Because marketers’ credibility keeps going lower and lower. Now a PR firm has agreed to settle charges it had its employees pretend to be unbiased videogame buyers and post gushing, rave reviews at Apple’s online iTunes store. When I read that, I felt like the French police inspector who was “shocked, shocked!” to discover gambling …
USPs Gone Wild: Our sneakers will "make your boobs jealous"
Reebok claims their new EasyTone sneakers will firm up your butt and sculpt your legs so well, “your boobs will be jealous.”
How to read your customers’ minds
Your website copy needs to assure prospective customers they’re in the right place, that your site has what they’re looking for, and that they can trust you.
Create your Marketing Plan before lunch
This Quick & Easy Marketing Plan is a map, a high-altitude view of where you’re going and how you’ll get there. It will help you stay on-course while you’re doing the actual marketing.
Tech jargon, boulders and other jive
Vague, jargon-filled buzzwords are like boulders in old TV westerns. They’re really great to hide behind.
Negative reviews? Fear not
Negative online reviews are not necessarily the kiss of death for your product’s sales. Sales often increase anyway. And the company looks gutsy to allow it.
Little words, big problems
Certain words make a big impact in the mind of customers. Use the wrong word, and you can easily scare off interested prospects.
Welcome! Now go away
Are annoying pop-up windows chasing potential customers away from your website? Is there a better alternative for collecting visitors’ email addresses?
Deciphering auto dealers' promises
Ever wonder how your local car dealers can afford to make promises like these? “Zero-percent financing! Drive it away for just $189 a month! We’ll give you $4000 for your old car, even if you have to tow it in! And (my personal favorite) below-invoice prices!” Can dealers really afford to make such extravagant promises? …
When marketers act like pushy strangers
Imagine a complete stranger walking up and demanding your name, phone number or other contact info. Whether it’s on the sidewalk or at a party, that degree of pushiness, especially by a complete stranger, would be totally unwelcome. And yet marketers do it all the time. I’m talking about those pop-up windows that ask for …