good products and good marketing
Is there such a thing as bad marketing for good products, or good marketing for bad products?
How about Pepsi’s new marketing campaign, which has received lots of media attention and pundit criticism.
I drink Diet Pepsi, but not because it gives me hope.
I love the Smart Car. Even with gas prices currently at a 10 year low, these things will eventually be the car (or at least the size and mileage) that everyone drives. We all know gas prices will see European pricing sooner than later. It isnt funny or compelling to me that their international advertising campaign – - “German engineering, Swiss innovation, American nothing”…. That’s just not nice, or helpful.
I saw this window display at a mall in LA – it’s like recycle with style! Upgrade your trash cans to help separate out the various types of refuse – - nicely displayed with a call to action!
It was compelling enough to draw me into the store….
But how about this – does vitaminwater deserve to be displayed within Safeway’s special store within a store “natural market”? I guess so, since ‘natural’ is one of those unregulated terms that doesnt really mean anything. But do the shoppers here have a special affinity for vitaminwater? Is it in the right location? Is it natural? I dont see the fit, frankly.
And, finally, Palmolive eco+ dish soap…. Is this a good product or not? Well, it is phosphate free, which is about the only real claim I could find on the label – and that IS better for our lakes and streams. Do other dish soaps contain phosphates. How bad are phosphates? Are there other chemicals in here that are worse than phosphates? What does the “+” mean in the name?
The question that drives me crazy is just this – is doing a little bit of good good enough? Should I feel good about drinking Pepsi, driving a Smart Car, drinking vitaminwater, and washing my dishes in Palmolive eco+? And also throw in cfl light bulbs, upgraded storm windows, a mulch pile, thermostat settings that are lower in the winter etc.
Are all of these products better? Is their marketing better? Are my actions better? And is all this betterment good enough?