--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have always said that advertising is…" description: "\"We have always said that advertising is just the icing on the cake. It is not the cake.\" — Meg Whitman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/meg-whitman-13170_advertising_we-have-always-said-that-advertising-is_2568135.jpg" --- # We have always said that advertising is just the icing on… ![“We have always said that advertising is just the icing on the cake. It is not the cake.” quote by Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/meg-whitman-13170_advertising_we-have-always-said-that-advertising-is_2568135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/meg-whitman-13170_advertising_we-have-always-said-that-advertising-is_2568135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/meg-whitman-13170_advertising_we-have-always-said-that-advertising-is_2568135.jpg) > “We have always said that advertising is just the icing on the cake. It is not the cake.” [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advertising enhances a product but is not essential to its existence. **In simple terms:** Ads are extra, not core. Key Takeaway Focus on product quality first. Themes marketing product value Mood critical analytical Type business marketing When to use this quote - product launch - brand building - advertising campaigns - market positioning Key Concepts consumer perception brand strategy Questions to Reflect On - Is your product strong enough without ads? - How do ads affect perceived value? A Different Perspective Overreliance on ads can mask product flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [Icing on the cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icing-on-the-cake/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) ## Related quotes > [It's so much fun that the money is just icing on the cake. There seems to be a lot of icing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/it-s-so-much-fun-that-the-money-is-just-icing-on-the-cake-there-seems/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [I don't work for awards; they're just an icing on the cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/i-don-t-work-for-awards-they-re-just-an-icing-on-the-cake/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [Nine times out of ten, I'm trying to meet someone else's expectations, whether it's the director or the writer or the animator, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/nine-times-out-of-ten-i-m-trying-to-meet-someone-else-s-expectations/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [I told her that I can't be doing with the Wonder part of these trips, but she said it should be the icing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/i-told-her-that-i-can-t-be-doing-with-the-wonder-part-of-these-trips/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Every job after the first job I got was icing on the cake. This is so much fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katee-sackhoff/every-job-after-the-first-job-i-got-was-icing-on-the-cake-this-is-so/) [Katee Sackhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katee-sackhoff/) > [The icing on the cake is when other people enjoy your vision and support what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cise-star/the-icing-on-the-cake-is-when-other-people-enjoy-your-vision-and/) Cise Star > [Stories aren't the icing on the cake; they are the cake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/stories-aren-t-the-icing-on-the-cake-they-are-the-cake/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [“Flow can be described as the icing on the cake”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-tate/flow-can-be-described-as-the-icing-on-the-cake/) Derek Tate > [If the theory turns out to be right, that will be tremendously thick and tasty icing on the cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/if-the-theory-turns-out-to-be-right-that-will-be-tremendously-thick/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Words that say you care are just icing on the cake of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-f-shubnell-2/words-that-say-you-care-are-just-icing-on-the-cake-of-action/) [Thomas F Shubnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-f-shubnell-2/) > [Its just the icing on the cupcake, fuckface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/its-just-the-icing-on-the-cupcake-fuckface/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [ “\[T\]he parent-child relationship was one way, you gave them all your love and they were under no obligation to pay a penny back. Of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/t-he-parent-child-relationship-was-one-way-you-gave-them-all-your/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [“You're the icing on the cake on the table at my wake, You're the extra ton of cash on my sinking life raft, You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modest-mouse/you-re-the-icing-on-the-cake-on-the-table-at-my-wake-you-re-the-extra/) [Modest Mouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/modest-mouse/) > [“I think it's more accurate to think of aesthetics as a key ingredient in a recipe, as opposed to the icing on the cake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-p-anderson/i-think-it-s-more-accurate-to-think-of-aesthetics-as-a-key-ingredient/) Stephen P. Anderson > [When it comes to the awards and everything, and the press, the publicity, this is all icing on the cake to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/when-it-comes-to-the-awards-and-everything-and-the-press-the/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) ## More by Meg Whitman > [Because what happens is, as the economy suffers, tax revenues go down. But unlike businesses, where at least your variable costs go down, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/because-what-happens-is-as-the-economy-suffers-tax-revenues-go-down/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [What's sort of interesting about the whole public relations disaster that is the Net, in some ways, is that the fundamentals are really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/what-s-sort-of-interesting-about-the-whole-public-relations-disaster/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [When people use your brand name as a verb, that is remarkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/when-people-use-your-brand-name-as-a-verb-that-is-remarkable/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [A monkey could drive this train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/a-monkey-could-drive-this-train/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [You know, I like to think that I will subscribe very much to the core Republican principles of small government. Making a small number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/you-know-i-like-to-think-that-i-will-subscribe-very-much-to-the-core/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Do what you love and success will follow. Passion is the fuel behind a successful career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/do-what-you-love-and-success-will-follow-passion-is-the-fuel-behind-a/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [When a small business grows like eBay did, it has a multiplier effect. It creates other small businesses that supply it with intellectual capital,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/when-a-small-business-grows-like-ebay-did-it-has-a-multiplier-effect/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [eBay had two main things that really spoke to me. It enabled individuals to do things that they could not have done without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/ebay-had-two-main-things-that-really-spoke-to-me-it-enabled/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [One good thing about California is we have quite a broad-based economy. We provide more fruits and vegetables and produce to the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/one-good-thing-about-california-is-we-have-quite-a-broad-based/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Steve Jobs was an iconic entrepreneur and businessman whose impact on technology was felt beyond Silicon Valley. He will be remembered for the innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/steve-jobs-was-an-iconic-entrepreneur-and-businessman-whose-impact-on/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Look at growth, look at how much time people spend on the Net and look at the variety of things that they are doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/look-at-growth-look-at-how-much-time-people-spend-on-the-net-and-look/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Guess what? The world changes. eBay has defined e-commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/guess-what-the-world-changes-ebay-has-defined-e-commerce/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [And I want to be able to - you know, make Republicans and Democrats famous for keeping jobs in California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/and-i-want-to-be-able-to-you-know-make-republicans-and-democrats/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Many companies operate from more of a command-and-control environment - they decide what's going to happen at headquarters and have the organization execute. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/many-companies-operate-from-more-of-a-command-and-control-environment/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [It is very clear that voice communications is moving on to the Internet. In the end, the price that anyone can provide for voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/it-is-very-clear-that-voice-communications-is-moving-on-to-the/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) [Explore all 51 Meg Whitman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) ## More Advertising quotes > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest-it is much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gossage/advertising-justifies-its-existence-when-used-in-the-public-interest/) [Howard Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gossage/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [We have the capital, the resources, and the technology that we need to build a mobile advertising platform across the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-tewari/we-have-the-capital-the-resources-and-the-technology-that-we-need-to/) [Naveen Tewari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-tewari/) > [“Never run advertising until the major publicity possibilities have been exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/never-run-advertising-until-the-major-publicity-possibilities-have/) [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [I like Valentine's Day. The trouble is the florists and the candy-makers and the card people are all advertising so much, you don't dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-like-valentine-s-day-the-trouble-is-the-florists-and-the-candy/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I happened to be spotted by a modeling agent who offered me a part-time job at 16. Everything happened very quickly after that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-happened-to-be-spotted-by-a-modeling-agent-who-offered-me-a-part/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/they-say-that-madison-avenue-will-only-pay-high-dollars-in/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) > [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. Then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-ve-driven-people-mad-on-films-that-i-ve-made-i-want-more-takes-i/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [This hype word bothers me though It always sounds like an accusation, what does it mean, advertising, column inches in the press? Bands themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/this-hype-word-bothers-me-though-it-always-sounds-like-an-accusation/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I'm supposed to be taking time off. But I'm still writing and I have this Gap advert lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-m-supposed-to-be-taking-time-off-but-i-m-still-writing-and-i-have/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [Any seeming deception in a statement is costly, not only in the expense of the advertising but in the detrimental effect produced upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wanamaker/any-seeming-deception-in-a-statement-is-costly-not-only-in-the/) [John Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wanamaker/) [Browse all 1,942 Advertising quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have always said that advertising is just the icing on the cake. 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