Marketing is an interesting field. It's all how you sell things to the populace. How you can convince them that it's a product that they want to buy. It's about presentation, style, image, and pizzazz. It's about representation, about emphasising the positive points and carefully avoiding any negative points. As such, marketing is often a field filled with fancy language, pretty words, half truths and occasional barefaced lies. It's rarely an outright blunt message, which makes the following parody designs all the funnier.

1. Honest marketing is humorous and refreshing.
2. Promotional products should align with values.
3. Showcase authentic testimonials, avoid exaggeration.

Honest Marketing?

I actually love Netflix. I think it's a wonderful service and I look forward to the day when almost everything I could ever watch is in one handy location. That being said, I think the slogan has a point. Apart from being somewhat irritating to navigate - honestly the layout and genre functions could be fixed - all too often I am paralysed with indecision. What to watch? There's so much stuff! Do I really want to lose 12 hours from my life by picking up a TV series?

Good point. Practically everyone uses Google. Bing is the Microsoft alternative, and I've heard of DuckDuckGo, but only one search engine has become so utterly synonymous with the idea that it's become it's own verb. I'm going to google that. You don't hear, I'm going to yahoo that, or alta vista that, or bing, or duckduckgo that.

Or high school students, or primary school students, or people who self diagnose their medical problems, or someone who wants to settle an argument, or pretty much anyone who wants to know anything in slightly more detail than a cursory google search.

Ah Candy Crush, one of the latest in many "casual" "free to play" games. I put quotation marks because anyone who's played those know that these sorts of games will sink their hooks into you in a terrible fashion and will likely eat away at your time and money. Not unlike a drug habit I imagine, but much better for your health.

I'm fairly certain the last time I played Monopoly, I was less than ten years old. I haven't brought myself to do it since. In fact, I maintain a strong and deeply set aversion to all board games because of Monopoly. Why? Because this game can start a fight like nobody's business. Games of Monopoly amongst my siblings growing up would only end in tears.

Honest Marketing in Promo Products

Promotional products are an essential part of marketing strategies as they help build brand recognition and create lasting impressions. By incorporating honesty in promotional product campaigns, companies can establish trust and authenticity with their target audience. Here are some effective ways to achieve this:

• Align the product with the company's values: Instead of focusing solely on promoting the brand, consider how the product itself reflects the company's values. If the company prides itself on sustainability, choose eco-friendly products that align with that ethos. This creates an honest connection between the brand and the product being promoted.
• Highlight both the positive and potential drawbacks: Rather than just emphasising the benefits of the product, be transparent about its limitations. This helps set realistic expectations and avoids misleading customers. For example, if promoting promotional phone chargers, mention its battery life and any compatibility issues with certain devices.
• Use genuine testimonials and reviews: Incorporate testimonials and reviews from real customers who have used the product. Ensure these are authentic and showcase both positive and negative feedback. This demonstrates that the brand values customer opinions and encourages transparency.
• Avoid exaggerated claims: Steer clear of exaggerated claims or unrealistic promises about the product. Instead, focus on its genuine strengths and how it can enhance customers' lives or address their needs. Being honest about what the product can and cannot do builds credibility and trust.

Summary

So, mate, marketing can be a bit of a funny game, ya know? We're surrounded by fancy words and half-truths trying to convince us to buy stuff. But it shows us that being honest in our slogans and promotional campaigns can actually be pretty refreshing. Whether it's laughing at the overwhelming choices on Netflix or admitting that Candy Crush is like a sneaky addiction, being upfront about the pros and cons of our products builds trust with customers. So next time you're promoting something, consider keeping it real – your audience will appreciate it! Cheers!

Originally seen on: http://twentytwowords.com/hilarious-honest-brands/