Effectivity

Advertising is effective. If it wasn't it wouldn't still be around. It is effective because of the way it gets the message out. Some of it is intrusive and can work in reverse, but I believe that in a lot of cases it is beneficial to the product and the company that made/designed it. Case and Point: Apple iPod MP3 Players. Who had ever heard of them before they started their ingenious campaign with silhouetted people against a colorful background? This was an innovative and creative approach. It draws in anyones attention and even now, in 2008, I await the next campaign or posters in the series. Yeah- so I went out and got one. I love my iPod.

Another example: Coach Perfume. Actually - almost any perfume. The print ads taken out in magazines with the inserts or the folded paper with scented insides is ingenious. It's a great way to get the smell out there without forcing it on the consumer. It is our decision whether to open the fold or not. So a couple weeks ago I got my Vogue and inside it was a super colorful Coach Perfume ad. Since Coach has built up such a brand reputation I immediately looked at it and the bright colors and the difference between the other dramatic expensive perfume ads made me want to smell it. So I did. Then the following week I went out and bought the $80 perfume. Yeah it was pricey, but the packaging is great and I love the smell.

Okay, advertising can also work in reverse. Some campaigns go completely screwy and the product bombs because of the campaign. CBS ran some crazy campaigns where they advertised on very unlikely products. These products should not be associated with these products and makes me not want to watch CBS or use the product. Not a good idea.