Can over the top promotions hurt your business?

[Steve]

This car delearship got national press coverage for wanting to promote a 'jihad' on the U.S. auto market. They may have pulled the ad but they still got attention.

Can such over the top promotions hurt your business?

What's your view?

Car dealer pulls ‘jihad’ commercial (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15003753/) - A car dealership in Ohio has decided not to run a commercial proclaiming a “jihad” on the U.S. auto market, a Muslim activist group said Monday.

The group Sunday had complained publicly about plans for a commercial it said would have proclaimed a “jihad” on the U.S. auto market offering “Fatwa Fridays” with sales representatives giving play swords to children.

The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a letter from the dealership offering an apology and saying the radio ad, which had never been aired, was a misguided attempt at humor.

[John/Logo-Mechanix]

I believe bad publicity is just that, bad publicity and the only types of people who benefit from that don't travel in these circuits (Paris Hilton). Your business could be seriously hurt with a promotion that is way too outrageous, you want people to recognize you not hate you.

[Howard Roark]

Donald Trump is quoted as saying "Even bad publicity is good".

Not sure if this is the case always, but it does put the name out!

[Steve]

Yea it's really something to think about.

I have also heard the saying there is no such thing as bad publicity. As long as you are getting your company name out, that is good.

That is the theory.

It makes you wonder. Have you ever known a business owner who got bad press and the attention still helped?