In today’s highly competitive business landscape, marketing can make or break the success and growth of a company. However, as businesses strive to stand out in the sea of sameness and grasp consumer attention, it can be hard to resist the pull of deceptive marketing tactics, such as misleading claims, hidden fees, and false advertising, to speed up the customer acquisition process.
Unfortunately, while it might be tempting to try to cut corners, it can actually do more harm than good, often destroying consumer trust and your business’s reputation by attracting scrutiny from regulatory authorities. In fact, around 70% of the complaints received by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) are regarding this issue, revealing how prevalent it is within the industry.
Don’t fall into the trap of being blinded by that thirst for success. We can guarantee you that false advertising won’t quench it. At least not in the long run. Companies are always vying for as many people as possible to buy their product or pay for their service – the more the better, right? But of course, it takes more than a catchy tagline to reel in potential customers.
A useful exercise would be to take a leaf out of an already-successful company who understands what it takes to convert site visitors into depositing customers, something on the lines of what the team of experts at NoDeposit365.com do. Sure, they advertise great no deposit casino bonuses and exclusive offers, but what they also do is provide exhaustive and unbiased reviews to their audience. Plain and simply put: what you see is what you get.
What Is Deceptive Advertising
Deceptive or false advertising refers to marketing practices that businesses employ in order to attract audiences that present information that can be interpreted as unrealistic, misleading, or completely inaccurate. These can range from making exaggerated claims to omitting important facts or even making use of fake customer reviews and testimonials, painting a false picture of how the product or service is being received.
Unfortunately, the goal of deceptive advertising, as the name would suggest, is to deceive consumers into purchasing a product or service that is too good to be true, ultimately benefiting the advertiser at the expense of the consumer’s trust and well-being. This can be very dangerous, as it can lead to consumers purchasing counterfeit or even defective products. These unsavory tactics can be found in a myriad of industries, with the American multinational fast-food chain Taco Bell, recently coming under fire for not serving their Crunchwrap and Mexican Pizza products as advertised.
To put it plainly, there’s no shortcut to success; it takes hard work, determination, and integrity to build a successful business. Even once you reach the top, it’s important to not make false promises, as you’ll only end up alienating your customer base in the long run and impacting your credibility. Safeguard your reputation by staying away from these deceptive tactics:
Include All Information
Whether you are promoting a good or service, it is essential that you include all the relevant information, as withholding any critical details or product limitations could leave your consumers feeling betrayed and disappointed. In the case of a limited offer, your advertisement should clearly state the terms and conditions, such as the duration of the promotion and which items will be discounted.
Clear Pricing
Nothing irks consumers more than thinking a product is priced one way when, in reality, the company has several hidden charges, including delivery fees and additional taxes. This is especially true when a product is seemingly discounted when, in fact, it is just based on an inflated original price. In order to maintain a good relationship with your consumers, it’s essential that any pricing displayed on an advertised product be the final price.
Back Your Claims With Relevant Evidence
Look, it’s no use saying a product can help mitigate hair loss if you don’t have any factual evidence to back it up, such as substantial clinical trials. You need to keep in mind that consumers are very impressionable, so it’s important that any claims you make in your advertisements are actually true. One way to authentically show off your product is by utilizing influencers to demonstrate how to use it and its effects; this has been proven to be especially successful when it comes to makeup.
