I've told callers to take me off their lists. Doesn't work. I remember a guy in one of my college classes who said he'd done telemarketing for a while. He was taught to call back if he was hung up on or told to remove the person from the list. That's harassment, and he said it was a good enough reason for him to find another job.

Jenn, you do tough well, though. You're able to temper it just the right amount to get the point across without being outright insulting. I agree — call them on the BS. Tough love, absolutely. I gave a dose of that to a client recently, and already I've seen him take the reins and act on some of it.

I guess it depends on your goal. If you're trying to help a client do better or understand how behaviors or approaches are affecting them, then you have the client's interests at heart.

And you can ramble uncensored to me any time. 🙂

I think social media has been a huge contributor / enabler to your first two points flooding the airwaves and spamming. My Facebook page gets littered daily by friends and companies who seem to think regurgitating the same content over and over again will suddenly make me change my mind about something. It's gotten so bad recently, that I've had to send friends private messages asking them not to include me in their list the next time they share something. If I receive more than a few a month, I block / delete them. May sound harsh but that's what T.V commercials are for.

Your point about confusing the reader is a funny one. I was doing some research on a Realtor and happened to stumble upon their Facebook Business page. Well they were posting about the weather, cookie recipes, changing diapers, auto care and everything else BUT real estate. I know social media is about being social but what kind of message do you send an audience if your web presence is littered with anything but your specialty. I'm never sure if I should leave well enough alone when I come across these things or send them a message suggesting they appear more professional.

The last point about relationship building is an important one. I think too many people and businesses focus on the return on investment (R.O.I for all of you marketing specialists..LOL) however I think if they shift their focus to a return on engagement, they will have longer lasting business relationships. Everyone has a place they go to may it be a market, a coffee shop or a book store that they just feel like they visiting old friends. You don't go because they deliver exceptional goods or services, we go because we're made to feel comfortable. Marketing should be conversational not dictational.

I should forward this post on to a local Realtor. Everything you have outlined in this post, he does. He's a "tad" outdated with his marketing efforts. An example of bad marketing would be this guys entire platform. It's filled with the in your face, egocentric, opinionated stuff that makes used car salesmen wearing cheap suits look professional.

(Sorry for the length of the comment. I'm jacked up on coffee. ) 🙂

Same for the charities begging for my help and money. Yes, I give to charities. However, I give to those I've vetted and whose causes I believe in. What irks me are those "police" societies that have absolutely nothing in common with law enforcement beyond their name. I hang up on them immediately.

Sorry. I support causes MY way, not by having you tell me what to say (or worse, write) to my elected officials on your behalf. I'm not going to waste my time or postage and pester my "neighbors" by mailing them junk mail about your charity, no matter how worthwhile it may me. I'm not going to join your phone bank. Forget about putting a sign in my yard unless you're a contractor I hired who is giving me a discount in exchange.

Last night I saw a local political add that misused "less" when they meant "fewer." Their message had me until that point. That might not be sucky marketing, but it sure was sloppy. Hire a darn copywriter!

I've seen CEOs do it. In one case, I agreed with everything the CEO said. I just thought it was a tacky, classless move on his part. Way to offend unnecessarily half of your paying customers. Does it really matter what your political leanings are when all I want is a damn cup of tea?

I'm not going to accept an assignment from a company whose practices go against my beliefs and values; it's best that they know where I stand before they approach me.

It's gotten to the point where we're supposed to shut up, bend over, and let ourselves be walked over, while publicly smiling and saying, "more, please" and that's not the right approach either.

Yes, we should keep it classy. But we should also speak out when something is wrong.

Too many people get away with too much cowardice and deliberately causing harm by hiding behind "company policy" and they get away with it because everyone else is too afraid to speak out.

There are limits, but as humans, our ethics and values need to be a part of our brand.