7 tricks advertisers use

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Advertisers manipulate our minds so that we pay attention to the product and buy it. But don't fall for their tricks.

1. Products with a "human" face

Often in advertising, non-living objects are credited with human characteristics in order to make consumers empathize and evoke emotional associations with the product.

When you see advertisements in which the product is endowed with emotion and thus tries to appeal to your feelings, try to abstract and soberly assess the real characteristics of the product before buying it.

2. Public approval

The opinion of others is very important to people. That is why sites with reviews for products and services are so popular. Ads often use phrases like "Most buyers prefer our brand."

Of course, such claims are not always based on opinion polls. But even unfounded statements of this kind change the opinion of buyers about the product for the better.

Check to see if the claims are based on real research, and be sure to check whether the research was conducted by a reputable organization or a company sponsored by the seller.

3. "No" advertising

Consumers do not like to be told what to do directly and praised the product. Some advertisers take advantage of this and highlight minor product flaws to show that they are completely honest with the consumer of their own choosing.

The seller is unlikely to reveal significant flaws in the product. Don't take the advertisers' word for it and research the features of the product yourself.

4. Ultimate motives

Some corporations try to motivate consumers to buy their products by pretending that their goal is not really this, but something else. As a rule, they play on the nobility of buyers. For example, they announce that some of the proceeds from the sale of their products will go to charity.

Find out if the funds received are actually going where they need to go. And think again if you need this product. If not, you can spend the money for charity yourself, without succumbing to the manipulation of advertisers.

5. Sex as motivation

Advertisements for products ranging from perfume to fast food often use sexy imagery. The hint that a product can contribute to a more or less successful sex life subconsciously improves consumers' opinion of the product, even if they do not notice it.

Consider if the advertised product has something to do with sex. If it's not condoms or other specialized products, it's likely that advertisers are simply using your sexual desires to manipulate you.

6. Beautiful pictures

At the visual level, advertisers influence potential buyers with beautiful product images, which are often far from reality. For example, to give the burgers the perfect look, they can be tinted with brown shoe paint before taking a photo, and sprayed with hairspray on the fruit to give them the freshest look.

If possible, take a look at the product live before buying it.

7. Targeting

Companies monitor our behavior on the Internet, and then use the data obtained to advertise certain products in a targeted manner. Recently, targeting has also appeared offline. For example, some stores install sensors that monitor users' eye movements, and subsequently analyze the data obtained in order to understand how best to display products in the store and attract the attention of different audiences.

Try to avoid targeted ads. If you really need this or that product, it is better to find good sellers on the Internet yourself, without clicking on the paid links.