3 6 Ke·2026-02-06 00:48Core Viewpoint - The article critiques the trend of brands using horse-themed puns and celebrity endorsements during the Year of the Horse, suggesting that this approach lacks creativity and depth, ultimately leading to consumer fatigue and diminishing returns for brand equity [5][12][20]. Marketing Strategy Analysis - The marketing strategy of using horse-related celebrities is seen as a formulaic approach driven by commercial logic rather than genuine creativity, making it easily replicable and less impactful [6][10]. - Initial campaigns featuring celebrities like Ma Sichun and Ma Yili generated positive responses due to their novelty, but subsequent imitations led to a significant decline in effectiveness [8][12]. - Brands like Tmall Health and Mengniu are criticized for failing to create meaningful connections between their products and the celebrity endorsements, resulting in superficial advertising that lacks substance [10][12]. Emotional Engagement - The article contrasts the shallow emotional engagement of the horse-themed ads with the deeper storytelling found in Apple's annual Chinese New Year short films, which resonate with audiences on a personal level [13][18]. - Apple's approach focuses on authentic emotional expression rather than gimmicky marketing tactics, allowing for a more profound connection with consumers [18][20]. Long-term Brand Value - The article emphasizes the importance of creating sustainable brand narratives that can endure over time, rather than relying on fleeting trends or gimmicks [21]. - It argues that the true challenge in the AI-driven advertising landscape is to maintain authenticity and depth in storytelling, which cannot be easily replicated by technology [20][21].