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Marketing Happiness

Guest post by: Jay Hamilton-Roth

Article Overview: The marketing equation is simple: convince someone that they’ll be happier if they buy your product or service and you’ll make a sale. Do it often enough, and you’ll be rich. But does buying your offering really equal happiness, or are you selling a pipe dream?

Marketing Happiness

The marketing equation is simple: convince someone that they’ll be happier if they buy your product or service and you’ll make a sale. Do it often enough, and you’ll be rich. But does buying your offering really equal happiness, or are you selling a pipe dream?

The psychologists have concluded that our brains are wired for wanting and also for happiness. So it would seem logical that when a want is satisfied, then happiness increases. Unfortunately, it isn’t so. Sure, there’s a quick high from achieving the goal, but that doesn’t last, and doesn’t truly increase your happiness. As well described in Eric Weiner’s book The Geography of Bliss, happiness comes from: creativity, community, freedom from failure, and not thinking about if you’re happy.

People deeply know that once their basic needs are satisfied, more things won’t truly make them happy. But if you watch enough media, it’s easy to be swayed to thinking that the latest car, dress, self-help book, CD, or electronic gadget will make you happy, desirable, and a leader.

As a business owner, do you pander to “common wisdom” and try to link your offering with your prospect’s happiness? Or, should you appeal to some lesser emotion and add a dose of logic to build your marketing message?

If your goal is to sell something once, then you’ll be tempted to do what’s easiest, most inexpensive, most common, and “works”. If you goal is to develop a long-term relationship with your customers, then don’t lie to them. You’re not selling happiness. You’re selling solutions to their problems. Happiness is your customer’s responsibility. It’s not sexy, but it does treat people with respect and not simply as business opportunities.

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Article Tags: happiness, marketing, strategy



Related Forum Posts
Re: The secret to happiness - Happiness comes from within. We choose whether we want to be happy or not. Circumstances can influence our feelings, but in the end, it's up to us how we deal with our circumstances, positively or negatively. I admire anyone who can stay strong and be happy through adversity. There will always be challenges that we face, but I believe that if we face them with our heads held high, the odds of overcoming them are much greater. This reminds me of the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness." Happiness spelled wrong for a reason. One of Will Smith's greatest movies. I encourage you all to watch it as it's very inspiring.
Re: Are you really happy? - So true Yinka. Happiness comes from within. MichelleJ
Re: What is your Business? - We are running a Online Marketing Firm and we have some good clients to which we are offering a complete Digital Marketing strategy like Search, Mobile Marketing, Branding and Design. I think in Online Marketing company online presence can be a wining factor for the success of the company.
Re: Let’s talk about the ways of marketing your products, servic - I agree with some of the others who responded it depends on what your selling... but to answer your questions here are some of the methods I use. Forum Marketing Yahoo Answers (I need to use more of) SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Bum Marketing or Article marketing P-P-C (Pay Per Click) Marketing Online Directories Hope this helps.
Re: The secret to happiness - Happiness is working on the job you love. I forgot who said this, "give a man the job he loves doing and he will ever work again in his life"


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