Marketing Madness

How to Talk Your Way Out of Debt

Opening Activity

• Identify these companies according to their marketing strategies:– A white duck walks around saying the

company’s name– Taste the Rainbow– (Name of company), eat fresh– Save money, live better– Silly rabbit, (product name) is for kids

Learning Objective

• Identify ways companies market their products

Popular Advertising Techniques

• Read through the handout “Popular Advertising Techniques”

Popular Advertising Techniques

1. Repetition: the product name is repeated at least four times.

2. Emotion: Words are used in the ad to evoke strong feelings about someone or something

3. Nostalgia: Creates a sentimental tone while pointing back to “the good old days.”

Popular Advertising Techniques

4. Bandwagon: Persuading people to do something by telling them that others are doing it too. “Don’t be left out.”

5. Testimonial: Famous people say they use a product or persuade you to use a product.

6. Transfer/Fantasy: By using the names or pictures of famous people, but not their direct quotations, the ad is trying to convey that the product will help the consumer imitate the famous person in the ad.

Popular Advertising Techniques

7. Statistics: facts and statistics are shown

8. Humor: Makes people laugh so they have a positive association with the product.

9. Sense Appeal: sounds or pictures that are pleasing to the eye.

Group Activity

• Get into a group of 2-3 students

• Select one of the marketing strategies and create a 30 second commercial that illustrates that advertisement approach

• You will present your ad to the class

• The class will then guess which approach you are presenting

Discussion Question

• How do these marketing strategies encourage people to use credit?

• How does recognizing these marketing strategies help people avoid unnecessary purchases?

Summary

• As you watch or read media, recognize these marketing strategies

• Remember that purchasing a product will not increase your happiness in the long term

• Credit card debt does the opposite in fact

Exit Activity

• Give me a famous company slogan and then identify its marketing strategy

Additional Time

• Complete the “Commercial viewer” activity sheet as you watch 30 minutes of TV tonight