I was solicited by an eMarketing Concepts telemarketer during October 2015. I had 0 interest in his company's services. He transferred me to a senior sales exec who gave me a special trial offer of service for 2 months at the price of 1 month. Against my better judgment, I signed up for a Pinterest campaign for an established business and a Facebook campaign for a separate new business. The senior sales exec assured me that the advertising would generate new leads for both businesses, the campaign managers would change the ads to get results, and I can end service on a monthly basis.
The manager for the Pinterest campaign was a veteran worker who created Pinterest boards with no problem, but since there were no sales I suspended the campaign when the 2 month trial ended.
I was initially paired with two managers for the Facebook campaign who were both new to the company. They both took vacations within a week of being assigned to my account, didn't listen to my input, didn't provide me with a mock ad to approve, and ran low quality ads without my approval. Before my 2 month trial ended, I was paired with a third manager who was one of the most experienced on staff.
The third manager did a much better job than the first 2 managers. I wound up keeping the Facebook campaign going for another 3 months, but there were no results even though we tried different pictures, verbiage, new audiences, etc. The effect was the same as rearranging deck chairs on a sinking Titanic.
The third Facebook manager also sold me on some minor services to tweak the a business website website like adding home page content (which I edited heavily) and a Word Press blog that I didn't need at all.
During the final month, I was billed for an incorrect amount. To avoid refunding me, the third manager tried offering services like overpriced website blog posts and press releases but I declined. After 3 weeks, the third manager couldn't tell me when I would be refunded. I received a refund on the day my credit card company processed a charge back.
The senior sales exec was very smooth and reasonable-sounding. I regret listening to her. She said eMarketing is a major online marketer that will do great things for the 2 businesses I wanted to promote. Both the senior sales exec and the third Facebook campaign manager said on the one hand they will generate a lot of online exposure that will lead to sales and on the other hand they can't guarantee results. They can only perform work for their clients.
The Pinterest campaign required work, which I didn't have the time to do myself and I was unfamiliar with the Pinterest platform. The Facebook campaign charged me for ads that I could have developed myself without paying eMarketing a monthly fee to work for me.
Since I hadn't tried Pinterest and Facebook advertising before, I decided to give eMarketing a try.
Unfortunately, all I did was waste my time and money.
If businesses have time and in house staff to develop their own online social media marketing campaigns, they're better off doing so rather than paying third parties to put out ads with no results.
eMarketing offered me free SEO service for 6 months in an effort to make amends for my dissatisfaction with its social media marketing. After the nature of the temporary and permanent back links were explained to me, though, I decided to pass on the offer. As I understood things, the temporary links with more business data were more effective at promoting a website's online presence while the more permanent links which are picture based weren't as effective at capturing the attention of Google search robots.
I've learned a few things about online advertising. Online advertising can only attempt to increase a business' web presence and/or potential consumer awareness. Every form of online advertising I've tried hasn't generated nearly enough leads to pay for the expense much less make a profit. I'll advertise myself from now on.
8-4-16 Reply to Business Comment:
e-Marketing did not perform as advertised when I was solicited and sold a bill of goods. I gave your company more than enough time to prove it could deliver.
I was not happy when the campaign manager told me that results weren't guaranteed. He could only do work for me. The senior sales exec said that if e-Marketing does work for me, it will bring in more exposure and business. That didn't come close to happening.
I paid for advertising (that I didn't seek) that didn't pay for itself.
All advertising I've tried has been a waste of money actually, so I'm not listening to any advertising telemarketers anymore. read more
