Chris Williams is a co-founder for Essio Marketing, and is happily addicted to 'all things online' and business. Other interests include Sports, Travel, Reading, and generally just enjoying life. Follow me on 
On Friday the 4th September 2009 the Express Newspaper released an interesting article on the ‘100 Things That Make Us Grumpy’. Now first and foremost I’m not keen on reading the Express but spending a couple of days at my mother’s gave me the opportunity to browse reading material normally unheard of. I digress, back to the article. Well we all know as the Aussies say that we’re a bunch of whinging Poms, not so sure that was being echoed around Australia since their Ashes thrashing, but none the less whinging Poms we are.
This article, helped by Lactofree’s compiled list of the 100 things that raise our grump levels and at number 1 was ‘Chavs’. I expected the Iraq war, people masquerading as politicians, unemployment, etc to top the list but none of these came in the TOP 100. Surprise Surprise, we are so good at focusing on real issues in the UK. I mean ‘Chavs’ at number 1, People Driving too Close at number 2 and People who smell at number 3. Have I missed the point somewhere?
These 6 issues plus one I had to add myself, all with their corresponding Grumpy number gave me the insight to write this article.
9. Slow Internet Connections
13. Cold Callers
14. Door to Door Salesmen
19. Spam Email
23. Adverts between TV programmes
31. Junk Mail
And my personal pet hate that’s not on the list is Automated & Recorded Selling. The phone rings, you stop what you’re doing, run to grab the phone before it stops ringing, and in an automated digital voice you hear ‘Welcome to The Ray Of Sunshine Home Improvement Company, today we are offering you a ….’ and in my utter disgust I actually answer back ‘No Thank you’.
It struck me as an obvious pattern that all the above points, bar the slow internet connection that I will cover later, demonstrate that we as a society loath obtrusive marketing. Whether it’s at work, at home, or in our desperate leisure time, these are marketing strategies that interrupt our daily routine when we are not looking to buy. We’ve got better at ignoring these marketing tactics, whether it’s fast forwarding Sky Plus at interval time, politely but firmly telling people that we are ‘not interested or purchasing software that eliminates spam.
There are certain types of marketing we have to grin and bear such as junk mail. I remember the Royal Mail stating that without junk mail our postage prices will go up. I can hear the green lobby shouting abuse but that’s another argument for another day. TV advertisements are necessary for us to receive the coverage that we do and the demise of the recent station Setanta is testament of how fickle the TV industry is. The point is we don’t like these forms of marketing, and businesses still employ these methods because they work. Are there other proven alternatives?
This key issue is highlighting the necessity for companies and business owners to value the effect of internet marketing such as SEO and Pay per Click. These online marketing mediums are non obtrusive. They target people who are already in the buying process; people who have decided themselves that they ‘want’ or ‘need’ a product. Whether they are searching for information regarding the product or service they are interested in, comparing prices, or actually in the final stage of purchasing, they have made the decision and are acting on their own impulse; which is one of the strongest buying signals available to providers.
What about Slow Internet Connections
I included the slow Internet Connection purposely as a demonstration of people’s impatience, and how this can affect businesses who market online. We want to get on the net and source our information as quick as possible and an underlying issue with slow internet connections is slow loading websites. We have become inpatient and more advanced in searching, and we want it ‘now’. To be presented with a website that doesn’t load quick enough, may be an issue that reduces a company’s effectiveness online.
Treat Me Well and I Will Return
One last thought that I wanted to mention which needs to be brought to your attention is Rude Shop Assistants at Number 5 and Bad Customer Service at Number 10. Irrespective of how much money you throw into your marketing, whether online or offline, don’t forget how these two, both in the TOP 10 are upsetting your customers. We don’t like being mistreated by companies when we want to buy and we don’t like being miss treated when we’ve purchase and we’re not happy. Not happy with the product or service that you supplied.
All in all we’re a bunch of whinging poms but we like it that way and if you would like to read the full list of 100 things that make us grumpy then you can view it here: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/124956/100-things-that-make-us-grumpy
Are there any other things that make you grumpy that you would like to add, please feel free. Please keep it to a friendly tone and try to refrain from naming and shaming companies because Legal Law Suits is something that really does makes me grumpy. 
Tell me what makes you grumpy?
Tags: advertising, marketing, online, SEO
