Advertising Doesn’t Negatively Affect American Culture

I would like to explore some of the benefits that advertising provides – it’s not all bad.

Benefits of Advertising

• Stimulates the development of new and better products
• Gives us a wider choice
• Holds prices down
• Encourages competition
• Subsidizes the media
• Supports freedom of the press

Advertising Informs & Protects Us

How else would we know about certain products or services if there was no advertising? The companies who believe in the value of their products are willing to invest their money to inform their potential customers about what they are offering. They are putting their reputation on the line and offering their products and services up for criticism. For this reason, it is probably safer to buy a brand name product that is advertised than a generic one that doesn’t face public scrutiny. Companies that are advertising have to invest in their products to ensure they live up to their claims.

Advertising Gives Us Options

I touched on how some ads make it seem like we can’t be happy without the products they want us to buy in an earlier post. The flip side is that ads can show us alternatives to items that we would buy anyways, and some times give us options that are cheaper. Many ads offer discounts, and if you’re like me you’ll learn to take advantage of them. After Groupon, Living Social and other group-buying sites popped up, you just need to wait until they advertise the item or trip that you’re interested it and buy it for half off. Even if you’re committed to a specific brand, ads can introduce you to other options that you wouldn’t try otherwise. As a marketer I know that it’s harder to invent a need than it is to target a specific need that people are already trying to satisfy. Most advertisers have figured this out too.

Advertising Pays for Other Stuff

As much as people complain about advertising, they gladly (okay maybe saying “gladly” is pushing it) accept it every time they download a free app for their smart phone. There are nearly 3 times as many free Android apps as there are paid. More than half of the free Android apps get 500 downloads or more while less than a quarter of the paid ones reach that level. I will put up with an occasional ad to enjoy my Angry Birds time for free.

There are some great television shows that we didn’t have to pay anything to watch such as LOST because advertisers did so for us. The media and news coverage is also funded by advertisements. It’s nice to be able to get the Chicago Tribune three times a week for a buck fifty – I won’t complain about having to see a full page Macy’s ad in every section. Wherever there are people with purchasing power, there will be advertisers ready to buy ad space. Ads even pay for people’s transportation to work – ever see a car completely covered with logos? You can get paid to drive! (example above) Some may not care about the services that advertising provides, but for the general public advertising provides some nice benefits.

Where else do you put up with advertising for free or cheaper services?