The high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following 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 with these views?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.


Model Answer 1:
We all are surrounded by catchy commercial advertisements and undoubtedly, it has a great implication on consumer behavior. Most of the cases, people are provoked to buy products that are not response our need at all. In this essay, I will delineate how ads play a vital role in shaping buying decisions.

First of all, we have already embraced the technological era. That is to say, technology is available to all of us and through these technologies, companies’ ads reach us very easily. For instance, Companies could conduct advertising campaign incessantly with help of social media like facebook, twitter, etc. As a result, people impulsively buy the products that are actually unnecessary for them.

Secondly, a good advertising could play with human psychology. It could change mindset transforming needs into wants. Hand phone device is a good example here to be mentioned. Due to the hostile market, cell phone producers compete with each other to pursue the consumer buying their products using smart advertising which focuses on so many features that in fact, is not real requirement of the consumer. Individuals like to think that a phone with many features is a useful thing to use, yet it is not tailored with their needs. In other words, ads could create a popular vogue in terms of lifestyle. For instance, in our country, most of the students in primary level are keeping smart phones while they have no need to have sophisticated phone set at this level. They argue that they are just responding to the trend using the advanced technology. Consequently, the sale of cell phones is boosted by particular class of consumers.

Last but not the least, companies tend to use public figures, like film star, sportsman, media personality, etc. to build brand image. People tend to mimicry their favourite personalities. Therefore, company who uses prominent figure can create a good brand image very easily and a strong brand image has a great impact on sales rate. Take Sakib Al Hassan, the best all rounder in cricket, as an example. He is a brand ambassador of Liver Brothers Bangladesh Ltd. contributing in building brand image to a great extends.

In conclusion, we get information about different products from the advertisement. This helps us to compare various goods and to take the right decision. Therefore, we need to be aware of our genuine requirement so that we can make a sensible choice.

Sample Answer 2:
Advertisements are everywhere nowadays. Advertisements in newspapers, magazines, television channels, hoardings, pamphlets, and radio announcements are making consumers to want more and more regardless of their needs. We are surrounded by it all the time, hence it is impossible to escape from its effects.

We buy the product, whether it is required or not, because companies are targeting our decision making by showing glamorous advertisements on television. They show its products features in such a way that people get attracted towards it. Moreover, we never feel rich and content unless we wear or use the products endorsed by our favourite film-stars, sportsmen, and models. These things set a trend, and many more start following it in order to keep a pace with the society. For example, new smart-mobiles keeps coming in the market, and if somebody buys it regardless of his/ her requirements then many of his or her  friends and family members buys it  and this goes on and on.
On positive side, advertisement brings the awareness amongst the general public that certain product is introduced in the market with more advance qualities. So those who require it may buy it.

Whereas, it is not untrue that needs of the people has increased. With rise in their income, today they want to live more luxurious and comfortable life. Their increased purchasing power is giving them a free hand to buy whatever they want. Also there are some things which need to be bought. For example, with ever-changing technology in many fields, business houses have to buy it in order to compete in the market.

In conclusion, both, rise in the lifestyle of people and powers of advertisements are reasons behind the high earnings of the corporate world.