Have you ever had or witnessed a marketing idea go bad?

interesting

Can't say I have one as brilliant as the one you mentioned in your post. As others have said, I came across someone who I am sure got pulled in with the feds on investor fraud but is still in business. First thing I said to myself was 'thought you were in jail dude'? 

Not enough people get brought up because it just takes time out of your own selling strategy.

Maybe I'm just oblivious to it... but I can't say I've seen a lot of marketing out there that skirts legality. Some of it is just in bad taste or not very professional... but getting into trouble with the Feds, not so much.

Anyone who uses a negotiable instrument for their advertising ought to do some homework first!

I created a lead generating website for an Agent that's a neighbor, and taught her how to use it.  I told her she needs to check it for leads everyday, or else it'd be worthless.  She agreed, and the following Monday morning I saw her walking her farm with flyers.  I looked at her website and she had 8 leads from people wanting to see homes, and the first one arrived Friday night.  I couldn't believe it ... she had people waiting in line, yet she was walking door to door with flyers.

Sometimes a good marketing idea can look like a bad marketing idea when it's not implemented properly.  I've heard lot of Agents say they've tried marketing with websites on the internet, and it didn't work, so that's a bad idea.  I'll bet those Agents never really took the time to try to make it work ... the time they should have been investing in understanding how to make a lead generating website was spent walking around their farms with flyers instead.

I guess.. .I have to take a second look at my Free Massage for a referral deal I'm working now at a local sorority house

LOL

I must have thousands of BAD marketing ideas and continue to  this day. .. the key thing is to keep trying!

Uhm, I'm seriously surprised that anyone thinks copying money is ok. That has never been ok, and it has always involved the secret service. Hello.

I once received a $50 Ulysses Grant by mail with a business card from an insurance agent with a 'thank you' note after closing a deal where my buyer bought insurance from this agent.  I actually had nothing to do with the selection of agent as the buyer's daughter already had homeowner insurance from that agent and referred her mother to him.

It really turned my stomach.

Good post.  Some of the best marketing ideas are those that are outside the proverbial box.  Something no one else has thought of.  But you need to make sure it's legal and in good taste.  Use your creative juices but also use your brain. 

Well in California you are limited to $300.00 on something like that.  Perhaps some commercial made play money or something else that conveyed the same idea.

I don't know your state laws, but it seems there are two violations there - one is offering money to an unlicensed agent and the second is copying money.  I haven't done a whole lot of marketing so haven't had any trouble with bad ideas up to this point anyway...-Kasey

Paul reminds us of a broker whose "business" card was a $10,000 bill - but not actual size.

I think this law is a bit overboard - anyone can tell the difference between a picture of money and the real thing. However, here in Idaho it is (or at least was, when I was an agent) illegal to offer a referral fee to an unlicensed person.

It's always a good idea to think first - and to consider the "unintended consequences" of your actions.

I can't speak for other states, but in Florida paying a referral fee to unlicensed people is a 3rd degree felony.  A very serious crime.  The counterfeiting accusation just sounds stupid to me.

The first what comes in my mind was how can a licensed professional in real estate pay a non licensed condo owner a cash referral fee? A big no. no in Florida!

On copying dollar bills or any currency that would fall under my category in common sense under a counterfeit money.

Sometimes everybody should read the fine print even on the dollar bills!

They are really lucky that they still have their license.

Some interesting comments about this post yet any marketing idea gone bad by others would probably never be reported or even acknowledged, don't you think?

After the fact, all you can say is "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

In California they'd be fined for paying such a large referral fee to a non-agent.

In Oregon, all advertising needs to be approved by your Supervising Broker (Principal Broker). Flyers, websites, postcards, etc. This would have never been approved.