They call THIS marketing? Eeeewww!
Yes, this blog is all about good marketing. But sometimes it pays to look at really stinky marketing too.
Just now I came home from attending Priest River’s Tea Party rally and sat down to sort and delete my e-mail. Along with more great news telling me that some stranger is sending me anywhere from $5,000 to a few million if I’ll just give him (or her) my bank account numbers, social security number, date of birth, and home address, I found this gem:
The Subject Line Read: We have not received any reply yet
The message began:
“We have not received any reply yet. You are receiving this email because we wish you to use our web design service.
We are web design studio from China. We are specialized in web page design, website development, graphics & multi-media design, flash website design and other relevant services. We pride ourselves with our technical strength, professional vision, unique style, and most of all, our highly devoted professional designers. We are in position to offer website solution, graphics design, e-commerce solution, online promotion and other medium and small business oriented services.”
I’ll spare you the rest of it – telling me all the things they can do and instructing me to visit their website. Oh, and they didn’t give the URL of that website, either.
Could they have broken any more rules of good marketing?
The sad thing is, this just MIGHT be a good company. Maybe they provide wonderful design at a reasonable price. But since no one taught them the basics of marketing, they’ll continue to struggle. Of course, if they’re going to market to the U.S. someone also needs to teach them a little basic grammar, as well.
The other sad thing is they probably paid to get my name on a list. And what list? I’m not known as someone who responds to web design ads. Who knows.
Anyway, it’s a fine example of what not to do. This one gets “The Sign of the Skunk” for being “really stinky.”
If you’ve run across an add that needs the “Sign of the Skunk” and you’d like to share, feel free!
Yours for good marketing,
Marte
Posted: April 15th, 2009 under ad copy, marketing.
Tags: bad marketing, email copywriting, email marketing, ineffective marketing, web marketing
Comments
Comment from Marte
Time April 28, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I don’t know – that was Google clip art. I’ve been that close to a skunk before, but didn’t hang around to take a picture!
Comment from BordertownFeed
Time April 28, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Who got close enough to take the picture of that skunk.