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Friday, October 11, 2013

Networking and the website from HELL


A few months ago I went to a business networking event that I found online and I thought I would check it out.  When I got there I was surprised to find about 50 people and the person that greeted me asked me what my business did.

“I run a strategic branding website design firm” I told him.

“Well, please go and speak to that woman over there and tell her, to see if it is OK for you to speak because I think she also does web stuff”- he tells me.

So I go to the woman.  I introduce myself and tell her that the guy suggested I check with her.

“Yes, I do web design.-She tells me- but my primary thing is marketing. So just go ahead and introduce yourself and not mention that you do web design.”

OK, I thought.  This is not my show so I am happy to respect that. 

Before I leave the event, she runs to me to give me her business card (which is very ugly and shows nothing to do with either marketing or web design) and tells me that it would be great to meet with me to see how she can help my clients with marketing needs.  I thank her and go my merry way.

So when I get back to the office (out of pure curiosity) I go to her site to figure out what the world she does… and there it is, right before my eyes: THE WEBSITE FROM HELL.

Just at a glance, it was painful to the eyes.  Easily the ugliest website I have seen in a long time and it was so bad that I knew not even a template could make this mess.  I have no clue how she did that, what she used to create this thing, or how out of touch one must be to use this thing.  Let’s see what the content is-I thought.  Since I was now even more curious as to what she did.

Well, somewhere in the content it mentioned that she creates and implements successful marketing programs and campaigns for her clients and in one line somewhere on a page she talks about designing websites.

What?

What?

All I could think of was that I had found the perfect example of what NOT to do.  And even right now I am wondering if I can find a way to remove all info that may identify her or her business so I can show you.  I want to use that thing on one of my classes!  But I am not into humiliating people.

So I put the card on my recycling can and I thought one day when I have a few moments I would share the experience-then forgot!

BUT.  I run into her a couple of days ago at another event and she comes to me: “let’s meet to see how we can work together”.

What?

 

Here is another preview into my mind:

Are you crazy?  Do you think I would ever refer a client of mine to a person who is so “all over the place that one can’t even figure out what she does”?  What’s your definition of “marketing”?

Maybe I am on my own world here… but to me, marketing has to do with branding the right message to the right audience.  I must be wrong because the only message I got from her website and business card is:

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Maria Ryan

 

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