Marketing Practices People Hate (and How to Avoid Them Like the Plague)

Ah, marketing, the magical force that influences everything from what we eat to what we wear, and even how we feel about our lives. At its best, marketing is a clever matchmaker, connecting us with products or services that genuinely make life better. So why all the marketing haters?

Note:

This article features content from the Marketing Made Clear podcast. You can listen along to this episode on Spotify:

Like I was saying… At its best, marketing is a clever matchmaker, connecting us with products or services that genuinely make life better. Who doesn’t appreciate a witty commercial that actually makes you chuckle, or discovering a brand that feels like it gets you?

But… let’s face it, sometimes marketing, or maybe more precisely Advertising… is the annoying mosquito buzzing in your ear. We’ve all encountered the practices that make us want to scream, “Enough!” Today, we’re diving headfirst into the marketing behaviours that people hate most—and why these tactics leave consumers running for the hills.

1. Intrusion and Interruption: The “Knock Knock, Who’s There?” of Annoyance

Picture this: You’re scrolling through your favourite website, and BAM… a pop-up ad appears.

You close it.

Another one pops up.

You close it again.

Suddenly, your screen is cluttered with unsolicited interruptions. Sound familiar?

Consumers loathe being interrupted, especially when they’re in the middle of something enjoyable. Nobody wants to feel like they’re being hounded by ads while just trying to relax or work.

2. Repetitiveness: The Broken Record of Ads

Have you ever been followed by an ad so much that it feels like it’s stalking you?

Whether it’s a YouTube ad that plays every time you click on a video, or a social media banner you can’t seem to escape, repetitive marketing grinds people’s gears.

The problem with overexposure? Instead of converting you into a customer, it turns you off the product altogether. Less is more, marketers – try and follow the golden rule of 7!

3. Irrelevance: “Why Am I Seeing This?”

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been bombarded with ads for products you have absolutely no interest in.

Dog food? You don’t even own a pet.

Hair products for long locks? You’ve been rocking the shaved head look for years.

Irrelevant marketing feels like a waste of time, and can actually make consumers question whether a brand even understands its audience.

4. Poor Quality Ads: The Low-Budget Cringe-Fest

Nothing screams “we don’t care” like a poorly made ad:

• Blurry images
• Pixelated videos
• Bad audio
• Really really loud or really quiet audio
• Awkward animations
• You get the picture…

…consumers don’t expect Hollywood-level production, but they do expect something polished. Low-quality ads leave a bad impression, suggesting that if the brand didn’t put effort into their marketing, their product or service probably isn’t much better.

5. Deceptive and Manipulative Tactics: The Snake in the Grass

We’ve all encountered marketing tactics that seem to be straight out of the snake-oil salesman handbook. Bait-and-switch offers, hidden fees, and fine print that turns your great deal into a nightmare; these are the things that give marketing its bad reputation. No one likes feeling tricked or manipulated, so transparency is key.

6. Fear-Based Marketing: Scaring You into Buying

Fear can be a powerful motivator, but when brands excessively use scare tactics to push their products, it backfires. Ads that rely on worst-case scenarios (think: “Buy this or face catastrophe!”) are not only anxiety-inducing but also off-putting.

Fear should not be the primary emotion your marketing evokes, trust and positivity are much better motivators.

7. Hard Selling: The Pushy Salesperson Vibe

You know that feeling when you’re browsing a store, and suddenly an overly eager salesperson hovers nearby, practically breathing down your neck? That’s what hard selling feels like in marketing. Pressure tactics make people uncomfortable and rarely lead to genuine sales. Instead, they cause potential customers to flee the scene.

8. Data Misuse: Big Brother is Watching (and It’s Creepy)

The fact that companies collect consumer data is no secret, but the misuse of that data? That’s where people draw the line. Personalised ads can be helpful, up to a point. But when companies overstep and start tracking every click, purchase, and conversation you have with your cat, it feels like an invasion of privacy. Misusing data or not being transparent about how it’s used is a surefire way to lose consumer trust.

9. Insincerity: Don’t Pretend to Care

We can spot a fake a mile away. Whether it’s forced diversity in ads or jumping on social justice causes without genuine support, insincerity is an instant turn-off. People crave authenticity, and when brands try too hard to be “woke” or “relatable” without any real substance, it just comes across as pandering.

10. Annoying Ad Formats: Let’s Talk About Skippable Ads

We all know the feeling… waiting for the “skip ad” button to pop up on a YouTube video like it’s a lifeline. Ads that are too long, poorly timed, or just plain annoying are a huge source of frustration. Consumers want concise, relevant content that enhances their experience, not detracts from it. Get to the point, or they’ll hit that skip button faster than you can say “brand awareness.”

11. Unresolved Negative Associations: The Ghosts of Bad Marketing Past

You can’t just slap a new logo on a brand and hope consumers forget about previous scandals or missteps. Whether it’s a faulty product or a poorly handled PR crisis, companies need to acknowledge their mistakes. Ignoring negative associations doesn’t make them go away, it just makes consumers lose respect for the brand.

Honorable Mentions: The Bonus Round of Consumer Frustration

Just when you thought the list was over, here’s a rapid-fire round of additional grievances:

• Creating fake differentiation: If there’s no real difference between your product and others, don’t pretend there is.
• Pushing people to overspend: Think “buy now, pay later” schemes that lead to unpayable debt.
• Planned obsolescence: That phone you bought last year? Suddenly outdated. This one’s more of a product strategy, but it still drives people mad.
• Too much choice: Having options is great, but overwhelming consumers with too many can lead to decision fatigue.
• Ignoring environmental costs: Consumers are more eco-conscious than ever, and ignoring the environmental impact of your product is a fast way to lose favour.
• Dangerous products: Marketing something harmful to consumers, whether it’s cigarettes or asbestos-laden insulation, is never going to win you any fans.
• Materialism push: Some ads push a “you need this to be happy” narrative, which leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths.
• Ironic messaging: Ever notice how alcohol and gambling ads encourage you to “enjoy responsibly,” but still push their product in excess?

The Bottom Line

Marketing and advertising don’t have to be necessary evils, it can be a force for good when done right. By avoiding these cringe-worthy practices, marketers can create campaigns that people actually enjoy, and more importantly, trust. In a world full of snake oil and pushy sales tactics, authenticity, creativity, and respect for the consumer will always win the day.

So, the next time you’re crafting a campaign, think twice about what people hate, and then, do the exact opposite!