Friday, March 12, 2010

You're doing it wrong in the bathroom

I get the need to market yourself. I really do. It's a down economy. You've got bills to pay. You want to make sure you make the most out of every opportunity to sell you product, service or business.

But isn't this going a little to far? Forcing your business cards on everyone you accost meet at an event is a bad idea. Littering every table in the venue just wastes business cards. But when you strategically place said business cards in the men's room on the urinals... you've taken the concept of wrong to a whole new level. And you certainly haven't figured out the meaning of the word strategic.

I snapped this picture at a local internet marketing event I attended this week. Yes, I said a marketing event. And no, it wasn't staged. And yes, both cards were placed in this configuration by the president -- the president! -- of the company. He placed others on the wash basin counter, but they didn't quite capture the same spirit as this shot. Remember: marketing event. [sigh]

Laughable? Yes. Hell yes. Remarkable? Yes, but not in the way he wanted. Plenty of remarks were made.

Let this be a cautionary tale. Your ill-planned attempts at drumming up business might do more harm than good. Seek business wherever you can, but know that some places are off-limits.

And I'll start off the puns -- What a piss-poor attempt! Have fun in the comments!

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6 comments:

  1. I don't think I have the balls to do that. LOL.

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  2. My new business venture involves selling advertising space on ceramic coveniance fittings, toilet paper and sanitary product wrappings. Your wrong man.

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  3. It wants to be something big, but once exposed it falls a little short.

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  4. Why piss away perfectly good business cards?

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  5. You should see this guy's postings on LinkedIn...... he's a classic "doesn't get it" case.

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  6. A clue-by-four does seem the appropriate tool in this case, Chris.

    And thanks to everyone who tossed in a few puns!

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