I'm going to have a little rant.
1. Door Knockers
Knock on enough doors and piss off enough people and you will get sales. It's a numbers game the Old School Sales Trainers tell you. But at what cost to your brand. That reminds me I need to get that "No Door Knockers" sign.
2. Not Telling Me The Price
I'm interested in buying your product or service. I called you to find out how much. If it's a set price tell me and then give me all the benefits. Not the other way around. If it's a custom product give me a low and high price example, so I have an idea. If you don't, I'll hang up and call your competitor.
If you don't display the price in your store, I'll think it's expensive. I won't bother to ask the price and run the risk of embarrassing myself. I'll walk out.
What about prices on your website?
Here's what my business associate Bryan Eisenberg says.
“If someone asks for a price, give them a number. Anything but a number raises anxiety and doubt. Forget what sales trainers taught the world pre-transparency. If you hide the price, you lose.
So, if they click on your pricing page, show them your table and pricing above the fold.”
(Read original article Designing Effective Pricing Tables by Bryan Eisenberg, @ BryanEisenberg.com)
3. Cold Callers
See door knockers. By cold calling, you're putting yourself in the same basket as overseas scammers, time-share spruikers and sharemarket system sellers. Again you get some short-term sales success but damage your brand long-term.
If I fill in a quote form on your site... don't make me answer a few pages of questions to then tell me... "Congratulations you qualify for a special rate, we'll call you shortly." Don't call me. I filled in your online form, so I don't have to speak to anyone.
4. Spam Email
That's it. Nothing else to say.
5. Website Pop-Ups
Pop-ups will get you new subscribers or more buyers for your offer. But you run the risk of pissing off the bulk of your website visitors. I'm sick of trying to find the X to click.
“There is no question that pop-ups “work” — but to what end? We’re not willing to risk the relationship with our audience for a spike in opt-ins. - Copyblogger pop-up policy”
So there you go, five marketing tactics that piss me off.
Sure all will get you business short-term.
But all will damage your brand long-term and create bad word of mouth.
Am I an old curmudgeon or do you feel the same way?
What marketing tactics piss you off?
PS Rant over. Thanks for listening :-)
Until next week
Work hard. Have fun.
Craig Arthur
Wizard of Ads Australia
We help owner-operated businesses attract profitable customers. Their businesses grow bigger, faster. They make more money. Do you need help?