The consumer isn't a moron. She is a keyword

[sshibad]

The consumer isn't a moron. She is a keyword
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, David Ogilvy said, “The consumer isn't a moron. She is your wife.”
With the fanatical focus on technology - SEO, blogging, keyword density, podcasting, link building, RSS, viral & buzz marketing, microsites - we seem to be missing the forest for the trees.
Today, there is almost no discussion about the consumer.
How can we please her or him?
What makes her or him tick?
What are their dreams, desires, hopes and fears?
What motivates them?
Truly, the consumer has become another keyword.
What do you think?

[robjean]

I think you're talking sense.

After all, I bet over half the pages on the internet either sell a product or service.

Those that concentrate thier efforts on the consumer
WILL make more sales, no question.

RobJean.

[marketing-helpersdotcom]

I guess it all depends on whose blog/forum you visit. There is plenty of meaningful decussion about "the consumer", you just have to go to the right places I guess.

Certainly not here! People only care about Web sites here [tongue in cheek!]

[SteveGerencser]

I think that a large portion of us have been saying this all along.. Even Goggle tells you everytime they get the chance to do what's best for the consumer / visitor to your site.. Personally I hope more people go down the wrong path, it just makes my life easier..

[jawn_tech]

Sort of goes along with the 'who cares about validation' camp. That is, assuming the site works for all consumers...

[robert47]

The consumer is someone that actually has a use for the information/service you provide. And they use it.
Otherwise, internet speaking... they are a visitor.

[sshibad]

[quote="sshibad"]The consumer isn't a moron. She is a keyword


I come from a traditional advertising background and as a cub copywriter in the early ‘90s; I was taught that no matter what the medium, my job was to communicate the message in a compelling way.

It could be for a bargain basement sale, a corporate TV spot, a retail radio spot, a fashion billboard, a cross-media brand building campaign.

Techniques came and went, the focus was always on strong idea. Some creative sorts would obsess over the latest illustration style, photography technique, hot shot director but they learned their lesson the hard way.
While the Web has certainly change the nature of the advertising business, human nature is still the same.
Maybe we should use consumer behavior as part of SEM strategy?