3 ms·

People Don’t Buy Products, They Buy Better Versions of Themselves (2018)

45 points by yamrzou 5y ago

ncmncm 5y ago
People trying to sell me "a better version of myself" instead of the product I need are a plague. Everything you put up between me and what I know I need makes me hate you and want you to die. When I want to be a better me, I know how to get there. I already know I can't buy it. I know it will take time, attention, likely boredom and pain. Whatever you're selling is much more likely to set me back on that journey. The best it can deliver is momentary convenience. So, lying to me about what your product can do just tells me about what kind of person you are.
- cyber_kinetist 5y ago
  > Everything you put up between me and what I know I need makes me hate you and want you to die. Reminds me of that legendary standup comedy from Bill Hicks about “marketing”: https://youtu.be/tHEOGrkhDp0 https://youtu.be/tHEOGrkhDp0
- brtkdotse 5y ago
  > want you to die. I don’t know if you literally wish another persons life would end because they inconvenienced you in a purchase, but nether the less I wish this kind of language wasn’t used to trivially.
  - dogleash 5y ago
    We assault the public’s psyche for profit. I’ve been called worse for less. I prefer people have opinions rather than the soulless attitude that everything is morally neutral unless political news agitates about it.
  - ncmncm 5y ago
    Each of those persons who die is one who will stop doing it. You should be satisfied that I don't mean to kill them myself, or put out a bounty on them.
    - NoahKAndrews 5y ago
      Even people who inconvenience you have value.
      - DarylZero 5y ago
        Calling this kind of manipulation "inconvenience" is insulting. It's a hostile manipulative act. You wouldn't let such people around your children.
- Datenstrom 5y ago
  I feel the same way[1], but it seems to be a minority view. Even bringing up the ridiculousness of this approach when I see it gets me weird looks from most people. It is really reinforced by movies shows where some hero picks up skills that take a lifetime to master in a weekend montage too. [1]: With the exception of the death wish
- MR4D 5y ago
  Do you buy deodorant? If so, you already bought a better version of yourself.
  - ncmncm 5y ago
    I don't. A pinch of baking soda does the job.
    - MR4D 5y ago
      To be honest, I didn’t see that answer coming. My hat off to you.
approxim8ion 5y ago
No, I buy products and I'd prefer you sell me products.
clarge1120 5y ago
As distasteful as the idea of an Identity Brand is, it’s hard to argue with the results. If a new product, especially a software product, would gain a foothold in the crowded software market, it’s better to focus on how the end user will become a better version of themselves than on pretty much any attribute of the software itself. Apple, for example, is a clear winner in the identity branding business.

45 points by yamrzou 5y ago

People trying to sell me "a better version of myself" instead of the product I need are a plague. Everything you put up between me and what I know I need makes me hate you and want you to die. When I want to be a better me, I know how to get there. I already know I can't buy it. I know it will take time, attention, likely boredom and pain. Whatever you're selling is much more likely to set me back on that journey. The best it can deliver is momentary convenience. So, lying to me about what your product can do just tells me about what kind of person you are.

cyber_kinetist 5y ago
> Everything you put up between me and what I know I need makes me hate you and want you to die. Reminds me of that legendary standup comedy from Bill Hicks about “marketing”: https://youtu.be/tHEOGrkhDp0 https://youtu.be/tHEOGrkhDp0
brtkdotse 5y ago
> want you to die. I don’t know if you literally wish another persons life would end because they inconvenienced you in a purchase, but nether the less I wish this kind of language wasn’t used to trivially.
- dogleash 5y ago
  We assault the public’s psyche for profit. I’ve been called worse for less. I prefer people have opinions rather than the soulless attitude that everything is morally neutral unless political news agitates about it.
- ncmncm 5y ago
  Each of those persons who die is one who will stop doing it. You should be satisfied that I don't mean to kill them myself, or put out a bounty on them.
  - NoahKAndrews 5y ago
    Even people who inconvenience you have value.
    - DarylZero 5y ago
      Calling this kind of manipulation "inconvenience" is insulting. It's a hostile manipulative act. You wouldn't let such people around your children.
Datenstrom 5y ago
I feel the same way[1], but it seems to be a minority view. Even bringing up the ridiculousness of this approach when I see it gets me weird looks from most people. It is really reinforced by movies shows where some hero picks up skills that take a lifetime to master in a weekend montage too. [1]: With the exception of the death wish
MR4D 5y ago
Do you buy deodorant? If so, you already bought a better version of yourself.
- ncmncm 5y ago
  I don't. A pinch of baking soda does the job.
  - MR4D 5y ago
    To be honest, I didn’t see that answer coming. My hat off to you.

approxim8ion 5y ago

No, I buy products and I'd prefer you sell me products.

clarge1120 5y ago

As distasteful as the idea of an Identity Brand is, it’s hard to argue with the results. If a new product, especially a software product, would gain a foothold in the crowded software market, it’s better to focus on how the end user will become a better version of themselves than on pretty much any attribute of the software itself. Apple, for example, is a clear winner in the identity branding business.