Marketing to Me

Professional marketers need to define some new demographics.

Age, for example, doesn’t seem to be an accurate indicator of someone’s desire to get their news from the Internet, to buy new gadgets, or to research medical conditions on the web.

For many products and services geographic location is irrelevant (other than to determine tax rates).

Gender, again, seems to be of limited use in predicting behavior as is the fact that someone is a parent or the number and age of their children.

I don’t cook. I don’t read glamour magazines. My favorite color is black. I have been known use online publishing, Twitter, and Facebook. I’m over 40.

I could be your biggest fan if you’d just give me a chance. I am just as likely to talk about your product’s virtues as I am its deficiencies and I am very well networked.

So PLEASE find a way to market to me that doesn’t insult my intelligence or assume I’m someone I’m not.

Comments

[ann michael]

Hi Steve!

I used to think it was just me. However, the more I talk to friends, colleagues and passers by, the more I realize that many of us feel this way.

Most marketing messages are worse than irrelevant, they're actually mildly (or more) offensive!

Ann

[Steve Roesler]

Way to go, Ann.

Just had that same conversation yesterday.

The only stereotypical demographic characteristic that I could identify in myself was: I'm a guy and I watch football. However: the commercials don't speak to me and I can't believe companies are spending the money they are on old school media.

Is there anyone, anyplace re-working the formula? Or deciding to throw it out?