Life without Advertising: Quiet, Too Quiet?
Would you miss advertising if it didn’t exist?
That’s what Terry O’Reilly asked today on his radio series The Age of Persuasion.
In this week’s episode, he takes us to a world where ads don’t exist. Neither does Google, or free TV shows, or most of the fashion industry.
A quieter world, yes. But maybe not as idyllic as we think.
“Advertising stimulates competition, stimulates demand. It is the accelerator of the economy,” he argues.
There would be fewer professional composers and musicians, fewer full-time actors, and fewer employees in all the industries that use advertising to drive sales.
He admits the ad industry has a lousy image, but suggests: “At its best, advertising adds a dimension to everyday life, which I suspect we would miss if it wasn’t there.”
Previous items about O’Reilly:
Age of Persuasion Back for Third Season; CBC Radio Show Spin Cycles Looks at Politics, PR and Media
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Agencies, Audiences, Creativity, Customers, Marketing, Persuasion, Promotions
2 opinions for Life without Advertising: Quiet, Too Quiet?
If Advertising Didn’t Suck It Would Be Better
Apr 26, 2008 at 1:25 pm
[…] advertising didn’t exist (see Life without Advertising: Quiet, Too Quiet?), I would have to do more research to find what I need or want. Clerks in stores would need to be […]
Raymond Cheeks
May 4, 2008 at 10:29 am
I totally agree that advertising is a necessary evil in our society today. Although their techniques may be over persistent, clichéd, and of low quality they are still essential to our countries economical development. Advertising does indeed provide jobs, create demand, and keep consumption (therefore the economy) going. Believe me; I am all for a quieter world, but it is simply unrealistic to think that this country would be able to sustain itself without the “noise” of advertising.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: