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Hey Marketer, Quit Complainin About Being Marketed To, Dummy...

by Lance K
8 replies
Ummm...you see this "marketers shouldn't complain about being marketed to" statement all over the place whenever someone with a comment/complaint about a promotion speaks up.

WOW...great way to squelch what could become a beneficial discussion. Bravo!

And to be honest, the logic is a little flawed. As the target audience for such promotions, don't you think it would be wise to at least listen to the gripes? I understand that the promotion is most likely wildly successful. But for every 1 that is brazen enough to put their comment/complaint out there...

(and take the abuse of the "shut up marketer, you're just being marketed to" talking head clan)

...there are probably 4 or 5 with the exact same thoughts who will never say a thing because it isn't their job to sell themselves on becoming your customer and/or they know the chest thumpers are waiting to pounce.

As a business owner, I want to know which segments of my market I'm annoying with my promotions. Will I always take action regarding their comments/complaints? NO! But at least I'll hear them and analyze the situation so I know that I'm not mistakenly shooting myself in the foot.

ANOTHER THING...I understand that the marketers in question will also probably take such comments/complaints into account. The purpose of this thread is to let all mighty "marketers being marketed to" crowd understand that not everyone sees a differing view point as whining and naivity. Some see it as an opportunity. You may want to explore that opportunity next time before you bark.

There's my $0.02. Take it or leave it. Either way, thanks for listening.
#complainin #dummy #hey #marketed #marketer #quit
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Fullman
    Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

    You may want to explore that opportunity next time before you bark.
    Lance, I love it. I ignore most of the email exuberance these days, but I get at least a 5% free education from the ones I DO read...

    Level-headedness, good selection, and balance, have their advantages

    Steve
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    Not promoting right now

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    • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
      Bravo Lance...

      Such "complaints" often result in some fantastic discussion and contrasting opinions.. which is great for us all as individuals and collectively as an industry

      Peace

      Jay
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      Bare Murkage.........

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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Lance, I understand where you're coming from.

        Here's the problem.

        If I listened to every complaint that I ever got about one of my list mailings,
        I'd never mail.

        I've had everything from...

        1. You mail too much
        2. You don't provide enough content
        3. You give me too much to read
        4. You promote too much
        5. You don't email me enough
        6. Your subjects are too long
        7. You have too many lists for your stuff
        8. Why don't you have stuff I can pay for without PayPal?
        9. Why don't you have stuff I can pay for without Clickbank?

        I'd go on but the list would take you a week to read.

        I can't make all my subscribers happy. I'd be foolish to try as it's only
        going to lead to a lot of unproductive time.

        So if somebody wants to rant about being marketed too, let them. That
        doesn't mean I'm going to try to appease everybody because ultimately
        what will happen is my newsletters will cease to exist.

        Ask Paul Myers if you don't believe me. He made a really great post about
        this very subject quite some time ago.

        Therefore, ranting about being marketed to, at least as far as this
        marketer is concerned, is pointless because if I listen to you I have to
        listen to everybody and ultimately I end up with nothing.

        That's why there is an unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email.

        The ones who aren't happy with my newsletter can opt out and the ones
        who are can stay opted in.

        So far, since I have more staying than going, I think I'm doing a fine job.

        Even though I don't listen to the complaints.
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  • Profile picture of the author dmorgan
    I agree Lance, we are all here to try and help each other out and I think it's just a waste of time spent complaining about others. No offense to anyone that disagrees, but just get on with what you want to accomplish and don't fret the small stuff!
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    Here is how to make six figures monthly online =>Watch The Videos

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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    One thing i've learned since helping my families car dealership harness the internet - and this goes for walk-up people in the dealership, to website visitors:

    What people say/think they respond to, and what they actually respond to, are rarely one and the same.

    At the end of the day, the numbers will speak for themself.. and as dan kennedy says, you have to be willing to break a few eggs to make an omellete.

    So, marketers can try to accomodate the small fraction of 'delicate' yet vocal prospects at the expense of the majority... and sell less in the process... or they can accept that 'people vote with their wallets'
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    -Jason

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    • Profile picture of the author giveusallfreedom
      Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

      What people say/think they respond to, and what they actually respond to, are rarely one and the same.
      That's a very valuable point and I try to stress it a lot. There was a whole study done on focus groups and how they are almost always wrong based on this one point.

      On the other hand, not everything is necessarily measurable. If Bob buys your product you count that as a sale. What you are doing is working. If Bob then goes and tells 1,000 people that your business practices suck, then it looks like what you're doing is working but really it needs to be improved. And I of course agree with Steve. You can't make everyone happy all the time. When I say "Bob" I'm talking about a substantial amount of your customers. Whatever substantial means to you.

      As a marketer, it's probably a fine balance. Listen to the numbers. Listen to the customers. Try to maximize both.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

      One thing i've learned since helping my families car dealership harness the internet - and this goes for walk-up people in the dealership, to website visitors:

      What people say/think they respond to, and what they actually respond to, are rarely one and the same.

      At the end of the day, the numbers will speak for themself.. and as dan kennedy says, you have to be willing to break a few eggs to make an omellete.

      So, marketers can try to accomodate the small fraction of 'delicate' yet vocal prospects at the expense of the majority... and sell less in the process... or they can accept that 'people vote with their wallets'
      That's what I meant when I said I'd take comments/suggestions into consideration and analyze the situation. Of course the sales and customer satisfaction numbers rule. But wouldn't you agree that it would at least be wise to hear what your prospects want? It may lead to better numbers. Or it may not. But you'll never know if you flat out ignore them.
      Signature
      "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
      ~ Zig Ziglar
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  • Profile picture of the author Christopher R Everson
    Well generally, most people aren't marketing products to marketers (and the ones that are, are generally huge marketers, hint hint), so I think the statement is still valid.

    It gets very annoying, to listen to the 3 or 4 threads that will keep clogging up the main page when a new product is heavily promoted.

    This is a marketing forum. There is a time to learn, and there is a time to stop complaining about the obvious. The people posting aren't really going for a discussion. Usually its bitching that there were other products like it. There were other products cheaper. The bonuses sucked. Too many bonuses. Too many emails.

    These people almost NEVER say "Wow, there were a lot of bonuses, do you think its a valid and worthwhile strategy for affiliates to do this?".

    It's almost NEVER "There was a product like this out 3 years ago, why do you think this same concept is so heavily in demand again?".

    Do you understand where I am coming from?
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    Money isn't real, George. It doesn't matter. It only seems like it does.

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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by Christopher R Everson View Post

      This is a marketing forum. There is a time to learn, and there is a time to stop complaining about the obvious. The people posting aren't really going for a discussion. Usually its bitching that there were other products like it. There were other products cheaper. The bonuses sucked. Too many bonuses. Too many emails.
      I'll agree that not all are trying to spark a worthwhile conversation. But some are. And they all get the same canned response.



      @ Steven W
      I'm not talking about listening to every little complaint as they come in. But when you're in the middle of a major promotion and a common theme surfaces, I don't think too many people would argue that it's probably worthwhile to at least ponder some alternatives. Even if you end up deciding that you aren't going to change because your analysis tells you not to.
      Signature
      "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
      ~ Zig Ziglar
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