Trends you've noticed in advertising.

[Nuzzolese]

Trends in advertising. I don't always understand them but I assume they're all intentional and calculated and the result of hours of test audience sampling.

Have you ever noticed that magazines aimed at upper-middle class middle aged women are often designed in muted colors? They're like dusty sage and peach and faded blue. see below
http://www.marthastewart.com/
http://www.magazines.com/ncom/mag?mid=0000003026&afd_number=3823&lkkey=Oprah+magazine
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/homepage/noflash/0,23022,,00.shtml

Either these colors are just stylish now, or they mean something to that demographic. They mean shop, buy, spend. Or do they just appeal to that age? Or just to a mood?

Look how colorful Seventeen Magazine (http://www.seventeen.com/) is. Quite different.



Another thing is commercial voices. Most of the times when the voice is female, for a specifically female product, it seems like they use a kind of low, scratchy voice. Unless it's a condom commercial. But if there's a voice-over, especially in TV commercials for diapers or calcium supplements, the lady sounds kind of quirky and rough-voiced. Maybe so it's no annoying, maybe so it can be understood, maybe because it's supposed to sound like your best sassy gal pal from next door who comes over for coffee.

If you're going to tell me I put too much thought into this, or that it's too long for you to read, back off first and then don't bother. :)

[Qdrop]

i've noticed that many advertisers use sex to sell thier products...

crazy, i know...

[marsdaddy]

You really do put too much thought into this. You should join the peace corps or something.

Muted colors appeal to eating, food prep, etc. Very relevant to the slowing metabolism, kids off to college crowd.

Bright colors speak to action. Since teens spend much of their parents' income, this is action.

In both cases, the publishers are setting a mood to buy. There is a theory in marketing about levels of recognition before a purchase is made. Magazine advertisers help create the mood.

On a side note, have you ever noticed an ad in a mag that doesn't fit? I see this in Vibe, all the time. Probably because the publisher has less than full control over the ads and/or the mag is in desparate need of cash.

As for voiceovers, when it's a celebrity, it goes back to the levels of recognition -- Wilfred Brimsley is old and unhealthy but he's eating Quaker Oats. I watched way too much TV lately and the Medicare Drug Discount Plan is infiltrated with celebrity endorsers. I even saw Barney Miller!

[Nuzzolese]

You really do put too much thought into this. You should join the peace corps or something.


Too much thought into it. I don't know why people say that shit. It's just the fleeting thoughts that pass through my mind. How is it too much?

[Nuzzolese]

On a side note, have you ever noticed an ad in a mag that doesn't fit? I see this in Vibe, all the time. Probably because the publisher has less than full control over the ads and/or the mag is in desparate need of cash.

As for voiceovers, when it's a celebrity, it goes back to the levels of recognition -- Wilfred Brimsley is old and unhealthy but he's eating Quaker Oats. I watched way too much TV lately and the Medicare Drug Discount Plan is infiltrated with celebrity endorsers. I even saw Barney Miller!

You read Vibe?! In the 50s Seventeen had ads for dishes and silver patterns but not for colleges.

[marsdaddy]

Too much thought into it. I don't know why people say that shit. It's just the fleeting thoughts that pass through my mind. How is it too much?Partly to piss you off, I'm sure. The "shit" part shows your dislike.

You read Vibe?! In the 50s Seventeen had ads for dishes and silver patterns but not for colleges.I have read it since it's intro in 93. I actually don't read it as much, just skim.

Of course Seventeen had ads for dishes and silver patterns. I wonder if in the 40's there were ads for the military?

[Nuzzolese]

I suspect those muted hues might be trendy now, because you didn't use to see them. They weren't as popular for the middle aged back in the 80s or 70s. Unless bacl then the driving powers of influence were not the mid-aged women like they seem to be now. I would have thought they were though.
Martha Stewart's stuff is always pale blue and green, and she has so much influence I think she had a lot to do with this style becoming so popular. Oprah and Martha Stewart, such influential women for the demographic that spends the most money.

[Nuzzolese]

Partly to piss you off, I'm sure. The "shit" part shows your dislike.

I have read it since it's intro in 93. I actually don't read it as much, just skim.

Of course Seventeen had ads for dishes and silver patterns. I wonder if in the 40's there were ads for the military?

Careful, don't think too much.

[Sarky Devotchka]

ladies of a certain age are ready to relax and be themselves, they require soothing colors.

I noticed that there's a hell of a lot more scented things out there than there used to be. how fucking ridiculous is that scent stories thing? it's like 30 bucks and looks like a big ugly CD player. where are you supposed to put it? it's a bunch of bullshit.

[Nuzzolese]

I love advertising, and what you said is very much on target. There are trends just like with everything. And it seems to go along with popular trends in music, movies, and whatnot. I like it when a commercial becomes part of pop-culture itself because easily the sheep are lead.

Remember that Cha-ching guy? I wonder what ever happened to him. And then the Dell guy. The Time to Make the Donuts guy just died recently. These people just seemed to have all lucked into getting a catchy ad and get some time of fame then they vanish. Oh god, do you remember the Encyclopedia Britannica guy? He was a tall goofy "teenager guy" with glasses, talking to the voice-over about how he got a C on a paper *shrug* "overkill"

[Nuzzolese]

ladies of a certain age are ready to relax and be themselves, they require soothing colors.

I noticed that there's a hell of a lot more scented things out there than there used to be. how fucking ridiculous is that scent stories thing? it's like 30 bucks and looks like a big ugly CD player. where are you supposed to put it? it's a bunch of bullshit.

That thing cracked me up. I thought it was a fake ad like SNL or something.

Man, I can't tell you how many times I've been fooled by fake commercials. I think they're an ad for an exercise machine or a new movie but it turns out to be a commercial for auto insurance or hamburger or something. Advertisers are outsmarting me.

[marsdaddy]

Martha Stewart's stuff is always pale blue and green, and she has so much influence I think she had a lot to do with this style becoming so popular. Oprah and Martha Stewart, such influential women for the demographic that spends the most money.It's a bit of a fad, mixed in with a strong core of loyal followers. From an influence perspective, Martha going to jail was genius, as was Oprah turning 50. What strikes me as funny is how both of these women are so ever-present in their media empires, and yet the women to whom they speak often seem to be in the background.

Burger King's colors were orange and brown as they believed those colors stimulated appetites.

[monkey]

muted colors are pleasant to the overexposed eye of middle aged people. especially women, they respond well to "peaceful" colors.

men respond to black and a bright color alongside it, like green or red. check out men's magazines.

teens are shown many colors because it appeals to the "spirited" nature of youngsters. color is supposed to be equal to youth.

music also identifies with youth, except now, because music was so pivotal to the baby-boomer generation, older songs in advertisements are to appeal to them.

colors and the such also change with the desired audience. for more upscale advertisements, the colors are bright and tend to be primary, with more color used with more common magazines (see: tabloids).

this is really a great topic. ive read a great deal about it, and im always looking for more. so if anyone has suggestions... suggest away!

[monkey]

And then the Dell guy.

i had class with him. he thought he was hot shit when he got the dell contract. he started doing too much coke. he's not doing anything now.

[ms.peachy]

What I've noticed about TV ads here in the US since I've been here is that apparently, offices are full of 'wacky' people who engage in bizarre bahaviours on a totally deapan manner. The one that springs to mind at the moment is for (I think) some sort of Motorola phone, and has these guys in an office white-guy-dancing to a Salt n Pepa song, then calmly pausing to answer a colleague's question, then resuming the wacky white-guy-dancing. But I've noticed a handful of other quite similar commercials as well. I had no idea the cubicles of middle management across America were filled with such droll high jinx!

[jabumbo]

i really hate car/truck commericals


they all either tell you the stupid awards they won or have them performing some asinine thing like getting hit by a meteor

[jabumbo]

The one that springs to mind at the moment is for (I think) some sort of Motorola phone, and has these guys in an office white-guy-dancing to a Salt n Pepa song, then calmly pausing to answer a colleague's question, then resuming the wacky white-guy-dancing.


best commercial ever!! (y)

[bigblu89]

best commercial ever!! (y)

Man, I can't agree with you more. The play it at least 5 times during Football games on Sundays, and I laugh like a mad man every time.

[marsdaddy]

Man, I can't agree with you more. The play it at least 5 times during Football games on Sundays, and I laugh like a mad man every time.Do either of you use Nextel/Sprint? Make IT purchase decisions for your companies?

[Qdrop]

i really hate car/truck commericals


they all either tell you the stupid awards they won or have them performing some asinine thing like getting hit by a meteor

every fuckin truck or SUV commercial depicts the thing climbing over rocks and pushing through the canyons and shit...
who the fuck does that?
all the average guy needs it for is to drive to the grocery store.

such a mindless appeal to the simple male ego.

"if i get that SUV, i can drive through streams and canyons! ooooh. that'll come in handy when i drive to the bank!"

[bigblu89]

Do either of you use Nextel/Sprint? Make IT purchase decisions for your companies?

No and No. (Verizon, and Finance Department)

But I dance to "Push It" at inappropriate times almost every day, so I can relate.

[Qdrop]

What I've noticed about TV ads here in the US since I've been here is that apparently, offices are full of 'wacky' people who engage in bizarre bahaviours on a totally deapan manner. The one that springs to mind at the moment is for (I think) some sort of Motorola phone, and has these guys in an office white-guy-dancing to a Salt n Pepa song, then calmly pausing to answer a colleague's question, then resuming the wacky white-guy-dancing. But I've noticed a handful of other quite similar commercials as well. I had no idea the cubicles of middle management across America were filled with such droll high jinx!

as funny as that commecial is....the sad thing is that those poor men don't realize they are demonstrating to their superior why they need to be downsized. just one of them is required to do that job now, thanks to nextel.
idiots.
DANCE TO THAT!

[jabumbo]

Do either of you use Nextel/Sprint? Make IT purchase decisions for your companies?


i do have sprint, but not nextel? i don't have a walkie talking thing anyway...


i wish i could make some decisions so that i could get a computer thats not running on a pentium 2 with like 350 MHz of ram...

[SobaViolence]

You read Vibe?! In the 50s Seventeen had ads for dishes and silver patterns but not for colleges.

in the 50s, women werent real people yet.

[Bob]

i really hate car/truck commericals


they all either tell you the stupid awards they won or have them performing some asinine thing like getting hit by a meteor

my favorite ones are the saab (i think) commercials. they're just like "saab: we used to build jets"

er, ok. can you make a car?

[mickill]

Bob's so clutch.

I only pay attention to Canadian beer commercials; average looking dudes with little to no fashion sense mingling with beautiful women outnumbering them by a 2 to 1 ratio, a little faux classic rock and some wry humor, altogether hardly tainted by the tiny government-sanctioned blurb at the bottom of the screen reminding me to please drink responsibly. This is comfort food for the male ego/psyche. I respecognize that shit.

[CrankItUp!]

Remember that Cha-ching guy? I wonder what ever happened to him. And then the Dell guy. The Time to Make the Donuts guy just died recently. These people just seemed to have all lucked into getting a catchy ad and get some time of fame then they vanish. Oh god, do you remember the Encyclopedia Britannica guy? He was a tall goofy "teenager guy" with glasses, talking to the voice-over about how he got a C on a paper *shrug* "overkill"
http://theyseethenumber.ytmnd.com The Encyclopedia Britannica Guy - for your enjoyment ! :rolleyes:

[Bob]

heyremembertheguyfromthemicromachinescommercialswh ousedtotalklikethisidontbecauseiwasbarelyaliveinth e80'sbutthat'sprettygoodmarketingifyourmarketiskid swithADDifyouaskme

[guerillaGardner]

Another trend in advertising is to attempt to demolish any notion of holistic or preventative health - indigestion tablet ads that show people doing Yoga with the word 'freaks' stamped across them; ads that have people telling you all the reasons for acid indigestion, only to be told that "No its acid that causes it"; ads that ridicule folk remedies; ads that say do what you want, eat what you want, feel great....... the list could go on.

If anyone gets the chance to watch a documentary called "Dying for Drugs" then watch it. More 4 have been showing it. People need to know what fuckers the pharmaceutical companies are.

[b-grrrlie]

When I was studying garden design a few years ago I knew I'd arrived to the middle of nowhere when the local TV had ads for combine harvesters...

[BryanFerryRocks]

For a while, it seemed as if everything was becoming "Extreme."

[TAL]

As in "More Than Words"?

[BryanFerryRocks]

As in "More Than Words"?

More along the lines of "Extreme Cheese Fries with Action Sauce."

[Documad]

Do either of you use Nextel/Sprint? Make IT purchase decisions for your companies?
Good point! Funny/popular commercials almost never sell the product.

Most of the time, I can't even remember what the product was.

[THRILLHO]

I see new suburbs advertised on T.V without black people. And if they do feature black people, none of them are wearing skullys, or listening to Masta Ace.

They're wearing red shirts tucked into blue jeans, under some harpsichord shit just screaming: "We're not the ones that rob you. (y) "

(n)