Influence of Outdoor Advertising on Public 20123Advertising is as old as mankind. It is embedded in our lives as is food,sleep and speech. We all communicate, persuade, influence and lead to someaction every day in our lives.In fact, Padamsee, the ex-CEO of Lintas says “when a man wears trouser-shirt ensemble instead of a dhoti, he is advertising he is westernized. When awoman wears lipstick, she is advertising that she wants to look beautiful. Whena neta delivers a speech, he is advertising that he wants to be noticed. Ads areparts of human nature to be noticed.” Advertising is “Truth well told”,according to McCann Ericsson, the first ad agency for Coca-Cola.Advertising is a form of persuasive communication with the public. TheAmerican Marketing Association, Chicago, defines advertising as “any, paidform of non-personal presentation of ideas, goods and services by anidentified sponsor.” Ad may be any form of presentation, an illustration in anewspaper or magazine, a television commercial, or a bill board. It is not on aperson-to-person basis, but targeted to the general public. The advertisementcan be for any product, service or idea. It may vary from toothpaste to lifeinsurance, to even public service ads which sell ideas like road safety, eyedonation, etc…Advertising is the communication link between the buyer and the seller. Itgoes further from providing information; it persuades the consumers to acceptthe idea or buy the product or service, with the help of reasoning and emotionalappeals.