If the objective of advertising is to sell, then should ethics really matter as long as sales improve?

Question

tell me abt it. I wonder what's my next step

Answer 1

This is kind of a silly question, but only to those who can answer it in any kind of depth. I hope you like this information.

It's nearly impossible to run a campaign of "unethical" advertising except for very institutional psychological manipulations (like for beer and cigarette ads.)

As far as false product claims and the like, the consumer is much better protected than s/he would probably imagine. Advertising that aggressively and effectively promotes an inferior product will only speed its demise as the truth comes out sooner. But it gets worse.

The FTC exercises outright vigilantism when they can catch somebody advertising falsely- and their investigations inevitably come with widespread news coverage. Embarassment is one thing, but a bad enough catastrophe can ruin companies and brands that took a hundred years to build. To goose short term sales? Most advertisers wouldn't dream of it; most clients wouldn't dare approach it.

The exceptions are beer, cigarettes, and cars. Get on half.com and order yourself a copy of Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel. It's a very progressive, very informative, and above all very FAIR look into the subject.

Answer 2

OK, then let's legalize subliminal advertising. Then, the next time you go to the movies you will buy what the highest bidder wants you to buy... regardless of how healthy or unhealthy it is. You will do it, like a brainless zombie. Or, let the animators release TV shows in 56 fps or whatever it was, that caused all the siezures in Japanese children, and we'll sell anti-siezure, over the counter medicine during the commercials. Now ethics matter a little more to you, I hope. Our technology is to the point that NOT including ethics in sales practices would literally be physically dangerous to the client. Besides, if ethics is not a question... why not just go "sling that sack" and the h*#@ with everyone. PLEASE, have some pride in what you are doing. Realize that to be a successful marketer or salesperson, you must sell the consumer what they NEED... not whatever it is that you are selling that day. Make friends, not enemies... if you want to be successful.

Answer 3

The correct answer is ... that depends.

If you are interested only in short term results ... days or weeks or maybe months ... then ethics doesn't matter. Whatever you sell will not come back to haunt you, because you will long ago have ceased business and fled to Southern Italy.

But if creating long term customers is your goal, then ethics is essential.

For someone to buy from you again and again takes a tremendous amount of trust. Ethical behavior generates that trust.

So what is your goal?

Answer 4

Ethics do matter. You need a good product or services in order to substain your sales. If you think your sales are not moving, it could mean that your advertising strategies could be improved. But ethic do matters. Find out from the link below for other advertising strategies online if you are interested to know more.

Answer 5

It is because we are not Machiavellian in our beliefs. We do not believe that the ends justify the means. Rather, we follow a more deontiligical or pragmatic model. The believe in utilitarian ideals we would have to agree that the holocaust was ethical because ti was merely a means to the ends of creating a "pure" Germany. So, that is why you cannot argue that the ends will justify the means.

Answer 6

Yes, ethics matter. If you are selling under false pretenses you will kill your sales by bad word of mouth and a negative public opinion.

Answer 7

you will desire to ebay them. post an advert on your interior of sight food market/save/submit workplace, they oftentimes have notice boards for this. in case you have a "Scot-advert" or something comparable on your section, you will desire to promote your products there. it is a newspaper that folk promote just about something.