Comments on: This has to STOP…

By: Arna

Arna — Wed, 04 May 2016 01:57:40 +0000

Derek, thank you for another great post. I get the rant, understand the lesson, and completed the questionnaire.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 01:05:46 +0000

I’d have to agree that this type of persuasive ‘marketing’ is borderline unethical. These companies are blatantly interfering with your goal to introduce your product, gain a solid customer base, and enhance awareness. It seems silly and a waste of time to specifically search out individuals that one company has contacted in order to promote a similar product/service that they’ve already been contacted about. The people and companies who utilize this type of approach need to realize that people do not want to receive multiple emails and notifications pushing the same products on them. As you mentioned, it makes much more sense for a competitor to contact those who are not using this type of product and then introduce their own.
This is definitely a negative approach to ‘stealing’ customers, and in all honesty it is less successful than many other potential approaches that could be utilized. It seems extremely impersonal, as these companies will push products without familiarizing themselves with those they are targeting and whether or not their specific product software will even be of use to them.
It is frustrating and unfortunate that this type of competitive behaviour is commonplace in today’s market.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:56:18 +0000

In my day job, I get these “persuasion” emails on a regular basis. They aren’t trying to fix any problems I may have or offer anything better or different (if they are they do a very poor job explaining it). I get these emails so frequently that I just delete them. Many of them do come from tech companies, but the majority come from so-called “marketing companies” (there are SO many of them!). They take the time to figure out that we are using their competitor, but don’t take the time to figure out that our business is a not-for-profit or even what kind of business we are (music trade association). No, thanks and delete.

By: Dale Hardiman

Dale Hardiman — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 02:07:22 +0000

Great post here Derek. This happened to me in the space of two minutes by two different people in two different companies! They both tried to tell me that my company was no good and why I should join theirs instead without even making any attempt to get to know ME and what I want.

We need more ethical people like you in this industry.

By: Mark Davie

Mark Davie — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 06:22:19 +0000

I agree in that it is not the worst practice ever… It does help to know what solutions a business is using online if you are offering competing services.

I mean this is happening in hundreds of other more developed markets/industries. But in this particular example it looks lazy because it simply lacks originality and it is a product with plenty of potential customers out there.

It’s off topic but I was wondering how Bounce Exchange has been going for you? Personally, I can’t get over the monthly fee, but I can see that if you had enough traffic you could justify it.

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 01:33:04 +0000

Amen!!!!
That is all.
Filled out the questionnaire too.
Excited for what’s to come!
Thanks Derek,
Carla

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 00:40:16 +0000

I agree with Ben and a few others here. Find a way to provide complementary products and services that people are looking for not to try to poach people interested in your same category.

You might be able to get away with this if they don’t have such a strong relationship with the competitor but on facebook? or interacting in a more social manner you are pretty hard press to gain much (but I don’t know their numbers or success rate just guessing).

I’ve had tons of Udemy clones email me offering the world if I join and throw up my content to their sites. I’m not always thrilled at the emails and so it’s much harder for me to really say yes.

By: Marius Fermi

Marius Fermi — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 08:39:27 +0000

I’m a bit confused here, Derek.

This is sales and marketing tactics but this article makes it sound like no one has ever seen this before? Literally one of the oldest methods of trying to “steal” leads yet I’m completely stumped as to how you are making sound like it’s a terrible act.

Maybe I’ve been in sales and marketing for too long now but I literally would expect this, especially as “Sales 2.0” is growing and focusing on social selling.

Yes it’s a used car salesman sleeze ball move, no it doesn’t generate much business but it draws attention albeit more negative than positive. But traffic is traffic on the WWW.

Someone is always out there trying to steal your piece of the pie, you only need to screw up once and that lead already has a backup plan.

By: David

David — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 05:16:16 +0000

Yea me too! Spam exists because spam works, so part of me thinks that this method works in some strange way, but I can’t imagine it does so maybe it is just marketing by someone who does not know how to market.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 07:50:55 +0000

Here’s a story, taught me a lesson and showed me what I felt was AGGRESSIVE – UNPROFESSIONAL and will not do in my business. I’m involved with selected facebook groups within my industry, I like to know what’s happening and if the training I design is relevant. I was part of another trainers page – never to take from others – I’d rather praise or comment if I like something (and build a potential relationship with someone like minded). So working from home I suddenly saw that this other person had requested to join a group I’m in and within seconds another and another – “that’s funny I thought” but then a request went to my local business. Now it was a hang on – she’s going though my face book. You see it’s a very small local business there was no way she could have found the other groups and this very small business. I was really p*%%£$ – Blocked her and contacted others plus posted a I am sorry if you have been contact by X and what had happened. With the groups she got in her first post Sales ad – regardless of if the group pinned a NO advertising. Free competition I agree – its sales, but personally I’d rather work with ethics and not HACK off potential clients. I still see her on other sites / and at events – but there is NO way I will ever work with her / communicate anything!! there’s the balance, I sell on my strengths and build relationships – not underhand, aggressive or put down of others.