You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Today the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer 1:
Today, with a significant increase in the number of producers for various goods, not only do buyers have difficulty choosing favourable products but also competition between producers to persuade consumers has become hard and serious. Therefore advertisements play a key role in today’s marketing and so some people believe that the power of advertisements is the major incentive for the market growth of buying popular consumer products and the necessary needs of buyers are not very important. I agree with this opinion to some extent but I think the main reason for this increase in sales is people’s necessity, not advertisements.
On the one hand, producers apply various methods to market their products for consumers. These days, if you see carefully around yourself, you will face tempting advertising slogans on a billboard on streets, on different types of media that surround you and want to induce you to choose their goods. Companies spend a lot of money advertising the products and they use celebrities and famous people to bring their favours into their stories. These methods have been successful in some cases, especially for affluent people who want to be in fashion and able to afford luxurious goods such as houses, cars and jewellery. So this success is held in a limited circle.
On the other hand, an intensive growth of sales of people’s main consumer products is as a result of increasing their needs to them. The role of advertisement in this area is confined to help the buyer choose the best products and not persuade them to buy unnecessary goods. When it comes to vital goods of living, people whether rich or poor do not pay attention to advertising messages that how much or many of these goods they buy.
In conclusion, I think that is true the power of advertisement can make people buy their products but this power is limited to rich people and also unnecessary consumer goods so that the real needs of the society dictate the rate of sales.
(Submitted by Hesam Hajheidari)
Sample Answer 2:
Nowadays millions of companies produce billions of products and the role of advertising is quite obvious. Ads help consumers to find the goods or services of their needs. However, do our needs grow equally fast as the number of products? Some market analysts insist modern commercials are not merely matchmakers of a product and a consumer but actively interfere with buyer’s desires, developing artificial needs.
Undoubtedly, advertisement guides people through the market serves those who do not have time to learn the differences among various products. These products are probably the same, but loyalty to a particular brand, formed by a commercial helps make a choice. When a person buys one mobile phone out of 50 models, he thinks he made his choice himself. But that was a commercial that told him about the features of this phone.
Nevertheless, ads not only inform us about new goods but force people to want them. This can be even useful, for example for someone who suffers from back pains and without commercials, he would never imagine there are new mattresses that could ease their pains.
Unfortunately, promoters now operate our minds more aggressively. Commercials no longer promote products, but lifestyles. They told us to purchase things just because they are fashionable or up to date with the image of a successful person. And we buy new cars, gadgets and clothes in order to match this image and not because old ones are no longer usable.
Personally, I think that high sales of popular commodities are the result of new promotional technologies. The best illustration of that is that everyone now is concerned mostly about how a new mobile phone will reflect his personality, a new shirt – his image, or will a new car make colleagues feel jealous.
[ Source: Cambridge IELTS 6 ]
Sample Answer 3:
In this contemporary world, if the company wants to survive, they need the income that can be brought by selling their goods. They use electronic media and newspapers as a medium of communication between them and consumers. It is also the responsibility of the consumers to think once or twice before buying the product for themselves. It is completely left to the customer opinion, as he has the right to choose. So, to some extent, I agree with the statement given in the question.
Firstly, from the company’s perspective side who makes the commodity, products are advertised everywhere on roads using flexies, the internet and other electronic media. They try to entice the customer by using cine stars, actresses, singers to advertise their product or by giving special offers, weekend offers etc, rather than highlighting the quality of the product. Sometimes they do not show the drawbacks of the commodity such as the material used, warranty, durability etc. Some sales websites such as Flipkart, Amazon, snapdeal, try to attract customers.
Secondly, from the consumers’ perspective, customers have their own habits in buying the product. Only a few customers get attention towards product and their advertisement rather than seeing the quality of the product and its Brand. Most of the customers do their own surveys before buying items. Suppose if the person wants to buy a mobile, he compares the performance of the gadget with other gadgets, he takes ratings into consideration, experts view and in their opinion, he will buy the gadget. In addition to that, customers take the Brand into account and don’t bother about any star acting in that advertisement.
In conclusion, it is neither possible to blame the customer nor the advertisement. Advertisements act as one way to communicate with customers and get their opinion. But it is also the responsibility of consumers before buying the product and think whether it is useful to them or not. If they have enough income, doesn’t mean they spend it lavishly, irrespective of that everybody has the freedom to think. So use it appropriately.
(Submitted by Vamshi)
Sample Answer 4:
Essay Topic: Today the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Answer:
With the ever-present concern for advertising commercials, its impacts on the purchase decisions of consumers have been much debated recently. While many are of the opinion that advertisements boost the sales of goods and it also renders customers opt for unnecessary things, others disagree. I partly agree with the former viewpoint due to two main reasons which are examined in this essay.
On the one hand, in the media, a product can be invested with great quality or feasible function. As a result, consumers tend to buy goods without enough consideration. This can be seen clearly that seniors are prone to attract the medicine with the special function, therefore, they may buy it immediately after watching its advertising without instruction from doctors. Thanks to advertising campaigns the revenue of various companies may increase rapidly.
On the other hand, regardless of whether adverts are launched, the sales of certain goods are more likely unalterable. For example, certain goods with the luxury brands may be sold with the constant percentage in many years. This is because the price of these goods is far too high for everybody to own them. In these cases, therefore, consumers without high income are fluctuated slightly by advertisements.
In conclusion, it is clear that adverts with numerous companies are the key to elevating the revenue but, few brands may be reversed. Customers are expected to take into consideration to opt for useful goods.
(Submitted by Vinhnt)