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?

Nowadays, there is a constant barrage of advertisements flooding every medium of communication and public venue. Advertisers have always worked hard to make sure that as many

people

as possible are exposed to their marketing campaigns. In my opinion, I believe that adverts are important to companies

First

, the purpose of any advert is to entice potential customers to buy the advertised product. Many marketing campaigns have become cultural phenomena and had lead to massive increases in sales for their respective products.

For example

, the "Just Do It" campaign by Nike has become so widespread to the point that those words have become synonymous with the

brand

itself.

Moreover

,

this

has lead

people

to recognize Nike as a sporting

brand

that they can think of when they wish to buy a new pair of running shoes.

This

is what is known as a "mindshare": the consumer's awareness of a product or

brand

.

On the other hand

, a lot of

people

blame the constant bombardment of ads for their increased spending on things they do not need. Advertisers usually play up the worth of their offering and create an atmosphere where a particular

brand

such

as an iPhone becomes a status symbol,

thus

people

fork over more money for items they do not need, or for which there are cheaper alternatives better suited for their needs. In conclusion, while I believe that advertisements are necessary for companies to introduce their latest and greatest offerings to potential buyers, one has to acknowledge that their ads are powerful influences on

people

, and have lead to an increasing number of

people

indulging in unnecessary purchases for status, fad or merely because the ad made the product look like an absolute must-buy.