No, this has nothing to do with the forthcoming “Sex And The City” movie that opens on 29th May 08. But this has everything to do with the comments my friend Ryan, a self-professed marketing guru who has lived and breathed marketing principles all his life had to say about my yet-to-be unveiled business website.

As a teaser, Ryan pasted me this URL from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75gREOjyFI. Watch it only if you want to…you have been warned…hahahahaha…

After looking at the first topless shot, Ryan writes: “That is your biggest problem…you’re too sexy!”

When I asked for clarification, he continued, “I think your site isn’t making full use of your sexy potential.”

By now, I was really confused. My tagline sounded too cliched. Yes, I’m promoting my fitness, nutrition and wellness services and products. But these three items should not be in the tagline. Ok.

People already have enough of being sold the idea of fitness and health. That’s not what they want now. From the marketing angle, it’s what they want to achieve at the end of the day that they are interested in.

Then, Guru Ryan shared this anecdote. “What do people think of when they think of ABC Fitness?”

Before I could reply, he shot me his take. “They think of hot fun, hot guys, hot babes, hot gays.”

By this time, I was already rolling in semi-laughter.

I told him to get serious. And this is Ryan at his most serious.

He writes, “Understand and practise this principle and you shall prosper.”

I stay awake waiting for the important principle to drop by manna from heaven.

Ryan says, “You don’t have to give sex to your clients (if you don’t want too), but you should give them the impression that you will.”

I almost fell off the chair. Give sex to my clients? That sounds so familiar. It sounds like prostitution 101 all over again. Oh come on, I ran away from one brothel. I can’t be running to the next brothel down the road. No way!

I know marketing is promoting all the good qualities in a product or service that you wanna sell. More importantly, the qualities that people want. It has a lot to do with branding. But in no way should my products/services or even myself be associated with offering a call L for sex type of thing. Maybe Guru Ryan can offer himself instead :p

When Ryan is less serious, he really value adds better. He continues “who cares about fitness anymore, fitness is for olympic athletes, most people just wanna be 1. Be beautiful  2. Enjoy more/better sex”.  This much I agree.

So now I’m back to brainstorming for another new tagline. Sex and the City? No, you bet not!

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