Are marketers manipulating us or just trying to sell their product. If they are maniplating us, how?

Answer 1

Salespeople "sell" products their companies already made. Marketeers "influence" customers to select their products according to their needs, or if done earlier, "discover" what customers want and then produce it. Manipulation is too strong a word for marketeers (as they are more subtle) but is not too strong for salespeople (as livelihood depends on them making the sale).

The used-car salesman would hide the truth in order to sell the lemon but the marketeer would start making 5-wheeled vehicles if that's what the customers want!

Influencing is done through brand awareness (Aspirin but not paracetamol), comparisons (Pepsi claims to be better than Coke but nothing is said about other beverages which are healthier etc), repeated (radio jingles) or selective targeting (household products are advertised during soap operas seen by housewives), and many, many other channels. The next time you buy something off the shelf, think first: did you select it because of its brand e.g what you 'saw' or hear'. Today, such influences goes beyond smells, tastes and touch to experience.

Answer 2

Since I work in the marketing field, I'll say this - we are not trying to manipulate anyone. Its more that we try to "influence" you to use a particular brand.

And of course you have every right to say no, no, no, no. You are also free to turn the TV or radio off, to change channels, and to stop reading the newspapers & magazines.

When the TV is on, my 4 year old constantly asks, gimme gimme gimme. I say No, No No to him every day LOL

Answer 3

You mean black propagandas. Well not exactly. I am a marketer and the way I do my marketing tasks usually depends on the target audience itself. We make sure that the strategy we are incorporating is based upon what the market dictates. So, this means that in order for your product to sell, you have to think of your buyers (their preferences, etc.)


Mary
http://gbwatch.com/

Answer 4

marketers are not that powerful to control what customers' thinking or customers' demanding. They are trying to sell their products to us, and they also want to produce the products we might want. Marketers need to give the right price, right strategies and sell it in the right place to the right person.

Answer 5

Yes...they are....just as you tried to manipulate me to answer. Right?

Answer 6

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