Is it just me?

There seems to be some circular affiliate marketing going on out there.

In the last few weeks, I’ve been bombarded by offers for the same programs from three or four different people.

Mind you, it’s fascinating to see the different spin each one has. 

Um, up to a point.

But let’s face it, there are only so many ways to say, “Hey, looky here, I want to sell you this **insert various superlatives** program that will make you **insert ridiculously large sum of money** in **insert stupidly short period of time**.”

Marketing is necessary.   Those of us who have things to offer to our customers have to be able to talk about them in ways that our customers can hear, notice, take advantage of.

Affiliates are a good thing.  I love being able to promote the work of people I appreciate, respect, and honour.   One of my clients said to me recently, “I love hearing how enthusiastic you are about other people’s work!”  That felt really good to hear.  And it’s true!  When I like what someone’s doing, I’ll trumpet it from the rooftops.  If they happen to have an affiliate program I can sign on for, that’s a sweet added benefit – but I’d promote their work without it. 

I also love being able to promote my own work.  I know what I offer is what my clients need.  And I love the ways that I keep going deeper into that, finding more and more ways to respond more and more sincerely and productively to their needs.

At the same time, I’ve been feeling more and more overwhelmed by the bombardings of superlative-laden, Must Do This Now Must See This Now Must Learn From This Now Must Watch This Video Now emails I’ve been getting.  It’s put a nastily bad taste in my mouth about the whole Marketing Thing.

For about two weeks, I’ve been hanging out with a weird reluctance to let people know what I’m up to.  I have an honest, uncomplicated offer I want to make to my newsletter readers, and I just haven’t been able to write the emails and update the sales page.  And I so haven’t understood why.

After a brief Twitter exchange with the lovely and gracious Jen Louden, it became clear to me that this apparent resistance has actually been a reluctance to jump onto the superlative bandwagon.

What a relief! 

I knew this wasn’t like me, to not move forward with something I’d planned, something that felt good, something that seemed reasonable.  So in sitting with my reluctance and resistance, I was mostly curious, and only a little bit what in the world is WRONG with me?!

I guess if this post has a point – well, there are two or three points, now that I think of it.

First, thanks to the lovely and gracious Jen Louden for being lovely and gracious and responding to my nosy questions about her feelings on this subject.

Second, good grief, people, would you (a) notice that many of the same people are on your various mailing lists, and (b) tone it down a little, and (c) when you say you’ve got an informative video actually make it informative, and not just a sales pitch!?! 

Third, to my wonderful readers – here and on my newsletter – thank you.  If you’re not on my newsletter, please sign up, because I am going to make that offer to you in the next week.   Gently, with respect, without hype and fanfare, and with a really great deal.

How about you?  What marketing hype has made you feel uncomfortable recently, and how are you responding?