Advertising

Few things in terms of digital media I find as interesting as advertising. You can’t manage to drive to the grocery story without being bombarded by advertisements on billboards and on the radio.

Thought it was not the largest part of the chapter, what chapter 7 made me think about the most was the branding associated with advertising. We started to discuss the same topic in one of my other classes, so perhaps that’s why this topic was at the forefront of my mind. Why is it that so many people associate themselves not with a product but with a product name? No one listens to MP3 players anymore, but instead they’re always listening to iPods. Other brands often model their own products after those things that have done well. There are even AM/FM radios that have gotten an extreme make over to look like the iPod.



What is it that makes a product so appealing to the masses and catch on in the market? The following graphic seems to prove it the best. It’s a delicate mix of what you’re good at, what your competitors are bad at, and what it is the masses are craving for – this is not a surefire way to success, but it does help to be a bit above the curve. When CDs where the new and improved way to play music media, Sony was at the top of the curve; but when music turned completely digital, it was the apple company that skyrocketed to the top. They saw the market and supplied a product that their masses wanted and competitors could not yet supply.



Lastly, this entire chapter reminded me of the 2005 commercial for Starbucks Espresso shots. The catchy jingle (a common marketing tool) made sure that I would never be able to forget their product.