Advertising is used to promote things.
Advertising is an audio or visual form of marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored , nonpersonal message to promote or sell a product , service or idea . Sponsors of advertising are often businesses who wish to promote their products or services . The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement or `` ad '' . Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through `` branding , '' which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers .