Warning:
This article is NOT suitable for those under 18. It contains many, hot, dirty, porn alike, shocking examples of advertising.

I bet you are going to read further no matter what age you are. Did I get your attention?
I bet I did.

Nowadays, advertising agencies focus on three different ways of getting attention:

• using humour
• shocking/ creating fear
• using sex as a main idea

With this shower gel you can score every girl

Maybe sex in advertising is too cheap but it definitely sells. Today’s ads can persuade men that using certain shower gel will increase their chances with randez vouz.
Emily Friedman from ABC News said that:

If there’s one thing that every marketing and advertising pro retained from Business 101 class, it’s that sex sells.

We’re surrounded by all kind of marketing campaigns which try to get our attention. Everywhere we look, there is always some attractive woman or a man on the ad trying to persuade us that this certain product will make our life better and more joyful.
Common themes of sex marketing are work within one formula: “Buy this product, get this reaction”. For example:
If you buy this product:
a) you’ll be more sexually attractive
b) have more or better sex (which for some viewers means: no more “alien hand” style sex)
c) you’ll feel sexier for your own sake

Some of the ’sex sells’ marketing campaigns:

Do the coffee beans make you horny too?

Horny just by looking on the lingerie

Wearing CK Jeans will give you f…fun..

Rape-relative controversial advertising of D&G

Another Tom Ford eye-wear advertisement campaigned got banned..

The ultimate attraction. Mixture of sex appleal with humour style advertisement

Some facts about sex in marketing strategy:

Fact No1: Sex creates controversy
Fact No2: Sex relates to something pleasurable
Fact No3: Sex relates to our basic instincts (is linked to species survival)
Fact No4: It helps building relationships (most of the times.. except when your husband suddenly discovers something in the wardrobe)

So if all seems to relate to feeling-good mood only, why there are as many advocates as critics?

Studies show that while attractiveness of the endorsing model provokes positive responses. Nudity and almost pornographic content, while still increasing consumer’s attention, doesn’t in reality generate positive feelings among viewers.

Sex sells, yes, but only when used “in good taste.”

And you? What do you think about using sex appeal in advertising? What was the most shocking ad you have seen?