We have been listening to advertising for most of our lives. Some of the ads are downright funny while others make us go, “What in the world…?” By the time most of us approach 30, we have learned to differentiate most cases of advertising hype. However, sometimes it is so well covered that we overlook it.
Too Good to be True
One of the easiest ways to recognize advertising hype is when something sounds too good to be true. For instance, the advertising for Lipozene says all you need to do is take a capsule, no need to diet or exercise. Does that sound realistic? This writer finds it hard to believe after being taught for so many years that the key to weight loss is a low-calorie diet and exercise.
Lacks Proof
Sometimes advertisers make claims that are just totally off the wall, or ones that cannot be proven. Lipozene says they have done clinical tests on the effectiveness of Lipozene, but no one has been able to find any results. The results that are available are on the Glucomannan rather than Lipozene, and they do not support the claims of the manufacturer. Can you ask for proof? Certainly, and if the company fails to produce it, you might want to consider the fact the claim could be exaggerated.
Overview
Learning to recognize advertising hype is important. We watch advertising all the time on television, in magazines, on the radio, and online without knowing what to believe. It is in our power as consumers to conduct research and find out the real facts. Certainly, we would like to believe the advertisers are telling the truth, but the reality is they are looking to sell a product (Lipozene in this case), so they need to come up with a campaign that will appeal to potential customers. And…they will defend their right to withhold information in the guise of free enterprise.
