Thumbs Down: 37 Posts About Crappy Marketing (and What You Can Do Better)

In the olden days, if your marketing sucked you got fed to the lions or stabbed! Glad I didn’t live in Rome during those times. I prefer just being embarrassed by a low tweet count. (Image source)

Mistakes provide invaluable learning experiences. But why make more of your own when you should learn from the bloopers of others? Beyond laughing, crying (from laughing), and letting your jaw drop to the floor, embrace every bad marketing moment as inspiration to make your brand better.

With this roundup of some of the roughest marketing “don’t” moments, you’re guaranteed at least a few laughs. Between the chuckles, however, embrace these mistakes as a learning experience. After all, even the smartest marketers have bad days. Yes, even this bad.

We can all do better, and here’s how.

What the Heck Is Going On?

i have no idea what’s going on here… (Image source)

A question that you never, ever want your prospective customers to ask.

1. Marketing Ideas Gone Bad and How to Avoid Them

Whatever you do, don’t confuse your customers, and don’t tell them they’re confused either. Keep logos consistent, deliver sales pitches up-front, and portray your customers as intelligent and empowered.

2. Photos from the Street: 3 Bad Marketing Examples

What good is a banner if it doesn’t communicate basic information? What value does your company provide, and how much do your services cost? Give your audiences enough of a hint to pick up the phone and call (or launch Outlook and bounce over an email).

3. How Your Website’s Crappy Usability Is Costing You Sales

People are more than just clicks and conversions.

4. How to Keep Bad Headlines from Burying Your Content

“Newsflash: Students Cook and Serve Grandparents” among other gems.

5. 21 of the Worst Marketing Flops, Follies, and Faux Pas

Is soda supposed to taste like ham, green bean casserole, or dirt? What happened to grape, orange, and lemon-lime?

6. The 7 Worst Online Ad Placements of All Time

It’s all about context.

7. The 5 Most Annoying Banner Ads on the Internet

As expected, ‘Win a Free Thing’ made the list.

8. 3 Really Bad Internet Marketing Mistakes I Bet You’re Making

This HubSpot post from 2008 will help you realize how timeless good principles of web design are, despite how technology changes. “People usually don’t even have calls to action to their site.”

9. How to Stop Relying on Vanity Metrics

Don’t get lost in a sea of irrelevant data. Focus on what’s most important for your conversions.

Why’d Everyone Leave the Party?

Obviously, this brand is hopelessly un-fun. (Image source)

10. Don’t Be a Robot

This social media dos and don’ts list reminds us to stay personable. After all, people want to engage with the humans behind the wall of your brand — the robot just doesn’t compare. If you’re holding back your voice, you’re doing your customers a major disservice.