Earlier today, SocialMediaToday.com (aptly titled) published the results of a recent survey of 500 people regarding their perceptions of advertising. The findings, needless to say, came to one definitive conclusion: people don’t trust advertising. Of those surveyed, only 3 percent reported they thought that the claims made in ads were “very accurate.” I choose to believe those respondents were feeling facetious. Some other findings that were reported:
- Ninety-six percent thought that half or more weight loss ads are ‘Photoshop’d’
- Eighty percent thought that half or more shampoo ads are ‘Photoshop’d’
- Eighty-one percent felt that beauty ads are exaggerated
- Of the percentage who felt that beauty ads were accurate, 77 percent were men
After finishing the article (okay, and during) I couldn’t help but ask:
If most people don’t trust advertising, then why does it still work so well?
How is it able to continue to persuade us even though we tell ourselves that it doesn’t?
Rational thought: “I’ve never had a dream about an electronic before. And why are they making assumptions about me?”
Initial thought: “Diet Coke gives me everything I want and nothing that I don’t want. Diet Coke is sexy.”
Rational thought: “Did I just call chemical sludge sexy?”
But this is just MY initial thought. What do you think? Leave a comment below. I’m sure that you can come up with something better.
