50 Shades of Marketing
If you have spent any time at all reading any of the three novels in the series, you would realize that other than a basic storyline, it is all about porn. Albeit soft.
1.5 million people have already read this book. I have read it. My friends have read it. It is addictive and completely trashy, but let's face it - women love this type of stuff. Look at how successful Mills and Boons was and still is.
My theory though, having read two of the New York Times Bestseller Trilogy series, that the book was commissioned by a large chain or perhaps online sex store. Bare with me as I explain...
There is little storyline other than the fact that there is three families in the Trilogy and the main characters are Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. At least nine-tenths of each book is just about sex and in particular, S&M.
50 Shades of Grey Trilogy
The books are not even particularly well written but their descriptive blows on sex with whips, blind folds, kinky toys and alike is like opening a window for housewives around the world to get excited about sex again and go out and try a few different positions with the aid of a few toys.Adultshop.com has recorded a 40 percent increase in sales. Any shop selling grey ties, has without doubt, sold out. And sex shops around the globe are selling out of any props or toys discussed in the 50 Shades of Grey. This, I believe, is no accident. On top of that, the twitter accounts for Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey are followed by millions and if you follow them, they will follow you back. If you ask them a question, they will answer in character.
It's marketing. Now, I could be wrong, and a genius marketer may not be behind it, but I really doubt that that is the case.
No different to episodes in sex in the city about the "rabbit" or any other shoe or dress design that Carrie saw fit to wear, a product can sell out just by a sheer mention on television, in a movie, online and in books.
Do you think that 50 Shades of Grey is a commission or a naughty author obsessed in S&M?
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comments ( 6 )
telemania
30 May 2014But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great pattern. "Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you." by Harold Bloom.
Replyfifty shades of grey Washington nationals
01 Apr 2013What's up colleagues, pleasant article and pleasant arguments commented at this place, I am really enjoying by these.
ReplyMatthew
25 Jul 2012I don't think there's any sinister plotting behind it. What called for a boost in the sex industry? Is it season to get randy? It could be a counter to reported low fertility rates, but then who made her responsible? I reckon it's as simple as the author liking her sex, whilst stick-poking a target market who have characteristically given up.
ReplyDavid
24 Jul 2012I haven't read the book, but have heard about it. It's weird how something terrible and be so popular.
ReplyRecently there is a show on tv called 'The Shire'. All over social media, everyone are saying how bad the show is and that it has to be a joke. Oddly enough, people are saying the show is so bad, that they can't stop watching it. I guess there is good marketing here and there
Leo
23 Jul 2012I haven’t read the book but I heard of it so many times. I particularly appreciate one comment on the “Today Show” from Dr. Drew: “the book was horribly written in addition to being disturbing but if the book enhances women's real-life sex lives and intimacy, so be it."
ReplyYvonne
23 Jul 2012Now that you put it that way, it could be commissioned by a tie or any sex toy company. It doesn't sound too abnormal, I mean, it's a simple product placement technique. That'd also be a nice little conspiracy theory. But then again, maybe the author wants to be a famous writer and knows exactly how to target women. Or maybe the author just wanted to express their own deepest desires.
ReplyI like to think authors aren't swayed by organisational incentives, but maybe the editors/publishers are.