Advertising strategy

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Advertising strategy

by guerrero » Tue Oct 23, 2012 11:21 pm
Hi All,

Please take some time to read and answer the below two questions- I got those two wrong , I would request to post your answer with the brief description. I 'll soon post my answer and explain why i chose that . This is just to understand the thought process of other readers here-thank you !


A key decision required of advertising managers is whether a "hard-sell" or "soft-sell" strategy is appropriate for a specific target market. The hard-sell approach involves the use of direct, forceful claims regarding the benefits of the advertised brand over competitors' offerings. In contrast, the soft-sell approach involves the use of advertising claims that imply superiority more subtly.

One positive aspect of the hard-sell approach is its use of very simple and straightforward product claims presented as explicit conclusions, with little room for confusion regarding the advertiser's message. However, some consumers may resent being told what to believe and some may distrust the message. Resentment and distrust often lead to counterargumentation and to boomerang effects where consumers come to believe conclusions diametrically opposed to conclusions endorsed in advertising claims. By contrast, the risk of boomerang erects is greatly reduced with soft-sell approaches. One way to implement the soft-sell approach is to provide information that implies the main conclusions the advertiser wants the consumer to draw, but leave the conclusions themselves unstated. Because consumers are invited to make up their own minds, implicit conclusions reduce the risk of resentment, distrust, and counterargumentation.

43)Recent research on consumer memory and judgment suggests another advantage of implicit conclusions. Beliefs from conclusions that are self-generated are more accessible from memory than beliefs from conclusions provided explicitly by other individuals, and thus have a greater impact on judgment and decision making. Moreover, self-generated beliefs are often perceived as more accurate and valid than the beliefs of others, because other individuals may be perceived as less knowledgeable, or may be perceived as manipulative or deliberately misleading.

Despite these advantages, implicit conclusions may not always be more effective than explicit conclusions. One risk is that some consumers may fail to draw their own conclusions and thus miss the point of the message. Inferential activity is likely only when consumers are motivated and able to engage in effortful cognitive processes. Another risk is that some consumers may draw conclusions other than the one intended. Even if inferential activity is likely, there is no guarantee that consumers will follow the path provided by the advertiser. Finally, a third risk is that consumers may infer the intended conclusion but question the validity of their inference.


Q)It can be inferred from the passage that the research mentioned in line 43 (Recent research on consumer memory and judgment) supports which of the following statements?
(A)
implicit conclusions are more likely to capture accurately the point of the advertiser's message than are explicit conclusions.
(B)
Counterargument action is less likely to occur if an individual's beliefs or conclusions are readily accessible from memory.
(C)
The hard-sell approach results in conclusions that are more difficult for the consumer to recall than are conclusions resulting from the soft-sell approach.
(D)
When the beliefs of others are presented as definite and forceful claims, they are perceived to be as accurate as self-generated beliefs.
(E)
Despite the advantages of implicit conclusions, the hard-sell approach involves fewer risks for the advertiser than does the soft-sell approach.

2)

It can be inferred from the passage that one situation in which the boomerang effect often occurs is when consumers
(A)
have been exposed to forceful claims that are diametrically opposed to those in an advertiser's message
(B)
have previous self-generated beliefs or conclusions that are readily accessible from memory
(C)
are subjected to advertising messages that are targeted at specific markets to which those consumers do not belong
(D)
are confused regarding the point of the advertiser's message
(E)
come to view the advertiser's message with suspicion
Source: — Reading Comprehension |

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by vikram4689 » Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:03 am
what is the source. next time please give answers and hide them using spoilers.

Anyways here the answers:
Q)It can be inferred from the passage that the research mentioned in line 43 (Recent research on consumer memory and judgment) supports which of the following statements?
From 3rd para we get that research suggests implicit is better because they are a)more accessible from memory and thus greater impact on decision and judgement-making b) perceived as more accurate and valid

(A)
implicit conclusions are more likely to capture accurately the point of the advertiser's message than are explicit conclusions. DISTORTED DETAIL-perceived as more accurate not are actually more accurate,as stated in this option
(B)
Counterargument action is less likely to occur if an individual's beliefs or conclusions are readily accessible from memory. IRRELEVANT-tempting but we didn't discuss counter-agrument
(C)
The hard-sell approach results in conclusions that are more difficult for the consumer to recall than are conclusions resulting from the soft-sell approach. CORRECT - typical gmat style. if implicit or soft-sell conclusions is more accessible to memory than we can infer that other one(i.e. hard-sell conclusions) is less accessible to memory
(D)
When the beliefs of others are presented as definite and forceful claims, they are perceived to be as accurate as self-generated beliefs.OPPOSITE-research prefers implicit
(E)
Despite the advantages of implicit conclusions, the hard-sell approach involves fewer risks for the advertiser than does the soft-sell approach. OPPOSITE-research prefers implicit


It can be inferred from the passage that one situation in which the boomerang effect often occurs is when consumers
boomerang effect is in 1st para. Point to focus is that boomerang is caused by resentment and distrust. so, we should find something related to these emotions.

(A)
have been exposed to forceful claims that are diametrically opposed to those in an advertiser's message DISTORTED DETAIL-boomerang causes one to think about diametrically opposite views but we are looking for something that causes boomerang
(B)
have previous self-generated beliefs or conclusions that are readily accessible from memory - IRRELEVANT-not related to what we pre-phrased. also, these details come in 3rd para.
(C)
are subjected to advertising messages that are targeted at specific markets to which those consumers do not belong - IRRELEVANT-not even discussed
(D)
are confused regarding the point of the advertiser's message - OPPOSITE-explicit strategy in which boomerang occurs involves less confusion
(E)
come to view the advertiser's message with suspicion CORRECT - suspicion is keyword
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by guerrero » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:25 pm
thanks vikram for taking some time out to explain. Now , i understand where i went wrong.

The source is GMATPILL.
vikram4689 wrote:what is the source. next time please give answers and hide them using spoilers.

Anyways here the answers:
Q)It can be inferred from the passage that the research mentioned in line 43 (Recent research on consumer memory and judgment) supports which of the following statements?
From 3rd para we get that research suggests implicit is better because they are a)more accessible from memory and thus greater impact on decision and judgement-making b) perceived as more accurate and valid

(A)
implicit conclusions are more likely to capture accurately the point of the advertiser's message than are explicit conclusions. DISTORTED DETAIL-perceived as more accurate not are actually more accurate,as stated in this option
(B)
Counterargument action is less likely to occur if an individual's beliefs or conclusions are readily accessible from memory. IRRELEVANT-tempting but we didn't discuss counter-agrument
(C)
The hard-sell approach results in conclusions that are more difficult for the consumer to recall than are conclusions resulting from the soft-sell approach. CORRECT - typical gmat style. if implicit or soft-sell conclusions is more accessible to memory than we can infer that other one(i.e. hard-sell conclusions) is less accessible to memory
(D)
When the beliefs of others are presented as definite and forceful claims, they are perceived to be as accurate as self-generated beliefs.OPPOSITE-research prefers implicit
(E)
Despite the advantages of implicit conclusions, the hard-sell approach involves fewer risks for the advertiser than does the soft-sell approach. OPPOSITE-research prefers implicit


It can be inferred from the passage that one situation in which the boomerang effect often occurs is when consumers
boomerang effect is in 1st para. Point to focus is that boomerang is caused by resentment and distrust. so, we should find something related to these emotions.

(A)
have been exposed to forceful claims that are diametrically opposed to those in an advertiser's message DISTORTED DETAIL-boomerang causes one to think about diametrically opposite views but we are looking for something that causes boomerang
(B)
have previous self-generated beliefs or conclusions that are readily accessible from memory - IRRELEVANT-not related to what we pre-phrased. also, these details come in 3rd para.
(C)
are subjected to advertising messages that are targeted at specific markets to which those consumers do not belong - IRRELEVANT-not even discussed
(D)
are confused regarding the point of the advertiser's message - OPPOSITE-explicit strategy in which boomerang occurs involves less confusion
(E)
come to view the advertiser's message with suspicion CORRECT - suspicion is keyword

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by tanviet » Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:28 pm
I get C and E but spend a lot of time.

passage is easy but question is very hard and require the inference from just 1 or 2 sentences.

the inference from just 1 or 2 sentences sometimes is very hard.

how to improve this inference? pls help