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

Iceland ads with those roasts that go straight from the freezer to the oven

I saw advert the other day with bunch of 'nearly but not quite Sex in the City -types' in a Restaurant, one went off to the toilet, came back, pulled aface and revealed her poo had been quite hard. "oh that's okay sweetie-dahling" says a friend reaching into her handbag "I use theeeese" and hands over a packet of some tablets for softening your turds......WTF?
No really....WTF?

The comfort fabric conditioner one is quite good - with the raggy dolls.

The M&S ones for clothes seem to be aimed at men more than women - can any of us relate to the ladies in them? Wish I did look like the underwear model though - so does my husband

ahhh dulcoease - great minds are clearly traumatised alike!!!

Taking Davina McCall as a case in point, I'd never buy the hairdye she endorses and yet when I found maternitywear site selling dresses 'as worn by Davina McCall on Big Brother' I wanted one immediately [shame].
It's the difference between endorsing for cash and actually using the product - you can bet your bottom dollar she doesn't dye her own hair .

I like the Dulux adverts - especially the ones "we also know the colurs that don't go" on UGly Betty.
The Herbal Essences/Desperate Housewives however tie in is very irritating.
Sorry I'm on a real rant here.

I like ads with a sense of humour though. My altime favourite one is the kitkat one with the rollerskating panda bears (remember that?)

just illustrated its catch phrase (have a break) but done with humour, style and panache

can't think of any ads I like at the moment. b list celebs ones are the worst (why does carol vorderman advertise really dodgy "financial services?" eugh)

What about the Ebay ones? I cant make my mind up.

Re: Davina McCall - they've definitely digitally enhanced her voice on those ads and replaced her usual irritating screech with a purr ("oh, mother!!).

speaking of tie-ins, I love the Spontex Comfy Gloves ones with House - rubber gloves are a product that could so easily have been advertised in a truly ghastly housewifey way, but they manage to make them seem fresh and funny and not woman specific.

some of those 118118 ads where they are psychiatrists are hilarious as well, I like them

I still use 118500 though

and why the endless sanitary towels ads? who uses them anyway? and does whoever uses them change brands because someone is rollerskating wearing a miniskirt at the same time?

I think i'm just completely impervious to advertising.

I can't get the bam chicka wah wah thing out of my head but hate the adverts...does that make it a good or bad advert?

People who market to women tend to take a stereotypical approach ..but that's true of any segment (just look at the guff targeted at the grey market .. gah!) .. I suppose if you're looking for a good USP then gender segmentation might be an interesting one but its so hard not to sound patronising. I appreciate its come from a book but personally think prettylittlehead as a name does you no favours in the business world ..at least amongst the marketing directors and CEs I've met but I wish you luck

I love the way so many people here seem to believe marketing = advertising .. its every point of contact you have with the brand including the things you hear on the 'grapevine', what you get through the door, see on the street, hear on the radio, see online, receive online and what you see in the shops etc

I liked the eBay ones where there were different people talking about htings and it was a little bit risque.
Not so keen on the 4 little people who are all different colours to represent ebay logo.

If I see anything advertised on the TV I am bound to stop buying it - I particularly loathe the one for toilet fresheners where the new mum is worried when her visiting friends want to use the loo.

Firstly, as a bit of an eco-freak, I detest any chemically-based air/toilet-fresheners. Secondly, the home is unrealistically tidy for a mum of a tiny baby and the baby is unnecessarily ( and stereotypically) swaddled in a blanket!

The way the friend wrinkles her nose at the 'oh-so-funny-baby-poo-smell' is infuriating. I'd rather smell baby poo than inhale all those chemicals....

Hate the fact people think that it's OK to spray god-only -knows what into the air without a second thought -especially when there are kids about- just to hide a few smells. Do you know what's in it? Open the window to let some fresh air in..!

And too many dettol sprays are the work of the devil too . What's wrong with good old soap and water - and a few measly germs?

i think it is cathederal city cheese where everyone is eating cheese on toast is good - makes me want to eat some!! HATE the clover advert where everyone cries tears of rapture over their corn on the cob - YUCK

I don't think it's that we think marketing=advertising Twiglett, I think it's that advertising is the most prominent method and it's also the one most likely to spring into one's mind.
Especially since there are so many bloody annoying adverts on the TV

what pph said (esp about having taught kids all adverts are misleading).

I can read a whole newspaper or magazine without being aware of a single advert in it, apart from being irritated about how little there was to read on each page because so much of it was taken up by ads.

I sky+ almost all TV I watch so I FF through ads. We pay over £600 for the privilege of sky+ so I don't see why I should watch ads.

Bounty packs - I loathe.

I love tv advertising on some of them you can see the sweaty little 20 somethings who think they've actually cracked it with their innovative approach and all I think is 'its a bleach, get over yourself'

rofl

hairdye ad's are we reallyu supposed to believe that andi off fourwedding and co dye their own hair at home! yeah right

Zeitgeist, I totally agree. Marketeers must laugh their heads off at all these gullible consumers who buy separate cleaning products for their bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, washing-up etc...they're all the bloody same! One generic gentle soapy cleaner (i.e Stardrops, 99p from all good retailers) will do all those jobs...save yourself some money and don't believe the advertisers!

I know this is supposed to be a discussion(?) about marketing to women but , as I've yet to see a 6 month old choose his own food, all those follow-on milks and baby food ads playing on the insecurities of mums to provide an appropriate diet really get my goat.

I worked in advertising for a long time, not creatively, just selling them. So I really believe in the power of advertising and realise that it does make a huge amount of difference. Bearing in mind different adverts are aimed at different people.

However I do hate (as others) the smelly loo adverts and the household product adverts as they

1. tell us our loo/house smells
2. assume housework/buying household products is ONLY a womans domain
3. have immaculate houses (but it would be pointless if they didn't)

I think the only household product advert that is OK in some way is for Bounty. The blokes dressed as women. It manages to appeal acorss the board. However I wouldn't buy the stuff as I don't use kitchen towel to clean the cooker etc!!

I do think that in the main advertising patronises intellegent women and men and buy asking opinions on MN you are not getting atrue relfection of society. The advertising that appeals to this sort of person tends to be well made and clever.

I am such a sucker for cleaning products I buy loads thinking it will motivate me to do some bloody housework then unpack it and turn the laptop on instead!