Marketers – Are They Wasting Our Time?

Posted By on December 30, 2009

I subscribe to a number of marketing sites, and I have to say, almost all of them are the same.

They have a great subject heading…leading you down the rose lined garden path…but, at the end of the path is a subscribe or ‘buy this’ box. And, often the lesson is more fluff than actual practical advice.

Today, I wasted another 20 minutes listening to a marketing guru’s video…promising to help me. The talk did reinforce the fact that there are three strategies that you need to have in order to be successful:

1. Believe it can be done!

2. Listen and learn from those who are experienced in the field you are striving to enter or move forward in.

3. Do the work. Jump in and actually do it.  Research and figure things out.

But, that’s all it offered aside from wanting me to subscribe to yet another of his offers.

Time is valuable and I find it offensive when marketers waste mine.

Now, I don’t mind if a marketer offers practical learning strategies or tools – if they provide useful and doable information.  Then by all means include your offer or subscribe box at the end.

But, don’t give me fluff for 15 or 30 minutes and then at the end tell me I’ll learn so much if I only buy the product or subscribe to yet another site.

The same goes for articles. I see 4 or 5 page promo articles with absolutely nothing of value being provided aside from the offer. I’ve seen this for a $27 book! I don’t need to know that Joe Smith in Washington State loves your book and he became rich by reading it.

If you (the marketer) want my attention and more importantly my money, give me an excerpt…provide useful articles so I know that you know what you’re talking about. PLEASE don’t waste my time or other readers/viewers’ time.

Okay, I vented! But, I also included three strategies needed to be successful.

Until next time,

Karen

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About the author

Karen is a published author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer. She is the founder and manager of Writers on the Move; moderator of a children's writing critique group; and an editor with 4RV Publishing. Her books and e-books include: Day's End Lullaby (a children's rhyming bedtime picture book) Walking Through Walls (a children's MG fantasy adventrue) Writing, Publishing, and Marketing - You Can Do It How to Write Books for Children How to Attract Customers With Informational Marketing How to Create an eBook and What You Can Do With It The Self-Publisher's Guide Check out Karen's book page at: http://karencioffi.com Be sure to sign up (subscribe) for our FREE monthly newsletter.

Comments

2 Responses to “Marketers – Are They Wasting Our Time?”

  1. Dianne G. Sagan says:
    December 31, 2009 at 10:14 am

    Bravo! Well said, Karen,

    I agree with you. I get so tired of the same old stuff in a different wrapper that just wastes my time. I have signed up for quite a few and then unsubscribed because it really didn’t offer anything but their pitch and very little I could use.

    Thanks for venting what I’ve been thinking and giving me 3 tips. Happy New Year,
    Dianne

    • Karen says:
      January 2, 2010 at 1:01 pm

      Hey, Dianne,

      I’m glad I’m not alone! I have to start thinking about unsubscribing also. I keep thinking, maybe this email with actually have some useful info. But, it’s really not worth the wasted time – we can just google info we’re looking for.

      Karen

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