Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with?

Advertising is a form of communication that brings the value offerings of the businesses to the end consumers of the products & services.

Although

some schools of thought contest that advertising creates false needs in the mind of the consumers and tricks them into buying unnecessary consumables, it can be said that advertising is educative and useful. Advertising educates consumers by introducing them to new products that are launched in the market. It

also

promotes discounts and offers that help consumers bag the best deals and save money. Advertising is not only limited to products and

services but

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services, but

is

also

a tool employed by organizations like governments & non-profit organizations to promote information & agendas of public interest and social and environmental benefit.

For example

the ministry of health uses in-cinema advertising to communicate that smoking is injurious to health and people must avoid smoking in public places.

This

sort of social advertising helps make life

better not

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better, not

just for

individuals but

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individuals, but

also

for the society as a whole. The nature of advertising has drastically changed with the advent of social media &digital marketing tools available to businesses. It is now possible to target ads to people based on interest and location and

hence

only relevant ads are shown to consumers based on their need, purchase intent and history as well as based on their browsing habits.

Thus only

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Thus, only

relevant content is promoted and consumers can buy exactly what they need by comparing across retailers or websites.

This

way they do not purchase irrationally or haphazardly.

Infact

Suggestion

In fact

ads are

also

made and promoted based on life events of particular consumer segments

such

that they can recall and buy what the need at the right time of their lives. Many insurance

companies

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companies, thus

thus

theme their ads about buying policies based on

birth

Suggestion

the birth

of a child or for

medical

Suggestion

medication

safety. Advertising can

thus

be considered as a powerful and relevant tool and medium of communication rather than a misleading and compelling gimmick pushing consumers to buy what they don’t need.