TikTok, TV, Instagram! Nowadays, advertisements are around every corner.
As I’m sure you know, an ad is a type of message that’s designed to get you to buy something. But ads are often disguised as something else, such as games or entertainment. Their sneaky camouflage can make you want to spend all your money on stuff you might not need.
Here’s how you can decode what’s an advertisement and what’s not (and avoid being tricked!):
1. Assume that influencers and celebrities are paid to promote products.
Charli D’Amelio promoting Dunkin’ Donuts
This is a tricky one! When a famous actor or influencer posts about a particular product, it’s easy to think that the star is showing us something because she loves it. But big brands pay celebrities to promote their products.
Think of TikTok superstar Charli D’Amelio. Dunkin’ Donuts partnered with Charli and named a cold brew drink after her last year. Dubbed “The Charli,” sales of the drink went through the roof!
While Charli does indeed enjoy the brand, just remember that she is also being paid to promote it. Consider this fact whenever you see someone famous recommending a product.
Decide if you really want to buy the product or if you’re being influenced to purchase it because you like the person promoting it. Also look for advertising “clues,” such as #sponsoredpost, to know if a celebrity video or picture is actually an advertisement.
2. Watch out for false urgency.
Katjabakurova from Getty Images
Have you ever felt like you HAD to buy something in a store or online because of marketing messages? Here are a few you might have seen:
- LIMITED-TIME ONLY
- 30% Off Today
- Act now!
- THE WORLD ENDS TOMORROW!!! (Okay, maybe you haven’t seen this one, but you get the point.)
When we see messages like these, we want to purchase stuff before it’s too late — from burgers to sports shoes! After all, no one likes to miss out on a good deal. But more often than not, these messages urge us to buy items we don’t even need.
may1985 from Getty Images
And here’s the thing…limited-time offers aren’t once-in-a-lifetime offers. They’ll come around again! Unless the item is something you’ve been waiting to buy for a long time, play the waiting game. If something is over $50, then wait a week to purchase it. Maybe wait two weeks for something that’s over $100.
Another pro tip? Watch out for “crappance,” or cheap “crap” on “clearance,” sitting on shelves and in checkout lines.
Their placement tricks us into thinking a deal is can’t-miss or an item is something we may need. But the odds are pretty good that we don’t need another $5 celebrity bobblehead.
3. Don’t buy extra stuff you don’t need.
fstop123 from Getty Images Signature
Most of the things we purchase are needs or needlets. Needlets are items you don’t need to survive but do need in a specific situation. For example, you need a ball to play basketball. The ball is a needlet.
Advertisements, whether in stores or online, encourage us to buy stuff we don’t need. How do they do it? Here are the top tactics:
- Free samples. Free samples, whether they’re from small shops or superstores, coax us to buy the actual products. They also make us want to spend more time shopping.
- Recommended products. Ads pop up all the time for recommended products on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. These ads make us fall down a rabbit hole of shopping.
- Free shipping. Companies will often give you free shipping IF you purchase an item over a certain amount (e.g., “Free Shipping for Purchases over $50”). We then want to purchase more stuff to snag this deal.
When these advertising tricks come your way, ask yourself before you buy, “Is this something I really need?” If it’s something you already have, wouldn’t use or could purchase somewhere else for cheaper, then probably not.
And remember that “free stuff” comes with a cost. It takes up physical space in that drawer of crap you’re eventually going to have to empty, costing you time and energy!
Think critically about advertisements.
Advertisements are sneaky. They’re designed to make you spend money without even thinking about it. But by understanding the game, you can spot advertising tricks a mile away — to make better money decisions for you!
Featured image by Joshua Earle on Unsplash