The Persuaders
Fascinating Frontline episode called "The Persuaders." It describes current advertising strategies for persuading people to consume or to vote. It ended with the quote: "The secret of all persuaders is to convince [the audience] to persuade themselves."

Some standout ideas:
-Getting through the clutter while adding to the clutter.
-Being so inundated with ads that culture itself is gone.
-Desensitization to superlatives (cleaner, brighter, stronger, faster)
-Creating iconic devotion by mimicking cult strategies of belonging and purpose.
-Madison & Vine = marriage between product & entertainers/entertainment (i.e. product placement) but it goes both ways.
-Narrowcasting = advertising tailored to the specific individual.
-Fragmenting of society -- as each person's focus is turned evermore to self fulfillment.
-Finding the elusive "buy button"
-Research groups still work but it has taken on more sophistication through psychology, information farming, etc.

So where are we? Strategic (time & place) use of words, images, sounds in a way that bypassing the intellect, so that people respond to it emotionally, positively, personally, and primally -- yet make the proper association. That's the catch.

Some brands that have succeeded in this: Nike, Apple, Coca-Cola, AT&T

One strategy not addressed in Frontline was viral marketing. As opposed to persuading self we now persuading each other to consume through reviews, blogs, casts, tubes, avatars, online communities -- self-deception by self-exalting through self-expression. I'm no exception. It's not quite perpetual motion. So advertisers now employ the patient zeros for such viral weapons. Our reaction to such zeros is quite violent given our mistrust of corporations, just look at the reaction to Lonelygirl.

Hot concepts this year are Green & Africa. Perhaps we're finally realizing the products are not making us happier, more attractive, etc. so purpose now turns towards saving the world.