Marketing Is Not Evil

It's true: Marketing Isn't Evil

Something about marketing always bugged me. It wasn’t anything tangible at first. I just recognized an alarm on my radar whenever certain marketers targeted me.

It is certainly not the infomercials or the endless-scrolling-but-never-tell-you-exactly-what-or-how-much website ads. I get a kick out of the actual material, the catch phrases and the tiny disclaimers that results are not typical.

But the notion that someone can analyze me and determine by my age, gender or zip code what I might buy, makes me cringe. I imagine that my address or phone number gets sold in secret back alleys, and the buyer strokes his cat in a big chair and prepares the pitch—perhaps aware of one of my weaknesses. *zoinks*

Marketers get access to data, and that knowledge gives them power. Power, by the way, corrupts. Unchecked, marketers can use their data and power to manipulate, even coerce. The evidence is all of those ads and infomercials that prey on weakness—oh and the ones that tell outright lies.

It happens. Hence my radar alarms. *doom & gloom organ chords*

And, it also doesn't happen. *birds twittering*

Marketing is not evil. Responsible, honest people who market conscientiously are out there. And bad marketers can be swayed to the good side. In fact, in today's global market, powered by social media, marketers can be in constant check. In other words, score one for the market, who control marketing with conversation.

Sure, internet carpetbaggers are rampant. For now. But the more connected people become and the stronger their tribes, the more dishonest, preying marketers will be exposed. When the dishonest web pirates are exposed, fewer and fewer people will buy their garbage.

The dishonest will have to clean up their act and learn integrity. A little honest business never hurt anyone. Ethical business practices build trust, ultimately building a more solid business and brand.

Through Twitter, blogs, blog comments and other social media, the internet community—you and I—can communicate with never before seen efficiency. For example, MyTweeple allows Tweeters to “ding” spammers (among the most evil of marketers). MyTweeple was developed by @swhitley, Shannon Whitley, who you can follow on Twitter today.

I think internet scalawags will all be exposed, forced to play it straight or leave. You probably know some good marketers out there, or you are one of them, or maybe you see other ways that the global community is ferreting out the rascals.