Is it true that sex always sells in business? The first reaction of many would-be corporate giants is a resounding YES. This certainly is the reasoning behind those sexy commercials for milk. (No word yet on whether Madonna will endorse Chiquita bananas)
However, it has not been historically proven that sex can sell any product. In fact, more than a few companies have seen negative consequences from using too much sexual innuendo in their commercials.
Some companies have had their commercials banned from TV, while others have faced threats of boycotting and protests from concerned parents. Why still all the fuss about an age-old practice? It??™s not always about Puritanism??”the infamous ???moral majority??? has lost a lot of influence and power since the mid-20th century.
Nowadays, any sexual scandal you hear about usually involves sexuality being marketed towards impressionable children or teenagers. This is a classic example of mis-marketing. If you??™re aiming to sell beer to the young, over-21 demographic, then there??™s hardly a fuss about including sex in your advertisements.
Using sexual innuendo or partial nudity to sell senior living facilities? That would be another case of a bad marketing angle and one that would provoke many viewers.
Understand that while nobody wants to admit they have ???problems??? with sexuality, they are usually more than willing to admit there is far too much sex in advertising. So plan accordingly. Always consider the potential of using sex to sell a product. Yes, it attracts attention and it titillates younger sensibilities while scandalizing parental watchdogs.
This is all good for controversy. However, is it wise to use this factor if it could divide your audience and reduce your overall profit? The best minds in marketing know that sex doesn??™t always sell??¦but great marketing can always sell a great product, regardless of pheromones.