The Super Bowl isn’t just a championship game. It’s a cultural extravaganza.
Even if you don’t know a single player on the field, chances are you’re still tuned in, munching on snacks and waiting for the real spectacle—those jaw-dropping Super Bowl ads.
These brief moments are more than just commercials. They’re meticulously crafted (and wildly expensive) mini-movies with one mission in mind: to make a lasting impression.
They tug on your heartstrings, make you laugh out loud, or leave you whispering, “Did that really just happen?” for weeks.
And these ads don’t just air during the game but for weeks or even years later, their legacy living on in shared YouTube videos and so much more. They spark viral conversations, dominate social media, and earn a special place in pop culture history.
But notoriety comes at a price—a steep one. For a mere 30 seconds of airtime during the 2024 Super Bowl, brands paid an average of $7 million. The numbers will likely be similar or even slightly higher in 2025.
That begs the question—how else could $7 million reshape your brand if invested differently? From Google to billboards, here’s what you could achieve instead (with us at Kinetic319) for the cost of one big gamble.
You’re about to find out.
Why Spend $7 Million for Just 30 Seconds?
Before we write off Super Bowl advertising entirely, it’s worth understanding just why these ads carry such a massive price tag.
First, there’s the audience—over 100 million viewers globally. That’s not just an audience; it’s an army. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most-watched days of the year, giving brands a rare chance to reach nearly everyone at once.
Then there’s the visibility. Super Bowl ads don’t just run for 30 seconds and disappear. They’re dissected, meme-ified, and talked about endlessly on social media platforms as well as traditional media outlets.
When done right, they can transform brands into cultural icons. Think Budweiser’s “Whassup?” or Apple’s “1984.”
But this fame is risky. All the eyeballs in the world won’t help if your ad misses the mark.
One misstep, and $7 million could vanish faster than the nachos you dish up at your Super Bowl party. There are no retries, no A/B testing, and no control over how the ad resonates. And in today’s world of data-driven marketing, isn’t it smarter to invest in what you know works? A flash in the pan.
Here’s What You Could Do With That $7 Million Instead…Seriously
Instead of rolling the dice on a single, fleeting moment of exposure, why not spread that same budget across strategies that deliver continuous impact?
Here are some ideas:
1. Get 1.5 Billion Ad Views on YouTube and YouTube TV
Imagine this—1.5 billion impressions for the same $7 million. YouTube and YouTube TV offer one of the most effective ways to magnify your reach while giving you something you'll never get with a Super Bowl ad on TV—control.
Through digital advertising, you can serve your ad to the audience that truly matters. Instead of showing up in front of anyone casually munching on Buffalo wings, you’re putting your message exactly where your ideal customers are scrolling, watching, and engaging.
It doesn’t stop there. With YouTube and digital campaigns, you’re not locked into a single moment. Your ad gets spread across months and seasons, living on in the digital ecosystems where your audience hangs out.
And here’s the real kicker—you have the ability to retarget. Did someone abandon their cart after clicking your ad? No problem—you can re-engage them. Want to see what resonates better, version A of your ad or version B? Run an A/B test and optimize on the go.
With data-driven reporting at your fingertips, you’ll know exactly how your $7 million is performing—no guesswork, no hoping for viral buzz that might fade as quickly as it arrives.
2. Take Over Every Billboard in Times Square (or Every US Movie Theater) for 30 Days
Times Square is the ultimate symbol of constant, unmissable exposure.
Picture this: According to our premier OOH partner and friends at QUAN Media Group, your brand shining brightly across every billboard in Times Square, day and night, for a full month. That’s consistent, message-reinforcing visibility in one of the busiest advertising hubs on the planet.
You’re not competing with trending hashtags or fleeting attention spans; you’re front and center, a glowing focal point in the heart of New York City.
Now take it a step further—$7 million doesn’t just dominate New York's digital skyline. It could also put your brand on screens across America’s movie theaters.
Imagine the opening moments before moviegoers settle in to watch the latest blockbuster—there your brand is, larger than life. For 30 days, with an audience that’s already seated, captivated, and primed to engage with the stories presented to them, your message becomes impossible to ignore.
This kind of exposure creates a lasting visual impact. It isn’t bound to 30 seconds during halftime or dependent on how well your ad gets shared on social media. Instead, your brand presence is reinforced repeatedly, day after day. Now that’s experiential marketing at its finest.
3. Send 1 Million Personalized Pieces of Direct Mail Each Month for Two Years
Super Bowl ads shout to vast, general audiences, hoping to make an impression.
But what if, instead of shouting, you whispered directly into the inbox—or mailbox—of customers who are most likely to buy from you? With $7 million, you could send 1 million personalized direct mail pieces each month for two years.
And no, we’re not talking about outdated flyers that end up in recycling bins. Today’s direct mail is sleek, innovative, and customized. Think product samples they can touch and feel, exclusive discounts to drive loyalty, or high-quality print invites to events.
Physical, tangible outreach leaves an impression that’s hard to match in the digital world. Studies show that direct mail not only boosts recall but also builds deeper emotional connections with customers.
Not only are you offering something tangible, but you’re doing so consistently, creating multiple touchpoints over two years. Imagine the potential for customer loyalty and sustained engagement—far beyond what any 30-second spot could hope to achieve.
4. Send 33 Million Well-Designed Marketing Emails Every Month for 5 Years
Email is where intimate, direct conversations with your audience happen. People still open emails, they still click, and best of all—they still convert. Unlike a 30-second ad, email marketing brings your audience back, again and again.
With $7 million, you could send 33 million professionally designed, beautifully written marketing emails every month every single year—for five years straight. These wouldn’t be generic blasts, either. We’re talking personalized campaigns that cater to different segments of your audience.
Whether it’s launching an exciting new product, offering exclusive deals, or delivering educational content, emails provide the one-on-one touch that fosters trust and loyalty. Plus, the metrics are deeply insightful. Open rates, click-through rates, A/B testing—you have all the data you need to continually refine your campaigns for optimum performance.
And here's the kicker—unlike a Super Bowl ad that competes for attention in a noisy room, emails arrive in a space your audience chooses to open and engage with. That’s undivided attention, at a fraction of the cost per impression.
5. Drive 1 Million Visitors To Your Website Each Month for 3 Months
Imagine driving a million visitors to your website every single month for three months. That’s not just “reach,” that’s tangible, actionable engagement.
Using Google’s extensive search and display ad network, $7 million could fund high-performing campaigns that consistently drive traffic to your site. Unlike fleeting Super Bowl exposure, this approach ensures your brand remains top of mind over an extended period.
What’s more, this kind of traffic isn’t random. With advanced targeting options, Google allows you to meet your ideal customer where they’re already hanging out online. Whether they’re searching for solutions like yours, consuming related content, or simply scrolling through their favorite apps, your ads can show up exactly when and where it matters.
But here’s where things get interesting. Once users land on your website, you have the freedom to craft the perfect customer experience and guide them down the sales funnel. Whether it’s through product pages, blog posts, lead magnets, or special offers, your site becomes the ultimate conversion machine.
Pair this with retargeting strategies, and you’ve got yourself a marketing powerhouse. If people don’t convert on their first visit, you can reel them back in until they’re ready to take action. It’s a flexible, proven approach that genuinely drives measurable results.
6. Run Full Page Ads in Over 1,400 Major Daily Newspapers...Twice
While the big game is exciting, remember that there's power in connecting with consumers on a local level, too. You can have highly cost-effective results when you're able to reach customers in their communities.
Instead of buying a 30-second $7 million Super Bowl, you could take out a full-page ad in 1,404 major daily newspapers in every single U.S. DMA.
And you could do it twice!
Yes, you read that right. For $7 million, you can run TWO full page ads in over 1,400 daily publications, using community-specific creative and messaging to maximize your connections in local communities.
Our friends at Mediaspace Solutions help marketers bridge the gap between national and local print advertising campaigns. It does this via hyper-localized strategy, planning and buying, with targeting capabilities by DMA and even more granularly by zip code.
Taking a Balanced Perspective
There’s no denying the Super Bowl’s unique value, especially for brands that already have exceptional brand recognition, deep pockets, and specific goals to accomplish. For these businesses, a well-crafted Super Bowl ad can certainly be a defining moment, the moment they need to springboard themselves to success.
But that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for every business. By reallocating the same budget toward scalable strategies like targeted advertising or data-driven tech, you can drive impactful, measurable results.
The truth is, the most effective marketing approach depends on your brand’s specific goals, growth trajectory, and long-term strategy.
$7 million is a lot of cash, and it shouldn't be spent lightly. The smarter play is to allocate your budget in ways that directly support your objectives and business growth.
From hyper-targeted social media campaigns to bold loyalty programs, countless strategies can deliver real, lasting impact without betting it all on a single ad slot.
If you’re ready to think bigger and make every marketing dollar count, it’s time to strategize with Kinetic319. We specialize in ROI-driven marketing tailored to your unique goals and audience. Check out our marketing almanac for more tips on the big events to plan for in 2025, and contact us today for a more specialized approach.
Let’s huddle up. We’ll help you rethink how you approach your marketing budget, even long after game day has passed.