Does anyone else here think that sex has been totally oversold – that the consumer market has effectively grown weary of constant sexual innuendo in marketing, and that product sales are ultimately suffering as a result?
I suspect one of the main factors is that sex based images are so common place these days from the top-of-the-shelf mag's in the petrol station to the TV that we don't consciously notice them anymore or at least not as much as we did.
This could however be a great tool for the advertisers to use against us as we're probably more likely to take in the whole advert rather than either shying away from it or concentrating on one bit therefore we'll sub-consciously take in the entire message.
I'm only guessing there, but since we feel more comfortable with nudity and related sexual related things we may even spend more time taking in the advert as arrouses a curiosity compared to an advert for umbrellas being held by someone in a long grey coat for example.
I've certainly noticed that the more implicit the sexual connotations, the less likely I am to actually notice the product name or brand.
Are you over 25 by any chance?
I would certainly argue that sexual imagery is more likely to distract the modern male consumer from the product.
That of course assumes all the adverts are aimed at blokes. For example, not sure if you're in the US or UK, but did you ever see a series of ad's who's catch-line was "Hello Boys".
It was I think an advert for Wonderbra's which of course isn't directly aimed at us (well not most of us anyway
) but was apparently very successful. Not really sure of the psychology behind it but I'd guess theres something in there aimed at women - reverse sexual psychology or something.
Oh and for those who didn't see it - I believe it's supposed to have been responsible for more car crashes than any other poster ad - most were blokes running into the back of eachother also!
Trev
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