A | B |
print ad | An ad in a newspaper, magazine, telephone directory, or other publication |
direct mail advertising | Printed advertising sent by mail to consumers’ homes |
commercial | A brief, one minute or less, TV or radio ad used to promote a product |
infomercial | A TV or radio ad that promotes a product and lasts 30 minutes or longer |
pop-up ad | An ad that suddenly appears on a web page or in an email message |
billboard | An ad posted on a sign along the highway |
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | An agency that regulates advertising to ensure that ads are fair and accurate |
clearance sale | Sale to reduce existing product inventories |
seasonal sale | Sale at particular times of year |
going-out-of-business sale | Sale when a business is being liquidated |
holiday sale | Sale during a holiday time |
incentive | A reward used to encourage spending |
coupon | A small paper clipping that entitles the holder to savings on a product |
rebate | A partial refund of a product’s purchase price |
sweepstakes | A drawing to select a winner of money or valuable prizes |
commission | A percentage of sales income given to the salesperson |
trading up | Convincing customers to buy higher-priced items than they intended |
telemarketer | A person who sells a line of products over the telephone |
door-to-door representative | A person who goes house to house selling a line of products |
décor | The way in which a store or place of business is decorated |
slogan/jingle | Catchy songs, rhymes, phrases used to help consumers remember products |
logo | Graphics or symbols that represent a company, used to identify products |
beauty appeal | Product that makes you this beautiful, makes you like this person |
testimonial | A positive statement made by a person who is endorsing a product or service---usually, a famous person |
endorsement | An advertising message that reflects opinions, beliefs, findings, or experiences of a person or group other than the advertiser |
escape | Associating products with beautiful, adventurous settings to create the illusion of escape for viewers |
lifestyle | Associating a product with a desirable style of living |
bandwagon | Attempting to convince consumers that everyone is using the product |
rebel | Associating products with behaviors that contradict societal norms |
unfinished comparison | Claiming a product “works better”---better than what? |
group identification | A message that, if you use this product, you will fit in with this group |
trendsetter | A message that, if you use this product, you will stand out from the crowd |
hidden fears | A strategy of playing on the fears of consumers |
before-and-after comparison | “Before” and “after” pictures show results of a product or treatment |
traditional values | Trying to associate with home and family |
puffery | Exaggerated claims intended to increase a product’s reputation or appeal |
loss leader | An item priced below the retailer’s costs in order to attract customers |
price comparison | Offering products below retail value or implying that the same item is sold at higher prices at other stores |
bait and switch | A retailer advertises a product thtat it has no intention of selling, hoping to persuade consumers to come and buy a product at a higher price; customer is often told that the “bait” product is “sold out” |
false promise | A promise of a free gift that actually requires that another item be bought first |
introductory offer | Indicates new merchandise selling at a price that will soon increase |
deceptive pricing | Advertising a “sale” price that is actually no better than the everyday price |
hidden catch | When details of an offer are not all clearly disclosed---extra charges, processing fees, other restrictions |