'Shockvertising' spreads to cut through media clutter

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2143696

Summary

This article is based on how 'shockvertising' has become a new way of advertising for marketers. Although this is a benefit to martkets only, this reflects negatively on comsumers. Toyota's idea of using stalking as a way for advertisement lead to a new $10-million lawsuit accusing them of "terror marketing." Because of Toyota, a woman was led to beleive she was being stalked; she recieved emails, videos, and was litterly being stalked by a person in a Toyota car. Though as horrible as shockvertising may seem, Lindsay Meredith, a marketing professor at Simon Fraser University says, " If i thow you a really annoying ad, studies shouw you may remember my product but forget why you remember it." In other words, shockervertising is a good way of advertising and to get peoples attention. Shockvertising is different and is a significant way to get noticed by consumers and to be unique, even if it annoys people. Our society has become more complex and harder to grab attention from, that's why marketers have to be cutting edge and use the method of terror marketing to get noticed. This article states some unforgettable examples of shockvertising like Boost Mobile for instance, has been running ads both online and on T.V. of pigs eating on of their own to show how "enjoying the flavours of a fallen friend." Not only that, but videos for clotheir Diesel showed a woman breatfeeding a puppt made of rotting beef. Even vice-president of development for SDI Marketing says, " We didn't want another lame-ass pasta sauce commercial that zooms in on green peppers while a guy with a gravelly voice talks about fresh ingredients." This is being said because Aylmber past sauce is advertising videos of an angry chief that breaks into peoples homes and pops out where they least expect it. Shockvertising is slowly becoming a popular way of advertising and will soon be spread everywhere.


Connections

Shockvertising are are examples of niche marketing, free market system and demographics. This method of advertising is exactly what niche marketing is; it's only appealing to certian people and to the target market. Although this also connects to people who are agianst it. Free marketing system is also used, marketers are able to do whatever they desire as long as it doesn't hurt anyone; also known as freedom. Lastly, demographics is also connected to shockvertising. It is a way to catagorize a group of people. Marketers need to keep a good demographic profile in order to attract target consumers. At the same time many people can be offended because the message implied is offensive to certian people. Like Toyota's way of advertising for instance, stalking has no good and is a bad method of marketing period.


Reflection

It's hard to explain but I don't entirely feel that shockvertising is a bad but at the same time I do. It is a good way to get noticed by consumers and to be unique. It's true that the strangest ads are the most memorable, that's a plus side to shockertising. At the same time it can be quiet annoying and disturbing. I think it would be better if marketers would think of more suitable ads apposed to something weird like rotting beef. I’m sure they can come up with ads that are neutral and don’t offend people or make them feel awkward after viewing their campaigns. Hopefully marketers come up with better ways of being “unique” so there’d be less terror marketing spreading around.