Without looking, tell me what is being advertised at the bottom of the Forum Index page. Personally I don't know but I think it contains the number 16. There are 4 ads at the bottom of this 'Post a New Topic" page and I couldn't tell you what's being sold without stopping to look. So how many stop and shop?
When buying something, do you ever wonder what made you buy it? Necessity aside, did advertising have something to do with your decision? When celebrities are used to hawk products are you more inclined to buy it?
We are constantly bombarded with ads. I once saw an ad for a ski resort while hiking on a glacier. Does everything need to be advertised? I think the best ad is one that can get you to buy something you don't need. I find some ads humorous and some annoying.
There's one on right now that I like for Subway Subs where there is an intimation that 2 religious peddlers are on a front porch. One of them grabs a sub from the owner's hand when she opens the door, then runs away with it. I like the irony when the screen flashes that Subway 'makes good people do bad things'. Humor works for me but I still don't buy my subs there.
Subliminal messages, slogans, jingles, catchphrases etc. all add up to one thing....sell. I suppose advertising works very well or they wouldn't do it. Those Google ads however, have the appeal of undercooked chicken.