illusions-is that the world we live in?

Back in the day magicians and similar artists of trade blew their spectators away with great tricks of illusion - simply great entertainment!

Is this the world we live in today any different? Is it that we simply buy into a particular marketing message (illusion)? 

Or has it changed and we as a group is now hearing the word of mouth and adjusting our desires and needs of something dependent on what people that we trust tells us? Or do we act as individuals and do what we want and how we want it? Should the marketing message continue to be an illusion? If not, to whom should marketers communicate with and how? 

My observations tell me that the word of mouth effect surely applies to certain aspects of the modern person-other areas are true necessities and we buy into it anyhow whatever is being said about it! So what does one do to find the holy grail aka. the ones that start the word of mouth effect may it be in a small scale or larger scale?