By AMY STOCKWELL.
Advertisers want you to buy things. This isn’t necessarily bad [yes, you are reading a sponsored post: we get the irony]. You need to buy products and services. People who publish in magazines, on the internet and on the telly need money to deliver content – and advertising makes money so that you can keep watching tv, browsing on the internet and reading magazines for free or at a lower price. Oh, and advertisers need to sell their products, too.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is brought to you by our partners at Fernwood Fitness. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
We all like to think that we are in control of our purchasing decisions – that we buy the things that we freely choose. It will come as no surprise to many of you that advertisers use strategy and manipulation to get you to buy their product. This manipulation may not obvious, but it can push your spending in a particular direction. Some of that manipulation may involve making you feel bad, inadequate or guilty so that you will buy a particular product.
Next time you see a commercial – consider how it makes you feel – and see whether you catch yourself being caught up and manipulated by some of these sneaky advertising tactics:
1. Scare tactics
Studies have shown that if something scares you and then you are flooded with relief, you will make the directed purchasing decision. It’s like a big game of Good Cop, Bad Cop: one person is mean and scares you and then the second person is so nice to you that you’ll give them whatever they ask of you.
Top Comments
Even those soft focus Dove commercials are manipulative.
We trust too much.
In most areas of life we trust too much.
Politics, Religion and Advertising - FEAR is always the main "tool of trade".
Always ask yourself "Is this going to cost me money ?"
Be a sceptic..........ask questions, and protect yourself and your family.
We've worked in TV and radio so we understand those techniques and all of the above is totally true.
High schools should be warning students about the dangers of being conned in life. Bringing in advertising agency people to explain their methods would be enlightening - a bit like companies employing hackers to keep them a few steps ahead of computer crime, or taking advice from burglars in how to keep your home secure.
We presume that most people are cluey enough to understand what's going on with commercials - most of us have been surrounded by TV & radio ads our whole lives. We sing the jingles and develop an affection for the characters & quirky catch-phrases - we don't take it seriously because we understand that it's just a creative way to sell products we might want to buy.
What we SHOULD resent is the sinister way some of this stuff targets the vulnerable........the very young, the timid, the body-obsessed, those with enough issues already without heaping fear onto their unsteady shoulders.
I've had a little fantasy over the years that persists today.
This scenario involves living in a solitary farm house with a water tank and a cottage garden & an organic veggie patch..........there's a country lane with beautiful trees and surrounding idyllic country side and if I get up high enough - I can view the sea.
My family & I & close friends can enjoy a fireplace in the Winter and Summers that aren't too hot. There's a country kitchen that usually smells great . We're surrounded by our pets and our musician mates might drop in occasionally to play music & join us in the spirit of feasting & spirited discussion...lots of laughter & nonsense and .......NO TV.
NO RADIO either (except for the occasional check on the news etc).
More importantly...........NO ADS.
Just SILENCE.
Imagine that - No-one in your ear scaring the crap out of you and making you feel bad.
Of course, you CAN imagine that and let that visualisation lead you into a peaceful, meditative state - a little reprieve that brings you back to yourself BEFORE all of that fear-based intrusion .
So many want something from you - mainly money.
Don't give it to them.
If you want me ........I'll be in that farmhouse.................xxx's