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Stop Pretending

posted on February 29, 2012

Almost a month ago, I was pitched about a new initiative from a big, old school company using social media in a “cutting edge” way.

I had already seen the campaign and was a big fan of what they were doing.

So much so, that I replied to the pitch sharing my feelings and telling them how I’d love to talk to someone from the company so that I could write about it in more detail, share it when I do speeches and possible add it to a future version of Content Rules.

Now, a month later I’m told that they might be interested depending on my readership numbers. *record scratch*

I politely told them I’m no longer interested because the campaign I thought was fresh and different turns out to just be some more lipstick on a pig. They are still the same old, tired, big business trying to look young and cool even though they are not.

Bums me out because I really dug how they were using storytelling to give a new look at their business. Guess their tired old public relations and marketing team are in fact dinasours since they don’t realize their thinking is going to make them extinct since they don’t have the time for a phone call with someone who wanted to tell the world their story.

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Categories: Rants
  • http://twitter.com/dannystarr Danny Starr

    Seems like they just sent out a bunch of pitches without doing any research first and the fact that it took them a month to get back to you was also not good.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      I’m sure since the spray and pray approach is fairly common and you do need to cast a wide net.

      The month delay to come back with a question like this is what got me too. The fact that they pitched me and then when I want to talk about it ask me for more details is backwards.

  • Ann Handley

    That’s not just a disconnect, that’s a sad, disappointing, borderline-ridiculous disconnect. I’ve seen a fair amount of that, too…. but maybe instead of giving them your readership numbers, you should forward them a copy of the book? (With invoice! Ha.)

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      I replied with a nice note thanking them for finally getting back to me, but telling them point blank that I’m no longer interested in sharing their story.

      It is sad that this continues to happen. I’m wondering why they even paid someone to pitch people if they were not going to actually embrace anyone who replied.

  • http://davidhorne.me/ david horne

    C.C. Too bad. It is amazing how often the companies try to put new wine in old wine skins. 

    I have hope that the veil will be lifted eventually.