Do commercials/ads etc work on you?

[peabody58]

Yes, and then I do my own due diligence research to decide what to buy, vote, etc.

 

[DLgal]

Yes and no. I won't buy something I had no intention of buying just because I saw a good ad. I won't change brands because of an ad. I like what I like.

However, sometimes I see an ad for something I didn't know I needed and it can convince me pretty quickly to buy the item. The other week, I got an ad on my social media for a dryer lint trap vacuum attachment. My dryer had been having issues lately with stuff still being damp at the end of a cycle. As soon as I saw that ad, I had a lightbulb moment and realized that was probably the issue. I ordered it (not directly through the ad, though, I found it cheaper on Amazon by over $10). When it arrived I used it and got a vacuum canister full of lint out. Dryer is working fine ever since.

That is an example of how ads can work on me.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

So basically you use commercials as a way to decide what NOT to buy. Interesting decision making process.

The only purpose of a commercial is to present a product in such a way to convince a consumer to consider purchasing a product. Nothing more, nothing less. Some are well done. The Apple 1984 Macintosh commercial is iconic. I would also reference the raisins "Heard it through the grapevine", and any M&M commercial or the Mercedes Christmas commercials as examples of this media done well.

Of the three I referenced I found the first two stupid, and the third insulting. As far as the companies listed - I've always preferred Wendy's over McD or BK, been State Farm since the beginning of recorded history , and prefer Harry's over Gillette. Companies spend for advertising to their targeted demographic and at times I've realized I ain't it.

My money, my choice.

 

[Micca]

I'm mostly immune to commercials--I watch tv via DVR so I always ff past them, don't listen to any radio that has commercials. DW will watch commercials and I believe she is occasionally influenced by them.

 

[_19disnA]

Some ads are also about building the 'brand' image of a company/product. It is more then just trying to get you to buy a current product.

 

[MrsPete]

Advertising works on EVERYONE. It plants subtle thoughts in your head. It publicizes what's out there. It helps form ideas about what stores, brands are better than others. It's about creating brand awareness. It's not as simple as, "Did you rush out and buy a Big Mac after seeing a commercial?" Advertising is much more a long-game. Sometimes it's so carefully planted that you don't even consciously realize it's advertising; for example, movie trailers.

Don't believe me? Can you identify these companies? If you know them, advertising worked on you -- it created brand awareness, even if you didn't act on the information. It's become a part of you.
- Happiest place on earth
- Just do it
- I'm lovin' it
- Breakfast of champions
- Melts in your mouth, not in your hands
- America runs on ____
- ____ Strong (okay, that one's been parodied pretty often, but I bet you know who did it first)

Need more evidence? Okay, do you have an idea of what type of person shops at Kohls or Old Navy vs. Neiman Marcus or Tiffany's? What type of meal you'd get at Taco Bell vs. Cheesecake Factory? Sure you do, even if you've never set foot in those stores. How do you know? Advertising taught you. Could you say what type of person typically drives a Mercedes vs. what type of person drives a Jeep? Sure you could -- how'd you develop the idea that rugged men drive Jeeps or Ford F150s? Advertising taught you.

Unless you're living under a rock and purposefully avoiding media, you ARE affected by advertising. We all are, even if we choose to reject their message and keep our money in our pockets, they affect our perceptions.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I was just discussing advertising trends with my son the other day. I majored and worked in PR and took several advertising courses, so I have interest and a bit of experience in the area.

If you're like me, you don't pay full attention to TV commercials. You might pick up some of the message, but you don't sit there and watch them intently. Often, the main gimmick of the commercial is so distracting that it buries the actual product name. For example, I must have seen the puppy monkey baby commercial more than 10 times before I knew what was being advertised (Dr. Pepper, I think?). It was the same with Flo from Progressive. I knew she was advertising insurance but for the longest time I couldn't immediately tell you which one. The gimmick made a bigger impression on me than the product. I don't think that makes an effective ad. Advertisers only have a few seconds to grab a consumer's attention and get the message across. It has to be quick and concise. That's not to say that gimmicks and characters don't work. They just can't overshadow the actual product or service being advertised.

 

[disneychrista]

I must have seen the puppy monkey baby commercial more than 10 times before I knew what was being advertised (Dr. Pepper, I think?).

Close - Mountain Dew

And yes I had to look it up because I was thinking Doritos.

 

[Jennasis]

Advertising works on EVERYONE. It plants subtle thoughts in your head. It publicizes what's out there. It helps form ideas about what stores, brands are better than others. It's about creating brand awareness. It's not as simple as, "Did you rush out and buy a Big Mac after seeing a commercial?" Advertising is much more a long-game. Sometimes it's so carefully planted that you don't even consciously realize it's advertising; for example, movie trailers.

Don't believe me? Can you identify these companies? If you know them, advertising worked on you -- it created brand awareness, even if you didn't act on the information. It's become a part of you.
- Happiest place on earth
- Just do it
- I'm lovin' it
- Breakfast of champions
- Melts in your mouth, not in your hands
- America runs on ____
- ____ Strong (okay, that one's been parodied pretty often, but I bet you know who did it first)

Need more evidence? Okay, do you have an idea of what type of person shops at Kohls or Old Navy vs. Neiman Marcus or Tiffany's? What type of meal you'd get at Taco Bell vs. Cheesecake Factory? Sure you do, even if you've never set foot in those stores. How do you know? Advertising taught you. Could you say what type of person typically drives a Mercedes vs. what type of person drives a Jeep? Sure you could -- how'd you develop the idea that rugged men drive Jeeps or Ford F150s? Advertising taught you.

Unless you're living under a rock and purposefully avoiding media, you ARE affected by advertising. We all are, even if we choose to reject their message and keep our money in our pockets, they affect our perceptions.

By "works" I meant convince you to purchase something.

Also...true rugged men don't drive 150's. LOL.

 

[sam_gordon]

By "works" I meant convince you to purchase something.

But that's not really the goal. OK, it's the LONG term goal, but they don't expect you to see an ad for a car, get up from the seat and go to the car dealer. BUT, the ad could make enough of an impression that the next time your shopping for a particular object, you'll get what you saw (and presumably liked) on an ad.

Also, keep in mind, ads aren't always obvious. For those watching AGT, you noticed all the references to "Dunkin Save" and "Dunkin Chat room" (whatever that's called). Did you notice the Dunkin drink cups for the judges? That happens in many movies and shows, product placement.

 

[Diznotyzed]

When I was kid in the 60s, what was advertised on TV definitely influenced what I asked for for Christmas. Now days not so much, but just recently I ordered something I saw on FaceBook, something I'd sworn I'd never do. Against my better judgment I just had to take a chance on a children's quilt I thought was really cute. It took a long time to come, and is pretty thin so probably not worth what I paid for it, but it IS really cute and I'm happy with it. Probably won't do that again, tho.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

On TV no, never. At least now that I'm an adult-when I was a kid and there were ads aimed at me, sure.

On the internet I have AdBlock, so I usually don't see ads. The program glitched once on FB and I saw an ad for Goose Creek Candles, so I gave them a try instead of Bath and Body Works, and now I buy lots of candles from them. So maybe if I saw more ads, I'd be buying stuff left and right.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Close - Mountain Dew

And yes I had to look it up because I was thinking Doritos.

See what I mean? I still don’t even know what it was for!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like the Michigan ads. Haven’t see one in awhile. I think travel ads could entice me to go someplace. I do feel homebound!

 

[MillauFr]

Not sure since I only watch streaming and use ad blockers on YouTube. Not sure how people watch traditional TV with all of those ads. So annoying. There is a reason they stretch a 60 minutes of a football game to 3 1/2 hours. Completely unwatchable.

 

[amcnj]

I guess sometimes they make me aware of something new, but overall most seem to be more of the same, or to remind you of an existing product. I can’t tell you the last time I saw an ad and then actually bought the product because of it though.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The dis boards here have influenced me over the past 20+ years. I know we have purchased things, done things that we first learned about here. Generally with good results.

 

[disykat]

I don't run out and buy everything I see but, absolutely, ads work for me. I buy things I wouldn't even know existed if I hadn't seen the add. I am not a big shopper, but I would say several times a year I buy something for the dog or for my kitchen that I didn't know I wanted until I saw an ad. Most recently my dog has a new seatbelt for the car and I have a Dutch whisk for my kitchen. Both were ads I saw on Facebook. The Dutch whisk was a total whim buy, but I had been thinking about a better safety solution for the dog in the car. I hadn't done an internet search for either, so not sure how Facebook decided to send them my way.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

The Walt Disney vacation commercials always had me dreaming of a vacation!!

 

[Lizgistix]

Yes. I saw an ad for something on my facebook feed, so I went ahead and ordered one not knowing it was coming from China.
It shipped fairly quickly and then spent the next 2 months sitting in LA. One month in one suburb, and then another month in another suburb. I ordered it in very early June and it just arrived at the house (in Florida) about two days ago.
We took precautions about handling it and washing it because we're paranoid and my mother is immuno-compromised so we were just being overly cautious. It's a cute dog garden flag, though!