Marketing, per se, is neither good nor bad. It is simply the way a company speaks to us. People use their mouths, companies use marketing. It is objective. However, how companies choose to speak to us is another story. And in that case, how they market to us is mostly bad.
Good marketing offers us a view of the world.
Bad marketing offers us a product to buy.
Good marketing speaks for us.
Bad marketing speaks at us.
Good marketing starts with a cause.
Bad marketing starts with a goal.
Good marketing drives loyalty.
Bad marketing drives transactions.
Good marketing promotes values.
Bad marketing values promotions.
Good marketing tells us exactly what a company really thinks.
Bad marketing tells us what the company wants us to think they think.
Good marketing seduces.
Bad marketing targets.
Good marketing never mentions price.
Bad marketing always mentions price.
Good marketing uses the products to help tell a story.
Bad marketing tells stories about products.
Good marketing is about us.
Bad marketing is about them.
Bad marketing manipulates.
Good marketing inspires.
I enjoyed reading all of your posts your blog contain a lot of valuable information. You have done a nice job
Posted by: gclub | 10/02/2011 at 06:13 AM
Morality is not really the doctrine of how to make ourselves happy but of how we are to be worthy of happiness. （Immanuel Kant, German Philosopher）
Posted by: Womens Sandals | 09/23/2011 at 03:39 AM
Morality is the custom of one's country ;cannibalism is moral in a cannibal country. （Samuel Brttler, British writer）
Posted by: Cheap Sandals | 09/23/2011 at 03:31 AM
Good day! this is one of the most interested statement I have heard anyone said. I have always say to myself there are no rules telling us what to do, but rules telling us what not to do. We need to start making rules telling us what to do and we will see how creative our world would be. thanks,
Posted by: Logo Design | 09/20/2011 at 07:23 AM
These are some awesome quotes! Where did you get them?
Some inspiration and refocus for my graphic design business :)
http://goo.gl/8xBQZ
Posted by: Positive Graphics | 07/25/2011 at 08:23 PM
Why is mentioning price viewed as bad? I don't understand that. Businesses that are open and honest about what things cost are much better than those that try and obscure what the true price of their products are. That minor point aside, I liked the sentiments expressed in the article.
Regarding the future trends in the market, good marketing is absolutely trending towards the social. Businesses are focused on things like getting tweets, checkins, and getting Facebook fans and there are new and innovative tools like http://facebook.getmorepopular.com that are cropping up to satiate this need to get ahead in the social media realm. This democratization of advertising is actually pretty exciting and worth studying from many perspectives.
Posted by: Daniel Williams | 04/19/2011 at 12:21 PM
Love this! I will use this when starting my own business!! And my 'why' obviously :o))
Posted by: Chris Marr | 04/12/2011 at 10:52 AM
Haha… What you mention are all true! I love your comparison about bad marketing from good marketing. In attracting clients, every businessman needs to be a bit humble, but confident in promoting their business services and products. You must always keep in mind the needs of your target market, not only with your goals. I want to manage a business soon! Maybe a pizzeria is a good idea! I love cooking and I love foods. And I'm sure most people just love eating. If I'm ready to start a business, I'll get my capital from cash advance in Utah.
Posted by: Sofia Britts | 03/24/2011 at 05:10 AM
If you shed tears when you miss the sun,you also miss the stars.
Posted by: Cheap Jordans | 03/12/2011 at 01:06 AM
Thank you. You're book & Ted talk has been a huge inspiration to me and my organization. I would like to help more restaurants find their why. Would you be up for a 5 minute online interview? (via skype).
Posted by: Justin Mitchel | 03/09/2011 at 04:34 AM
Fantastic post. The one that resonated for me the most was:
Good marketing drives loyalty; bad marketing drives transactions.
Thank you.
Posted by: David Sternberg | 03/03/2011 at 06:10 PM
That was a good list of good vs. bad. At least we are now aware on how to determine what a company is offering us. This will help us decide.
Posted by: Brad Fallon | 02/24/2011 at 05:52 AM
I loved reading this! I'm sending and sharing this with my marketing team right away!! Thanks Simon for your inspiration.
Posted by: Nikki_Peterson | 02/23/2011 at 09:12 AM
I loved reading this Simon! I'm sending and sharing this post with my marketing team right away!! Thank-you for your inspiration.
Posted by: Nicole Peterson | 02/23/2011 at 08:28 AM
Great list. Clear and concise.
If we look at each point, it brings us back to the WHY-HOW-WHAT scenario.
Good marketing focuses on WHY.
Thanks Simon!
Posted by: Maz | 02/23/2011 at 03:00 AM
Outstanding post. Straight forward, simple, and clear. Thanks Simon.
Posted by: NW_Mktg_Guy | 02/19/2011 at 10:27 PM
That’s why advertising today are so lame and full of none sense because of bad marketing. According to Seth Godin, good marketing is a story worth to spread and share to friends, family and people we know. It is worth it because it is remarkable and unique from others on the same page. Good marketing is making something stand out that drives it target people into the market.
Posted by: John Lair | 02/18/2011 at 05:19 AM
great stuff. in my mind:
good marketing is authentic.
bad marketing is fake.
Posted by: chris corbin | 02/17/2011 at 10:31 AM
Great post! I was about to send a marketing project to several internet marketing experts for advice when I got this post feed in my email. I was happy to see that my project had several elements of good marketing but it also had one major element of bad marketing. That one bad element would have ruined the enter project. So I removed the bad element and now I feel comfortable and confident enough in my marketing project to execute it without any other advice.
Posted by: Roland Bonay | 02/17/2011 at 05:08 AM
Good marketing starts with why, bad marketing starts with how and what.... Love your book Simon. Great stuff -Jamie
Posted by: Jbennett2020 | 02/16/2011 at 07:17 PM
Thanks Simon For someone new to marketing
like myself, you made some great points.
I have printed it out as it will keep me
on track with my marketing strategies.
Posted by: Veda Horner | 02/16/2011 at 07:03 PM
great insight for education..
thank you Simon.
Posted by: Monk51295 | 02/16/2011 at 01:07 PM
All true for Life in general, yes?
Posted by: Amy | 02/16/2011 at 06:56 AM
Give examples of each please.
Posted by: More info | 02/16/2011 at 02:31 AM
The terminology may be different, but the same thinking should apply to recruiting
Posted by: Peter | 02/15/2011 at 10:56 PM