One of the too many e-mail newsletters that I subscribe to is a weekly Times column on advertising. Tucked into the latest edition is an ad from American Airlines’ frequent-flyer program, targeting potential marketing partners:
Bend Customers to Your Will
Just offer AAdvantage® miles and consumers buy. Like clockwork. They spend more and they spend more often. They can’t help themselves. That’s why our programs are some of the most powerful marketing tools available. See for yourself at www.aadvantage.com.
Yikes. And their marketing website has a whole traveling hypnotist-show feel. Creepy. I know I’m being naïve about the business of luring consumers, but this copy makes it sound like they forgot we were still in the room.