Should You Use Sexual Innuendo in Marketing?
Thrandur_Arnthorsson
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: Sexual content? Reply with quote
I am wondering how much sexual content is recommended for linkbait pieces. Rolling Eyes
Now, I am not talking about sleazy XXX rated material, only some controversial videos from YouTube or pics that flow around in emails.
To name an example I just got a pic of a lady in an EXTREMELY small bikini with the words:
DEMOCRATS NEW SLOGAN
READ MY LIPS.. NO MORE BUSH
…you get the picture.
I definitely want to keep the site as family friendly as possible.
Any thoughts on this?
Will this hurt my AdSense account?
How far or how short can you go in this direction?
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Rick_Butts
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Joined: 12 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
Location: Denver, Colorado
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:47 am Post subject: No More Bush Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post
Hi,
What you will find from doing stuff like this - is that you will get people to self-select if your site/content is for them.
Some will go - COOL. and some will go "Yuck!"
Since you can't please everyone all the time - I have long felt that you should move your dials to one side or the other, sometimes in a controversial way.
Some people love cats - some people hate cats.
Take a stand.
Since you are already appealing to Democrats - you've made a very distinct choice on that side of the political spectrum.
By using a sexual innuendo - directly referring to a woman't pubic hair - and pubic region (and no matter how you "family friendly it this is precisely what you are insinuating) - I think you will lose a lot of people who will NOT be interested in naughty, sexy, or potentially risky material.
This is not necessarily a bad thing - but don't think you can have it both ways.
Using a banner, ad, or graphic as a prelude to your actual site or content makes a clear statement that you are NOT family friendly, (my daughter is 24 years old and I don't think I've ever said the word "bush" to her).
If this is what they see on the outside, then it will likely be even more provocative on the inside, of the site, that is.
So, in the final analysis, if you use this to market - you shoot your shot and make a clear statement about your site - so run with that, but make sure that is the IMAGE you want to portray and continue to use.
If not - you'll soon disappoint the people who came there for THAT reason.
"In My Humble But Accurate Opinion"
Rick Butts
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Comments on Should You Use Sexual Innuendo in Marketing? »
Rick, Thandur's content I read did not in anyway remind me of a woman's lower regions, at least not until I read your repsonse.
Seeing a picture of a lady in a tiny bikini though immediately runs me away from a site, unless I'm online shopping for bikinis or reading about beauty products. Bottom line? The words alone are not sleazy if the story is relevant. Also having pictures of scantily clad women on sites to get attention is way overdone, and tells me that it's a site for men. I agree that if not careful, you can alienate your audience.
I posted a short snippet recently of Roselyn Sanchez, an actor from a popular FBI crime drama. In that story, I placed a nude poster of her, because she and other celebrities were working with PETA to bring attention to cruelty to animals. I felt the poster was appropriate since it waa the heart of the story.
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