Marketing efforts can influence consumer needs, but they really can't change them. Marketing can make us believe we need products and services; however, if we buy them and discover that they really aren't that necessary, the whole illusion is punctured and word quickly gets around that the "hot new thing" isn't so vital after all. Sometimes, novelty crazes will start as a result of aggressive marketing, but these types of marketing pushes aren't built to last.
Examples of marketing efforts that made us buy extremely silly things include the "pet rock" marketing campaign in the Seventies, which made consumers believe they needed to pay big for plain stones they could find almost anywhere, or Chia Pets, which are animal-shaped ceramic or terracotta shaped that sprout leaves that resemble green fur. These are just a couple of examples of how marketing can capture the public's imaginations, and influence purchasing patterns.
However, in the end, a necessity is a necessity, and common sense tends to prevail. This is the reason why marketing efforts can't really change consumer needs, especially for people with less disposable income to throw around on non-essential items. After all, the less you have, the more obvious your needs become - food, shelter, and power tend to top the list, followed by clothing, medicine, transportation, etc.
Learning about the ways in which marketing can influence consumer buying patterns is quite fascinating. Marketing is an art form, and it can be a very creative thing; however, marketing always relies on certain fundamental principles, which include putting a company's image in a positive light, and solving a customer's problems through exactly the right products and services. The power of fresh, modern images, witty or funny ads, and powerful company mission statements can also sway the public to reach a little deeper into their wallets and buy things that they never used to think they "needed".
- Examples
Examples of marketing efforts that made us buy extremely silly things include the "pet rock" marketing campaign in the Seventies, which made consumers believe they needed to pay big for plain stones they could find almost anywhere, or Chia Pets, which are animal-shaped ceramic or terracotta shaped that sprout leaves that resemble green fur. These are just a couple of examples of how marketing can capture the public's imaginations, and influence purchasing patterns.
- Common sense prevails
However, in the end, a necessity is a necessity, and common sense tends to prevail. This is the reason why marketing efforts can't really change consumer needs, especially for people with less disposable income to throw around on non-essential items. After all, the less you have, the more obvious your needs become - food, shelter, and power tend to top the list, followed by clothing, medicine, transportation, etc.
Learning about the ways in which marketing can influence consumer buying patterns is quite fascinating. Marketing is an art form, and it can be a very creative thing; however, marketing always relies on certain fundamental principles, which include putting a company's image in a positive light, and solving a customer's problems through exactly the right products and services. The power of fresh, modern images, witty or funny ads, and powerful company mission statements can also sway the public to reach a little deeper into their wallets and buy things that they never used to think they "needed".
