Advertising

Advertising is the part of the business that is concerned with the way that a product is promoted. It is an important part of a company’s marketing strategy which involves decisions on a product’s price and distribution as well as the development of an advertising campaign. It is such a profitable business that the cost of advertising a product is often more than the cost of making it. For example, a box of cereal costs three or four dollars. However, the grain only costs about 10 cents, the packaging costs about 90 cents and much of the other two or three dollars pays for advertising.
Advertisements try to persuade us to buy things or do things. One way of doing this is by making opinions sound like facts.

Language of Persuasion 
Language is especially important to advertisers. Advertisers choose language carefully. It is one of the main tools they use to convince consumers to buy their product. They do not always present facts but in most cases they give a certain opinion or present a point of view.
Advertisers draw attention to their product by looking at aspects like quality, value, luxury and comfort, scientific backing, attraction, rhyme and alliteration (repetition of sound).

Outdoor advertising – A breath of fresh air
The world of outdoor advertising billboards, transport and 'street furniture' (things like bus shelters and public toilets) is one of the fastest-growing segments in the market.
Outdoor advertising’s appeal is growing as TV and print are losing theirs. The cost of a prime-time TV slot is soaring. However, advertising on kiosks is cheap.
Adding to its attractions has been a revolution in the quality of outdoor displays. Famous architects are designing arty bus shelters and kiosks with backlit displays. Backlighting and plastic poster skins have vastly improved colour and contrast.
This sort of innovation has attracted a new class of advertiser. Particularly attractive to the new advertisers is street furniture, the fastest growing segment of the outdoor market.

I cannot think of any circumstances in which advertising would not be an evil

Arnold Toynbee, historian

Advertising is legalized lying

H.G. Wells, author

Next to religion, advertising is the greatest force in the world. And I say that without … disrespect. Advertising makes people discontented. It makes them want things they don’t have. Without discontent, there is no progress, no achievement

Ray Locke, advertising Executive

Advertising is the greatest art form of the twentieth century

Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980), Canadian author