Knowing how to read is not a prerequisite of being a sales person at Die Burger
by Fred Roed on 19/01/09 at 9:57 pm
8 comments
About 2 yrs back Andrew wrote a post about a vending machine stand. It took a short while before the first enquiry came in ‘how much do your vending machines cost?’ Andrew dutifully replied that Ideate is really a blog and we don’t sell anything, especially not vending machines. A few days later the next one came in, and then another. After around 15 enquiries, we suddenly realised that we had a problem.
Andrew, frustrated with writing emails back to people, took action. He placed a short intro to the article stating (something like) “Ideate doesn’t sell vending machines. Period.”
He also put a red message on our contact page (check it out).
Subsequently, we had a noticable drop in enquiries, but believe it or not, the odd one still came through. When they did, we had some fun with them, replying with brisk emails stating we only had Japanese underwear dispensers in stock, or asking whether they knew about the midget that came free with each machine.
But when I got this email (see below) from Die Burger, I was at a loss.
The email states:
Let’s talk about products that are available for vending machines – how this works and the costs involved in starting a vending machine business
A unique opportunity in the Afrikaans media to participate and profile your company to highlight your involvement in the industry will be published in Die Burger (Western Cape) on 26 February 2009. We invite you to support this feature with an advertisement.
If you do decide to advertise, please contact me to give you more details regarding the editorial material to be placed along with the advertisement.
So, clearly this particular sales person has bypassed both messages Andrew put up, and gone straight for our email address, like a vampire bat smelling blood – except that this one’s sonar system is a little out. I don’t really know what to do with this. At first we figured some elaborate prank, but then I thought, ‘hell, I’ll blog about it.’
So, here we are.
(Andrew, I’m thinking a pop-up window that appears when you click from the article to the contact page, with a flashing red message stating “NO!!” – what do you think?)
Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. Fred is the CEO of web marketing company World Wide Creative and the co-founder of online learning portal Heavy Chef. Fred loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. Follow Fred on Twitter here. View more articles by Fred Roed.
Tags: vending machines
Andrew Smith
Jan 19th, 2009
It’s an interesting indication of how unaware the general South African public is about the nuance of blogs, social media and basically any page on the internet that isn’t a corporate website. If they Google “vending machines” and land on a page that mentions the word, they automatically assume we must be selling them. What else would we be doing?
Dirk Meiring
Jan 20th, 2009
This actually shows how effective online marketing is. I searched for ‘vending machines south africa’ on Google and your article appears in the #3 spot on the first page. Hey, maybe you should start a vending machine business…
It’s a pity that good search engine results don’t solve illiteracy … but that’s where website usability comes in.
Eve Dmochowska
Jan 20th, 2009
When I read this post in my feed reader, I noticed an ad for “coin operated hair straighteners” embedded in the post.
Can you tell me how this works, how much do they cost and when can you deliver? I also read somewhere that you sell Japanese underwear through vending machines. That’s awesome, but don’t you think you should also sell South African ones? I’ve read your blog religiously thus far, and frankly I am surprised that your patriotism seems to be going out the window.
Also, I didn’t know you had an advertising partnership with Die Burger. How is it working out for you? Does it drive a lot of traffic to your blog?
Fred
Jan 20th, 2009
@Eve – LOL.
You know, in the off chance you’re thinking of a career change, they’re hiring at Die Burger if you’re interested…
Don
Jan 20th, 2009
Dude, I have the same problem with this post: http://www.joblog.co.za/2006/04/free-advertising
711 comments to date, only 1 commenting on the actual post.
People just don’t get it.
Fred
Jan 20th, 2009
@Don – I’ve actually seen that post and wondered in awe at the society we live in. It tells me there’s a lot of people who live a very absent, thoughtless existence.
711 comments. Hectic dude, wow.
If it wasn’t so sad, it would be hilarious : )
Joy-Mari
Jan 22nd, 2009
But why did you allow all those comments on your blog, Don?
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