Oxymorons in advertising

Sometimes advertisements don't make any sense at all. Stores commonly use the line "the more you spend the more you save." I personally hate this saying because it is a lie. When you are spending money, you are doing the opposite of saving money. Thus you can't save money by spending it. People are brainwashed into thinking that they need to reach $100 in order to save an extra 10% (a measly $10) or whatever the deal is. Unfortunately many fall victim to this trick and spend extra money in order to reach the prize of (extra savings). They don't realize the extra spending they are doing in order to "save money". When you go shopping, know exactly what you're getting, don't get distracted or side-tracked by the glitz and glam of sales.

Psychological Advertising Part 4

Some advertisements are incredibly effective even though they have nothing to do with what they are selling. If you are repeatedly shown two items together you will start to pair them in your memory. Just think about Joe Camel or Geico's Gecko, amazing characters that are memorable. I am a fan of conversational commercials. These are the commercials that are contraversal or start up conversation. I particularly like the Geico Cavemen campaign that is currently running. Other favorites that come to mind are the Budweiser frogs and geckos. What are your favorite commericals?

Psychological Advertising Part 3: We like people like us

You may have noticed the new advertising campaign for the Mac. It is pretty funny, one guy is "PC" older gentleman, with glasses, dorkier, stiff; the other character is "Mac" he's young, hip, and witty. Here is a great example of advertising that focuses on a certain market. The Mac appeals to college aged kids that look, talk, and act like him. We generally identify and trust those people who resemble us. While the PC is an older dude, more like a father figure, who just doesn't get it. The ad campaign is very clever.

Psychological Advertising Part 3: Create a need, draw on emotion

Psychological Advertising Part 3:

Humans have basic needs. Let's go back to some basic Psychology and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. After the basic needs are fullfilled, food, water, shelter etc. you are able to concentrate on higher level things. Next we have the need for safety. A lot of times advertisements can play on our fears. Fear is one of our strongest emotions. You may see an advertisement for a security system that shows a burglar breaking into a house and causing harm to a family. Insurance is a big player in the area of fear and safety. Basically you are paying someone to feel safe and they will offer insurance against just about anything these days if you're will to pay for it. You may receive a long term illness insurance. These things are not likely to happen to you, but if you are afraid they will, or if you are convinced to live in fear, you'll buy them for peace of mind. All to feel safe. This plays upon the need for safety. Right now EHarmony is playing upon the need for intimacy. Really people got together before the internet and people when out on dates and talked and found compatable mates. I'm sure of this. People were dating long before the internet was invented. But if someone is feeling down because of failure, and this service promises happiness, and shows pictures of happy couples, what do you think will happen. The person's need for intimacy will be strong enough motivation to try this service.

Psychological Advertising Part II: Appeal to their desires

What do people want? What do you want? Money, power, pleasure, happiness. Humans naturally are attracted to things that bring them pleasure and will repeat actions that bring them pleasure. Humans also try to avoid things that bring them pain, so they will avoid situations that bring pain. So we seek pleasure and avoid pain, pretty simple. You want to associate your products with pleasure or happiness.

Psychological Advertising Part I: Be sexy. Be interesting.

Psychological Advertising Part 1
We all know that sex sells. It is a primal force of nature that will be reckoned with. Many famous advertising campaigns depict picture perfect people (guys getting a hot girl because of a beer, or a women attracted to an underwear model because of his aftershave). Sex is interesting to us because it is hardwired into our system as a base desire. If the advertiser can get you to associate their product with sex, then they have been successful.