A look at the secrets behind advertisingDid you know that during the course of an average day you are bombarded by over three thousand advertisements? (Faigley 93) From bus stations to newspapers, to emails, to television and music videos, today's marketers are finding innovative ways to make their advertisements sophisticated and engaging so they can attract consumers to their products. How did this phenomenon occur? This “strategic advertising” is not as complicated as it seems. In fact, companies use a formula-like approach when creating such advertisements. To be a savvy consumer, I recommend you be aware of these techniques. To create an ad, companies research consumer trends. An ever-growing trend in America is the “on-the-go” fast food industry. . . and it seems Americans can't get enough of those juicy cheeseburgers and greasy fries! To encourage healthier habits, marketers focus on weight loss and fitness, using strategic advertising to sell their product. An excellent example of strategic advertising can be found in the January 2004 issue of People Magazine. This ad, sponsored by Life Time Fitness, promotes Lean Source weight supplement pills. The ad depicts a beautiful and healthy model standing on the beach during a cloudy day. His arms are wide open, directing us to read the words written below. In the corner of the ad is a bright bottle of Lean Source diet pills and a “stamp” of approval for the product. This ad illustrates how a company uses strategic advertising to sell its product to consumers like us by showcasing its supposed credibility, emotional and sexual appeal, and effective visual design....... middle of paper... ...Life Time Fitness ad uses marketing strategies by making the ad credible, emotionally and sexually appealing, and visually pleasing. Congratulations! You're now an official savvy consumer, so the next time you see an ad that "catches your attention," be sure to give it a second look. You'll be grateful you did. Works Cited Faigley, Lester, and Jack Selzer. Good reasons with contemporary arguments. 2nd ed. New York: Pearson bbbbbbLongman, 2004. Meadows, Michelle. “Public Health Officials Warn Ephedra Use” FDA Consumer Magazine June 2003: 1-3. 2003. United States. Food and drug administration. January 26, 2004 .Zarefsky, David. Public Speaking: Strategies for Success, Penn State version .2003-2004 ed. New York: Pearson Press, 2003.