The Good and the Bad of Marketing

Being back in the world of work has inspired my mind again which is great.  I have to admit that with the in work/out of work shenanigans of the past few years my love for what I do was starting to wane.

In the past few days, I have seen some good marketing and some very very bad marketing. 

The Good

Lots of things have caught my eye of late including Google's Live Advent Calendar Campaign where a fully integrated campaign that culminates in you getting clues online and then heading to find a real door in town to win stuff. Geeennniiuuusss idea.  Properly creative and fun too which sits well with their brand positioning.

The Bad 

On the bus to boxing class the other day and passed through Brixton High Street.  So many payday loan companies have sprouted up these day with crazy interest rates that often equate to 1700%, a bad financial decision if ever there was one.  Looking at one of the shops which had a marketing ploy that was quite frankly sickening.  There was someone dressed up as Father Christmas giving out balloons to kids and inviting them into the grotto inside the money lending shop.  Parents therefore have no choice but to go in there as they're sneakily targeting kids.  Viewing that on the bus just turned my stomach as that is such a low way to ultimately try to encourage poor people to get into even more debt.  No doubt the instore Santa will be filling the kids heads with talk of what they want for Christmas and thus placing ridiculous pressure on parents who then feel obliged to find the money for the desired gifts.  And guess what, they just happen to be in a place where they can get that money.  The Government must clampdown on these operations soon. Currently,  they are booming as we are the 'want it now generation'.

The Contract Generation

I love being back in work. Having a reason to get up everyday cannot be underestimates.   But I am a bit of a ponderer so have been thinking about what I have acheived so far and waht else I want to achieve in my life.  Guess it's all part of being a 34 year old women and that perenniel clock that's ticking somewhere in the back of my mind.

Since being made redundant 2 years ago and being unemployed for the past 8 months means that in many ways my life has been on hold.  The saving to buy a house and doing those grown up things that are a bit important for someone who is heading towards the mid 30s zone. I am pretty tough on myself  especially as in many ways anything that happens in my life is down to me - no partner to gee me one or share things with.

Plus I also can't help it and compare myself to others.  I know I shouldn't but it's blinking hard not to. I guess I want those 'normal' things, my own home, a partner and who knows with all that lot. I am not that naive to believe that life is always greener on the other side but I can't help what I want.

Anyway, as I'm writing this, it really occurred to be that I am part of the contract generation. The other week i was listening to the radio and it was said that people nowadays can only get personal loans from their own bank these days.  Mainly because they can rifle thought your existing accounts to have a precise idea of all your incomings and outgoings. Rather Big Brotheresq really.

I took the plunge and tried to apply for a loan to cover some of the estate related things that I need to do.  As someone who has never applied for a loan and in the height of enhanced credit checks I was astounded by the level of detail needed.  They basically went through my current account for 3 months and asked me on the phone what each payment was for, what loans I had, credit cards the lot.  As I was not looking for a mortgage, more a 1 year small loan this did strike of being highly intrusive and also in some ways overkill.  I have never had to explain my financial affairs in some much detail to an institution before so it certainly was an eye opener.

Cutting to the chase, I was rejected due to me being on a 6 month contract. This made me realise that without a perm role, it is going to be hard to get credit and to buy a place and do all those life stepping stones that I would like to conquer in the next few years.  I certainly am not the only one in this boat.  Tough times.