Buy-ology

I found this particular presentation to be very interesting. I have read Lindstrom's book and thoroughly enjoyed the results he found in his neuro-marketing research. His findings especially on anti-smoking campaigns I found to be most interesting. Millions of dollars have been spent to try and stop people from smoking only to now realize that their efforts have the opposite effect. Anti-smoking ads actually spark a craving in smokers' brains to actually want to light up a cigarette.
Also, product placements on TV have no effect. The images and placements are so limited and are not apparent for a long enough time to make a lasting impression on viewers. The study's findings I think would be pertinent to any marketing looking to spend thousands or millions of dollars on an ad campaign. It's important to know what messages really work and which go unnoticed.

Buying In

This book is a great tool for a future marketer. Most marketers try to think of ways to get people to buy but never actually think about why people buy.This book looks beyond advertisements and discovers what Walker referred to as a "desire code". This desire code, including symbols and individuality describe how symbols matter and are meaningful to people. Not only that but consumers crave individuality. Being able to create a product and message that satisfies a consumers need for individuality will definitely set an advertisement or a marketer apart from their competitors. Not only that, but symbols go a long way. Symbols create an air and feeling of authenticity and status. Understanding consumer needs, not in terms of product or service, but in terms of fulfilling desires and cravings will help in the creation of an advertisement or marketing campaign.

Organizational Communication Presentation - Linda Putnum

The concept of different messages for different publics applies to many aspects of communications, especially advertising. A great part of advertising includes market research which looks at the target audience's demographics and psychographics. This is done so persuasive messages can be designed to have a positive effect on that target audience. The same goes for understanding differences in cultures. Knowledge of target audience, how they respond to messages, what messages elicit positive responses, and how to get a message across will differ between cultures and publics.

Necessary Illusions

In his book,Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies, Noam Chomsky brings to light a very serious issue in news media today. He highlights the elite's control over the media and how their world views are presented to all that watch and listen. Even those media channels that are not owned or controlled by the elite feel the need to fall in line with the messages fed through the elite-controlled channels.
This issue is extremely relevant today especially with the state our country is in. It also has an even greater impact in times of war. War is an extremely sensitive topic to most and people all over the world have their own opinions yet they are never heard because they do not have the power or resources to have their opinions heard.
However, new technologies have made voicing opinions much easier and more accessible. The Internet houses millions of blogs and social media networks that are filled with opinions. Although what is broadcast may still be under elite-control, I feel new technologies will soon make it difficult for this trend to continue much further in the future.

Creativity

The ideas put forth by Michael Michalko I found could be very helpful in the workplace. Often times I struggle trying to think outside of the box and I believe that the ideas he suggested in his book would help me to let go and think more freely and confidently.
Michalko's book, Cracking Creativity, provides techniques and concepts to being creative and thoughtful. Especially in the competitive world of advertising, it's important to be able to think and see what others do not. In the world of public relations, it is helpful to know problem solving skills as well. Michalko's book and ideas seem to reinforce these and more, which is why I found this presentation to be the most useful to me.