Beware of the Anti-Marketer...

Happy Thanksgiving

I read an article recently in a local business publication that got me 'fired up', and not in a good way. It detailed the plans of a local company that is sending unsolicited advertising as text messages to thousands of unsuspecting consumers in Ohio. They've gotten thousands of cell phone users accounts (the article didn't reveal how) and now want to force advertising down the collective 'throats' of the consumers.

The owner was actually proud of his 'achievement'. He stated that, 'consumers will see my text messages whether they want to or not', or words to that effect. How's that for creative marketing? He went on to say that he expected a lot of complaints, but thought that was ok because his advertisers would get their messages out to the masses.

Don't ever trade long term success in order to get a short term gain. The negative publicity with being associated with this type of marketing can kill a business. Anyone who has read my past newsletters knows how much I stress gaining permission before you begin marketing to your target audiences.

It requires more effort and patience, but the success is long term. Think about any of your marketing strategies and how you're implementing them. Are you taking shortcuts, building a house of cards? Or are you putting in a foundation of long standing client relationships?

Happy Thanksgiving

At this time of year, we should all reflect on our blessings and what we have to be thankful for in our lives. I'm thankful for being an optimist, for one thing. Not only is my friend (pictured above) an optimist, he's also persuasive, don't you think?

Quote of the Month:

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
--Robert Kennedy