Advertising

Advertising is a form of communication used to encourage or persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners) to continue or take some new action. Commercial advertisers often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "Branding," which involves the repetition of an image or product name in an effort to associate certain qualities with the brand in the minds of consumers.

Adverts are paid for by sponsors and viewed via various traditional media; including mass media such as newspaper, magazines, television adverts, radio advertisement, outdoor advertising or direct mail; or new media such as websites and text messages. Internationally, the largest ("big four") advertising conglomerates are Interpublic, Omnicom, Publicis, and WPP.

Modern advertising developed with the rise of mass production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 2010, spending on advertising was estimated at more than $300 billion in the United States and $500 billion worldwide.

An famous TV advert for 'Compare The Market' which was now branded 'Campare The Meerkat' and has now expanded into a mini franchise, with collectable meerkats.

Virtually any medium can be used for advertising. Commercial advertising media can include wall paintings, billboards, street furniture components, printed flyers and rack cards, radio, cinema and television adverts, web banners, mobile telephone screens, shopping carts etc.

Television Advertising

The TV advertising is generally considered the most effective mass-market advertising format, as is reflected by the high prices TV networks charge for advert airtime during popular TV events.

The majorities of television adverts feature a song or jingle that listeners soon relate to the product. Virtual advertisements may be inserted into regular television programming through computer graphics.

The 2011 iPad advert allowed the viewer to identify with the products capabilities whilst having the jingle stuck in their head, allowing them to constantly be thinking of Apples new product.

Radio Advertising

Radio advertisements are broadcast as radio waves to the air from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device. Airtime is purchased from a station or network in exchange for airing the adverts. While radio has the limitation of being restricted to sound, proponents of radio advertising often cite this as an advantage. Radio is an expanding medium that can be found not only on air, but also online.

Billboard Advertising

Billboards are large structures located in public places which display advertisements to passing pedestrians and motorists. Most often, they are located on main roads with a large amount of passing motor and pedestrian traffic; however, they can be placed in any location with large amounts of viewers, such as on mass transit vehicles and in stations, in shopping malls or office buildings, and in stadiums.

When Coca-Cola advertise their products, they makes sure that the advertising is the same across many forms. At christmas, every year, Coca-Cola use the Santa Claus advertising, which has always proved successful.