A Candle in the Dark

A Better Way by Geni White

Why I believe in the failure of marketers who teach how to manipulate and control customers:

Last evening I listened for a couple of hours to a marketer who succeeds. Her always-motivating mission statement: “For the Good of ALL”.

Her view on being known as an expert: People will know you’re an expert because you’ve worked hard and proved it.

What a great attitude and winning motivation.

Read my partial quotes from Eric Enge, in Search Engine Watch, Jan 30, 2008

"One of the more misunderstood parts about the Web environment today is just how much the user is in control. …This shift in control to the consumer has happened for many reasons. Here are three of the most important ones:
1. Consumers Have Much More Choice
…consumers can comparison shop without getting out of their chair
2. Consumers Can Find Reviews Online
Not only can you find product information and comparison shop, you can also find reviews online
3. Consumers Can Find an Audience
Not only can consumers find out what others think, they can let the world know about their experiences."

A marketing friend told me, “This method works—“Find out what customers want and help them get it.”
YES!

No Longer Angry, But Still Irritated

By Geni White

In my previous post I said I’d share methods from the marketer I consider a manipulator.

He advises one or a combination of these approaches:

1.Before and after stories. (Look for the extra fine print in such ads that admit these products don’t work for most people.)
2.Testimonials from someone who is enthused about a product.
3.Reveal secrets that will change a customer’s life. Especially good way to bond customers to you, this man says.
4.Talk about am amazing discovery that your product advances.
5.Tell of a good guy who was mistreated and won anyway because of your product.
6.Talk about helping customers overcome a common enemy; especially influences internet users.

This man suggests get rid of customers resistance by stressing how your product is NOT like competitors and people will believe you’re an expert because you say so.
He also mentioned types of internet searchers and indicated that e-mailers can more easily be convinced to buy than web-surfers or blog readers.

I’m still irritated at this guy, but further investigation proves his approach will eventually fail, I believe. I’ll share some reasons in my next post.

Copyright, Geni J. White, 2008

I'm Angry!

Last evening I viewed a marketing video I should never have watched before bedtime. I was too incensed to sleep.

This speaker admitted his marketing methods were designed to sucker in buyers (not his term; his wasn’t as nice).
His motives were designed for failure…to make tons of money.

Motives are an important factor in life. Making lots of money based on wrong motives is not a path to success.

Three centuries ago, the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon said, “Riches surely make themselves wings..” and “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.”

That ancient king knew the motive for true success…to find satisfaction with our lives.
King Solomon said, ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches…lest I be full and deny and say, “Who is the Lord?” or least I be poor and steal....’

This marketer’s initial teaching was informative and okay. Then he outlined ideas to entice buyers.
That’s what disgusted me.
His plan’s basics:
Slyly make people obedient to his sales pitch.
Get rid of resistance to his ploys,
Convince people he has secrets that a common enemy refuses to share,
Blame customer’s problems on an enemy.
Absolve prospective buyers of personal responsibility.
The marketer said convincing people they haven’t caused their own problems makes them do whatever a sales person suggests.

Maybe a few people are gullible, but I doubt they stay that way long.

This speaker presented specific methods I’ll share later.

© Geni J. White