Subliminal Messages in Modern Media: Advanced Target Marketing or Just Another Ad Block?

Have you ever felt like some hidden messages or marketing strategies are still at play in today's TV shows and movies, even as we watch them streaming online? The concept of 'subliminal advertising' might seem outdated, but the tactics of targeted marketing have indeed evolved and are still prevalent.

Marketing Strategies in My Past

Until 2012, I was a regional vice president of operations for a large pizza delivery company. During those years, marketing and marketing strategies often became a regular part of general discussions in bi-weekly management meetings and monthly team meetings. Back then, the term 'subliminal advertising' was a topic of interest, but I admit, I was too young to know if it was real or not. My personal experience has led me to believe in the existence of what I call 'Advanced Target Marketing,' even if it is the opposite of what might be traditionally considered 'subliminal.' But the era of traditional TV and cable is not going to last forever.

Streaming and Ad-Bloack Strategies

Since 2012, I haven't had a cable box in the room where I watch TV or videos. Everything is streamed now, which I love because of the lack of commercials. Initially, you might think that ad-blocking and commercial-free streaming platforms would put an end to the prevalence of advertising. However, the trend is slowly fading as more and more content providers are offering different tiers of streaming plans, which include limited commercials.

For instance, when season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery aired, it was available on both CBS All Access and Hulu with Marvel television productions. I decided to split the cost with a friend, opting for the 5.99 plan that has limited commercials. The catch is, I am getting oversaturated with the same products over and over, which is simply annoying. The shows themselves are fine, but I am rewatching the same season just to avoid ads. In fact, I am currently rewatching the second season of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access, and there is a commercial playing, so I am answering Quora questions instead.

Advanced Target Marketing vs. Ad Block

Do these strategies work? In reality, the initial strategy of showing ads to the right audience a few times might work. But once the frequency becomes too high, it becomes challenging for viewers to ignore the repetition, and they simply block it out. It's a double-edged sword for content providers and advertisers. While they can still reach specific demographics, they risk losing the attention of the audience as they tune out repetitive ads.

In conclusion, the essence of marketing has indeed evolved past the days of 'subliminal advertising.' Advanced target marketing is still at play, but with modern streaming and the prevalence of ad-blocking software, the effectiveness of these tactics might be more limited than in the past. The key is to strike a balance between reaching the audience and not overwhelming them with repetitive ads.