Is this crossing the line?

[Maverick77]

Me and my business partner are starting a business offering broadband.
We hope to add mobile and then TV down the line.

I won't advertise the business here because I'm not a paid member.

The business will very much be an extension of our quirky, unorthodox personalities and as such we're thinking of putting a special offer together for Insulate Britain protestors:
Fibre broadband with a 5G enabled backup dongle plus a free bar of soap, especially for Insulate Britain members.
What do you think?

 

[Fagin2021]

Yes - make sure the broadband slows down and stops at regular intervals - and label the soap 'Edible'.

 

[Paul Norman]

Well, that is certainly a niche market. With relatively small numbers.

I have no idea how available 5g is in Britain (it is utterly routine in Spanish cities), but this seems, potentially, a bit too quirky.

Anyway, now they are jumping out in front of vehicles on the M25 I strongly suggest you get their money up front.

 

[Maverick77]

Well, that is certainly a niche market. With relatively small numbers.

I have no idea how available 5g is in Britain (it is utterly routine in Spanish cities), but this seems, potentially, a bit too quirky.

Anyway, now they are jumping out in front of vehicles on the M25 I strongly suggest you get their money up front.

We were considering offering our potential Insulate Britain members a deal whereby if they agree to have a bath or shower once a week, we would give them 20% off.

What do you think, that or the soap?

 

[japancool]

We were considering offering our potential Insulate Britain members a deal whereby if they agree to have a bath or shower once a week, we would give them 20% off.

That's just insulting. These people aren't all smelly hippies, they're just idiots, many of them middle-class idiots.

Sell it with a free tube of superglue.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

We have a guy round these parts who will protest at the drop of a hat, almost irrespective of the cause, and is often seen in local media with megaphone in hand. I'll sign up to your deal if you can find out where he lives and park your van across his drive before he leaves for work.

PS: You can keep the soap though

 

[tony84]

I get the idea behind it, it is not to get these people as customers buy have a laugh at their expense and hope it generates some free advertising in the news or whatever.

But I dont think it is very funny. Im not offended or anything but I just think there are better ideas, as someone said, free superglue would be funnier. Maybe even a free broken alarm clock to ensure they miss people going to work.

 

[ecommerce84]

I agree with @tony84 - it’s just not funny.

If I’m changing broadband provider I’m only interested in speed, reliability and price. I’m not bothered if anyone gets a free bar of soap or not.

 

[cjd]

Assuming you're serious, please don't. It's a mature, hyper-competitive market with undifferentiated products selling on price. To sell anything at all, you'll need a huge marketing budget because now it's all marketing.

 

[Maverick77]

That's just insulting. These people aren't all smelly hippies, they're just idiots, many of them middle-class idiots.

Sell it with a free tube of superglue.

Hi @japancool

It's kind of supposed to be insulting. These people have not only inconvenienced thousands of people, but taken action that has led to people's deaths.

I wouldn't want to offer a tube of superglue as I wouldn't want to do something that could be interpreted as encouraging them.

I agree with @tony84 - it’s just not funny.

If I’m changing broadband provider I’m only interested in speed, reliability and price. I’m not bothered if anyone gets a free bar of soap or not.

Hi @ecommerce84

Of course we aim to be competitive on speed, reliability and price, and we are not afraid to build a business that has a bit of personality too.

 

[cjd]

I can only wish you luck - it's a super-saturated market with an undifferentiated product selling on price. I would heavily advise against it.

 

[Mark T Jones]

TBH it's a gimmic which might get you some publicity and might make you a few enemies.

Probably best to focus on who your real core customer is going to be

 

[japancool]

It's kind of supposed to be insulting. These people have not only inconvenienced thousands of people, but taken action that has led to people's deaths.

Yes. But there's a difference between insulting and funny. Remember, there are people who agree with them.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Are you looking for customers today or for the long term, if long term gimmicks' just will not work, customer are savvy these days they just want exactly what they pay for and guaranteed service

Many potential users have just found out small low cost gas suppliers have gone out of business and soon they will be paying far more

 

[Newchodge]

Hi @japancool

It's kind of supposed to be insulting. These people have not only inconvenienced thousands of people, but taken action that has led to people's deaths.

I wouldn't want to offer a tube of superglue as I wouldn't want to do something that could be interpreted as encouraging them.




Hi @ecommerce84

Of course we aim to be competitive on speed, reliability and price, and we are not afraid to build a business that has a bit of personality too.

Why would you do something that will alienate a proportion of your potential clients?

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

I understand what you are trying to do in terms of being edgy, funny, quirky, potentially cause some controversy and get some publicity etc.

However....it's a piss poor way of doing it that nobody will find amusing. Completely unoriginal, completely unfunny, plus it bears no relevance to your business to create a valid link and play on the subject. If, for example, you were an edgy cosmetics company and you made the offer, maybe it might work. If you were a chemicals manufacturer and you were offering superglue dissolver to the police, for example, then again there is some connection to your business. Just jumping to an outdated, insulting cliche and trying to somehow shoehorn it into your promotions smells of desperation. If I saw that advertised I'd roll my eyes and go out of my way to avoid using you.

I should add, that I in no way support insulate Britain and would be the first to flippantly say "they need to go home, get a wash, and find a job", so I'm not sticking up for them or the cause at all. Just the idea is excruciatingly poor, sorry.

 

[Maverick77]

The people I've asked in real life are split into one of 2 camps: they either love it or hate it.

 

[japancool]

The people I've asked in real life are split into one of 2 camps: they either love it or hate it.

Maybe so. But will it persuade them to buy your services?

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I'm not against the campaign but.....
It's a gimmick and the problem with gimmicks is some people get the gist of the joke and others don't. If your idea of personality is to reel out similar promotions then you stand to alienate a small percentage of prospective clients each and every time.

 

[Paul Norman]

We were considering offering our potential Insulate Britain members a deal whereby if they agree to have a bath or shower once a week, we would give them 20% off.

What do you think, that or the soap?

I think, honestly, that it is an unwise marketing route to go down.

And the suggestion that all persons that feel strongly about this issue don't wash is, bluntly, ignorant.

So no, I would approach the issue differently.

And I am not sure how far down the 5G route the UK is yet - compared to Torrevieja, where it is normal to have it, and it is just 25 Euros a month.

 

[Red Wood]

Assuming you're serious, please don't. It's a mature, hyper-competitive market with undifferentiated products selling on price. To sell anything at all, you'll need a huge marketing budget because now it's all marketing.

My business has used voipfone for almost ten years. Didn't realise you were on here. Have you managed to get over the DDOS attacks?

 

[cjd]

My business has used voipfone for almost ten years. Didn't realise you were on here. Have you managed to get over the DDOS attacks?

We're under attack now. Have been since Friday. Currently we're fine. One other UK company currently being attacked. Two others have been. Two more in North America. They think they've found a new business model.

 

[NickGrogan]

I understand what you are trying to do in terms of being edgy, funny, quirky, potentially cause some controversy and get some publicity etc.

However....it's a piss poor way of doing it that nobody will find amusing. Completely unoriginal, completely unfunny, plus it bears no relevance to your business to create a valid link and play on the subject. If, for example, you were an edgy cosmetics company and you made the offer, maybe it might work. If you were a chemicals manufacturer and you were offering superglue dissolver to the police, for example, then again there is some connection to your business. Just jumping to an outdated, insulting cliche and trying to somehow shoehorn it into your promotions smells of desperation. If I saw that advertised I'd roll my eyes and go out of my way to avoid using you.

I should add, that I in no way support insulate Britain and would be the first to flippantly say "they need to go home, get a wash, and find a job", so I'm not sticking up for them or the cause at all. Just the idea is excruciatingly poor, sorry.

What he said.

You are saying that you're clever, but certainly not showing it.

 

[Ozzy]

The people I've asked in real life are split into one of 2 camps: they either love it or hate it.

I think that's answered your question really. Politely, it's a bit too edgy.
Edgy can work well and can get some good publicity, but not all publicity leads to income and profit. Really, you only want to do something that will ultimately generate income for your business, if it doesn't then you've wasted time and resources on it.

Personally I think there could be better options you could be, and I'd suggest something with a positive angle on something you believe in. Something aligned to your personal values; if you support education then a Chromebook for under 18's to help them study. As @cjd has said though, I used to be in this sector about 20 years ago and it was competitive then. It's even more so now, so you don't want to get any promotional activities wrong and have them bite you in the backside.

 

[Maverick77]

What he said.

You are saying that you're clever, but certainly not showing it.

Please maintain the mature environment on this site and refrain from making personal remarks.
I have not claimed to be "clever" anywhere in this thread. Just stop it.

I think that's answered your question really. Politely, it's a bit too edgy.
Edgy can work well and can get some good publicity, but not all publicity leads to income and profit. Really, you only want to do something that will ultimately generate income for your business, if it doesn't then you've wasted time and resources on it.

Personally I think there could be better options you could be, and I'd suggest something with a positive angle on something you believe in. Something aligned to your personal values; if you support education then a Chromebook for under 18's to help them study. As @cjd has said though, I used to be in this sector about 20 years ago and it was competitive then. It's even more so now, so you don't want to get any promotional activities wrong and have them bite you in the backside.

Good post and food for thought, thank you.

 

[NickGrogan]

Please maintain the mature environment on this site and refrain from making personal remarks.
I have not claimed to be "clever" anywhere in this thread. Just stop it.




Good post and food for thought, thank you.

Sorry. Fixed it for you.

You are saying that you have

quirky, unorthodox personalities

but certainly not showing it.

 

[Maverick77]

Sorry. Fixed it for you.

You are saying that you have



but certainly not showing it.

Thank you. Have a great day

 

[Keith Brown]

While this is a funny idea, I feel it may make people unable to take you seriously as a business. It's good to have something unique to make you stand out, though a bar of soap may be stretching a bit too far.

 

[Wesley Cude]

I think placing a 'tongue in cheek' joke isn't such a bad idea. But the joke seems a bit cheap to me.

 

[TomUL]

This is a terrible idea. You'll generate press for about 5 minutes but if you want to last longer than that in what is already a highly competitive market, I suggest you hire a branding specialist and someone who understands marketing.

 

[biobob]

That is a very niche market especially outside of cities there is no 5G within 20 miles of my house and even when in the 5G area it only covers 1 town.
Openreach finished rolling FTTP to our rural area and missed a good few houses out that are on their own as they were too expensive to add the cabling despite being only a few metres away from the other houses they completed even writing to Rishi Sunak couldn't get them to do my house although all neighbours are done. I would love either of these technologies as ADSL is rated at guaranteed ZERO.

The insulate Britain group have a good idea as a lot of houses are poorly insulated, they just badly implemented the way they protest and most of them are rich or middle class and will have regular baths.
It would be better to have a box of teabags so you can make a hot drink whilst waiting on the line trying to get your services fixed as the tech in this country is hopeless a lot of the time

 

[biobob]

I think, honestly, that it is an unwise marketing route to go down.

And the suggestion that all persons that feel strongly about this issue don't wash is, bluntly, ignorant.

So no, I would approach the issue differently.

And I am not sure how far down the 5G route the UK is yet - compared to Torrevieja, where it is normal to have it, and it is just 25 Euros a month.

It has not gone very far in my local area 2 towns done about 20 miles away and 4G pretty hopeless and both very expensive.

 

[Andrew Marsden]

Unless I am missing something, it just seems disrespectful to me …

 

[scstock]

It's a shit idea ; only Gammons would find it remotely amusing.