Ever wake up one morning from a dream sooo bizarre your first reaction is:
?
Followed by:
“Jeepers self, did I just see punctuation in my mind?”
Followed by:
“Why lookie there, it’s almost a nice normal 4am and aint no way in heck, no sirree, that I’m a’gonna go back to sleep so…. why not think upon the magnificence that is the Star Wars franchise!”
If so, wow, think of the coincidence! That’s just what happened to me!
But I digress.
Anywhos, during my digital wandering which were similar to back when young whipper snappers had to trudge 6 miles in the snow to school while wearing full-grown yaks strapped to their backs (scenery you know, the yak barn gets mighty boring at times and you wouldn’t want their little hoofies to get cold)…
I came across:
Dark patterns are the reason why you head into manipulative marketing traps
Which alas is NOT about Star Wars (cue the teeny violins) but IS about the dark side of marketing traps.
VERY interesting indeed it is – I’ll include just one example:
“1. Bait and switch
When a business knowingly makes dubious changes to its UI to nudge its users/customers to do something they want, they use the bait and switch technique. Imagine this: you go to the ATM and follow the instructions to withdraw a certain amount of cash. Right before the machine dispenses you the money, it shows the following message:
Do you want a receipt for this transactions?
Save trees. Say no to paper receipts.
✅ ❌
Instead of giving you the usual “Yes” and “No” options, the bank has now switched the options to symbols so that no matter what you press, you will not get a receipt for your transaction. The bait and switch works because now the options are tied to both, the question and the message that follows the main question.”
You know something? I never even considered that!
A truly excellent article it is – worthy of checking out and then returning here.
I’ll wait. Along with my coffee.
(insert theme to Jeopardy here)
Ah, welcome back!
And you know, the whole concept of the Dark Side of Marketing is worthy of an action-packed blueprint (featuring Donnie Yen of course, or actually, let’s see… Michelle Yeoh because while Donnie is Donnie, Michelle IS (or WAS) the Empress Georgiou, otherwise known as “Her most Imperial Majesty, Mother of the Fatherland, Overlord of Vulcan, Dominus of Qo’noS, Regina Andor. All Hail Philippa Georgiou Augustus Iaponius Centarius.” Yep, I’ll definitely go wit her)!
You could break it down like so:
Step 1.) Understand the Dark Techniques of Marketing That Exist
Step 2.) Teach Your Customers to Recognize Them When They Encounter them
Step 3.) Ensure You Maintain the Quality Standards You Want To Be Known For In Your Future Writings
Resources for the above include:
Dark Marketing 101: The Change to How Brands Communicate Online
‘Only one left in your size!’ How e-commerce’s dark patterns manipulate your shopping
How Brands Are Using AI to Fight Back Against Dark Marketing
https://www.brandtotal.com/blog/the-elephant-in-the-room-dark-marketing-what-it-is-and-how-to-illuminate-the-darkness
https://www.anvilmediainc.com/blog/dark-social-media-marketing/
Your takeaway?
Attract the business and customers you desire by repelling those you do NOT want.
Rather simple, for once.
Enjoy!
ps – And even evil empresses can be redeemed, as the Empress has now returned from the Mirror Universe and is playing her original counterpart, Captain Georgiou, now Starfleet Security Extraordinaire. SO can’t wait for the next season…..