Oh Marketing!

Marketing. It’s a profession that has the potential to be both highly effective and highly entertaining. Unfortunately, too often it falls into the category of highly annoying. Let’s explore some of the downfalls and bad behaviour of the marketing profession.

Firstly, let’s talk about the endless barrage of marketing emails we all receive on a daily basis. It seems like every company under the sun has your email address and is desperate to tell you about their latest sale or offer. And don’t even get me started on the subject lines – “LAST CHANCE TO SAVE!” or “YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE!” – it’s like they’re shouting at you through your inbox. It’s no wonder so many people just hit delete without even opening them.

Then there are the ads. Oh, the ads. We’ve all seen them – the ones that follow you around the internet like a persistent puppy, popping up on every website you visit. And don’t even think about trying to skip the pre-roll ads on YouTube – those things are longer than the actual videos. It’s like marketers think we have nothing better to do than watch their ads all day long.

And let’s not forget about the false promises. “Lose 10 pounds in a week!” “Get rich quick!” “Find your soulmate in 24 hours!” It seems like every product out there is promising to solve all of our problems in a matter of days. Of course, we all know that these promises are too good to be true, but that doesn’t stop marketers from making them.

And then there’s the language. “Revolutionary.” “Cutting-edge.” “Game-changing.” These are just a few of the buzzwords that get thrown around in marketing. It’s like they’re trying to convince us that their product is the best thing since sliced bread, even if it’s just a new flavour of a carbonated life shortener.

Of course, I’m not saying that all marketers are bad. There are plenty of creative and innovative people in the field who are genuinely trying to connect with consumers and improve their lives. But unfortunately, the bad behaviour of some marketers can overshadow the good work that others are doing.

Marketing can be a funny and entertaining profession, but it can also be incredibly annoying. From endless emails to false promises, it’s no wonder that so many people are sceptical of marketing. But if marketers can learn to tone down the hype and focus on genuine connections with consumers, maybe we can all learn to love them a little bit more. Or at least, hit delete a little less often.

Kevin Harrington

I’m a UK-based B2B marketing consultant, specialising in strategic advice for SME business owners. I bring extensive hands-on expertise to every client engagement. Senior leadership roles across technology, media, payments, and publishing have shaped my practical approach. Highlights include serving as Chief Marketing Officer at The Panoply plc (now TPXimpact), Chief Commercial Officer at Tungsten Network, and Global Marketing Director at BBC Worldwide. Over the years, I’ve guided numerous SMEs through transformation and value creation. Helping businesses evolve and thrive is a genuine passion. Practical marketing insights and succession planning strategies are at the heart of what I do, as I believe growing a business’s asset value should be a rewarding and positive journey for every entrepreneur.

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