I'm Immune

Just in case marketers want to know, I've become immune. This list of phrases was taken from some promotional emails I read today. None of them gave me the sense of urgency they were intended to convey. An email that begins with these words does not entice me to buy the product. All I want to do is roll my eyes.

• Today only
• Last chance
• Last day
• 24 hours only
• Time's almost up
• Last call
• Final hours
• Ends tonight
• Jump on it
• For one day only
• Flash sale
• Minutes left
• Hurry
• Gone in a flash

One reason my immunity has developed is because so many of the promotions sound the same. Another reason is because none of them are true. The sale that is 'today only' keeps coming back around so often it seems like it must be part of the Groundhog Day movie.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good sale, but I have my doubts about items that are marketed in this way. These promotions would be more effective if buyers weren't inundated with so much hype. I'm reminded of the parent who never follows through with children. The parent yells and threatens, but nothing ever happens.

My advice to marketers is to stop yelling at consumers. Tell me what your terms are. If something special is going on, by all means inform me, but I tend to stop listening when you say the same thing over and over again. But that's just me. 😉