It’s spooky season, so in this bonus Halloween-themed episode we’re bringing you some tales of terror in the form of Performance Marketing Horror Stories. Jon is joined by Abi Carey, Head of Paid Social to delve into some of the most hair-raising mistakes made in performance marketing. They will not only highlight common blunders but also share a chilling account of their personal career horror stories and the invaluable lessons they’ve learned. Tune in for a frightfully informative discussion that will help marketers avoid the ghastly ghouls and enhance their performance marketing efforts.
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Key Takeaways:
- Marketing Nightmares: Discover the common spine-tingling mistakes in performance marketing, and how to exorcise your campaigns of their demons.
- Personal career haunts: Jon and Abi resurrect the ghost of their marketing past. Hear the terrifying tales of career mistakes and the lessons they’ve learned to avoid the same fate.
- Performance Marketing Potions: Jon and Abi brew up potions and solutions strong enough to raise your performance marketing from the dead.
As the spooky season descends upon us, it’s the perfect time to delve into some marketing horror stories that are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. Join us as we uncover some of the most spine-chilling and blood-curdling tales of performance marketing gone wrong. But don’t worry, there’s a silver lining to these stories – they serve as valuable lessons to help you avoid these marketing nightmares in your own campaigns.
Overspending Nightmares
The thought alone is enough to keep any marketer up at night—overspending. Overspending can wreak havoc on your budget and potentially harm your business. To avoid this horrifying scenario, it’s crucial to have processes in place to set and monitor budgets effectively. Automated budget trackers can be a lifesaver, allowing you to track budgets daily and catch any discrepancies early. Remember, consistency and routine checks can help you keep the financial demons at bay.
Account Hacking Horrors
Hacking is one of those things that you never think is going to happen to you. But the truth is, it can happen to anyone. To protect your accounts from the nightmarish ordeal of hacking, always enable two-factor authentication. Ensure that only trusted email addresses are associated with your accounts. Remove individuals from your accounts when they are no longer working with you, as dormant accounts can become gateways for attackers.
Beware of Inappropriate Creatives
There’s a fine line between effective advertising and inappropriate content. One of the most bone-chilling tales in marketing is the use of creatives featuring individuals who have recently passed away.
There’s no excuse for running ads with deceased individuals endorsing your products or services. While you may achieve a higher conversion rate, the backlash can be catastrophic. The lesson here is simple: be genuine in your creatives and avoid content that might be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate.
Blaming the Wrong Culprit
Imagine waking up to a barrage of messages and emails from clients or colleagues, blaming you for a marketing campaign that’s gone off the rails. The conversion rates have dropped, and everyone is in a state of panic.
Before jumping to conclusions and placing blame on your marketing team, take a moment to breathe and evaluate the situation logically. Ensure your website is functioning correctly, especially if the campaign involves a website form or signup. Sometimes, the real culprit isn’t your marketing, but a broken website feature. Being systematic and thorough can save you from experiencing the nightmare of false accusations.
These marketing horror stories are cautionary tales, revealing the dark and terrifying side of the performance marketing world. Overspending, account hacking, inappropriate creatives, and misplaced blame are just a few of the spine-tingling nightmares that marketers may encounter.
However, by implementing the right processes, security measures, and a touch of common sense, you can avoid making these mistakes and ensure that your campaigns remain the stuff of success stories rather than cautionary tales. This Halloween season, remember these lessons and stay safe from the ghosts and ghouls of the marketing world. Happy marketing, and happy Halloween!
We may not be the Ghostbusters but if there’s something weird, and it don’t look good… Who you gonna call? Overdrive Digital!
