You ever stumble across something so ridiculous, you have to read it twice just to believe it’s real?

That’s exactly what happened to our creative director. While cleaning out a drawer, he found a five-page packet he received back in 2022 from a “marketing” company. He had saved it because it was so headshakingly maddening and pulled it out to share with you.

A photo of a printed scam-like marketing letter promoting a “$60 Tax-Free Donation Machine,” complete with cartoon rabbit and exaggerated claims. — The real letter we received. This thing is five pages. Yes, it’s as bad as it looks.

The pitch? A $60 Tax-Free Donation Machine. No computer needed. Money-back guarantee. Just send some cash, mail 50 letters a month, and supposedly you’re on your way to making over $16,000 a month.

We wish we were joking. There was even a cartoon rabbit in a suit.

Someone actually created this. A full direct-mail campaign, targeting people who might be desperate, lonely, or just hopeful enough to believe they could turn a mailing list into mailbox money.

This, unfortunately, is what many people think marketing is.

Bad Marketing Hurts Everyone

We get it. This kind of thing is what gives the marketing industry such a bad reputation. It’s all vague promises, emotional manipulation, and fake math. It tricks people into thinking marketing is about hype and hustle, not heart and honesty.

And the worst part? It works. Not on everyone, but on just enough people to keep these kinds of scams alive.

If you’ve ever seen a pitch that made you raise an eyebrow, chances are it had a few of these red flags:

❌ Too-good-to-be-true promises – “Earn $16,000 a month just by mailing letters!”
❌ Emotional manipulation – Using fear, guilt, or desperation to drive action.
❌ Vague language – No clear offer, outcome, or accountability.
❌ Fake urgency – “Act now!” pressure without substance.
❌ Complex or fuzzy math – Earnings that only work if you ignore reality.

This kind of marketing doesn’t just erode trust—it actively gets in the way of real, honest work.

The ripple effect is real. It makes people skeptical of all marketing. Nonprofits struggle to gain trust. Small businesses work harder just to get a foot in the door. Honest brands get lumped in with the noise.

And good marketers? We end up having to explain ourselves, again and again.

In fact, consumers generally don’t have high levels of trust in marketing professionals. 8% of Americans rate the honesty and ethics of advertising practitioners as very high or high. This perception has remained low, with 49% of respondents expressing low or very low trust in marketing professionals, according to a Forbes article.

A smiling man in a plaid suit gives two thumbs up in front of dozens of signs reading “MEGADEALS” and “LIMITED TIME OFFER!” in bold red and yellow lettering. — You’ve probably seen marketing that looks like this. You can almost hear the voice yelling “LIMITED TIME ONLY!”

What Ethical Marketing Looks Like

At HEROfarm, a New Orleans marketing agency rooted in purpose, we believe in doing great work for good people. That means real strategy, meaningful storytelling, and measurable results.

We’re not here to trick people into handing over their money. We’re here to help them understand your mission, connect with your brand, and feel something real.
That’s what ethical marketing does. It builds relationships-not transactions.

As an ethical marketing agency based in Louisiana, we don’t do smoke and mirrors. We don’t chase trends or prey on emotions. Instead, we:

Help mental health organizations tell their stories with clarity and compassion
Promote small businesses that lift up their local communities
Build campaigns that run on truth and connection, not clickbait
Offer our time and talents to nonprofits doing real, important work

Marketing, done right, isn’t about selling dreams. It’s about telling the truth, in a way that reaches people, moves them, and supports them.

A Better Kind of Marketing for New Orleans and Beyond

We’re proud to be a values-based marketing agency serving New Orleans, Louisiana, and the greater Gulf South. Whether it’s branding, PR, digital campaigns, or grassroots outreach, we believe marketing should be a force for good, not confusion.

We love working with brands and organizations that care…whether that means helping families access mental health care, putting local shops on the map, or building trust for businesses doing good things the right way.

If you’ve ever gotten a letter like the one we found, or had to explain to your family that your job isn’t part of a pyramid scheme, we see you.

And if you’re looking for an honest, ethical marketing partner who will tell your story the right way — not the rabbit-in-a-suit way — let’s talk.

Want to read the full five-page letter?

We’ll send it your way. It’s equal parts comedy and cautionary tale. Email signal@theherofarm.com.

HEROfarm Marketing & Public Relations
A New Orleans marketing agency doing good work for good people.