Cigarette Makers: Major Marketing Changes
June 13, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Marketing
Cigarette makers will soon face much stricter rules and regulations when it comes to marketing their products. Once President Barack Obama signs a new bill into law, the tobacco industry will face many changes.
While cigarette makers specifically and the tobacco industry in general have been very good marketers over the last hundred years, a lot of their marketing strategies will have to change. Here’s a rundown of some of the differences you may notice in the near future:
- Cigarettes that are flavored like candy or fruit will be banned.
- Tobacco companies will have to tell the world each ingredient that makes up the products they sell.
- There can’t be any claims that any tobacco product poses less of a health risk.
- Cigarette packages will receive new labels that will be much larger.
- Smokeless tobacco products will get new labels warning of the dangers.
It will be very interesting to see how the tobacco industry handles their new marketing campaigns. Even if you believe the tobacco industry is evil, you must admit that chances are — based on their history — they’ll find a way to continue to thrive by altering their marketing strategies.
Cigarette makers face historic marketing changes (Image: Flickr)
Among many other studies in his book “Buyology”, Martin Lindstrom found (via a multi-million dollar neuromarketing research project) that large health warnings on cigarettes packages such as “SMOKING KILLS” actually increased the cravings of smokers. The study utilized fMRI technology while flashing images of packages with warning labels, tar-black lungs, and yellowed teeth to track the brain’s response. Contrary to what one might think, these warning labels actually INCREASED smokers’ emotional and physical desire to light up.
Perhaps marketers in the tobacco industry won’t have to alter their tactics much; it seems the government is actually doing their job for them.
This post is really informative. If you can’t leave your smoking habit immediately you can switch to the smokeless electronic cigarette or e-cigs with which you can really save yourself and your surroundings from the risks that are associated with smoking any traditional cigarette.