Marketing Forum: I'm neither "For" it nor "Against" it James. One cannot be totally one-sided on

Hi James...

Thanks for the kind words for starters!

I must not have communicated my point clearly enough. It isn't the "opinion" of someone else I am against. It's the immediate changing of ones site to "conform" to the "opinion" of someone outside of the intended target market itself.

Myself??? I hate pop-ups. But I do not disregard them as a plausible marketing tool where applicable.

Many times the blanket statement of "I hate pop-ups and WILL NEVER go back or do business with someone who uses them!" is a fair statement on the surface. But it is the opinion of just "one" and not the voice of many. Unless they are a representative sampling of your intended target market. Then you had better listen.

Overall, it is a better idea and more profitable to listen to what your "bottom line" tells you. More so than the singular opinion, or judgement, from a forum. Your bottom line is the criteria you are judged by IF your are in it for profitability. If not, then play around with whatever you want. Pop or Not.

If I were to be selling a product or service which wasn't in demand within a certain target market or geographical area. Does it mean it will not sell and produce a high degree of profitability in another area??? Of course not, right?

Should I listen to those people telling me it won't work??? Or should I go ask the intended target market itself???

Bars and taverns may not be a great thing to invest in of your in a Bible Town. But I would think bars and taverns in Milwaukee do quite well. Should I listen to one who tells me a bar would never fly and THEY wouldn't go into one??? Or should I let the Bowling League come in after the game and show their support?

The same set of circumstances arise with the use of Pop-ups. Most marketers are aware of them and close them as soon as they begin to open. I know I do. Unless I am interested in the marketing aspect of the site itself. Then I analyze the site for content, design, offers, etc.

But if you are targeting a market which MAY show tremendous increases in sales WITH the use of Pop-ups, wouldn't you want to use them???

So if you listen to someone outside of the intended target market, how can their input be applicable unless they have firsthand knowledge of the offer, target market, response rates, conversion rates, upsell rates, backend offers, etc.??

It's a Blanket Statement that of "I hate Pop-ups so...", which clearly does not lend itself to any validity other than that of a personal opinion of one OUTSIDE of your demographic market. Agree???

It breaks down to this... Need advice on site colors, scripts, browser compatibility, etc.??? Than request a site review and implement the suggestions of those smarter than you.

Need to know what your target market wants??? Than don't ask someone outside of the market itself. Their response has no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of your site. Including Pop-ups.

The only viable source as to what works best with your target market is the market itself. If your bottom line shows a decrease in Opt-ins, or sales go down dramatically, then you have your answer. You have no need of personal, prejudiced opinions and advice.

If sales and Opt-ins increase substantially... Then what good is the advice of the "I hate Pop-ups and will never..."??? It would have cost you sales and profits.

With what I do, I'll contact 20 prospects by cold-calling, dismiss 75% of them for different reasons (all of my own reasons) and then work with 5 and generally pick up 3 out of the five as new accounts.

If I wanted to be "respectful" to ALL of them, I could waste time and effort to provide proposals to all of them. Still I would most likely only write 3 of them.

Which makes more sense??? The same is true with Pop-ups or any other marketing technique. You won't please everyone all the time. I don't please 50% of my cold calls. They want me to work their account, But I refuse because they won't "commit" to me. I move on. My time is valuable. Still I have the same bottom line, with much less work.

Yes the bottom line is critical to a point. As far as judging what is working and what isn't.

I have used Pop-ups quite successfully at times and they have been a hindrance at times. But I have made the strategic decision to use them or not by the RESULTS of my efforts and not the opinion of someone outside of my prospect base.

Hopefully this will clear up any misconceptions the first post may have inferred

Success and Regards James... Mike

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