Plastic Food

Many restaurants use plastic food and fake things in their ads to make their food look better.  The first time i heard of this was when i heard milk shows up a different color on camera so people use glue sometimes instead.  Im not sure if this is true today, but Dominos is one of the few stores that says they will only use pictures of their actual pizzas. 
If you have ever seen the picture of a burger and then actually ordered it and been dissapointed because it looked nothing like what you had seen before?

Response to Cam: Way Too Many Valentine's Day Commercials!

I completely agree that Valentines is forced onto men to purchase things for their girlfriends.  It starts early in the same way that November 1st has become the new day to start playing christmas music.  By the time these holidays actually get around, people are already sick of hearing about them and are ready to move on before it is even over.  It goes the same the other way, like holidays seem to drag on because people leave their lights up long and you see sales long after a holiday is over.

Response to Chris: Social Activities Council Winter Weekend

I saw a lot of posters up around the school and I usually read through the announcements before you get to log onto your email for ksc.  I found out about the winter weekend, but it was not enough advertising to make me want to go out of my way to stay at school for the weekend.  Almost every kid who goes to keene state walks down appian way.  If there was a painted piece of plywood in front of the science center, like when the frats have rush week, many more kids would get a chance to find out about the event.  I think many kids would be excited to eat food that is not from the dc, so stressing the free food in the posters might help draw a crowd.
Would more people show up depending on weather alone for an outdoor event?

Mascots Are Creepy

Many different companies are using mascots in all of their advertisements to help sell their product.  One of which is the gecko in the Geico commercials.  In the new Burger King commercials they use  "The King" as a comic to catch viewers attention. Many sports team also have mascots such as Wally, the green monster from the Red Soxs.  Most of the mascots are used in these commercial or live events for entertainment and comedy.  The comedy is for the adults, but children may also want the product without even knowing what it is because of the mascot.  Most younger kids would not care to go to a Red Sox game, but if you asked them if they wanted to see Wally, they would probably say yes to their parents.

Are mascots used to attract kids or give comedy to adults?

Christina's Online Television

I am a huge fan of hulu but it seems like every year they add more and more commercials.  It is good for both you and the advertiser that you get to pick what kind of commercials that pop up during your shows.  This way advertisements arent wasted on people who have no interest in the products.  It would be like showing a product that only girls would use on my tv.  The company still had to pay to show me that ad, but it didn't get them another sale. 

Jingle Time

Some companies will add a catch phrase or a jingle in their commercials to keep a product in your mind.  As soon as most people hear Subway, they start to think "5 dollar foot long".  I'm sure many people have checked their credit report at freecreditreport.com, only because it is so popular because of its advertisement.  They are usually quick commercials that are meant to be funny and put something to stay in your head.  If they make a song so catchy and popular, people will start to think of that company more when they need that product.  Its almost like they get free advertising when people discuss the commercial in private conversations or start to sing it on their own. 
Have you ever had a jingle stuck in your head or talked about a funny commercial that you've seen?

In response to Christina's Marketing Blog: Advertising v. Marketing v. Propaganda

In today's hyperpartisan society, how can politicians and their parties manage the fine line between advertising and propaganda?

 

I think you had the right idea by saying advertising only focuses on the visual part of the product in order to make it sell and that marketing is more the business side of production.  I agree about propoganda and the negative ideas instantly put in our heads when we hear the word.  You made a good point to say that it shows a one sided version of the idea being discussed.  Advertising and propoganda needs to be separated by showing both sides of the story and proving why one idea is better instead of just showing one side and bashing the other.  Advertising in politics is almost showing a fantasy and an unrealistic dream.  Looking back on many of the politicians ads, most all of the ideas in their ads fell through and never made it into any laws.