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| View Poll Results: Should Marketers Watch Their Language? | |||
| Yes, clean up and keep it G rated |
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78 | 48.45% |
| Offer a clean and crude version |
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17 | 10.56% |
| No, to hell with them (oops there I go again using a cuss word!) |
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66 | 40.99% |
| Voters: 161. You may not vote on this poll | |||
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#1 |
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Senior Warrior Member
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Hey Warriors!
I have a debate I want to open up with you. Okay I'm a good girl, right? As far as you know anyway LOL. But I grew up golfing. With retired military men. I shoot the ****. I cuss. I laugh at crude jokes. I TELL crude jokes. So in my info products, I sometimes use phrases like "kissing ass" or for example, I use an example of an adult website URL but in a funny way (not real). I got scolded by a great customer today for that - and so I refunded her, sent her a clean version I created quickly, and apologized and then put the clean version in the with crude version with a READ ME FIRST note so they'll know which one to choose based on their preferences. I want to know: 1.) Should I do away with ME and tone everything down? 2.) Should I keep being ME - and give them the option of reading a G rated Tiff product? 3.) Or should I say "tough" and be ME no matter what? I know I won't do #3 - I personally like the second option but I wonder, could THAT even hurt me? I know that many of my customers are Christians. I am a Christian too - but I'm not perfect. I do cuss, etc. I don't get offended very easily and in fact PERSONALLY I like reading info products, blogs, etc where people are laid back and themselves - crude or not. What say YOU, Warriors? I respect your $0.02 Tiff the Potty Mouth Marketer |
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#2 |
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Well, I would normally say just be yourself, but if you're marketing to a religious crowd, it might be best to turn down the heat. But I must say, the thought of selling a profanity-laced ebook to a bunch of Christians takes balls, which is respectable in itself. LOL.
![]() You might want to offer a an PG and R rated version. Here's a sales letter example for you from another Warrior (.X.) that tells it like it is: THE AFFILIATE BLACK BOOK my 2c |
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#3 |
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Surefire way to fail: Try to please everybody.
I say do your thing. Be yourself. The only thing you are not allowed to be on the Internet is boring. So $#%@ 'em if they can't take a joke. Or, to keep with your military and religious background ... "Kill 'em all and let God sort them out" ![]() -Jeff |
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#4 |
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If you pander to the thought police you'll end up like our British society, where virtually every innocuous phrase is met with horror and condemnation. I can't understand why you'd even WANT such customers. I would have thought that honest, ethical, normal people would have been your target market.
If you go down the 'pandering' route you'll only lose your 'bread and butter' customers just because you've tried to appease the very small minority who think they've got to 'control' everything we say. Do you ever see Mark Joyner tone down or apologise for his way of speaking or putting his point accross? I sense a bit of de-ja-vu here, but you know what I mean :-) Just be YOU Tiff. |
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#5 |
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Based on your example...I say keep being "real". Someone who's offended at such a slight thing is probably looking to complain.
You'll probably find that by being yourself you'll actually be more successful. I wrote a blog post about a similar thing not too long ago: Hatemail=Profit | BunkFree | Success Blog Unless you're being overtly offensive (which you're not) I wouldn't sweat it. I get plenty of hate mail and even death threats from some of my sites...and they're pretty tame- I just hold a very strong opinion. |
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#6 |
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Tiffany, I'm curious what brought this on now -- ONE customer complained and you're thinking of re-working your whole approach? Or have you had a lot of complaints?
Having to make two versions of everything seems like a lot of unnecessary work -- I'd say if people are offended, that's their problem. Like Jeff said, trying to please everybody will drive you insane and make you poor. |
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#7 |
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To clarify - I laughed about a Warrior member who used biggadong.com as a URL example - I talked about a perk of a product being anonymity - like for people who prefer to get a plain brown wrapped box instead of one from biggadong.com. Other stuff was mainly kissing ass, etc. Get your ass in gear.
This customer is a great customer of mine. Even if she was new, I always want to please everyone - I'm a woman! LOL Oh there i go being un PC again. tiff |
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#8 |
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Tiffany, check out IttyBiz. Naomi has done quite well and she swears more than I do after I've stubbed my toe. You'll really like that blog - if you haven't already heard of her.
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#9 |
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I would say be "YOU" as well. You cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try.
Don't be someone you're not, because not only will you not be true to yourself, people will eventually find out about it, and their trust will be violated and you will lose them anyway. Would you rather: Lose a few now with a questionable mouth? or Lose everyone for being a Fake? I hope this helps. |
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#10 | |
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Quote:
It just made me - okay damn it. It hurt my whittle feelings. I hate being scolded by people I like and I like this lady - she's cool! I'm always overly sensitive with criticism but before I go changing **** permanently, I think it over and ask people like Warriors to see if I'm in one of those "my way or the highway moods - or if I'm genuinely right (or wrong). I'm one of those people that when my husband's in a bad mood - even if it's because of traffic - it makes ME a nervous wreck until he's happy again. It sucks being that way. | |
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#11 |
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Personally I swear and when I see an ebook or video and the person swears I feel a better connection with them... unless they're trying to be over the top in doing it then it's just ridiculous.
The term "kissing ass" I don't believe would even hit my radar as it's pretty tame. If it's just one complaint so far I wouldn't worry about it and refund and clean version was fair thing to do. And some of the top dogs in the IM niche have pretty loose lips LOL. |
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#12 | |
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Quote:
you had me at "i shoot the ****..." i love it. personally i think this is your usp. and if people don't like it well f@#k 'em ![]() seriously though, it's part of you and what adds flavor and personality. so i'd choose option 3. but that's just me. and sometimes 20% of our customers bring us 80% of our problems. and maybe we don't need customers like that. jason | |
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#13 | |
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Quote:
I've always been abnormal. I was the tall, tan all legs chick on the golf course back when most women golfers...um weren't. I was a headbanger Motley Crue loving rock girl who looked like a goody two shoes cheerleader. I look innocent, and I am (mwuahahaha) but I have a potty mouth!! And me too re: ass - it wasn't even a bad word in my book. lol | |
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#14 |
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I think tone it down for the net, only because this is business.
There is so much I would really love to say but I keep it to myself, I don't want to end up like PerezHilton LOL. But hey, look at the Rich Jerk. |
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#15 |
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Tiffany, just do a simple split-test -- send half your list an email with generous helpings of all seven of George Carlin's famous dirty words, while the other half gets the version written by Mister Rogers.
Track your sales, and there's your answer!
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#16 | |
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Quote:
So go wash your mouth out now :-) | |
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#17 |
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Ha ha. Well for me I was raised by my Grandma who talks like a trucker. Like in school I would have friends come over and they see this sweet looking lady drop the "F" bomb and they were like WTF!
Thinking it over now w/ the internet having acronyms in them and fcc ratings on tv and radio being looser it's far more acceptable today than ever if you ask me. As far as marketing to Christians, well they're human too. Rock out with your potty mouth LOL. Edit: Ya know what, sometimes you need to use swear words to get your point across and other words will not do. Sometimes "get your but in gear" won't cut the mustard. EDIT: I love the 2 posts right above me! |
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#18 |
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Hamster King
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Anyone who's talked with me on a personal level - like Craig Desorcy, James Allen, James Brown, Ken Leatherman, John Rogers, Elmer Hurlstone, Michael Brown, John Mann to name a few - know that I have a very harsh vocabulary. Hey, I grew up on a ranch and worked in construction. To me, the F word is a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, and has a few more uses in the English language.
However, I am often appalled at the language in IMer's products. I just don't find it professional. And Tiffany, that includes the term "kissing ass". In a gritty interview or a special report, it could belong - but not in a product. |
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#19 |
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I like to read info thats straight to the point and no bull****. It works for me. It's motivating and gives you the feeling that you're talking to one of your mates.
But I am man and I know that women don't respond that well to cussing
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#20 | |
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Quote:
I forgot another one I used - I said I wasn't anyone's "launch bitch." Tiffany "Carlin" Dow | |
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#21 | |
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Recovering Millionaire
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Tiff,
While I admire your ability to deal with a single issue.. Quote:
way, you are encouraging an "entitlement" attitude? Are you going to create a UK version because some dumbass from over here doesn't like the way you yanks can't spell? Can you do an A4 version to suit European printers? What if someone with eyesight problems asks you for a "large print" version? While you are giving these folks, nice as they may be, what they think they're entitled to.. you're losing money. Not only that but you're training them to expect the rest of us to pander to their every whim. Quit now damnit! ![]() John | |
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#22 | |
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Quote:
Maybe they're like me - Christian with a twist. LOL Or maybe they're not religious at all. I don't specifically attract that demographic as a niche or anything. But you're right - I got your point loud and clear. And I heard you cuss - at me - yikes! Tiff
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#23 |
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Out with the negative, in with the positive. You MUST focus on the positive and most of the time ignore the negatives.
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Let's make some money, what you waiting for?
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#24 |
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Dear Tiffany,
I could follow the herd and say "be yourself", "if they don't like it then f*ck em" etc. etc. However that would be totally wrong. Not because the above advice isn't correct, but because you are asking the WRONG crowd. The only peoples' opinions that matter in this situation are your customers' opinions. Ask them. Or figure it out by testing. Don't ask a bunch of opinionated warrior forum members, who all have the best of intentions for you, but at the end of the day, aren't paying your bills. So, what would your customers prefer? Sam |
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#25 | |
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Quote:
It's certainly not Chritian to try and 'control' another person, especially another persons 'choice'. that's where they seem to fall into 'hypocricy' rather than genuine 'faith'. Just a thought :-) | |
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#26 |
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I think offering two versions will only confuse users and give you unnecessary work, so I'd suggest toning things down.
![]() While I believe it's important to be yourself to enjoy this, I think cleaned up versions appeal to more users. |
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#27 |
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Well, at least you have a name for yourself.
Gary Halbert was a potty mouth too, so I guess you're in good company.
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#28 |
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Tiffany,
We are not just "one" person when it comes to speaking/writing because we are social chameleons. Register is very important in our interactions with other people. Who you are talking to and in what situation usually dictates how we speak. Would you swear at a funeral? Would you swear in front of your boss if he was conservative? Your cussing on the golf course was normal for the place and the company you were in but maybe not for an internet business. Then again, if you want to be the real Tiffany, that's fine but you must be prepared for people to be offended. You just have to learn how to handle it. Kevin Riley's answer is probably one of the most useful because he lives in a country where people are still very much conscious of social convention and boundaries whereas in the west we often ride roughshod over them. Martin |
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#29 |
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Hi Tiff -
Just bought your WSO $6,178.04 in only 11 days with one simple review. and I noticed in the zip 2 versions a clean one and a crude one. I read the crude one and enjoyed it. Didn't unzip the clean version. You gave me a choice and a laugh. I bet many in the audience you don't want to offend do the same thing. Great guide by the way. I don't know how everyone will react. I think it's more about the value of the content than the language. Some of the greatest authors have language in their books that make you look tame. To me words are just words, nothing more. People judge them, classify them and see them as clean or crude or totally unacceptable. I'll keep reading regardless if it's written by - Pious Tiffany The Good Girl or Tiffany The Sailor or Tiff The Potty Mouth Marketer. How about just be Tiff. |
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#30 |
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Tiff,
Joke 'em if they can't fake a tuck. Be yourself. The people who don't want to deal with you will leave, and you'll be better off. (So will they.) The people who see themselves in your speech will know they don't want to deal with someone like you, they want to deal with you. Most people won't care, but they'll be happy to know who you really are. In any case, you win! And so do your customers. Paul PS: Ignore Fred. He's a kid.
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#31 | |
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Quote:
There will always be a few prudish people around, but they are in a minority. Just be you and let your passion shine through in your own way. You are marketing yourself, you don't want to end up sounding like some cheesy TV ad. | |
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#32 |
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HyperActive Warrior
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Look at Frank Kern... a lot of people like him and he uses profanity all the time. For me, I cuss too alot, and when I see others using some profanity at the right time and the right place it's great and funny.
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#33 |
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If United States Of America and my little Bosnia-Hercegovina
(remember the war?) have anything in common then it's the 'F' vocabulary. Similar to what Kevin Riley said, more than a half of my everyday Bosnian language is enriched by plenty of 'F' words in all forms and variations. When I speak Bosnian I can hardly say 'how are you' without adding a couple of 'Fs', and nobody feels offended, it's just normal. But when I speak/write Swedish or English in any official context I never use bad language, not even in a slightest form. The reason for that is people who don't know you personally will judge you. Especially women. |
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#34 |
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Hi Tiff,
Question: did you get the customers you already have by being yourself... or by being someone else? Sure, a couple of people (how many people are we talking here - two?) might not like your language but surely most of them are customers because they like you the way you are. Be yourself. |
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#35 | |
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HyperActive Warrior
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Quote:
.Tiff, if you have had plenty of succes with your writing style and putting your true personality into it then why fix it if it's not broken. Saying that you did have a wee complaint so, if I was you, I'd just tone it down a little. Surely even christians appreciate a bit of honesty .All the best. | |
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#36 |
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Arrrggghhh, Matey! be true to yourself.
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William Field
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#37 |
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Local Biz Promotion Czar
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"So, General Patton, you read the Bible?"
"Yep. Every goddamn' day!" What you choose to do is up to you. Keep in mind, having salty language as a part of your persona can add to controversy, which will add to your image -- if that's the way you want to go. Where is TinkBD when you need her? She's another gal that, in person, will serve up strong language. Her online marketing presence, however, is pure as the driven yellow snow... |
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#38 |
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This one's easy, really... "Do You!"
Is it going to cost you some sales? Most likely yes, but the other side of that coin is how many sales will you be silently losing because your products aren't "all they could be" if you start watering yourself down. Do You. |
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#39 |
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HyperActive Warrior
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The last thing the world (and the internet in particular) needs is more conformity.
Trust your inner radar lovey, that's really the only thing you need to conform to. Sure, you're not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but at least you've remained true to yourself AND you're making money from it! Is she really a good customer, or just a good spender? Good customers do more than just buy from you, they refer others to your products and interact with you in a positive manner - they most certainly aren't pains in the arse. Someone who compels you to write a g-rated version sure seems like more of a pain in the arse than a good customer to me. I'm all for improving your product, but don't remove yourself from your work. There's so much sanitised stuff out there, and so little of it is produced by women in the IM world - stand out from the crowd and shine in all your potty-mouthed glory darling!!
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#40 |
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I'm another lady that uses 'those words' in my everyday life. And in some of the niches I am in I feel free to openly use that sort of terminology - but there are others that are more professional - so I tone the language down somewhat. I am still being myself, I just avoid the usage of words that might offend others.
I do feel that I am letting myself shine through - but there is a professional side to me as well as a casual/less formal side. It's like others have mentioned, a natural adaptation is to behave slightly differently when we are in different settings or with different people. I think you should decide what your priorities are; most sales, being yourself, setting a style, etc. Then do the testing to see what brings the best results for whatever it is that you truly want. You will never please everyone no matter what you do. |
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#41 |
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Advanced Warrior
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Tiff - you are a girl after my own heart. Yes, even though I look like a librarian in my photo, I too, have a potty mouth!
In fact, if I bought your product that had 'cussin in it, that would probably make me like you even more. I'd probably want to buy your next product just for the entertainment, but also because I know you put out a quality product (which you do). So, I vote that you should be yourself! Lee |
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#42 | |
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Senior Warrior Member
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Quote:
If you seldom use the same old cuss words so common these days - they carry more weight when you DO use one of them. I agree with "be yourself" but don't be your lowest self. I love humor in things I read online - but if it's crude it must also be witty. Otherwise, it's just another potty mouth substituting F for brains ![]() kay | |
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#43 | |
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HyperActive Warrior
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I with Kevin on this one. Bottom line is that you're selling info products to make money. Don't you want your products to appeal to the largest audience possible? Why risk offending people by using off color language? I'm not talking about changing your personality or "who" you are... I just think it's a smart business decision. When I buy an info product that's supposed to teach me something, I'm not looking to be entertained - I want to learn something. Give it to me quickly, clearly and with as much detail as possible - a professional product. As far as changing an existing product to accommodate one complaint - I don't see where that's necessary and in my opinion, your customer was being way too sensitive. Creating two versions of everything is a waste of your time. Choose which way you want to go and then stick with it. | |
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#44 | |
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Senior Warrior Member
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Tiff - As for your "options"
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kay | |
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#45 |
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Gene Yarbrough
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Tiff,
IMO as marketers language is one of our most essential tools. The language we use should be a decision that we make based on the persona we are attempting to convey, who the reader is, and the response we are trying to elicit from the reader. Choosing to censor or not to censor our language is a choice that should not be made based on an attempt to be true to ones self. It is a decision we should make based on what will increase our revenue. Whether we like it or not our customers are the final arbitrators of the appropriateness of the language we chose to use. They articulate that opinion by either buying or not buying our product. If refraining from writing that something that is bull**** is bull**** will help me convince a larger percentage of my readers to purchase my product, then doodoo it is. Of course there is always the axiom F'um if they can't take a joke. Unfortunately, that attitude usually ensures that the joke is on us. Gene |
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#46 | |
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That Girl
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I agree with Kevin and Katie. It's just not necessary in a professional product. Now, people who buy from "Rich Jerk" expect this kind of thing. He appeals to that market, and even those who don't appreciate that kind of humor/language pretty much know right off the bat that it will be in there.
When people buy your products, they expect to get high quality information, with great examples (which they get). Having something off-color and crude doesn't really help you in this case. I don't think it's a matter of not being yourself -- there are many ways to do that without using offensive language. In my own life, I choose not to use such language, but I've been known to laugh at a crude joke or two I have a couple of your products and don't recall being turned off by anything in them, but if I had been offended I doubt I would have said anything to you -- just quietly not purchased again. Could there be others who are doing the same?I get where it's in movies, books, etc. as an artistic choice...I just don't think it belongs in a business product for professionals. Obviously, as evidenced by many of the posts above, people disagree with this. I wouldn't create two versions though -- and I'll go with Katie on this one again -- just choose a path and stick to it ![]() ETA: Kay said it perfectly: Quote:
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I love this time of year :)
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#47 |
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Happy Hooker
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Tiff, I offer a few random thoughts...
I've read several of your products, and truth be told, I never noticed your "salty" language. Whatever was there was part of the natural flow, unlike some of the less-talented comedians around whose 30-minute set would be 3 minutes long if you eliminated the F-bombs. Or the myriad "Rich Jerk" wannabes who believe the key to his success was being crude. I don't understand how one word can be so offensive you can get fined if you dare to use it on TV. Go on a talk show and say "what the ****" and the FCC fines your ass. Say "WTF" and your cool, even though everyone knows exactly what you mean (and makes the translation in their head)? Speaking of TV, why is someone obviously flipping the bird less offensive if the person's hand is pixelated than if the gesture is clearly visible? And since you bring up golf, Tiff, it reminds me of a framed cartoon that used to hang in the pro shop of a course I used to play. It showed a stereotypical Japanese man dressed in a wild golf outfit. The caption read, "I learn a new game in Amellica called 'Ah ****'" Back then it was funny, and people understood it was poking fun at golfers in general. Nowadays, the course would be shut down for 'hate speech', I'm guessing. Another question pops into my head, Tiff... The woman who didn't like your language - does she own any of your other products with similar language? If she does, and hasn't complained before this, what's different about this product compared to her previous purchases? Maybe this one was a little saltier than normal... |
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#48 |
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Victoria Neely
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Being offered a "sanitized" version of an eBook would feel weird to me, and it would make me think the original is much worse than it is. "Dang, if she has to give me a cleaned-up version, the original copy must be REALLY filthy to justify the extra work."
If I found out that the "sanitized" copy just had one or two tiny changes because someone was offended by a fairly mild word, I'd be a bit... well, bemused and maybe annoyed. I'd say either be yourself, or tone it down. |
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#49 |
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Ken Perry
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Hi Tiffany,
Tough call, really is.... I'm like you in the way that...I hit the golf course & the cuss words and off-color jokes run rampant.....I worked construction all my life....I had a mouth that rivaled Richard Pryor & George Carlin....that's me...i'm comfortable with that... But... At home, in front of the little ones...or at my grandmothers house....do I act or talk like that? Hell no... Know your market... Respect your market... Understand what works for one...will not work for another.....act accordingly. Me personally....I like the "Tiffany Dow Unleashed" version, but it's not about pleasing me... JMO, Ken |
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#50 | |
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