Do you think you're above advertising?

Brid Hegarty

Most of us probably like to think we don't fall victim to advertising. If most people think that, then they can't all be right. I don't think advertising hasn't affected the decisions behind any of the things I own, certainly not the phone I have, or the car I drive, as they're both second hand. If a supermarket I go to rearranges all their aisles, it never affects me what I buy. The offers I get from reward cards that force me to spend extra money to get the discount will just cause me to buy a whole load of non perishable products that I'd inevitably need anyway.

When it comes to clothes I am to some extent influenced by my peers, but not by advertising. If I saw someone I think is cool wearing a reasonably nice jacket, then that image will stay in my head quite strongly the next time I'm clothing shopping, and I might have a slightly distorted view about how nice that jacket is because of the association.

The only thing that I can think of is that I do find myself being influenced by scenes or characters from from old movies, which were perhaps geared to advertise to people of that time. If I were to see a watch for example in such a film; that watch would now be twice as appealing as otherwise would be because it's unique. I also find myself being influenced by characters of old... it could be David Bowie or Sean Connery. Perhaps some of this is the illusion that the older times were better, but you simply don't get ideas from modern public figures. I remember seeing Connery in one film say to a woman to "clean up your face". This it caused me to realise that even I am influenced by society, because I didn't realise until then that that's something I felt I wasn't allowed to say... even when something like that might actually be the best thing to say. Feel free to mock me about that one!

I can't think of one think I buy that could possibly be affected by advertising. Things like food, petrol, electricity bills, haircuts, hobbies, the music I listen to, my bank, or whatever else there is. I don't buy anything that's unnecessary, whether it be coffee, alcohol, fast food, gambling, netflix and the like of it, or anything in a filling station that's not fuel! That last movie I watched in the cinema was 'The Delinquent Season', and you don't go to a movie like that due to advertising!

Can you imagine what ads would be like in a society of a high IQ?

Jim_Hodge

So, your IQ is too high to be influenced by advertising?

John_Rambo

Everyone is influenced by advertising in some way shape or form even if they do not realise it. The trick is knowing what ads influence you & how they influence you. If you think you're not affected by advertising you should relook at things & become aware of how they do.

StevenToast

Clown college?.....that advertisement had no effect on me whatsoever.....

Jequ0n

I fail to see how and why you think that you are largely immune to advertising. Just clean up your face before going to sleep.

Yurt2

Coca-Cola still spends most of their advertising dollars on things like billboards, outdoor sinage, bus shelter advertisments, old fashioned TV spots etc. The reason?

Busy people have limited cognative bandwith - and the calculation is that if enough people are bombarded with Coca-Cola is refreshing signals throughout the day - and when it comes time to make split second decision in the petrol station or convenience store to select a product, you're brain will shortwire and just say "f*ck it, I'll have a Coke" without thinking too much.

It works. Same principle for political sloganeering. Most people don't think too deeply or spend too much time on complex political matters - so if they hear a "build the wall" or "take back control" signal enough, eventually it just becomes true for them even if it's bullsh*t. When it comes time to vote, they'll just vote with the signal they've soaked-in the most.

John_Rambo

Do you drink Heineken OP?

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058293715/do-you-think-youre-above-advertising

So how did you find out where the last film you went to watch was showing?

Brid Hegarty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513220#Comment_120513220

Easy for you to make such a claim when you're not able to give an example of such a case.

Brid Hegarty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513405#Comment_120513405

I probably googled the times.

Brid Hegarty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513323#Comment_120513323

Did you see reference to alcohol?!

dxhound2005

It doesn't even have to be advertising. Delia Smith used to cause big increases in sales of different ingredients she used in her TV programmes. This has entered dictionaries as the "Delia Effect". Nigella Lawson can do the same with kitchen untensils, as can celebrities just by wearing certain clothes. (Kate Middleton Causes A 500% Surge In TopShop Dress Sales)

This is what current day Influencers know. And product placement, although not direct advertising, is recognised as another way to promote extra sales. And then there is the subliminal stuff, that we don't even know we are seeing.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513473#Comment_120513473

Probably. You say it a lot.

Yurt2

Anyone who thinks they aren't nudged towards certain decisions dozens of times a week by the advertising and PR industry is in lala land.

The OP thinks that she's impervious because she listens to David Bowie and went to see an arthouse movie. Trust me, ad agencies and big-data companies have your sort psychologically profiled to an absolute tee and are likely more successful at pushing consumer items and much more to you than a bog-standard normie housewife with Daz washing powder in her trolley.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513546#Comment_120513546

Agreed. I've worked in advertising for three decades. Below the line adverting hits the people that think they're unaffected and it's incredibly effective. It works it's insidious & gets results from the dreamers.

Strumms

Received an email from my favourite fashion label. They have a shop in the city.

15% off certain lines but when you go on their site, some of last years summer stock, 20% off.

id checked my summer wardrobe 2 days ago, i need more both casual and dressy summer T-shirts, polo shirts, regular shirts and tops..

now I’m prioritising on that information to go there, Thursday night… so I’m happy topping up my summer wardrobe as was needed and saving money, they’ll be happy acquiring my business…

I haven’t been sold based on the advertising. I’ve been informed….I get not to miss the sale….

M.T. Cranium

I am certainly not above advertising, I am new and improved and have a fresh minty taste, and I come in a convenient jumbo size.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058293715/do-you-think-youre-above-advertising

I'm the same, immune to it like yourself. At least I think I am. Don't drink Coke or Heineken too.

Feisar

Dunno. I try to see beyond the marketing and see if the product stands up by itself.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513470#Comment_120513470

And found an advertisement for whatever, actually you actively searched it out. Everyone including you are influenced by advertising and you don’t even seem to recognize it! Everything from the ad that reminds you to pick up a loaf of bread on the way home, to feeling like a take away when you see the menu in the window… Enough said.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514092#Comment_120514092

We probably are but some are much more susceptible than others. I would say I'm not much affected by it at all.

HeidiHeidi

Oh, the innocence of some!!🤣

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514102#Comment_120514102

Me neither.

Now excuse me, but I inexplicitly have a desire for these two cars...

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-1-9d/33726960

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-se-tax-new-nct-79800-miles/33769343

JoChervil

Everyone is influenced by advertising. Only some are aware of it and others not. You might buy only necessary things, yet you pick brands, which are familiar to you. And they are familiar because of advertising. Go to Aldi or Lidl, where they have not so much advertised brands and you will be lost and indecisive, what to choose. But those who shop in them regularly, they are familiar with these brands, who they see regularly on the shelves, so have no problems shopping there.

Go to Chinese shop and see, if it will be easy for you to do your shoppings quickly....

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514114#Comment_120514114

So True, many are so easily influenced.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514125#Comment_120514125

Love these cars must get another soon except their out of business.

Badly Drunk Boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514125#Comment_120514125

Do ya know any good book shops? I'm in the mood for reading something that features isolated protagonists facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible socio-bureaucratic powers. Or maybe some entomology...

JoChervil

There are many very effective selling strategies. Have you heard about a decoy effect?

Company may introduce the third product and advertise it heavily only for you to buy their second one, which is the most profitable for them. You might think, you are not affected by this advertising because you are buying the one not advertised.

John_Rambo

Lol... "I'm not influenced by advertising" name on boards.ie is a car brand! Twice!

whisky_galore

I don't really bother with things plugged by celebs, and especially not by influencers.

Not really a car person, just a box with wheels. As long as it gets me where I want to go reliably at a small cost I couldn't care less what it looks like.

I don't wear 'designer' things, and especially clothes with the brand name screaming in big letters.

JoChervil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514273#Comment_120514273

Which size of coffee do you buy in a coffee shop?

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514302#Comment_120514302

Not really a coffee drinker, don't frequent coffee shops.

HalloweenJack

Ah, yes and no.

I like to think I'm not influenced by advertising but I'm also aware that I occasionally am.

I will frequently take the piss out of ridiculous or obnoxious ads but surely that is contributing to the ad's success as the name gets out there and I am talking about it (even if its negative).

I don't trust ads in general, especially ones for major brands. Loud, brash advertising annoys me and puts me off. Celebrity endorsements make me laugh and wonder how desperate they are for money.

However, I'm aware that subtle, straightforward advertising can have a hypnotising effect on me, which I don't realise until I see the product somewhere and think 'that looked good in that ad'.

taxAHcruel

I would feel (right or wrong) that I am less affected by it. Partly because I see so little of it (do not have a television and have a plethora of online ad blockers). Partly because I am hyper aware of the methodologies employed by advertising due to both aspects of my work and some hobbies I have which employ similar things.

Despite all that I think I would be naive to claim I was above it or unaffected.

The most obvious example: Whenever I was in a situation where I had to go and buy something I would not normally buy or even have never before bought. And I had to go and find it.

When going into purchase it - I had in my head somewhere between a vague or specific idea of what it would look like. The packaging size and color and so forth. And that is likely due to that particular brand having conditioned me in some way in the past. I would spot the thing I was scanning for and go and pick it up.

Why that one and not the exact same product from a different brand and packaging beside it? Why did I go in with the preconception the thing I wanted was in a red rectangular box rather than the green cube box for example? At some point in the past I had the expectation of the product installed in my neck top computer and I entered the shop with an expectation of what it would look like when I found it.

Another example: Advertising also has the effect of educating you to be aware of product types. Someone might hear 1000s adverts for ExpressVPN and in the end they buy Nord VPN. They might claim "I was not affected by the advertising" therefore. But actually - that person might never have heard of VPNs before in the first place. After 1000s of adverts for Express they decided a VPN was for them and they went and got one. So the person might think they were above the advertising in this scenario because it did not make them buy Express. But that it informed them of - and led them to purchase from - a new product space at all is still an effect of the advertising.

Beta Ray Bill

Advertising / Marketing is one of those weird industries where you can become obsolete / irrelevant overnight

Personally I hate Ads, Youtube is going nuts with the ads now and I'm borderline inclined to pay for Nebula. I also have stopped going to the cinema citing Ads and the fact the movies go digital after 6 months now. Like if you include Food and tickets for 2 people you're at €40 easy, and then you're subjected to Ads. #nothanks

Advertising only works on me if I'm being shown something new that is going to make my life easier / better. I'm into PC games, so I've a keen interest in things like PC hardware, but the only ads I get are from guys who build PC's but I can do that myself so I'd never buy from them. You might get the odd graphics card Ad, but that in turn is circumvented by the likes of Gamer Nexus who review everything and give you the results. So the Ads are meaningless to me.

In summary though huge marketing campaigns are usually in place to try and tell you that a product X is great when in reality it's probably just as good as product Y

The only time Ads might work on me is when I'm looking for a gift. I got my GF one of those rude Mugs on Goduckee.com... She was NOT impressed. So even then the Ads didn't work as intended

elperello

Advertising and marketing has it's place in letting consumers know what is available.

The savvy ones are those who can decide if they need it.

dxhound2005

This advert increased sales of the product in the UK by 800%. Probably most of the people who bought it, would say they are too smart to be taken in by clever ads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKa_uQCz3Hw

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514725#Comment_120514725

I didn't buy it. In fact I still have some clothes I wore 30 years ago some even fit me!

Brid Hegarty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514092#Comment_120514092

No it’s not enough said you old boob. You’re trying to tell me that I’m not above advertising and the best example you’re able to refer to is a takeaway… even though I already said I don’t eat fast food!

@Jim2007 And found an advertisement for whatever, actually you actively searched it out.

What are you trying to say here? What does that prove? I’m going to assume you worded that wrong sense you usually do?

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120515615#Comment_120515615

Don't bother some seem to be always right even if they are wrong.

Brid Hegarty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513283#Comment_120513283

I’m sure there’s a lot that you fail at!

Brid Hegarty

@Beta Ray Bill YouTube is going nuts with ads now and I’m borderline inclined to pay for Nebula

I’ve AdGuard for the iPhone. It’s free and works pretty fine. It’s even easier on the PC. I thought you’d have found a way around ads given that you’re tech savvy.

Wanderer78

currently checking out some rory sutherland, well worth it, some clever fcukers working in marketing.....

I am beautiful and silky and manageable.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120516386#Comment_120516386

....you re worth it!

Jequ0n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120515672#Comment_120515672

Probably.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120516396#Comment_120516396

But is the item advertised worth it ?

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120516434#Comment_120516434

...of course it is, ads never lie

dxhound2005

I never knew about the Arrow in the Fedex logo, until I was searching for information on subliminal advertising. It is an example of how advertising is out there, without people even knowing. Nor did I know about the bear on the Toblerone packaging, another "hidden in plain sight" example. Whether these have ever influenced sales I don't know, but they are certainly not included by accident.

Fr Tod Umptious

For all these "I'm above advertising" people

Did you never walk into a convenience store for a snack or a treat and were not sure what you wanted but then ended up making your decision based on the display, an offer, the placement of a product etc ?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120516966#Comment_120516966

That's merchandising not the same as advertising.