16 Boring Marketing Strategies That No Longer Generate Interest

Keeping up with the latest marketing strategies can be challenging in an ever-evolving digital landscape. What worked 5 years ago may not be producing results today, so we all want to stay on top of what’s new and exciting in the industry. But why don’t we look the other way and find out some of those boring marketing techniques that are no longer generating interest? Read on to learn how bitter and twisted you can be when you consider so-called essential tactics that "deliver results".

1. Traditional Media is Impossible

In the past, marketing was all about getting your name out there through traditional channels like print, television, and radio. But we all know that advertising costs on traditional media are astronomical and only million-buck companies can afford to advertise on those media. Consumers know that they can find cheaper (and possibly better) alternatives just by googling.

Many marketers believe that traditional media is dead to them because;

1. There are simply too many options for consumers these days. With so many TV channels, websites, and social media platforms to choose from, it's easy for your message to get lost in the noise.
2. Consumers are now savvier than ever before. They can spot a commercial from a mile away and they're not afraid to skip it or change the channel. In fact, many people now use ad-blocking software to avoid commercials altogether.
3. Traditional media is simply too expensive for most businesses these days. With the cost of advertising on the rise, it's becoming increasingly difficult for small businesses to compete.

2. Branded Swag Is Garbage

Branded swag - companies give away promotional materials for free - sounds like a good idea but most of the giveaway products are pieces of junk that nobody really wants unless they are luxury brands. 

Luxury brands spend good money on good-quality freebies, but small businesses use cheap print-on-demand suppliers and shamelessly have their hideous logos printed.

The coffee mugs are a waste of ceramic, the pens are a waste of plastic, and don’t get me started with the ultra-baggy t-shirts. While they may help spread your company's name for a while, knowing they'll end up in the trash without being fully utilized is so counterproductive.

3. Email Marketing is Spam

We all say email marketing is one of the most effective marketing tool. We say “share compelling content” with recipients but in reality, there’s no such thing as compelling content when millions of email marketers already attempt everything conceivable. Most people don’t want to receive emails from companies anyway, especially if they are not interested in the product that the company offers. 

Email marketing is a form of online advertising, which can be annoying and intrusive in the first place.

People never get ‘excited’ about receiving marketing emails unless they’re in love with a particular brand. People are aware that they are being duped.

Does it make sense so far? It doesn't to me.

4. Social Media is a Joke

Social media has become a joke. What was once a platform to connect with friends has now become a platform for marketing. Companies are constantly bombarding users with ads and promotions, which has made social media less about connecting and more about selling.

This is why a vast majority of users are used to skipping ads on social media. They’re tired of being bombarded with ads and promotions, and they’d rather connect with their followers in other ways. If companies want to keep users interested in social media, they need to focus on creating content that draws immediate attention, rather than just trying to sell something.

5. Content Marketing is Boring

For too long, content marketing has been about creating bland, generic content that no one really cares about. So everyone’s trying to spice things up and make content marketing interesting again but basically doing the same things, like;

• Writing about controversial topics that will get people talking.
• Creating funny or attention-grabbing videos that will go viral.
• Making use of infographics and other visually appealing content formats.

They all sound like superb, eye-opening, extraordinary ideas. Make it happen if you can, and you're well ahead of the game.

6. SEO is a Waste of Time

SEO may be one of the most effective marketing techniques available, but it is also one of the most time-consuming and expensive. If you're not willing to invest the time and money required to produce quality content and build a strong link profile, then SEO is probably a waste of time for you. Don’t even think about paying an SEO agency to get backlinks. They use articles of the lowest quality with a link back to your site, and that’s all they do. You’ll be wasting your money.

If you are willing to put in the work for the next few years, SEO may become an effective way to drive traffic to your website and generate leads.

7. Guest Posting Is An Outdated Strategy

You often find trashy how-to guide articles even on authority sites like Forbes and Entrepreneur, written by so-called blog writers and marketing experts that you’ve never heard of. They are only doing this for backlinking purposes. Their marketing efforts are pathetic and dull.

8. Online Advertising is Annoying

Online advertising is intrusive, distracting, overwhelming, annoying, and frustrating because;

• It’s constantly in your face and it is hard to avoid. It is also often irrelevant to what you are doing or interested in.
• It interrupts what you are doing. It can be difficult to ignore or dismiss.
• It takes away from the content you are trying to consume.
• It can make it difficult to focus on what you want to see or read, especially if there is a lot of as on a page.
• It seldom loads properly or takes forever to load. This can ruin your experience with a website or cause you to lose interest in what you were looking at all together.

9. Networking Events are Lame

You're at a networking event, trying to schmooze with potential clients or collaborators, and you can't help but feel like a total sell-out. The small talk is excruciating, the canapés are garlicky, and cheap wine tastes like a p*ss. You can't wait to leave but you don't in case you miss something. Sound familiar?

If you're nodding your head in agreement, then it's time to rethink your networking strategy. Networking events are not the best way to make meaningful connections for you. In fact, they can be downright lame. Here's why:

1. Most people attend networking events with the sole purpose of selling themselves or their products/services. There's nothing wrong with that, but it can make for some awkward conversations.
2. Networking events are often hosted at generic locations like hotels or conference centers. This doesn't create a very memorable or personal experience.
3. The format of networking events lends itself to superficial conversations. You might exchange business cards and talk about what you do, but it's unlikely that you'll have in-depth conversations about your businesses or projects.
4. The events can be expensive, both in terms of the entry fee and the cost of drinks/food. If you're on a tight budget, they may not be the best use of your resources.

10. Other Events Can Also Be Dreadful

So you think about alternative event options but everyone’s thinking the same thing already, uninteresting and often the idea ends up dreadful.

1. Get involved with local meetups or trade organizations. These are often organized around specific topics, which makes it easier to find about 2 people with similar interests. If you are lucky, you have a couple of drinks with them and leave. The end.
2. You think you can take advantage of online networking opportunities like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, where nobody listens to you and leave.
3. Reach out directly to potential contacts or clients via email or phone and become a pest. If you are thick-skinned, this can be more effective than attending a crowded event where everyone is trying to make the same impression.
4. Organize your own events or workshops related to your business or industry. This gives you the chance to create a unique experience, connect with people on a deeper level, and end up spending thousands of dollars worth of their products instead of selling yours to them.

Think outside the box when it comes to networking? Good luck with making “meaningful connections”!

11. Banner Ads Are Tacky

Banner ads are one of the most common and oldest forms of online advertising, but the flashing GIF also makes the platform tacky and less effective unless used sparingly. Banner blindness is a real phenomenon, where users learn to tune out banner ads because they are so ubiquitous.

12. Lead Magnet Is Useless

A lead magnet is a freebie that you offer to potential customers in exchange for their contact information. We often say “build trust by giving away something for free, showing your generosity.” 

It's a common marketing tactic, but it's one that often backfires. They attract a lot of freebie seekers who have no intention to spend a dime in the first place. They sign up with you twice; once with a fake email address. When they know the freebie is sent to their inbox, they sign up again using their real email address. They quickly download the stuff before they bug off - either unsubscribe immediately or never open your followup emails again.

13. Print Advertising Is a Waste

Traditional print advertising is a waste of resources; printing costs, paper, and ink. People spend less time reading printed materials. You can't track results with print ads like you can do to monitor click-through rates online. (This is true, isn't it?) 

14. Telemarketing Is a Nuisance

Telemarketing is no longer the most effective marketing strategy. The advent of caller ID and the Do Not Call registry have made it difficult to reach potential customers through this method, and most people now view telemarketers with suspicion and hostility. The high cost of hiring telemarketers and the low conversion rate make this an impractical option for many businesses.

15. Money-Back Guarantee is Doomed

When it comes to selling something, you have to offer a money-back guarantee otherwise they’ll call you a scam. If you deduct an admin fee from a refund, you’ll also be branded as a scam. If you do offer a money-back, they’ll take advantage of it fully. 

16. And Finally... Digital Marketing is a Sham

Digital marketing is all about clickbait and creating a false sense of urgency. It's designed to prey on people's insecurities and vulnerabilities. Worse yet, it's become normalized and even accepted as a legitimate form of marketing. This is a travesty.

Digital marketing is a cheaper way for companies to promise you the world but in reality, humans are limited in their abilities. They can easily waste their entire marketing budget on something that doesn't produce results. 

But it's just the way things are. The world keeps going, and we keep living our lives. We may not always like it, but that's just the way it is.

Give Up. Put An End To It All.

Quit digital marketing, move to the countryside, grow your own vegetables and feed your own chickens. Smell the fresh air all day, feel the sun on their face, and breathe in the peace and quiet of nature. Being able to live off the land and be self-sufficient is a wonderful feeling (apparently.) This can be liberating and help you focus on what's really important in life.