Using Nude Models to Promote Coffee Machines? Borderline Advertising Marketing is Truly Off-Putting!

Before we begin, let me just say this:

There are countless advertising and marketing methods, and numerous ways to catch people's attention. Why would you choose to use the most controversial border marketing approach to promote your coffee machine? In marketing and advertising, gender-related content has always been the most controversial topic. Yes, it's true that this can attract attention, but! Among those who are attracted, how many will actually become brand customers? As netizens in the comments section said:

As a coffee machine promotional advertisement, there are so many materials available, and many ways to express coffee concentration. But using a semi-nude model's skin tone to "more clearly" indicate that the coffee machine has "standard" and "strong" settings... After seeing the promotion, everyone can't help but say: Are you okay!

Originally, everyone thought this was already outrageous, but scrolling down to see the details, even Yeshu Coconut Juice would exclaim "Wow!"

If you want to express that drinking black coffee can help with weight loss, and that your coffee machine has exquisite craftsmanship and design, then show the complete product properly... You're selling a coffee machine, but the coffee machine itself is the least clear element in the photos...

Scrolling further down, one really has to say that every promotional image leaves everyone with question marks and ellipses floating above their heads.

There are many places to make coffee, but believe it or not, no one would put their coffee machine on the floor and kneel to make coffee... because their feet would go numb.

Marketing Controversy and Brand Values

How did this coffee machine brand's marketing get approved? We don't know. But such marketing methods make it difficult for netizens not to escalate the issue. Although the advertisement doesn't explicitly say anything, several problems can be seen from the content: vulgar border marketing, objectification of women, and biases related to skin color, race, and region.

From proposing the copy to determining the advertisement to promotion and execution, there must have been multiple levels of review. Did really no one think there was a problem with such an advertisement? Did no one think such an advertisement would cause controversy? No, because the brand thought it was fine... When netizens contacted official customer service about this matter, customer service said their images had no violations, but they have already been replaced.

The Impact on Brand Image

Brand advertising represents the entire brand's image and values, and is one of the ways brands communicate with consumers. A coffee machine brand needs to properly promote its machines, rather than weaken the product's presence and highlight people and things unrelated to coffee/coffee machines. Perhaps for a new brand, it's not easy to quickly gain traffic, but using such vulgar border marketing methods to attract attention and drawing notice through self-deprecation will only bring public criticism and condemnation.

Coffee is a beverage that everyone can make and everyone can taste. Consumers of coffee machines are also very diverse. Such advertisements may not be explicitly illegal, but they completely disregard ethics. As a coffee machine brand, if you don't properly promote coffee culture, don't correctly spread positive values, and don't properly guide consumers, how many people will really buy your products?

Border marketing may not be directly illegal, but for a brand, one negative traffic topic can bring more severe consequences than administrative penalties. Instead of putting effort into creating notorious traffic, it would be better to actually improve the brand's products.

To sell a product well, you need consumer trust and promotion. No matter how many advertisements you run, nothing beats word-of-mouth from customers.

Image source: Internet

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