Early on in the AMC series “Mad Men,” a young, ambitious Peggy Olson defends her ad idea to Don Draper, assuring him, “Sex sells.” He barely hides his disappointment before brushing this aside, “Says who? Just so you know, the people who talk that way think that monkeys can do this.”
Why Sex and Violence Don’t Sell
They’re distracting! (Probably.)
September 04, 2015
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New!
HBR Learning
Marketing Essentials Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Marketing Essentials. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to communicate with your customers—strategically.