Does sex still sell?

Sex still sells in the wireless industry. However, that tactic alone is not the best marketing plan.

Oh Andrey, I SO have to disagree with your comment "Biznik Indie Ladies have a better chance at having a successful business than Biznik Indie Gentlemen". We could all go 'round and 'round with the argument of "sex sells" versus "it's still a man's world"...but I won't go down that path.

I will disagree from the standpoint that it depends what you are selling and who you are selling it to. I work with families. I meet these new moms and dads in presentations I give through local groups and organizations and a great deal of them become my clients. However, typically it's the wife who decides her family will take my class, and the husbands do participate in the class too, about 80% of the time. I've noticed it's the wife who is typically deciding they'll plunk down the $ for my services, though. So for me, trying to sell via a sexy approach would be professional suicide. These sleep deprived, new mommies need to feel comfortable to invite me into their homes to work with them and with their husbands. I'm no dumbie, I know most of these husbands are currently feeling sex-deprived due to a new baby in the house. Believe me, I am very aware of how sex does NOT sell in my line of work. These new moms are calling the shots, so I have to appeal to them and they have to feel comfortable with me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for sex for various reasons...including it leads to more babies which is more business for me! ;) Nancy

(http://www.hoptosignaroo.com)

P.S. I believe it all boils down to being a smart business PROFESSIONAL. I really don't think anyone has an edge b/c of gender and don't buy into either the idea that women sell better b/c we use can sexiness to our advantage OR that it's a man's world. I really hope your comment was tongue in cheek, Andrey....wait, that sounds like a sexual inuendo! ;)

I think it helps to be attractive, whether it's coming from your physical features or your inner light, in business. But I have to say that sex is a poor selling point in my industry. Tony Soprano aside, it's probably not a good idea to see a therapist you want to schtoop. :)

Aside from the clothing or perfume industries I would have to say that ‘sexy’ sells more than ‘sex’. And I believe them to be quite different things. People laying all over people to sell a fragrance or pair of jeans is in my opinion soft porn and just plain stupid. I know how I look in jeans and I know that buying their jeans is not going to change the way I look. Those ads make me think of ‘sex’, not jeans or perfume; and I doubt that ‘sex’ is what they are trying to sell.

But you show me an ad with a ‘sexy’ looking car or watch. And I imagine myself in that car or wearing that watch. Not because it will make me think of ‘sex’ but because I think it looks ‘sexy’. You can sell anything if you can make it look ‘sexy’. But can’t sell just anything with ‘sex’.

My four cents.

Interesting topic, so many layers…

“Sex sells” is an odd phrase. As it has been observed, sex isn’t really involved, it’s more like “sexy” or sex appeal, “appeal” being the operative word. Another great word would be attraction.

From my personal experience and the work I do with men, I offer yet another view point… as a man; at the deepest level I am hardwired to be attracted to two things… women who are vibrant and men who are fully present. (Neither is an easy feat)

I.e. I am most attracted to a woman who radiates a strong inner light; I will not be able to pull away, it’s like a tractor beam. I will also follow a man into battle if he has a commanding presence; it’s a no-brainer that I would buy from these two as well.

An interesting example: When Bill Clinton was asked why he risked everything for a fling with Monica, His answer wasn’t “Because I’m a horny Toad” it was “She lit up the room”. (Those old saying exists for good reason)

Naked mud wrestlers will get my attention on a much more superficial level because I have hardwiring there too but, it’s up to me to be evolved enough to not make my decisions from there. I believe that blatantly sexual advertisements under estimate most men.

So, we might ask… if most men are evolved past the superficial level should sales pitches be re-aimed at the deeper emotions? Or am I wrong about most men being that evolved?

I see your 4 cents and raise ya 2.

Greg

I think what you will find is that sex sells to all ages but is used in different degrees depending on the age group targeted. Younger men and women have the least sexual experience so are more likely to take sexual based advertising as "real" information in their lives. This is a great strategy for companies to gain loyalty in a new generation of consumers and grow them into their other products as they mature.

I think the more mature audience is a bit more savvy and will be more apt to find what product they like best, so an advertiser can spend less money on that demo and more on the younger audience. Thus why we see so many Axe Body spray commercials.

To add a quip to Greg's postings.. I used to hang out at this bar in San Francisco, Jezebel's Joint.. Once a month they did either mud wrestling or jello wrestling, and had to add an extra 3 bartenders and 2 barbacks to keep up with the demand. Maybe sex doesn't sell, but mud wrestling certainly does.

I liked Rebecca Wood's comment, and I'm game to answer it.

I think for me, not speaking for all guys here, it is not about how I will feel or what I will think about myself etc. it is more about how long will I pause to look at the product. I usually think the sexy sales are cheesy, but if they are sexy to me (which only sometimes is true) then I will look a little longer. I usually don't even think about the product, but I am there and maybe by me being there for an extra second or two... It is more about getting at UNconscious real estate in my brain that links pleasure and memory (limbic system) to the product. If it is cheesy and rediculous, that still works if I remember it. In fact if I don't take it seriously and find it funny, I will remember it better.

Personally, I actually don't think people are going for "sexy" in advertizing, they are going for memorable and if it is cheesy and sleezy, it may be discounted as funny or stupid and therefore unthreatening enough to get through your mental defenses to that "happy place" that allows us to remember it.

Sex could be portrayed as beautiful, as ugly as sacred, as anything, but it is portrayed as stereotypes for a reason. Perhaps this is because they work at reinforcing memory and are regarded as being harmless when bombarded with tons of them. People are sexually repressed in many places in the world, and people are also intimidated by success and power, so what we stereotype as "dumb looking, sexy people" may sell more to a person who is insecure enough to be looking for answers in magazines or products on impulse whether they are male or female. They are less intimidating. Others will be turned off by this. Perhaps For them a more a stereotypical "sophisticated sexy" is required. And frankly, looks can be deceiving. We make up the rules of what we believe about which is which.