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Life, Promises, Lies, and Marketing

by Mark Singletary
9 replies
As we all know there are a lot of gray areas when it comes to ethical/honest sales copy, promises, etc.

We also know that there are people who will lie just to get a sale.

We also know that life happens, plans change, and many times we have no control over outside influences.

I'll give a couple examples then I have 2 questions.

Guru A who is known for integrity, honesty, etc. (she would never be listed by hardly anyone as shady or a liar) makes a promise at the opening of her new site that she will never close it, sell PLR to it, or do anything to dampen its value because she was dedicated to this site 100%.

Then 6 months later her son gets cancer. Since this site never made much money (despite her diligence) she closes it and sells the content as PLR while continuing to push and open new sites that are potentially more profitable so she can pay for the treatment.

Is this life, a lie, good business decision, or what in your opinion? How would you make it better with the people who were relying on you never closing it and explain the fact that while you are closing it, the other sites you are opening are golden and you are dedicated to them?

Guru B offers an ebook that is hailed as the ebook (on that topic) to end all ebooks. The information is priceless and invaluable. Guru B promises free updates but for one reason or another (sickness, other interests, too busy, plans change, etc.) he never sends out the update.

Everyone is happy with the original purchase but now they are expecting the update and he continually gives hints about the the new features in the update and how it's almost finished. He makes several promises about the delivery time but never comes through. Since the update is not forthcoming, his previous stellar reputation is ruined.

What is this - a lie or just life? How would you explain that the promised update will not be coming due to ___ and save your reputation if possible?

A WSO promises to only sell 100 copies of a PLR product but then weeks, months, or years later decides to sell more through their private site.

What is this? How do you explain?

Mark
#lies #life #marketing #promises
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
    I suspect it would be better off to not make promises like that in the first place. Life does happen , things change, and people make new choices based on those changes.

    One time off, these things happen. When this sequence of events happens multiple times to the same person, than something else is going on. That could be that they are using this idea as a way to sell more, or their life is really that difficult, but when its a pattern, something else is up for sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author mosthost
    Legally there really aren't as many gray areas as you're suggesting. Realistically, everyone should honor the claims they make or not make them at all.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Guru A who is known for integrity, honesty, etc. (she would never be listed by hardly anyone as shady or a liar) makes a promise at the opening of her new site that she will never close it, sell PLR to it, or do anything to dampen its value because she was dedicated to this site 100%.

      Then 6 months later her son gets cancer. Since this site never made much money (despite her diligence) she closes it and sells the content as PLR while continuing to push and open new sites that are potentially more profitable so she can pay for the treatment.
      This is a lack of integrity - going back on a promise. Perhaps it is justifiable given the circumstances, perhaps not.

      People should not make promises they are not prepared to live up to. Although people do make mistakes and face unexpected circumstances, going back on a promise should be one of the last steps to take in an emergency, and it doesn't sound like she treated it that way here. Did she at least apologize to those who depended on her promise?

      Marcia Yudkin
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      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jordan Rhodes
    It is life. People make all types of decisions, mostly for their own personal good. They may impact other people in a negative manner, but that is the natural consequence of such actions. In life, we wish to improve our own livelihoods. Most of us adhere to some form of morals, although some of these morals may be contrived.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    Things do change in life. What you say today, may not have the same meaning next month. Just because she decided to close that site down does not mean that she is a bad person or a bad leader.

    Everyone makes mistakes in life and there is no guarantees to anything that you do.

    You just have to go with the flow.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kal Sallam
    Ever heard of the saying : sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do?
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Carlin
      Originally Posted by Kal Sallam View Post

      Ever heard of the saying : sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do?
      Yep, I've always had 100% integrity, sometimes I let people refund 6 months after the refund period because otherwise I feel bad somehow.

      If it were my daughter who had cancer, I would jump through your screen, steal your false teeth and sell them on ebay for $1

      I'd throw a pie in the Pope's face if it helped the situation. Can't blame people for that!
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  • Profile picture of the author evco8
    I always thought of a lie as not simply just an untruth but an untruth that was intentional. When life happens sometimes we are forced to adjust. That's why its a good idea to be very careful about what you promise. Or you wind up looking like a phony.
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  • Profile picture of the author lollobrigida
    I think every case is different...
    the combination of seller and buyer is different...the product/s is/are different.
    The relationship... the amount of money spent...the combination of motivations
    on both sides...all is different.
    And so there is not one answer to this question.
    The line between lies, life, promises and marketing are thin sometimes.
    It has to be decided case by case...

    However...I think communication is the key to all.
    Between the seller and his/her buyers... sometimes just between the
    buyers when the seller disappears.
    From a sellers perspective you of course can't be everybody's darling...
    but I think if one is really willing it is possible to keep the majority of
    customers satisfied... no matter what's happening.
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