Shock in marketing
Shock is sometimes used by marketers to sell entertainment, news, and
various products. In retailing it works by first getting the consumer's
attention, then the sales pitch is applied.
It
may be exaggerated, gory, disgusting, and in very bad taste socially,
but the technique is meant to make sales. Note the progression of
explicit television in recent years.
What
more productive place to market in a shocking way than to the youths
who are curious, looking for excitement and a change from what was.
When a situation that is socially abnormal or generally unacceptable is
portrayed to a very young mind, it may register as a natural act. Then
the child has been influenced very badly about that aspect of life.
I heard a TV producer, on a national radio documentary, state that
their television program ratings were dropping and that they decided to
introduce more shock.
Shock
is also used to market one’s talents (or lack of) in the arts and
entertainment. It gets the much needed attention that can be so
difficult to attract where talent and creativity may be lacking. How
many in the entertainment business have sold out their real beliefs
under pressure from the execs?
Using shock to sell products to gain profits might be a sign of the
times, but at what consequences to the citizens?
"Economic
advance is not the same thing as human progress." John Clapham
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Profit Consumerism
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