Going about my business as usual this morning, my first exposure to persuasion was an advertisement on the side of my email inbox, announcing printable coupons for veggie chips. I decided to explore this website a little further. Doing so, I discovered that Everyday Saver (the name of the website) strives to provide people with coupons that they can print directly from their computer. The coupons being advertised today were veggie chips and Chex Mix, fifty cents off each. Basically, it was saying that its products could save me money. The reason why I was not taken by this pronouncement? Because I have no interest in buying veggie chips or Chex Mix. The simplicity of the layout and step-by-step instructions to savings might have been something I'd have stopped to think about, if I was the person who buys groceries in my family.
Just a few hours later, I turned on the television. I was met with a commercial for Purina Dog Chow Light and Healthy. It was explaining why this new product by Purina was the best dog food for you to buy by saying how it would make your dog healthier and trimmer because of the reduced calories. It also stated all of the tasty aspects of the kibble, making it obvious why your pet would love it.
Actually, I thought that the dog food commercial put up a good argument. Though I am happy with the food that my dogs are currently eating, the commercial was very persuasive. Part of what made it so influential were the pictures of and videos of a dog, the food, and a dog eating the food.
Later in the afternoon, I opened an previous edition of Reader's Digest. As I perused the pages, I came across an advertisement for an American cookbook. This message was quite persuasive. Even though I am not planning on buying Tastes of Home: Recipes Across America, the opening line ("Discover the country's best flavors") caught my eye immediately. I don't know about you, but I sure do like to eat, and I like to eat good food. 735 delectable all-American recipes I can make myself, encompassing everything from steak sandwiches to cream pies, sounds like a good deal.
So, what did I learn by paying attention to advertisements? That like it or not, they are truly all around us and that the best we can do is learn to think for ourselves as much as possible.
References
ABC at approximately 1:15 pm on September 17, 2013.
No author. (2013). Discover the Country's Best Flavors. Reader's Digest. Volume 182 (Issue No. 1090), page 59
Saver, Everyday. (Copyright 2013). ggveggiechips - Printable Coupons. Retrieved September 17, 2013, from: http://www.everydaysaver.com/ggveggiechips
