I'd call them a lying sack of shit, quite honestly, because the best marketing is subliminal and can create a desire that you might not notice for a while or in a different environment. You don't have to click on an ad or immediately jump on Amazon to be affected by marketing. But the fact that you might remember the name of a certtain product when you go to the store and buy that type of cereal or simply yearning for a certain type of phone or shoes or car means that marketing is indeed working on that person.

[–] Rodeo@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

But the fact that you might remember the name of a certtain product when you go to the store and buy that type of cereal

I would look for the knockoff brand that's cheaper.

or simply yearning for a certain type of phone or shoes or car

I used to do this when I was younger, but now the things I want are based in pragmatism. I didnt want my Toyota matrix because I saw an ad about how safe and efficient they are; I wanted it because it is statistically one of the most reliable vehicles produced in the last 20 years. I did my reading and looked at data analyses and chose what I wanted based on the facts.

[–] Angry_Maple@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What about the sneakier ways of advertising? Companies sometimes pay people to write reviews, even if they aren't an influencer. This is because it looks like a "normal person" wrote it, so other people will be more likely to trust it.

You might hear some and not know it, there is a lot of noise in a lot of places. Free samples are also a form of advertising, as the company is paying for them to be given out. It might even be a little sticker on a box of something that you already buy. Grocery flyers are a form of advertising. Someone you know may be advertised to and love the product and recommend it. In that scenario, advertising to them would also affect you, even if you didn't see or hear an ad. Scary stuff sometimes.

The easiest way to fall for it is to believe you are immune. Believing that you are immune to propaganda usually just eventually leads to letting more things slide. The only way to be sure is to be vigilant. Even then, it's an odds game.

[–] Rodeo@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

Those are all obvious and well known methods. Not really sneaky as you seem to think.

Like you say, vigilance.

[–] KevonLooney@lemm.ee -2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You only buy the knockoff because your income is constrained. If your income was higher, you would be buying the brand that was advertised to you. Knockoffs are inferior goods, which is a Economics term for something that you buy less of when you have more money.

The ad worked on you because you want that type of item instead of something completely different. For example, an iPhone ad will not just advertise Apple but also smartphones in general. When you see the ad, you are enticed to buy an iPhone instead of an Android. But also you are enticed to buy smartphones in general, instead of a snowmobile. This is called "mindshare" and it is something large companies spend billions on.

Everyone knows Coca Cola exists but they still advertise to remind you. They want you to be thirsty, specifically for Coke, but just generally too.

[–] Rodeo@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

So if a person sees an iPhone ad and goes and buys an android instead, the iPhone ad still worked on them because "mindshare"?

Are you sure it has nothing to do with the fact that smartphones are in integral part of daily life for people? Any adult knows they basically need one regardless of any ads they might have seen.