Personally, since my primary school, high school, college and even after college I have been wondering how come these advertisers are SO smart and manipulative! They seem to be able to control the human mind…I am still WOWED by some jingles that are been played to make us buy products and services. These advertisers have the tips and tricks to penetrate our minds and in the end we end up doing their bidding (buying their products!). That is why today I decided to talk about advertisement. I hope you enjoy reading through and learn something from it.
As a Maverick and Quirky person that I am; I do not just subscribe to whatever is been advertised. If it is not necessary for me to have I do not spend my money on it. But unfortunately, there are people who always fall prey to the tricks, manipulations and sweet-tongues of these advertisers and their advertisements. Suffice to say that some people are like puppets—hence making to wonder where they put their willpower, discipline and integrity. By puppets I mean some people just fall for anything in vogue. Is that allowed?
Well, I am of the believe that you will find this blogpost helpful, insightful, liberating, inspiring and a game-changer: ultimately setting you up for a more positive life momentum!
Are you a victim of the hidden persuaders? We are all influenced for more than we realize by professional persuaders, the men and women of advertising. Advertisers have something to sell and they use a number of ways to persuade us to buy their products. They spend millions of naira every year studying human behaviour so that they can control our choices effectively.
Certain feelings and fears are common to nearly all of us and advertisers take advantage of these emotions. For instance, most of us need security and want to be popular with others. We also want to be healthy, successful and attractive. By playing feelings like these advertisers make us believe that we need and want certain products because they will improve our lives in some ways. For example, toothpaste makers doubled tier sales in a few years by making people uncomfortable about their teeth and breath. Unless you had fresh breath and white teeth you would be a social misfit!
Another interesting example of emotional manipulation can be seen in the advertising of beauty products. An advertising executive once said that women will pay a hundred naira for skin cream but no more than ten naira for cake of soap. The reason is that soap promises to make them clean. However, cram promises to make them beautiful. The women are buying a promise. In other words, the cosmetic manufacturers are not only selling cream, but hope. Perhaps, the most obvious method of advertising is the use of sex appeal. Some adverts promise success with the opposite sex. If you buy a product, you will get the man or woman of your dreams. For example, an advert for impulse products tells us ‘impulse made me man’s favourite.’ Sex appeal is used to manipulate men as well—“Change to Ego, it will change your life,” says the man in the advert; surrounded by beautiful women.
Image: Instagram (@queenmercyatang)
In other adverts, aimed mainly at men, women are used to sell products not normally associated with them. Research has shown that the image of an attractive woman is always an effective way of advertising. She may sit on a new car or she may lie at a man’s feet stroking his new socks. Whatever she does her image sells. Women are used to as objects to attract male customers. Even colour is used to manipulate our choices.
A company did a test to see if people were influenced by a product’s packaging. Firstly, they gave a group of women three different boxes which all contained the same washing powder. Then they asked them to try out the different washing powders and decide which one was best. After they had used the products, many women stated that the one in the brilliant yellow box was too strong while the one in the blue box left their clothes dirty. The best of all, according to the most of the women was the powder in the third box which has a design of soft cololurs on it.
Next time, you buy something. Ask yourself why you choose that specific product. Are you being persuaded that you need something by the men and women of advertising?
Do you agree with this statement above made by the man in the article talking about advert? I do not agree with him because our Ego is NOT our Amigo!!! He made that statement from a ignorance, blindness and narrow-mindedness
I am an Emissary of Light and an intrepid adventurer. A growth enthusiast and a quintessential person who is very passionate about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, inclusivity, equity, holistic living, mental health, diversity, altruism, sacred activism, service to humanity, gastronomy and compassion. I volunteer with organizations that are focused on youth, education/cultural exchange and climate change awareness. I currently volunteer with Stride Quintessential Youth Initiative (www.weartqp.org) an organization focused on raising the next generation change makers and quintessential African youths. I also volunteer as an English teacher with a Ukrainian organization ENGin Program; an organization promoting education, cultural exchange, peace, respect and compassion (https://www.enginprogram.org/). On my creative aspect I am a heart-based, talented, outstanding, prolific writer. I have published 8 books and currently working on my 9th book. I published several articles in a UK magazine, Canadian and American blog. As a creative person, I am also passionate about media and ICT. I am a graduate of Political Science/Social Studies from College of Education, Agbor Delta State in Nigeria. I did a diploma program on Agricultural Supply Chain Management from Acacia University, Arizona United States (through Athena Global Education) and another diploma program on Business Administration (through Athena Global Education).
Writing has always been a natural way of life for me. I also love meeting like-minded people, spending time in Nature. I am a promoter of anything which promotes Positive Vibes and Positive Energies. Anything that sets the tone for a Positive Life Momentum is my Hobby. I also believe in Compassion. Before I began my journey into Spiritual Awakening and Spirituality; I was a former baptized, zealous and dedicated Jehovah’s Witness. Somewhere deep down in my heart and subconscious mind I had this inner-knowing and feeling that religion is NOT the answer. At least I have the understanding that there is more than meet the eyes…it was not easy to leave a religion that claims to be better than every other ones; but with my determination to embrace my Higher Self, my Magical Divine Self—I summoned up courage and left Jehovah’s Witness in 2013. I could not have made a better choice! The effort and determination was worth it. You can read more about my journey of how I left religion and Jehovah’s Witness.
I am determined to use my blog to raise the Consciousness of Humanity to a Higher Dimension. I believes that I can use my writings to inspire, heal, empower, liberate, teach and enlighten Humanity into embracing Higher Consciousness. My vision is for a society where truth, justice, love, compassion and unity dwells. He strongly believes that people should be treated fairly and equally no matter their skin colour, gender, culture and sexual orientation. As one who is on the path of Personal Development, New Thought, Spirituality, Enlightenment and Inspiration; Kingsley believes that he can use his writings to inspire, heal, empower, liberate, teach and enlighten Humanity into embracing Higher Consciousness. I believe in compassion; compassion for one’s self and compassion for others as epitomized by Guan Yin the Goddess of Compassion. Eastern Spirituality and Spirituality in its entirety have always appealed to me. I follow the teachings and wisdom of Guan Yin, Buddha, Jesus Christs, His Holiness (the 14th Dalai Lama), Lazaris, Galexis, Sirian High Council and the Angelic Beings who works in the Greater Realms of Light and Love.
Other personalities that have been very influential to me are: Master Sri Akarshana, Sadhguru, Shelley Rogers Johnson (AKA Good Witch), Mooji, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Mother Theresa, Robert Kiyosaki, Morihei Ueshiba, Sarah Prout, Ikkyu, Oprah Winfrey, Buddha, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Florence Scovel Shinn, Norman Vincent Peale, Tony Robbins, Marianne Williamson, Eckhart Tolle, Max Erhman, Debbianne DeRose, Nathalie Thompson, Jeannette Maw, Erin Dragonsong, Melody Fletcher, Andy Dooley, Mike Dooley, Bob Marley, Anais Nin, Albert Einstein, Tess Whitehurst, Katherine Hurst, George King, Whitney Houston, Brenda Fassie, Nelson Mandela, Mary McKee, Guru Nanak, Dildar Virk, Enya, Mariah Carey, Jam Aiwuyor, Cynthia Morgan and Anja Ringgren Loven. I have been featured twice in an award-winning TV Station in Abuja where I talked about the issues affecting Nigeria and Africa I was also featured in an American blog where I shared my opinion about the Black Lives Matter. I am of the thought that we create our own reality and we can change the Narrative of our Reality and Lives. So feel free to surf my blog. Let’s labrish!
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