Negative marketing???????????? Have you heard about that???????????

Negative marketing isn't the most ethical way to go about marketing your product or company. Would you like someone to gossip about you negatively, slandering your good name and ruining your reputation? Of course, you wouldn't like it. Likewise, negative marketing is a tactic used by some marketers to put you off buying a competitive product from another company in favour of you being attracted to their product. It doesn't seem fair just like you wouldn't want people spreading rumours about you that aren't true, not so?

Well, sadly this ploy works for many marketing companies because it gains the attraction they seek and helps them albeit unfairly to dominate some consumers into purchasing their products and services. So what does this mean for you as a person or a company you represent? Surely you don't want people spreading false stories about you or your company. As a person your friends and family know who you are and stand by you, but what about colleagues, associates and other people you encounter in daily life? Of course, if you have a good reputation this will show through your conduct and via people expressing their positive viewpoint of you. The company you represent will show a good reputation through efficient customer relations, philanthropy, numerous testimonials and excellent high value products, which consumers need in the marketplace.

Negative marketing may capture the attention of dubious consumers especially given the fact that there are many scams and schemes online and offline these days. However, company representatives marketing negatively against other businesses or competitors are not painting themselves in a good light. Savvy individuals and fellow entrepreneurs will see through the façade and quickly realise that this is a scheme to lure them into purchasing products and services they don't want or need. Wise consumers always do their due diligence and research whether they are looking to compare products, investigate a business opportunity or seek guidance on a particular matter from a professional. Legitimate home business owners and small business entrepreneurs would never resort to negative marketing. Besides being unethical and unfair, it can raise legal issues particularly if a legitimate company decides to sue the negative marketer if defamatory comments are untrue, unfounded and misleading.

What do people think about you? What do people think of the company you are affiliated to or market? How you present and conduct yourself in business is just as important if not more important than the company you represent. Painting your competitor in a negative light can call into question your motives as a person and the ethics of the company you are representing. In a world filled with unfairness and injustice, resorting to "cut-throat" methods may serve you in the short-term, but ultimately will be to your detriment in the long-term.

So in conclusion...how do you view yourself? Do you have a clear conscience when it comes to marketing your product or service? Ethical marketing may not be your natural inclination but practicing honesty, integrity, providing good value products and genuine customer service will always take precedence with alert consumers. Here's to being a positive marketer!