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From the lens Marketing Ethics and Criticism.

  • internetexpertinfo May 20, 2012 @ 10:56 am | delete
    Great lens
  • cheap snapbacks Apr 20, 2012 @ 4:20 am | delete
    I studied philosophy for a while and managed a C for ethics. We live in a capitalist economy where people need money to feed their families (and themselves) if they can do that by marketing goods and services and they are smart and creative enough to it well I can't see anything wrong that.
  • christinsword Apr 2, 2012 @ 2:23 am | delete
    Interesting article. I suppose the alternative would be some sort of dystopian society where there's no marketing, nor many other things I can think of. While interesting to discuss, humans should always keep in mind that we're in it to survive at the very least, prosper as the ideal, no matter what type of society you fancy you live in. Marketing is just another human tactic to further that.
  • Tiggered Mar 23, 2012 @ 3:44 pm | delete
    Some of the reactions to your lens (or anti-marketing articles you link to) are rather scary.

    I think marketing is evil, it's just that people who use it (which means many, many, many of us in large or small way) will never agree to it - who wants to admit to being less than sparkling clean? It's so unmarketable these days!

    Plus, out generation has been particularly conditioned to not be bothered anymore. The line just gets pushed further and further and the instinct to refuse it gets weeded out. After all, it's only harmless talk about our products, right? And everybody's doing it, right? And everybody has to pay their bills somehow, right? I'm just doing it to feed my children...

    Ah, rubbish. We don't even notice the lies anymore, whether told by us or someone else. Sad.
  • greenspirit Mar 23, 2012 @ 8:20 am | delete
    These issues come to the fore every time I make a Squidoo lens...they limit what I feel willing to write about and sell, and what means I use. But I am still 'marketing', even if just selling my opinion or world view. Angel blessed.
  • Tolovaj Mar 20, 2012 @ 5:09 pm | delete
    Working for so many years in marketing I can say using words marketing and ethics in same sentence is very very rare occasion. Hope this lens helps!
  • Steve-SEO-UK Mar 14, 2012 @ 5:18 am | delete
    Thank you for these excellent resources mentioned in your Lens. I shall be following these up. Maybe you would like to add this Lens to my Plexo module at Advertising Techniques that really work which would increase exposure for you. Best regards, Steve
  • PeterCarroll Feb 16, 2012 @ 9:14 pm | delete
    I studied philosophy for a while and managed a C for ethics. We live in a capitalist economy where people need money to feed their families (and themselves) if they can do that by marketing goods and services and they are smart and creative enough to it well I can't see anything wrong that.
  • ajgodinho Dec 17, 2011 @ 4:46 pm | delete
    Very interesting topic and lens. I think there is nothing wrong in marketing per se. Each one of us have used it in our own lives whether at interviews or trying to persuade someone. When marketing is focused on truth and is free from deception, I think it's perfectly fine. That's where I believe ethics comes into play. Blessed!
  • JoshK47 Nov 30, 2011 @ 11:43 am | delete
    Quite an interesting read - thank you for sharing your opinions on this!
  • GottaGreenBuzz Sep 28, 2011 @ 11:01 pm | delete
    I love marketing, have a degree in it, but love this lense. To every good there is an opposite.. Marketing with an eye on the responsibility can get lost. The days of "snake oil" are still around! LOVE THE TWEETY!
  • sousababy Sep 26, 2011 @ 7:10 am | delete
    Dear reasonablerobinson,
    Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, I featured this excellent lens of yours (early on in my lens, after the poll): http://www.squidoo.com/bad-in-society
    Hope it helps!
    Sincerely,
    Rose
  • Tipi Aug 19, 2011 @ 9:09 pm | delete
    I just love that you use Quark as an example, you can be trusted to make our brains go tilt!
  • sousababy Aug 14, 2011 @ 6:39 am | delete
    Came back to google +1 this. I wish to feature some of your lenses and will contact you via your bio page later on (this week, I hope) to get your approval first (I always ask). You have really hit on something so crucial for our society RR. Thank you so much, Rose
  • Wtrombly Aug 7, 2011 @ 1:08 pm | delete
    Mobile marketing, a new style. What are your opinions on this as far as ethics go. Please feel free to ad to my lens and of course this lens with your comments. So how does the new mobile marketing going to fit into this. I am sure there is a way.
    http://www.squidoo.com/houston-mobile-marketing
    A new lens, would like some suggestions, and comments are helpful and will be accredited to the article by promoting you and your articles
  • Tiggered Jul 6, 2011 @ 4:51 am | delete
    Wow, it's such an important topic! Well done you, I'm glad someone wrote it. I would do it myself, but I'm too outraged by the whole phenomenon and would probably end up writing the whole article in caps and getting sued in the end :)
  • sousababy Jul 4, 2011 @ 10:36 am | delete
    I will need to come back for a more in-depth read. You have showcased many resources that I was not aware of. My most simplistic answer for why corruption continues is 'when money means more than lives (including the quality of life for humans and animals).' I do not believe with our wave of transparency that businesses (or individuals who market themselves on-line, even) will thrive very long if they continue to strive only to make a buck (or for similar self-serving reasons, like a sense of power over others). Indeed the leopard's spots haven't changed - as you stated on one of my lenses. In time, the public who cares . . does their research and it takes time to source out reputable businesses and people - but it will be crucial for our economy and well-being worldwide. Excellent work!
  • OccultPriestess Jun 18, 2011 @ 3:42 pm | delete
    I found this lens very useful! I dislike marketing sue to the obvious manipulation. You have given me hope that we can sell honestly and with love. I am checking into Joe Vitales "Attract money now" book. Thank you!
  • meljames Jun 13, 2011 @ 3:45 am | delete
    I love this lens! Definitely worth the time reading, especially for online marketers. Marketing involves social responsibility which should never be overlooked. I think a truly successful business is one that did it ethically in every way.
  • fulltimehockeymom Jun 2, 2011 @ 2:28 pm | delete
    shout out for the peter drucker reference. they always taught his philosophies as the foundation for modern corporate management.
  • MattJoyce May 31, 2011 @ 5:38 am | delete
    An interesting angle, definetly food for thought.
  • Jerrad28 May 23, 2011 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    Very interesting points... Marketing, and business in general, are full of ethical and moral dilemmas. All throughout my college courses, we would spend about 2 weeks per course just talking about ethics and the various dilemmas involved in decisions that I would never have considered people have to make on a daily basis.
  • UKGhostwriter Mar 21, 2011 @ 9:40 am | delete
    Interesting!
  • aesta1 Feb 28, 2011 @ 2:36 am | delete
    I think many companies now have awakened to their responsibility to customers. Not all but the good ones have and these are the ones that will continue to prosper. The International Labour Organization works with factories now to protect children in the labor force from being exploited. Having said this, there are still many facotires that keep moving where labor is cheap with very little reagrd for the people working for them.
  • photofk3 Feb 6, 2011 @ 2:48 pm | delete
    I don't think that there's anything wrong with marketing. Anyone who develops, manufactures, or sells a product needs to bring it to people's attention, and this is advertising. And there are many good products out there. I only consider marketing unethical when the product is advertised as an excellent stuff and when you buy it you find that it's actually crap. But when the stuff you buy really is good, in other words, when the advertisement was honest, marketing is perfectly ethical.
  • Michey Jan 29, 2011 @ 3:14 pm | delete
    Any product you buy... this happened because some advertise was done and this was how you found out that the product existed... The same think is replicated in the Internet marketing industry.
    The problem is more complex them just saying "gurus" are "charlatans". In each industry there are good professionals, and bad apples...
    So you have some good points here, but I don't like the generalization... I think each case must be look at as a singular event.
    When you analyse a niche after a while you can tell from the distance who is who and you can easily separate the weeds... but generalization is not fair...
    Regards
    Michey
  • PaulOnBooks Jan 26, 2011 @ 1:06 pm | delete
    Excellent info. I roughly share Dilbert's view on Marketing people and have had enough dealings with them (I'm a software engineer with an interest in statistical analysis) to want to consign most of them to the depths!

    I'kll lensroll this to my IM Avoiding Scammers lens if you don't mind.
  • JaredB Jan 2, 2011 @ 11:15 pm | delete
    Great info! This is a topic that I am learning about because I am starting in on internet marketing. Happy New Year!
  • Zion Dec 18, 2010 @ 1:37 pm | delete
    Wow! I really like your lens! Very informative!...
    I'll keep reading & I'll share this lens to my
    subscribers. Thank you so much!

    Zion
    http://www.youtube.com/NonIMRiches
  • Springbok Dec 11, 2010 @ 4:34 am | delete
    Your Squidoo is very interesting but Peter Drucker and the "one Minute Manager " was all about monkeys on your back and how to hand them around. Loved it - he made real sense ! thank you
  • javrsmith Dec 8, 2010 @ 10:30 am | delete
    You have raised a lot of interesting points. The links look to be very worthwhile as well.
  • Margo_Arrowsmith Dec 4, 2010 @ 5:42 pm | delete
    I have featured this lens on Buy American (or English) I hope you will stop buy and check it out! There is a tie in with this lens! Thanks for the contribution!
  • reasonablerobinson Dec 5, 2010 @ 2:14 am | delete
    Hi Margo, I'll create a featured lens module and add it to that. Thank you for letting me know.
  • Margo_Arrowsmith Dec 4, 2010 @ 2:36 am | delete
    Wow! I only had time to scan this, there is so much there. I just wish I could give your 5 thumbs up. But I am currently working on 3 lenses. One on MoveYourMoney.info, one on buying American (consumers need cheap labor because we have been convinced that we have to have 5 times the stuff so we buy foreign putting ourselves out of work) and maybe even the Hour of People's Power will all have this lens featured and, if you don't mind I will use some of your material! This lens will give me a boost!
  • nightcats Nov 12, 2010 @ 2:01 pm | delete
    Saying "is marketing ethical" is like saying "is setting a fire ethical". It depends on how, when, where and why. I'm thinking of my local neighborhood drop in center. They have an annual open house which is always poorly attended, due to a belief that marketing it would be unethical. Well, people won't attend something if they don't know its taking place. On the other hand, I'm sure we could all give plenty example of marketing that strikes us as unethical. Great lens.
  • reasonablerobinson Dec 5, 2010 @ 2:14 am | delete
    I agree, more complex than at 'first blush'
  • Pinkchic18 Nov 8, 2010 @ 9:13 am | delete
    Wonderfully presented and with some good information. You've got some great resources as well, that are definitely worth looking into. I do think that you have a point with the cigarettes, alcohol, etc. but not all marketing is bad.
  • Diane1 Oct 16, 2010 @ 11:41 am | delete
    This is a very interesting lenses, and the info well presented.
    I have enjoyed reading it, and I have been informed.
    Best wishes,
    Diane

    Entrepreneurial Skills
    Custard Slice Recipe
    Richard the Lionheart
    Roaring Twenties
    Elizabeth the Virgin Queen
  • Josh Oct 10, 2010 @ 7:47 pm | delete
    Oh, and that kid is freaking scary!
  • Josh Oct 10, 2010 @ 7:46 pm | delete
    I enjoyed this lens, it's well done and hits on an issue that definitely deserves some attention, that being the over-reach of marketing. Personally, I believe the problem lies more in our addiction to consumerism, and marketers cashing in on that addiction.

    But this thing about daily candy being linked to violent crime, you gotta be kidding me, that's just rediculous. If anything parents who let their kids eat all the candy they want are likely not doing a good job in other area's as well, but let's not start blaming candy here. Correlation doesn't automatically equal causation.
  • marialorena May 25, 2010 @ 2:07 am | delete
    I think internet marketing CAN be ethical - there are just not enough policies and punishments regarding internet marketing that will help regulate it.. i hope the government will tkae this into account.
  • windygig May 22, 2010 @ 3:59 pm | delete
    THIS LENS IS GREAT
  • aesta1 May 4, 2010 @ 7:34 pm | delete
    Learned much from your lens. It is thought provoking and the focus is very interesting. This emphasizes more for me the need to strengthen my own self so I can be part of this marketing world and not support its unethical behavior. I am not sure how possible this is if you are in the middle of it. It is easy for someone like me who is sitting on my own comfortable chair at home.
  • lumpy22 Feb 24, 2010 @ 8:01 am | delete
    Nice and Interesting Lens as far as sugar marketing I am not real sure how to feel about that maybe a surgeon generals warning like alcohol and tobacco.
  • DrJamesMartin Dec 11, 2009 @ 3:52 am | delete
    good book on sugar effects...getting back to the basics of human health

    chiropracticmarketing
  • Kate-Phizackerley Dec 10, 2009 @ 5:22 pm | delete
    Very stylish lens. Blessed.
  • Andromache Oct 31, 2009 @ 1:09 pm | delete
    Very interesting information. I am currently creating a marketing plan for a non profit and because of your lens, I have included a marketing ethics statement. Thanks for the great information!
  • aj2008 Oct 13, 2009 @ 2:35 am | delete
    The pharmaceuticals industry is one that I personally do not trust. Research is funded by commercial companies with vested interests who then put whatever spin they want to on the results to aid their marketing efforts.

    As for Tesco's - dont get me going about them!!!

    This is a very thought provoking lens. SquidAngel Blessings for you and nice to meet you on Squidoo.
  • reasonablerobinson Oct 13, 2009 @ 2:12 am | in reply to paperfacets | delete
    This is so true and of course companies try and portray themselves in a good light and will emphasise the benefits and avoid mentioning any downsides. Getting at the truth is very hard.
  • paperfacets Oct 12, 2009 @ 6:11 pm | delete
    The sugar marketing is confusing. According to some studies corn syrup is bad for you. A few months later the corn syrup industry put out ads saying that is not true. Home improvement contractors are a hard bunch to believe. You have to do research to get your dollars worth and now days so many ways to spend your dollar.
  • SemperFidelis Apr 26, 2009 @ 10:54 pm | delete
    Blessed by a SquidAngel today!
    www.squidoo.com/squid-angel
    ~ Colleen :o)

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