How much does advertising influence your purchasing decisions?
I’d like to think that I’m immune to all forms of advertising. Probably a foolish thought on my part. Yet to me, advertising is just trash. It gets in the way on tv, web sites, youtube, radio, fluther, and just fills my mailbox with fire starter. That’s all it is to me.
I cannot recall purchasing anything based upon an ad campaign. Well actually, the most impressive ad I’ve ever seen was a note stuck on my door from Tommy wanting to mow my lawn for $20. I might give him my cash. I might not.
Does advertising influence me in subtle ways that I’m not aware of? I can’t think of a single precedent to support that thought.
I could however be influenced by packaging. I appreciate aesthetically pleasing packaging. It demonstrates thoughtfulness, and I perceive that thoughtfulness to be present in the entire product. Perhaps I’m mistaken. Certainly packaging is a form of advertising… yes?
Do you let the ads do your shopping for you? What good does advertising do?
My personal business is 100% promoted by word of mouth. I’d say 50% of my purchases are based upon word of mouth as well. The other 50% based upon need or experience with the product with a healthy dose of web research and end user product reviews.
In fact, I’d say that most heavily advertised products I’ve purchased never come close to living up to the promises made about them. But most referrals have indeed met or exceeded my expectations.
Do companies get their money’s worth in advertising? Is it your money they get because of it?
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Probably they have more influence than I am able to admit. They have been practicing their arts for many years since Vance Packard wrote The Hidden Persuaders, and I am sure they have learned even more nefarious means of parting us from our money.
My first question is always “How much is it?” That, and word of mouth from my friends on whether they’re happy with the product are the main inducements when I buy. Ads on TV or elsewhere don’t tempt me as much.
Not at all. At the stores, I buy according to price only, which means mostly generic. I buy as much fresh produce from the farmer’s market, so very few ‘branded’ products there. I don’t even use most of the products I see advertised, so there’s not much to avoid.
Do you whiten your teeth? If so, you are a victim of advertising. Just a few years ago, there were no whiteners in toothpaste and there were no home whitening products. No one perceived the need for whitening their teeth. The entire market was created.
Advertising has some impact on me.
I tend to stick with brands I have always used or that I have discovered. I only use coupons for products that I would buy anyway.
I have never bought something because of advertising. Or because it was popular. Now, if I see a cool movie character wearing awesome boots, I might want a similar pair. But no one was trying to convince me to buy them. I change the channel when commercial come on.
I buy what I want. Advertising doesn’t do much to get me to buy something. It does, however, get me to not buy something. If a commercial or advertising campaign gets on my nerves I’ll make it a point to not buy that product.
What advertising does do for me is to alert me when something is available that I would have gotten anyway, had I seen it first.
I really never paid much attention to ads, especially those on television. most are boring and knock me out of bed with the loud volume, when they come on.
One commercial i did pay attention to was in 2000. a Toyota commercial came on for the new Toyota Solara. i had instant love for that vehicle and had to have one.
My wife surprised me with a brand new one on Fathers Day, almost 10 years ago. she drove me to my local Toyota dealer and made me shut my eyes. a man drove my new car to the front of the car lot. a big, bright red ribbon was wrapped around it. i literally jumped for joy. i love that car and always will. i still have it and treat it like a second wife….very gentle.
I LOVE advertisements! Commercials, print ads, etc. I actually think I want to get into copywriting for advertising as a career. But the only influence ads have on my purchasing decisions is making me aware of products.
Flippin’ every time I see a pizza a commercial I get hungry!! I think ads influence me in the sense that they put the product out in front of me, reminding me to try it, or buy it again. I don’t think I get sucked in by feeling I have to have something just to have it, or compete with peers though.
@dpworkin ”...and I am sure they have learned even more nefarious means of parting us from our money.”
@Draconess25 ”...if I see a cool movie character wearing awesome boots, I might want a similar pair. But no one was trying to convince me to buy them.”
Are you sure no one was trying to convince you to buy them?
Advertising tends to have a reverse effect on me. My thinking is “if the product is really good, they wouldn’t have to spend money advertising it”. It actually irritates me when a product I use becomes popular; I’ve been known to remove product labels from clothing and other things I buy. I was tempted to remove the three-pointed star logo from several of my vehicles.
@Draconess25 Product placement in movies and TV is a big business. People who don’t respond to direct advertising will often buy a product their favorite film star is seen using. They gotcha!
Some advertising actually influences me to NOT buy any product or service from that company.
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