Some Clever Tools of Influence.

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No matter the direction I turn my head, I feel as that a salesman is speaking to me. This salesman is not actually a person who insists that I buy something I feel is not necessary for myself. It is something salesmen behind the scenes have created in order to speak for that product. These creations come in the form of billboards, commercials, banners, and many other innovative developments that help sell the product. How do I feel about this? I am not too thrilled, but I do understand why companies do these things. Obviously, they need to sell their product. Although I do not like the fact that I am being given a sales pitch almost every five minutes of my life, I am intrigued by how these creations can affect me and people in general.

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"Sales pitches" (Marketing practices that do not include direct human communication) are things I dislike the most, but their affects on me are interesting. I am grabbed by how these marketing practices have subtly persuaded me to at least give them a chance. One day, I was influenced to watch a television show called Suits. I was flipping through the channels on my television and eventually stopped. I forgot what it was, but a commercial came on five minutes later. This commercial blew up in my face. It started with, "You are looking at the best closer this city has ever scene," with a scene of the Brooklyn bridge in the sunset. The music in the background was subtle yet engaging. It had a dramatic yet upbeat sound. That commercial had me at the first four seconds. After that, I was a fool for the rest of it. My mind was open to it and I just wanted to know what this commercial was about. I am sure this has happened to me plenty of times before, but I am in disbelief just analyzing this scenario. I have always thought that I chose things due to my own influence, but this situation has made me think twice. However, marketing is not all about me, but other people as well.

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Clearly, people are affected by advertising. The thing is, how they are affected amazes me. I feel that marketing reaches past the billboards created by people who work for that one company who tries to sell the product. It seems that consumers or people who are influenced by that specific "sales pitch" are tools of advertising as well. For example, a person becomes excited over a new product and discusses its features with a friend or a group of friends. There, a chain reaction begins and people who do become interested in this product may end up telling other friends. Advertising is a very intriguing tool to me.

I feel that marketing practices have made a big impact on certain parts of the world. It has interested me in many ways. First, its effect on me perplexes me. I thought I was a sole decider in my choices, but I may not be. Second, it can incite a chain reaction. Meaning that, one tool of marketing that was used to influence a person may cause that one person to be a tool of marketing. Although advertising is something I dislike due to the fact that I could be a victim of its influences, it is a practice that really does intrigue me.