What makes people want to buy products? Most products that people own are bought due to the advertisement of the product, that persuaded the viewer to purchase it. Advertisements are a big part of sales for products. Consumers buy the product because the advertisement influenced them to do so, but they might not necessarily need the product. There is various distinct types of advertisements that target different human needs in order to appeal to viewers. In order for companies to catch buyers' attention in ads, they make viewers believe they need the product by targeting the need of attention, need for affiliation, and need of sex. .
In an advertisement by Covergirl, the product Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss is being advertised. The ad is a picture of well-known singer and role model called Pink who is topless and wearing the product on her nails in the color "Leading Lady" which is a vibrant purple . Her face expression is very dominant and attention grabbing. The ad reads "Go topless" and the product has a built-in top coat, so there is no need for a top coat to be applied (63). The need that is being targeted in the advertisement is the need of attention, because everybody is going to notice her nails due to the high gloss color. According to the article "Advertising's Fifteen Basic Appeals", author Jib Fowles believes that advertisements target the need of attention to interest humans. Fowles states, "This is the need to be looked at" (144). Another advertisement that is also targeting the need of attention is the clothing line Express. The advertisement portrays a young couple that is very well dressed, and they seem to be at a special event. The woman has beautiful blonde hair and glowing skin; she wears a short red and beige laced dress with high thigh slit and a low back cut exposing her back. The young man's attire consisted of an extravagant royal blue suit with a black sequenced bow tie and a white buttoned shirt with royal blue pants.