Explaining cross-marketing to a pre-schooler
In this insane media-saturated world we live in, I find myself in these odd conversations with my nephews, especially Liam, who CONSTANTLY asks questions about everything.
LIAM: Aunt Julia, why is there so much Spiderman and Shrek stuff everywhere? There's a Spiderman movie and a Shrek movie and everywhere has Spiderman and Shrek toys and stuff.
ME: (Thinking to myself, "Now how to I explain this without getting too detailed.") Well, when they make a movie, they REALLY want people to go see it, so they ask other companies, like restaurants and the people who make cereal and Pop-Tarts, and the people who make toys to make stuff about the movie so that it will make you think about the movie. And if you think about their movie all the time, then maybe you will decide that you want to watch the movie.
LIAM: What happens if you don't want to watch the movie?
ME: (Laughing) Well, then I guess they didn't do a good job!
That particular conversation ended there, but I wonder if I should have continued with my admonition that you don't have to want things just because advertisers tell you that you should want them.
LIAM: Aunt Julia, why is there so much Spiderman and Shrek stuff everywhere? There's a Spiderman movie and a Shrek movie and everywhere has Spiderman and Shrek toys and stuff.
ME: (Thinking to myself, "Now how to I explain this without getting too detailed.") Well, when they make a movie, they REALLY want people to go see it, so they ask other companies, like restaurants and the people who make cereal and Pop-Tarts, and the people who make toys to make stuff about the movie so that it will make you think about the movie. And if you think about their movie all the time, then maybe you will decide that you want to watch the movie.
LIAM: What happens if you don't want to watch the movie?
ME: (Laughing) Well, then I guess they didn't do a good job!
That particular conversation ended there, but I wonder if I should have continued with my admonition that you don't have to want things just because advertisers tell you that you should want them.