You Must Go!
I'm in advertising and recently I started to wonder "How subliminal is subliminal marketing?" I remember when I was young, in school, taking a fun class about advertising, being shown print ads that included subliminal messages. The liquor ad that had the word "sex" faintly written within the ice-filled glass, indiscernible to the unaware reader flipping through their magazine. Did they get the sudden urge to have some vodka? I'm not sure, but I like the idea of using the most discreet form of psychology to get people to buy your product. Kind of like having someone whisper in the ear of a person you are attracted to "She is SO pretty. You like her. You love her. She is so cool and popular" thus making you appear in a different, more flattering light.
The reason I started to think about this is that I am in the midst of planning a trip to Mexico. Never having been, I thought it would be the perfect long weekend getaway. We'd avoid the spring breakers and go south of Cancun where it's a little less crazy. Sounded divine. Until I started seeing the flight prices increase. And then, every person I knew either was also planning a trip to the same part of Mexico or knew somebody else who was. It seemed that the world was going to be where I wanted to be. And I was shocked. I mean, who goes to Mexico in the summer, when it's already hot here? And why had I never heard about this place before, and now when I discovered it, it seems like the most popular destination ever. Was there a hardcore marketing effort out there that I was unaware of? Was I being subliminally directed to go there by sneaky advertising, whispers in my ear?
Of course, I don't know. If I knew, it wouldn't be subliminal. But I am going to have to redirect my thinking and choose someplace else, where I can get the cheap airfare that I expected for this trip and stay in just as nice a place, without bumping into my colleagues in the infinity pool or while ordering an icy Corona. Perhaps I should start my own campaign, sending the airfare wars in a different direction, taking some attention off of my destination of choice. Perhaps a mass worldwide office email would do the trick? I just have to figure out how to hide my message, but make it impossible for people to resist the urge to go someplace, anyplace other than Mexico, in June.
The reason I started to think about this is that I am in the midst of planning a trip to Mexico. Never having been, I thought it would be the perfect long weekend getaway. We'd avoid the spring breakers and go south of Cancun where it's a little less crazy. Sounded divine. Until I started seeing the flight prices increase. And then, every person I knew either was also planning a trip to the same part of Mexico or knew somebody else who was. It seemed that the world was going to be where I wanted to be. And I was shocked. I mean, who goes to Mexico in the summer, when it's already hot here? And why had I never heard about this place before, and now when I discovered it, it seems like the most popular destination ever. Was there a hardcore marketing effort out there that I was unaware of? Was I being subliminally directed to go there by sneaky advertising, whispers in my ear?
Of course, I don't know. If I knew, it wouldn't be subliminal. But I am going to have to redirect my thinking and choose someplace else, where I can get the cheap airfare that I expected for this trip and stay in just as nice a place, without bumping into my colleagues in the infinity pool or while ordering an icy Corona. Perhaps I should start my own campaign, sending the airfare wars in a different direction, taking some attention off of my destination of choice. Perhaps a mass worldwide office email would do the trick? I just have to figure out how to hide my message, but make it impossible for people to resist the urge to go someplace, anyplace other than Mexico, in June.
posted by Tracy at 8:24 AM
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