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I’ve often noticed a strong correlation between bad products and amount of advertising, especially in consumer software. I’m wondering if there’s actually a reason for this.

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Well, it’s an inherently manipulative practice, no exceptions. If you sold something people truly wanted, you wouldn’t need a huge ad campaign, and if you did run one, you’d grow past it soon enough. Only a stuck/sinking firm would throw significant money at the problem for multiple quarters to juice their metrics, IMO

I’m awake and older than 8 so it would make sense to me that good products need less advertising, but I’d still be only guessing.

One would think, but it's an industry I'll never understand, either.

Coca-Cola doesn't need to advertise. It's delicious, everyone knows it exists, and yet they still spend ungodly amounts of money on advertising.

KO shareholders presumably wouldn't let them get away with this if it wasn't justifiable. So there's something I'm likely missing.

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