Seth Godin just posted a pithy observation: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/sold-or-bought.html

Some things are bought–like bottled water, airplane tickets and chewing gum. The vendor sets up shop and then waits, patiently, for someone to come along and decide to buy.

Other things are sold–like cars, placement of advertising in magazines and life insurance. If no salesperson is present, if no pitch is made, nothing happens.

This is an interesting observation, especially considering that Seth Godin has also popularized the concept of permission marketing – which is accepted in some circles as the “only” way to sell. (The Amazon.com book listing says: “Permission Marketing offers consumers incentives to accept advertising voluntarily.”)

Let’s explore what Seth Godin says now that affects how we should handle online marketing – an important arena of permission marketing – and therefore a major conduit for products that are bought, and not sold.
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