A huge concern of mine with raising kids today is what they are subjected to in advertising. It must be incredibility hard for those who have children. Children are starting pre-school as early as 2. Which is good – they learn social skills and interaction with other children. It just seems like such a long time when you think about it. Usually a child is at home for 18-19 years. The thought of them having 16 years of schooling before college seems funny to me.

In this time when you are not with them, the interaction with their surroundings and with other children takes place. It is only normal to expect good and bad influence. This is all a part of growing up, after all kids learn by example. Some kids are going to be more privy to television and magazine ads. This influence is going to appear in their behavior. Advertising is something a child needs to understand because it is everywhere they go.

Commercials & Children

Kids are watching commercials and hitting replay on the remote control because of a hot model or sexual content used to get attention. Boys are becoming shallow, arrogant and superficial because they will only look good with that hair gel brand. They are led to believe that rude behavior is acceptable in society. Girls are dressing sexier and wearing more make-up to look older. The perfect body provided by the marketers are giving our teenagers a false perception of what the perfect body is. The influence is noticeable just by walking through the mall on the weekend.

Body image is a very delicate topic with teenagers. Young girls should not be influenced by hungry models wearing a size 2. What they should be taught to understand that it is advertising, and advertising only. Decades of research tell us that people strive for beauty and idealism. Depicting a beautiful image touches on the viewer’s emotions. Emotional advertising is key – people want to see exaggerated benefits, not features. People want to be told a story, not hit with technical details. People want to dream – they deal with real life all day, after all!

This image placed in our children’s heads of the perfect, sexy woman or the perfect, handsome is actually harming them. Young girls alone have enough difficulties dealing with the normal stuff of being a teen – without having to have a negative body image.

Teenagers & Sex

The simple truth is, teens have become sexually active at an earlier ages. I think a lot of this is due to exposure to advertising. Needless to say, having sex too young is is emotionally and physically dangerous. Teens aren’t usually aware of all the responsibilities of sex. Or all the consequences.

On the flip side, adult men are finding it necessary to be more cautious meeting women. Horror stories of men come to mind who think the girl is an adult – then finding out she is underage after buying her alcohol or having sex with her. One thing leads to another and we all know what happens next. Jail time for the man who has been deceived by a misleading teenager.

Teenage sex is also opening the door for an unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and depression. I would tell any teen to think clearly about having sex for the first time. What they do today may come back to haunt them tomorrow or farther down the road. Sex should be a beautiful experience, especially the first time; this is an experience that you cannot have again. Once your virginity is gone, that is it. So you better be in love and plan a future with your partner instead of whoring out in order to climb up on the ever so present popularity ladder.

The Perfect Body

Not every woman or even every man can be expected to have a model-prefect body. For some reason, men have been excused from perfection and the pressure is mostly on us women – but that is another story. Using a model with a prefect body to sell products it is influencing young girls and boys as well though: the kids are getting the wrong messages about body image and the meaning of sex. Both are dangerous in the hands of young teens who have yet to be educated. Two of my main concerns are eating disorders and then kids becoming sexually active so young these days. This causes depression and anxiety from being subjected to the pressures brought on by advertising – multiplied by hormones and just being a teen.

I am astounded about the number of young women who have died due to anorexia. Even when there has been so much publicity of young models inflicted with eating disorders and dying of heart failure on the runway. Yes, the actual runway.

What comes to mind here is the tragic story of 22 year old Luisel Ramos and her 18 year old sister liana Ramos. These were two sisters who died within months of each other, both from anorexia, both in the modeling profession – where size zero is expected on the catwalk. Their deaths did bring international concern for models being pressured to be so thin. Italy banned all models who wore a size zero as an effect.

Another case: Ana Carolina Reston, a beautiful Brazilian model, died in 2006 from anorexia related complications. Ana was 21 years old. Statistics show Iceland leading the world-wide death toll due to eating disorders per capita – but the United States, while on position 8, still has in the highest total amount of deaths in the world.

Girls and boys have so many things to deal with as a teenager, not just eating disorders. Hormones are going crazy. Experiencing acne for the first time. They start dating and have extra added pressure with school. Besides that, they are planning for what happens after high school graduation. During all that time, they are surrounded by ads showcasing perfection – but also by the in-school Taco Bells and McDonald’s… Confusing!

Teenagers need to know what a proper diet is and stop hanging out at the fast food places. This is a maze we could all fall into just because of the convenience of a drive-through. It is very easy to fall into this trap and gain extra weight. It is also very easy to fall into the other trap advertising the opposite extreme.

Advertsing is not a topic our kids are going to learn in school; it is the parents’ responsibility to explain what advertising really is. The opportunity for this could also be the perfect time to introduce budgeting to their lives: after all you are molding them into mature and responsible adults; you don’t want them to exceed their expenditures when in college. You’ll be the one ending up paying for it anyway…

So grab a cup of coffee or tea before you start reading my finds. I have some wonderful reads for you!

Positively Present

Positively Present is a delightful blog where you will be captivated by the wisdom and charisma of the author, Dani. I love her work; it’s enchanting with enlightenment and inspiration. You can read 5 Ways to leave your fingerprints on the world and other great pieces – check it out!

Now I thought you might like to check out Dani’s other blog as well, Hope Springs Internal. It is directed towards women and very fun too.

Hope Springs Internal

This article is one of my favorites: Where am I? and who are you?!. You will quickly see that Dani is a very talented blogger (as if you didn’t already see that on her first blog I mentioned above!)

I wish her much success since she just recently entered “the blogosphere”. I predict that you will become very popular, Dani!

Kikolani

This next site is a treasure chest of information and reviews about anything you ever wanted to know about blogging. Then another section with a lot of infos about social media and a gallery with beautiful and fun loving photography. One of the series to follow on this blog is Benefits of Blogging.

Then there is Kristi’s personal blog Discoveries which has several motivating articles about self-awareness – and also beautifully written poetry…

Candlelight
By Kristi

The scene is set so calm, yet so right
Nothing is on but the flickering candlelight
Maybe it could happen this very night
Confirmation that it was love at first sight
If he says that he loves me then I just might
Say it in return with sheer joy and delight
For his affections I would always fight
To hold his hand, fingers intertwined so tight
To have his body close to mine in the night
He makes every day so iridescently bright
My feelings are now no longer shy or slight
They are higher than the highest height
I hope one day to be his bride in white
And he be my groom, my shining knight

I am not sure if I found her or she found me. I first noticed her comments on a few sites and admired her intellect. Then I finally saw her blog and was blown away by the unique plan she has made. I know you will appreciate all of Kristi’s hard work as much as I do. Very inspiring blog.

Making this Home

Making This Home is a blog about a young couple who have found a way to live on two continents at the same time. Katie is an American married to Martin, who is German. Yes, this was extremely interesting for me since I am in a similar relationship but there is definitely more to this blog. It’s adventitious and has a variety of topics that are informative. Cultural shocks of shopping in Germany compared to here in the United States, for example. You can get great information on remodeling houses here as well – they remodeled their kitchen in their German flat a few months back. Katie and Martin are back in the states for the summer, and they have a new home made of recycled tires. Katie has invited us to join her and Martin as they remodel their new home. There are many creative craft ideas for decorating, and I like that they think green.

Another point of interest here, Martin is rebuilding an old plane, and this summer Katie is going to get her pilot’s license. I am so jealous.

Blogging Without A Blog

I have mentioned Blogging Without A Blog a couple of times before on Bunny got Blog. So why does it make the list again? To those of you who don’t know the site, I find it is just awesome. It is a great source of information and provides a friendly and helpful community of “classmates” with an awesome teacher, Barbara. Barbara has created a friendly virtual classroom environment for us… She features guest authors as our “substitute teachers”. With each article she assigns us homework. I love that! Barbara has built a community of wonderful and inspiring bloggers. You are always in good company and each one of your fellow students is ready to help you – and the students are multiplying every day.

Tuesdays, the assignment was How To Capitalize On Your Blog Statistics. The discussion in the comments is great – and this is just one of the many cool topics Barbara writes about about. Here is a special treat for you, Barbara’s showcase list of  featured blogs on her site.

Barbara supports her classroom and I think it is true to say we all adore her. With this said, check out the site for yourself. If you are a newbie to blogging or thinking about starting a blog… Don’t skip school!

Thanks Barbara for everything.

You must be wondering about the apple, right?

So who gets the apple?

We all get a piece.

Thanks Girls -

God Bless
Bunny

Nothing sells better than a flash of skin. But a sexy ad does not necessarily have to come with naked models. Often enough, it suffices to merely suggest, or imply sex, without showing it in-your-face style. It strongly depends on the age of the target group the ad or commercial is geared towards.

So lets talk about sex

This is a mature matter, but I have picked commercials your kids may have viewed (if you have kids). It’s all in the best interest of this series, since sex plays a big role in both print and TV advertising.

Lets not be hypocritical here. I remember when I first met Thumper, there was a definite physical attraction. Then I found out that he was intelligent too, which made him even more attractive to me. Seriously, I can remember looking at pictures and noticing how our bodies perfectly lined up. We are all curious about sex. Sex appeal is one of the biggest motivators – for both sexes.

Now let’s shuttle back in time when the man did the exploring and provided for his family. Often tea producers and tobacco companies used a woman on their label to attract the male to their products. In a sense, it was to remind him of his significant other. In another sense, touching on the longing for the opposite sex. Providing him with a fantasy.

Image by Joan Thewlis. Click to enlarge

It is human nature for us to be curious when it comes to sex. The phrase sex sells has been proven to be working for hundreds of years. Replicas of women carved out of wood were on signs for saloons, tonics and tobacco. As things progressed, images of women were used on packagings and even inside of packs of cigarettes. The W. Duke & Sons Company started using trading cards of sexually provocative starlets in their cigarette packagings in 1885. Within five years, the brand was the leading seller.

But let’s dive into modern advertising now.

Calvin Klein & Mark Wahlberg

As I reflect back onto advertising that caught my eye, one of the first advertisements I recall was with Mark Wahlberg. It was pasted on a city bus, and he was only wearing a pair of Calvin Klein boxers. Go figure. Here’s the corresponding TV commercial:

Lord have mercy, but if you have seen any ofthese advertising posters, you have to appreciate them. Why do I, because I appreciate a handsome man in great physical condition. Because it is normal. Not to mention my bedroom at home was plastered with New Kids On The Block posters. I loved Donnie Wahlberg and having his brother in boxers on my wall was pretty cool.

Absolut Vodka and Kayne West

This advertisement was made to inform us of the collaboration between Kayne West and Absolute Vodka. Or something like that. The artist teamed up with Absolut Vodka to make this funny commercial that gives you the powers to be Kayne. Absolut Vodka has been a sponsor for Kayne since February 2008.

And here is the next one; this time, the brand appears more clearly:

Martini & George Clooney

The ultimate man of sex appeal, George Clooney. I would even hit replay on a George Clooney ad for a cheap vodka. I don’t particularity care for the taste, but I do like George Clooney. This commercial for Martini is one of my favorites. I think you would agree if you had a choice – George or Martini – George would win hands down.

Tanqueray Gin – Playboy & Tony Sinclair

Image source

Here we have a  poster of Hugh Hefner and a couple of his playmates promoting Tanqueray Gin. The popular gin has been around since 1830 – Playboy since 1953. Tanqueray claims the popularity of this endorsement with Playboy still influences sales today.

Rodney Mason, is the actor playing jet-setting party boy Tony Sinclair, is the spokesperson for Tanqueray Gin. Tony Sinclair always has a beautiful woman on his arm and a hilarious laugh. Are you ready to Tanqueray?

Cabana Cachaca Rum Ads

Image source

Is that a tan line? Why yes, it is. Cabana Cachaca is a Brazilian Rum so why not use Brazilian bikini lines? This very provocative marketing strategy has swept the world over the last couple of years and it seems to be working well for them. This poster is mild to compared to the ones showing a clear image of the models breast.

In some major cities in the United States, Cabana Cachaca posters and billboards have been banned because of the nudity. This print ad was one of them: a woman dressed in nothing more than tan lines, a pair of stilettos, and a bottle of the alcohol brand. Here’s a Cabana Cachaca tv commercial:

Smirnoff Vodka and James Bond

Victoria’ Secret

I love Victoria’ Secret and I do purchase many of their products, and this ad is kind of cool. Sex and the recession! Victoria’s Secret is well known for their beautiful models and imagery.

For those of you who actually noticed, the above sexy commercial already portrays Victoria’s Secret’s recent logo evolvement.

Dolce & Gabbana

This commercial is one of my favorites. Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses truly give things a new perspective, according to the ad:

G.Q and Mercedes

Hugo Boss

This is an ad for the Hugo XY and XX cologne. Hugo is a brand extension of Hugo Boss and (clearly) targets a younger audience, as opposed to their other brand Boss.

Nando’s

Here we have a commercial advertising Nando’s  hamburgers. The ad is a promotion for their new Double Breasted Burger. The brand co-op with Coca Cola Zero is included as a product placement.

Milk – It does a body good

Even milk ads got in to the game. This is a video that is a couple of years old but very good.

Axe

The refreshing aroma of this deodorant makes for an interesting experience in the elevator. Plus, a list of sexy commercials wouldn’t be complete without an Axe ad.

Lynex Jet

Here Lynex Jet is promoting the airline of the future. Including the mention of an exclusive member, the mile high club. Sex appeal – fun – fantasy.

Home Depot

Yes -  even Home Depot gets in on the action. There seems to be a sale on heavy power tools, I think. Or did I get it wrong?

Need Glasses?

This commercial was broadcast in Germany a few years ago. It was before I knew Thumper but one of my friends in Munich sent it to me. Now remember this is an advertisement for eye glasses.

It has been fun writing this article and I came across more reads about sex in advertising such as this article by Daily Finance. Many nights while I was collecting the sexy commercials I was seeing squares when we went to bed. So many to watch, I could have gotten stuck on Youtube when I typed in Calvin Klein alone. Every boxer ad popped up and not just Calvin’s brand…

So what do you think – does a sexy commercial have the right to exist at all?

A standard in advertising is to use the perfect model – a well-liked celebrity – in order to attract attention, brand, and build an image. Celebrities are our heroes; what applied to kings and dukes before the modern ages now is true for them. People look up at them and put stock in their opinion because they love them. We love the supernatural role models because they live the lives we dream about.

What is true for Hollywood sometimes applies to Washington, D.C. as well. A stage as slippery as politics inevitably comes with an entertainment factor – a factor that doesn’t always come from the inside: protagonists attract people’s attention by definition. So sometimes, we spectators get lucky to witness a moment that deserves gossiping about just because it’s so fantastic and out of the ordinary. This is a marketer’s dream not only in the United States:

Photo source

In this billboard for underwear brand Bruno Banani, I doubt it was solely about lingerie. In April this year a 1000 Square foot billboard of much loved German Chancellor Angelia Merkel and other prominent German politicians and celebrities was mocked up in front of Berlin’s strip mall Ku’damm. Angela was clad in a purple bra and matching panties – now that’s buzzworthy!

Campaigning for political support is one of the ways the candidates get the word out to us. There is a lot of dirty pool going on, as we very well know, but everyone is fair game when it comes to advertising. Or so it seems. Every piece of information we get, be it through a newspaper story, a magazine feature, or advertising, contributes to the manifestation of an opinion. It’s called building a brand image and the word ‘brand’ can stand for anything you want. Bubble gum, General Motors, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Irak – it doesn’t really matter what it is.

The slogan used in the above billboard says,

We do our best to stimulate the economy.

- the copy then goes on to say, “trade in an old pair of undies and get € 5.- off a new pair!” In advertising, even the perceived claim is interchangeable and in this case, it’s not really about saving $7 when you buy new underwear. It’s more about creating brand awareness and the “saving factor” only offers an added hook to remember the ad’s context. I doubt that many people will take their old undies to the store just to save a couple bucks. So what is really being advertised here?

Advertising is always looking to improve the messages. New paths are approached – over-saturation makes it necessary to stand out. In this case, it does make me wonder if this billboard ad has a subliminal political statement. Germany’s current Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is running against Angela for the highest office in the country in September of this year, is featured on it as well – in a very confident pose right behind Angela Merkel. Given the slogan of the ad, doesn’t Angela look a little featherbrained in contrast? Flashes of my country’s presidential race are coming to mind. I think that at least to a point, this is a piece of the puzzle of the political campaign of competitor Steinmeier.

For those of you who are not aware of Angela’s accomplishments – she is the first woman to be chancellor of Germany. She is also the president of the European Union. Forbes Magazine has named her the most powerful woman in the world 2006-2008. In 2008 Merkel received the Charlemagne Prize after working to reform the European Union.

Billboards. When I see one, what attracts my attention is the scale of it, and the person on it. It is interesting to see advertising billboards that are placed so high above the buildings. They are not only larger than life, but also higher above the ground than anything else. Closer to the sky, so to speak. That’s superiority in extenso.

The picture, or message, becomes complete with all the other ads around us. Cafes, buses and train stations are places where you will find the smaller versions of billboards in poster form. Other posters appear in the street and on the outsides of buildings. Many times they are at eye level to gain the attention of commuter traffic and pedestrians.

The movie with the sarcastic title Thank You For Smoking is about the spokesperson of a tobacco company’s lobby organization (fantastic and hilarious movie, you should watch it!). His tasks include negotiating deals with Hollywood bosses, or bribing the Marlboro Man so that he doesn’t sue the tobacco company for his cancer. In the former case, there is an upcoming movie that our man would like to use to promote cigarettes. It’s a space movie… Nothing is impossible in advertising, right?

Product Placement

So let’s talk about product placement in movies to complete the circle we started. Product placement is a great trade-off between the entertainment industry and advertisers. In the marketing mix (the 4 P’s) it clearly belongs in the ‘Promotion’ category. You know product placement when you watch a movie and the hero is eating a bag of Lay’s or doing a search on Google. Embedding advertisements into entertainment is an attempt to build an emotional bond with consumers – real-life products in a fictional story contribute to brand ubiquity quite a bit.

In a couple James Bond movies, Pierce Brosnan drives a BMW. Then Mr. Bond drives his BMW off the rooftop of Hamburg’s Atlantic Hotel Kempinski right into the Avis Dealership he rented the car from in the first place.

More of the products used in James Bond movies are Perrier Mineral Water, British Airways, IBM Computers, Jack Daniel’s Black Label Scotch, and Smirnoff Vodka. The Omega watch has been the watch worn in Bond movies since 1995 when it replaced Rolex.

A little trivia about Omega: Omega has been the official timekeeper for Olympics since 1932 and will be used again at the Winter Olympics in 2010. The first watch on the moon was worn by Buzz Aldrin and was a Omega.

James Bond is not the only walking advertisement though.

• You’ve Got Mail – America On-Line (AOL), Apple, IBM, New York Times and Starbucks.
• Austin Powers – Pepsi and Starbucks
• Cast Away – FedEx and Wilson Sports equipment
• Men in Black II – Ray-Ban sunglasses, Mercedes Benz, Sprint, Burger King
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider – Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
• Knocked Up – Google, E! Television Network, Red Bull, Sierra Pale Ale, BMW, and Apple computers
• The Bourne Ultimatum – Google, Nokia, Norton Anti-Virus, Motorola Razr, BMW, Volkswagen Touareg, and Mercedes
• Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and The Haunted Mansion (2003) – based upon theme park rides
• Sex and the City – Apple computers, Marlboro, Prada, Manolo Blahnik, Cartier, Christian Dior, Jimmy Choo, Absolut  Vodka, Fendi, Oscar de la Renta, and Durex.

The above is only a tiny fraction. I don’t intend to cover all product placement that has taken place since the dawn of modern advertising – almost every movie that comes out today is co-sponsored by at least one commercial product.

So when you watch a movie, be aware that the celebrity in it is only a celebrity because of his or her popularity among their fans. And down at the very core, deep inside – what is a fan like everyone else in the world?

A consumer!

With today’s economy many of us are spending more wisely. Times are tough here and people are tightening their money belts. I was reading the Bloomburg Press and they stated that consumer spending was at its lowest since 1974.

Still we are subjected to the advertising of new products. At this time, advertising marketers are on overdrive, using whatever it takes to create an eye-catching advertisement for consumers. That is their job and that is why they get paid the big bucks. For the advertisers, it is necessary to make their market be aware of their products, and to attempt to drive sales up.

I find the focus of advertising is more on the person who is buying for the household. Men are being targeted for the expensive, big investments; after all, advertisers sell to demographics rather than just throwing something at the wall in hopes that it will stick. Some of their techniques are ruthless and under-handed, and many use sex to get the consumer’s attention. After all sex sells – right?

Here’s another thing: If you have kids, you may tend to think that most of the advertising is directed to your children and teens.

Why is that?

Psychology is used to attract attention to a product. It is a well-known fact that you should market benefits, not features. What you and I are buying as consumers is not just a collection of screws and pieces of metal, but a magical machine with a great design that makes our bland bread hot & toasty. We are buying into an experience – an experience manufactured by the minds marketing the product.

Marketers are not so much interested in whether you can afford their client’s new toaster or need a new toaster at all. They get paid for coming up with an idea that encourages you to spend your money. More often than not, advertising is about creative persuasion – one might even say manipulation.

Advertising Techniques

Advertising is not just about sex though; there’s more to it. There needs to be a strong message and a strong visual to attract our attention, especially in these times when we are literally flooded with thousands of advertisements per day. Common approaches to combat ad blindness due to over-saturation are things like humor, catchy little jiggles, and – well – sex.

It is my opinion that advertising is a mind game. Thumper gave me this article to read as a part of my research about the use of psychology in advertising. I think you will enjoy reading 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive. It may be comic relief if you include reading through all the comments too. It does make you think about things.

Color psychology in Logo Design is explained very well here on Logo Critiques. This article explains the meaning and use of color and shape in design. The packaging of merchandise is designed to catch the eye and hold interest. Then there are differences when designing for children or for adults.

There is a simple list of common advertising strategies on the Media Awareness Network. Marketers use these methods, among others – all proven to be effective in numerous studies:

• fear – scare tactics are used to make the consumer believe they absolutely have to use the product in order to overcome the “danger”. This tactic includes showing violence.
• fun and pleasure – it is the “in” thing to do. This technique suggests that you will be accepted by the people around you more.
• vanity – the product is going to perform wonders with your health, appearance or sex appeal.

A teenager is going to think they will gain popularity. A man, well some will want to become more youthful, or more macho. For women, I find that many ads go the vanity route.

These techniques are used throughout the world. To the advertiser, it doesn’t matter how offensive the ad is, as long as it doesn’t reflect negatively on the brand and sells.

Demographics

Studies are necessary to save time and money, and to give the marketer a clear feed on whom to target.

To me, it seems that a large part of advertising is directed towards women, especially in today’s society. We are the ones who hold it all together – most of the time, we have the responsibility of managing the household and spending the allowance. We have been doing this for years.

My age group gets pitched with hundreds of anti-aging products, weight loss products, lip plumping lipsticks, push-up bras and seamless panties. Obviously the word is that we want to remain youthful in our appearance.

When the anti-aging creams fail though – provided they have been showing an effect at all -, another product comes along in print ads and TV commercials and store promotions that has been built especially for her skin type and age; a product that has managed to reduce wrinkles for 75% of the test group consisting of 12 persons. So again, she buys another cream and the cycle continues. Why? Because the seed has been planted.

By whom? Advertising agencies coming up with ways to sell products to a market of easily convincable consumers. Anything to attack a woman’s purse.

When she is shopping for her family, she is going to seek out what the kids are teasing for, and that the husband’s needs are satisfied. Even the dog and the plants have to be taken care of. This is why so many, if not all, of the household commercials are directed towards women, and are running between 11 am and 4 pm, because she is usually the one who is shopping for the whole family.

My question is, since our age group usually has the extra expenses of raising kids, mortgages and loans to pay off – why aren’t advertisers focusing more on who has the money? Like 55 and older?

Maybe because that age group has already purchased enough crap that was pitched to them throughout their lives, just to discover that they don’t really need any of it.

This was the first part of a series on advertising from a consumer’s and a marketer’s point of view. Don’t miss the next part: Click here to subscribe to Bunny’s RSS feed.