In today’s brave, new world where endless memes and selfies are the order of the day, we’re seeing an unprecedented trend of over-the-top marketing.
For instance—recently, I received an e-mail that made a poor impression. The wording was veiled in polite courtesies, but the overall (and probably well-intentioned, but missed-the-mark) message was this:
“As you know, I’m so-and-so. I’ve sold ___ # of books and I’d like to invite you to be part of my good friend, author so-and-so’s, street team. His book is releasing on this date: xxxxx. If this is something that appeals to you, please let us know immediately so we can get the book to you for your perusal.”
Hmm.
Let’s see.
I’ll take the high road here, so I’m going to be vague. (In fact, I’ve used “his” purely in the generic sense.)
Aside from some limited social media contact with this person, I share no personal or professional connection.
So, my initial reaction to the e-mail? Baffled. Sad. Used.
And oh, my goodness—dare I say it? Frustrated.
And then embarrassed. Embarrassed for this person, embarrassed for his brand.
Friends—when connecting with someone on a minimal basis and then contacting them only when a favor’s needed, that’s called impolite. Poor taste. A brand-killer.
A no-no.
Now, in all fairness, this wasn’t exactly a meme. This was a call-to-action on someone else’s behalf. The sender’s heart was in the right place. I think.
Sadly, however, this is today’s default mode—the If I push it/her/him/them hard/long enough, more folks will gravitate toward my message/book/me theme.
Why do I mention this publicly?
Well, because I find this trend unsettling.
Be it the new-wave, in-our-face marketing or general complacency, brands are underperforming or failing to live up to what they promise.
I understand the desire to be noticed. (I get it. I’m a writer.)
I like sharing great content.
I like dishing about favorite books, brands, and authors.
I love the underdog.
I like to encourage, uplift, and cheer. (My friends know this.)
But honestly, folks—enough with the memes.
And a reminder. Tweeting your status (or someone else’s) every few minutes, dozens of times a day, will only clog our Twitter feed. If we’ve listed you because we initially liked (and valued) what you had to say, we may unlist you. Or we may disconnect.
Your message has become a meme.
It’s sidelined the original intent.
Or… maybe not.
*sigh*
I know.
I don’t like saying this either. But it had to be said.
In a Christian kind of way.
And because I’ve always said I’ll share tactfully, truthfully, and lovingly, I pray I’ve not stepped on too many toes.
But… I do have Band-Aids. 🙂
Onward and upward, gang!
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Original Image Credit: Public Domain Pictures/Pixabay
Please Share
(Oh, dear. Is that a meme?)
Anyone else seeing this trend? Tell us what you think!
Memes and marketing. How they help. How they hinder.
Tactfully. Truthfully. Lovingly. How to say the hard stuff.
Additional Posts You May Enjoy
Will You be My Friend? (The Delicate Dance of Social Media)
Does Our Brand Convey Who We Really Are?
What social media trends are you seeing?
As authors, we walk a fine line when sharing our content. What’s your personal threshold for too much?
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Please join me on Friday when we chat about my favorite subject—encouragement. (There’s a new hashtag in town!)
Much Love and Many Blessings,
