Liling Liu

1.I would categorize the way the Jones family lives as a form of personal selling. They don’t just promote products; they embody the lifestyle those products represent. Their approach is to influence others through their own use and endorsement of the products in a very personal and direct manner, which is a key aspect of personal selling.

2.The sales tactics used by the Jones family resemble influencer marketing, a common tactic used by many brands today. For example, just like how the Joneses integrate products seamlessly into their lives to make them desirable, many of my favorite brands use social media influencers to showcase their products in a real-life context, making them more appealing to the audience.

3.Based on the course materials and the movie, I believe the way products are marketed in the film raises ethical concerns. The Joneses deceive their neighbors into believing their lifestyle is genuine, manipulating them to buy products. This lack of transparency and the exploitation of personal relationships for commercial gain can be considered unethical.

4.If I were friends with someone in the Jones family before knowing their secret, I would likely feel admiration and perhaps aspire to be like them. However, after finding out the truth, my feelings would shift to betrayal and disappointment. The realization that our friendship was based on a marketing strategy would undermine the authenticity of our relationship.