Manizesto

For a long time, I have utilized popup blockers on my web browser, but for some reason the Netflix popups sneak through the filter somehow. This doesn’t happen with any other ads. It’s very annoying. I can’t stand it. The popup ads make me want to cancel my Netflix subscription.

But they work.

People see them, click them and then sign up for Netflix accounts. If the company didn’t make money with it, they would stop doing it. This is not some new, innovative marketing strategy or in any way groundbreaking. In fact, in many ways, popups are outdated and frowned upon by many online marketers, myself included.

The truth is, annoying marketing does not equal ineffective marketing. Look at the HeadOn ads, or the strange banner ads with dancing aliens, or your local radio station ads. They are annoying as hell sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work.

It reminds me of a conversation I once overheard at a local used car lot. Said a woman to the sales rep:

“You know, those ads you run on the radio are so annoying, they make me want to pull my hair out.”

“Yes, they are, but you’re here aren’t you?”

If you really hate way a company markets to you, don’t click, don’t walk into the store, don’t call the number.

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