My public writing. You can reach me at @eitland@mstdn.io

Marketing doesn't have to be abusive

Filed under #advertising and #marketing

This happens, people get fooled into traveling halfway across the globe to stand in line and finally take a photo of what turns out to be a mirror, or something mirror-like:

It really isn't news anymore that marketing has been abused to drive demand for products that aren't what people need, or even want.

I've seen several people argue that advertising is generally evil but I don't agree. I'd argue that there's even great potential for doing advertising that does good for both humans and the environment.

As an example I would like to mention the shuttle bus that used to pass 100 meters from my house and pass right next to my workplace at that time – and that I wasn't aware of until the local newspaper told it was shutting down. It could have been a good idea if more people was aware of it and could have used it instead of either driving to the train station like I did or even driving all the way as some people do.

Another example would be those who sell spare parts or repair services, or to advertise for reduce, reuse, repair like the (otherwise very commercial) marketplace finn.no does:

The only thing that is better for the environment than buying used is to buy nothing at all.

Above: An ad saying: The only thing that is better for the environment than buying used is to buy nothing at all.

And just last day I saw an ad for walking as a solution to mental health problems. Nothing to buy, nobody to vote for, paid for by our politicians or probably bureaucrats , doing what they are supposed to do: figuring out good solutions to hard problems, in this case mental health and health generally.

If you wonder when I'll get around ro the catch, there isn't one as far as I can see: it is pure win-win:

As peoples health increases, people become more happy which is good for them. They probably become more productive at work and spend less time away from work which means companies wins as well. Society at large wins as well when everyone wins.

Now media, can you please take back a bit of control and prioritize these kinds of ads? Until then I'll mostly keep my ad blockers on and updated for everyone.

Because I'm seriously fed up with seing “personalized” ads that seems to be health scams, clickbait farms and dating site scams, ads that are insults to me personally, my wife and my family, all men generally and to a certain degree: all of mankind.