XYZ is trending! Don’t be the last to try it! A popular product is not necessarily a good product and might not be right for your needs. Owning a popular product does not make you popular too. Popularity is not a good reason to buy any product. I prefer using XYZ when I compete. Experts are paid to appear in the advertisement. They might have no experience with the product. Do not be influenced by the opinion of a person appearing in an advertisement. Take XYZ or you could get sick! Your decision not to buy a product will not cause bad consequences. Advertisers do not know if you need their product. Do not be scared or intimidated into buying a product. Using XYZ will improve your study skills and grades! Evidence and scientific studies back reliable claims. Vague, unspecified claims cannot be proved. Be suspicious of claims that do not make sense, are not specific, or are not measurable. Bandwagon Appeal to Authority Scare Tactic Unproved or Unprovable Claims Practice Your Skills Analyze Influences With a partner, reflect on the strategies companies use to advertise and sell their products. Choose one advertising strategy discussed and complete the following steps: 1. Tell your partner why you think the strategy you chose encourages people to buy a product. What can people tell themselves to resist the message of this strategy and make good, informed decisions? 2. Reflect on your own experiences with advertising. Have you ever bought a product because of an advertisement? Why did you buy the product, and were you happy with your decision? 3. Suppose you see an advertisement for a new health product. Make a short how-to video describing how you will decide whether you should buy the product, how you will use the advertisements in your decision-making, and how you will gather any other information you need. Health in the Media Analyzing Health Advertisements The goal of advertising is to convince people to buy products, including health products. Advertisements use messages and methods to convince people a product is important and necessary. Some advertising strategies try to influence your emotions. The illustration below shows some of these common advertising strategies. Part of applying health information is seeing through these strategies and making an informed decision. Use XYZ and you could be like me. Companies pay celebrities or other people to be in advertisements. These people may not like or even use the product. Know that success does not depend on any product, and be skeptical of people appearing in advertisements. Testimonial Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 2 Health and Wellness Skills 47