Marketing Has Gone Amuck

Marketing is okay, it’s the way marketers market that I can’t stand.

I turned 65 in June.  I started getting the calls in January.  Have you ever had your phone ring 20 different times in a day because someone wanted to talk to you about Medicare?   Even after I signed up for part B, they would not let me alone. Although I told the same callers daily that I had TRICARE and Medicare part B, they stilled called me the following day, and the day after that, and the day after that. It got to where I could not pick up the phone anymore.  I just heard that next year there will be 10 billion more robocalls.

I hope you don’t have to experience this, I know you won’t experience it at all from me.

I turned to my email. Unfortunately, it turns out I was routinely getting more emails with even more people who wanted me to buy something from them. When I used the unsubscribe buttons, many requests were just ignored. They just kept on sending me junk mail. And that’s when I made a promise.

I will never market anything by being a bother to anyone until they buy. I will do my best to avoid mail funnels. I will continue to remind myself and anyone who works for me that we have a quality product that can speak for itself. We have no need to bother anybody. And, shame on us if we do.

I tell you about this now because, as my first training products are making their way into the marketplace, I plan to hold faithfully to these promises mentioned above. In open forums, articles and my blog, I will let you know how I am doing with various projects. I may tell you of the benefits of some of my courses or an exciting book you might like. Yet, I am not pressuring you, nor do I expect you to drop everything and go buy whatever I am talking about. If you’re interested in more information, at the end of an article I will post my email, and I will give you my Facebook group which you may join if you’re interested. I may even post my phone number in case you wish to call me and ask a question or two.

This is my experiment for sane marketing.

mikeb@reveille.com                                      Reveille Facebook Group

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof