Marketing…Time to ReThink

Why is it that companies insist on constantly bombarding the public with advertising? They did it with radio and TV and now they’re doing it with the internet.

When radio and TV first were invented our parents thought, “oh here is something that will be very entertaining and educational.”. Before long they found themselves inundated with advertising.

In the “good old days” when the internet was new, it offered the same kind of promise. Here, finally, was a tool that brought the world into our everyday lives. We saw a way to enjoy all the educational opportunities we could ever hope for. And we could communicate with people we loved as well as with new acquaintances around the world. It showed so much promise!

Then businesses discovered this could be a way to advertise and they moved to the internet with a vengeance. Now, if we want to see world news, find educational opportunities or communicate with others, we certainly can….as long as we recognize that the vast majority of what we’re exposed to is in-your-face marketing.

We as consumers are responding just as we did with radio and TV advertising. The intermissions and advertising is something we’re rapidly learning to block out…these are opportunities to get up and refresh out snacks. And we’re developing the skill to block out all visual and auditory advertising while focusing on that which we’re truly interested in. At least now, in many cases we can hit a delete key or an “x” to get pat the most offensive and distracting promotions.

But maybe some marketers are catching on.

Now, I’m not going to endorse anyone right now. But, I came across an ad that I really appreciate. It’s not the product or the production that intrigues me. What has caught my attention is the new message. See if you recognize the ad or if you resonate with the message;

“I am not a statistic…
“I am not a target market…
“I am not a demographic…
“I am not data…

“…I am a Human Being!”

Wow! Is it possible that some company(ies) are beginning to understand that they exist to serve real flesh and blood people – and not just numbers?

When was it that we lost the understanding that companies and businesses are supposed to provide services and products to people? How did we get sucked into the premise that people exist for the benefit of companies?

I may be just getting too old. I may have reached the point where the game of economics has lost it’s intrigue. But every day I find myself being a whole lot more selective about whom I do business with.

Does your company ship jobs overseas – jobs that we Americans need? I’m not likely to spend any money with you.

Does your company measure its success by the billions in its bottom line while charging me three and four times (and more) than can be reasonably justified? I will look elsewhere.

Are you more interested in how you can up-sell me than you are in ensuring that what I do buy from you is quality? I’ll shop elsewhere.

Does your ad shout “Look at me!” rather than “I’m here to serve you”? I don’t need whatever it is you’re promoting.

I know I’m not alone. One of my readers recently commented. Here’s, in part, what that reader said:

“I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours….if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.”

                                                                                             (Thank you nfl picks)

Let this be a word to the wise to all companies. I and nfl picks are not the only ones out here. If you want to right the economy and continue to thrive, it’s time set the numbers aside and start working with – and for –  real people.