Marketing to women discussion - Tuesday 1pm

[carriemumsnet]

Hi all

We've been asked by a new specialist female marketing company www.prettylittlehead.co.uk to find out what women think of marketing that's targeted at women. By marketing they mean anything from radio/TV/ newspaper/magazine ads to direct marketing that comes through the door. We're not talking about marketing to children (that's a whole other subject) but more what brands you like and which you don't and why? What irritates you about the way companies market to you and which brands or products should be more aimed at women which currently seem completely focused on men. Do you think advertisers try and make you feel good or bad about yourself in order to flog their products to you? Who or what do you trust for advice on products ? (need we ask? ) There is of course no compulsion to take part in the debate/discussion, and as usual with online chats you can post your thoughts in advance, but anyone who joins in between 1pm Tues and 1pm Weds (to give all the night shift a chance) will be entered into this week's competition.

Hope to see you there

[MrsGumby]

Barry Scott, that's the f*cker.

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Sorry mean, I hate first plus... last message might have been confusing...

[Hespera]

Brands I like because of advertising? Um Honda (already mentioned)
Quite like to watch the Sony Bravia adverts too (but bought cheapest telly, not the sony one and my colour is fine thanks!)
Quite like the GHD adverts though didn't like that every girl in the ad was a blonde. Surely brunettes have good hair days too?
I liked the Bruan adverts which show the S American twins one who had a moustache and a rubbish life, one who used his MagicGroomingTool (tm) and had an awesome life.

I love the apple brand and love their ads.

Things I'm brand loyal on aren't really because of advertising though. It's because I've gone through trial and error and found what I like.

[Taylormama]

hate Injury Lawyers for you with the vile shouty lady

[wildwoman]

I like the Burger King one with the "I am Man" song....makes me chuckle, take the piss out of men more!

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Bring back Forerro Rocher (SP?)adverts. Hillariously awful!!

[MrsBadger]

oh, and brandwise I like Waitrose, because I never see any ads for them and yet their stuff is undeniably good.

(Quite like the Tesco ones with the silly puns and the plain white backgrounds though)

The M&S 'food porn' ones are ghastly - 'Our Food - It's Better Than What You Normally Eat'. Gah.

[oliveoil]

I like Dove as one of the ads had a woman with a section scar like mine [saddo]

and I buy Dove as it is cheap and works

one of my pet hates which sets my TEETH ON EDGE is when they show a working woman in a suit cradling a baby and a laptop AT THE SAME TIME. May also be cradling a phone under her chin and scanning a diary

I do not know anyone that does this fgs!

if they work from home, they will not have a suit on

if they work in the office they will not have the baby with them

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Hopeitwontbebig]

PMSL MrsBadger re M&S foodporn. That woman's voice!!!!!!!!!

[oliveoil]

oh I do like ads for Golf, they are usually very clever

or voltswagan (sp?)

[Taylormama]

dove is good branding - postive images of regular women

[Rumpel]

I like visually imaginative ads, with a good soundtrack (not irritating).

I also like intelligent ads - the Audi/Citroen - they make you think - wow - clever.

I like real, non-irritating people in them, however, I have to say the Ocean finance ads took real to the next stage - has anyone ever seen so many unattractive people in the same place? Surprised my screen didnt (apostrophe button is knacked) crack!

I think all ads for loan companies and personal injury claims should be banned. FULL STOP - government use your powers.

I like ads with animals in them, but I like animals.

[wildwoman]

I like the Dove one but I just keep thinking of the smug advertising people (sorry PrettyLH) patting themselves on the back because of it.

[Taylormama]

i hate dolmio "whensa your dolmio day?" - awful lazy stereotyping

[Marina]

I like clever, accomplished ads too.
I love the Citroen ones with Les Rhythmes Digitales on the soundtrack and the Honda ones too.
I don't even drive btw so am hardly target market for either product.
With regard to placing of ads I find the huge numbers of loan company ads during daytime TV very offensive and think a great deal less of Carol Vorderman for endorsing some of these products.
Anything involving some pretend friends swapping hints on relieving gastrointestinal bloating, or constipation, just doesn't work for me either. It's too contrived.

[MrsBadger]

Hate the Chanel one with Nicole Kidman.
Actually perfume ads are fascinating - not least because the clincher about perfume is the smell, which you can't advertise, but also because a huge share of the market is men buying perfume for women.
So men have to see an ad for a women's product and think 'that looks like the kind of perfume my wife would like'.
Weird, eh?
Wonder how they play on how men see their wives / girlfriends...

[Twiglett]

I'm sorry and I know its a tangent but I'd like to know why a marketing company with a USP of targetting women would name their company 'Pretty Little Head' ?

[Hespera]

The M&S adverts are SOOOO annoying. that is Dervla Kirwan (sp) Assumpta from BallyKissAngel however many years ago.
Everytime I see those adverts I want to scream. Instead I just hit the mute button. In fact, I hit the mute button quite a lot with the ads.
Apart from the fact that often the food looks quite plasticky there was also a time where they were often on after the "when will I see you again?" food poisoning bbq advert which just made me want to vom.

[wildwoman]

God yes Marina, I am never going to buy a yoghurt that makes me think of women who need to fart!

[MrsGumby]

John Lewis did a great nature-inspired ad last year (I think they may have run it again this year) and I love the M&S ads although it makes me laugh when people say that their success lies in the fact that women can "identify" with Twiggy, Erin, Myleene et al. Maybe I'd identify with the ad if it featured a knackered old bint who needs her roots doing, who has baby sick down her top and who's holding a pan in one hand and a toilet brush in the other

[Rumpel]

I like the food porn M&S ads - I think she has a lovely velvety voice and their food does look very good in the adverts.

I like the Jamie Oliver ones for Sainsburys too - hes a real trooper! LOL

[Marina]

Oh, and women working themselves up into a frenzy because of their fabric conditioner

[Taylormama]

never sure about celeb endorsments either - you know they have been paid shedloads of money to say "This product is fab" altho' the martini ad with George CLooney was an excepion

[PrincessPeaHead]

I've taught my children that anything they hear on an advert is usually rubbish, and that advertising is just a way of getting them to spend their money

It is very effective

Now when they hear "Disneyland paris, where dreams come true" they say "that means that dreams don't really come true there does it mummy. if we go there I won't be able to fly a millenium falcon in real life, will I"

attaboy

Anyway I like the sheilas wheels ad because it is funny and ironic and they are all normal sizes and entertaining. It hasn't made me ever get a quote from them though.
I HATE the discussions about washing powders, kitchen wipes etc(who gives a shit how much water it mops up, it is kitchen paper FGS, a means to an end - and all washing powder washes, I just want a non bio one. End of)

I HATE loyalty cards and points - I always want to punch the woman in boots who asks me for my boots card and looks horrified when I don't have one. Hey, how about reducing your prices to proper levels and scrapping points and all the costs associated with it, do you think I'm completely stupid? So I actively avoid boots.

I like advertising that informs - that says here you go, this is what we have, come and get it if you want it. Not much of that around but eg like what I get from John Lewis. They send me a little brochure of eg home furniture or children's shoes. Clear pictures, price, no gimmicks, marvellous.

Re trust - I assume that if John Lewis sells something then it is probably good quality and more importantly probably one of the best quality/price ratios of the products in that class. Eg I'll buy a tv online from them because they will only sell eg 3 of the type I'm looking for and I assume they've done the research for me and presented me with the three best options. I won't buy a tv online from dixons because I'll assume they are trying to flog me an out of date one which they have too many stocks of at an excessive price

Other companies I trust to provide good products at a fair price - hmmm. The White Company. Boden - may not like the prices but you know what you are going to get, quality is consistent, and you can make your choice whether to buy it or not. Drivethedeal new car website. Choose your car, choose your options, get a non-haggleable heavily discounted price, get a perfect car delivered to your door without having to go near a smarmy salesman. Absolutely trustworthy (you should get them to advertise on here Justine/Carrie)

Can't think of many others I must say

[Hespera]

oh Marina! I totally forgot about those
Activia yoghurt "I'm so bloated"