general, I find television commercials: Please select the top three choices with which you agree the most."

"In general, I find magazine advertisements: Please select the top three choices with which you agree the most."

"In general, I find website advertisements: Please select the top three choices with which you agree the most."

Please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statement:

"I prefer to buy everyday products and brands that target gays and lesbians over competing brands that do not."

Please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statement:

"I trust brands more if I have seen them advertised in gay media, such as local gay newspapers or magazines."

Harris Interactive^® conducted the study online within the United States between October 7 and 11, 2005, among a nationwide cross section of 2,121 adults aged 18 and over of whom 1,715 who have indicated they are heterosexual; 351 self-identified as gay or lesbian (351 total includes a 270 gay/lesbian oversample). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. In addition, the results for the gay and lesbian sample were weighted separately based on profiles of the gay and lesbian population that Harris Interactive has compiled through many different online surveys. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Sampling errors for the non gay sample (1,715) is plus or minus 3 percentage point and for the gay and lesbian sample (351) is plus or minus 5 percentage points. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order and weighting. It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors. This online sample is not a probability sample.

Additional Note: Previous research conducted by Harris Interactive in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. queried gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) self-identified respondents. Although we remain interested in the consumer attitudes and characteristics of transgendered individuals, for accuracy and consistency we distinguish sexual orientation from gender identity. In addition, given the low incidence of response from transgendered individuals, it is extremely difficult to draw conclusions from the data captured.

Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. (www.witeckcombs.com) is the nation’s premier strategic marketing communications firm, specializing in reaching the gay and lesbian consumer market. With over nine years experience in this unique market, Witeck-Combs Communications has developed respected relationships throughout the community and serves as a bridge between corporate America and gay and lesbian consumers. In April 2003, American Demographics magazine identified Bob Witeck and Wes Combs as two of 25 experts over the last 25 years who have made significant contributions to the fields of demographics, market research, media and trendspotting for their pathbreaking work on the gay and lesbian market.

About Harris Interactive^®
Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), based in Rochester, New York, is the 13^th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll^® and for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value.

Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe (www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online^SM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, go to www.harrispollonline.com.

 Press Contacts:

Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316

Kelly Gullo
Harris Interactive
585-214-7172

Bob Witeck
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887-0500 ext. 19 or (cell) 202-997-4055
bwiteck@witeckcombs.com