Almost-Advertising
Not all advertising overtly promotes something specific, sometimes the advertiser only wants to almost-advertise.
Types/Categories
1. Incomplete suggestions: The advertisement takes the mind along a path far enough that the observer can fill in the necessary details. For example: advertising your category of product without mentioning a specific brand (especially where only your brand dominates).
2. Suggestions with deniability: Just in case the wrong people are getting the message. (Just because we're selling all this STUFF, that doesn't mean that definitely we're advocating that capitalism is better than whatever it is you prefer . . . as long as you buy some of it. Or not.)
3. Social Engineering/Idea Ads: Suggesting a concept that may later be capitalized on. (We're almost-green!)
4. Viral Advertising: "Free" advertising may or may not qualify as almost-advertising, depending on how much time and energy went in to the promotion.
Examples (what you see here is almost-advertising):
The more you see this thing, and people watching things like this, the more you might be inclined to buy into the ideas it promotes.
It's easy to hit this button, ergo . . . it must be easy to shop at the store it came from.
Put your logo everywhere you can.
Motion draws they eye, like milkmakers to grass.
You'll be watching for them now.
Hmmm. Are there some behaviors all these companies would like to promote?
If someone that normally wouldn't buys a beer because of this sign, chances are they are going to buy one of the existing brands.
Or,
Boycott gasoline (as much as you possibly can).
Promoting life, and vigor, and traditional ways of thinking.
Yes, you too can think for yourself. And, if we all did that, we would save ourselves as taxpayers billions of dollars.
Oh, I want one too. "Solid gold" you say, very nice.
Consider the big decisions very carefully.
This isn't just a train, it's a fast train, and so the extra we charge is worth it.
Vote a certain way.
Look, I'm better than average.
The middle part of the bomb is the real message.
