#288: Sell me no lies

I have a question. Why do so many CEOs still believe that it is okay to make promises to customers, promises that the organization cannot or will not keep?

I am currently in a fight with a Fortune 20 company. This fight makes absolutely no sense, not because I’m a bug buzzing an elephant, but because I have access to the single most powerful force in marketing. And I will use it if this bureaucratic beast does not make good on its promise to me.

This force is... word of mouth.

Word of mouth can be for you or against you. And the Internet makes it free and easy to use.

Dear CEO, let me explain. It is nonsense to spend millions on stretching the marketing truth on top of millions keeping unhappy customers at bay.

Better to align your promise with what your people can deliver and then to let customers sing your praises, not your lies.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

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