Admin

Is your marketing making people feel bad?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Bluegrass Homes & Farms Realty, Agent Know How

Shame on youThe other day, both my internet and phone service was out temporarily, so I called our provider AT&T to find out what was going on. I never got to speak with an actual person, but that is not what this post is about. (That is another post for another time, for sure.) 

When AT&T put me on hold, I heard the familiar 4 notes that they play on every commercial after you see a man speaking to children and after you hear the children's answers, which sometimes make no sense at all to us adults. I got the feeling that this is what AT&T thinks about its customers calling. Are we just children that cannot see the whole picture that they need to "dumb down" their assistance? 

I admit that I am more sensitive to what people think and say about me than I should be. Some people call this low self esteem and it could be, although it is not pervasive. 

Don't you think AT&T has more than one loyal customer with low self esteem or sensitivity issues? I think so. 

It's not Big Business's job to make sure everybody feels good all the time. But if they want people to purchase their products and services, it is time they paid attention.

Those commercials are cute, and I totally get the point. But I don't think you should play that same child-like music on your HELP line, AT&T.

How does YOUR marketing make your potential clients feel?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijeg-jeTUBs

Show All Comments Sort:
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Lynda, I am not aware of the add, but I have developed my own list of issues with ATT since they bought our phone ompany a year ago and have been on a mission to reduce the quality in every way possible.

Sep 16, 2015 10:33 AM
Lynda White
Bluegrass Homes & Farms Realty, Agent Know How - Louisville, KY
Admin. Mgr., Keller Williams Realty

I am so glad that they took over DirecTV because before, when I had an issue with billing, each directed me to call the other to handle it.

Sep 17, 2015 12:23 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Lynda, 

You are a smart real estate agent to be thinking about this.  Now if only AT&T would do the same!

Mar 07, 2016 10:05 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Lynda, I love this post, and I think it's time for you to write another one!  

And I totally agree that dumbed down marketing is not a good strategy - and it has nothing to do with anyone's self-esteem!  

Jul 26, 2016 03:36 AM
Lynda White

Thank you Patricia! I have been thinking of writing another one. Hopefully I'll get the time soon.

Jul 27, 2016 11:19 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I'm with Pat, it's time for you to write another post.  Oddly enough since you wrote this I fired AT&T as my phone and internet company.  Apparently they just don't care.

Sep 03, 2016 04:21 AM
Lynda White

Thank you Tammy! :) I am stuck with them until August 2017 since DirecTV switched. But you can bet I'll be looking into Netflix, Hulu, etc. 

Sep 06, 2016 02:56 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Lynda, I don't use AT&T. I use Verizon. I don't believe I've heard or seen this commercial. But, I don't watch much TV... to busy with real estate and blogging :)

Nov 22, 2016 01:48 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Lynda

It's been a long time since you have written a post, you are over half way to 500K which would be a free membership, go for it

Nov 22, 2016 08:38 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 

Some marketing does fit the thoughtless category.

Nov 23, 2016 07:52 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Lynda, I just always thought that ad was stupid, unless six-year olds are paying the phone bill!

Dec 21, 2016 04:00 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for your comments on my blogs. Have a most productive March.

Mar 02, 2017 04:24 AM
Lynda White

Thank you Roy! You too! :)

Mar 15, 2017 12:32 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Hard to understand why big firms with massive budgets do things like this. Remember when Coke made a big mistake and had to back track, so we need to make sure we don't do the same thing.

Mar 14, 2017 08:28 AM
Lynda White

Nick & Trudy, I agree! Thanks for stopping by!~ 

Mar 15, 2017 12:32 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Lynda - that is something they should take more seriously.  Treating customers like children does not make sense.

Mar 14, 2017 06:24 PM
Lynda White

I know, and their billing department is awful too. I sincerely hope it gets better for their customers. I won't be one much longer when my contract is up.

Mar 15, 2017 12:34 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I hope we will soon see your new blogs.

Have a most productive spring.

Mar 28, 2017 06:21 AM
Lauren Laski
VantaSure Realty - Parkland, FL
Peace, Love and Real Estate

Love that you saw this as an opportunity of self discovery!

Definitely need to take a look at my marketing strategy. 

 

Thank you for sharing.

Apr 03, 2018 06:44 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Lynda

You raise a great point. There are plenty of examples of poor customer service along with marketing that can sometimes be insulting to consumers. It's important to keep in mind who we are speaking to in our marketing, and in our communications, so we don't make the other person feel badly, or stupid!

Jeff

Nov 22, 2018 03:38 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Lynda - this is a post people should be reading now as they do their marketing plans for 2019.

Dec 18, 2018 07:33 AM
Lynda White

Well, thank you Grant! :)


 

Dec 18, 2018 07:47 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Linda - thanks for commenting on my blog.  I hope you will be blogging again.

Mar 11, 2019 12:06 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lynda, thank you for stopping by my blog recently and commenting.  Hope you are doing well.

Apr 09, 2019 09:54 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lynda, I did not know you had not written a post for this long, miss you!

Oct 29, 2019 07:12 AM
Lynda White

Aww thank you Joan! I've been out of real estate but I suppose I could write about my current profession..I'm a dispatcher for HVAC, plumbing, and electric. I could probably find a ton of info to write about that's related to real estate. 

Oct 30, 2019 04:49 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I hope you are enjoying the holidays.

Happy New Year!

Jan 01, 2021 06:27 AM