Unintended Consequences: Please Review Your URLs Before Mailing
By Roberta Rosenberg on Jul 9, 2008 in DM Copy Tips & Tools, Web Copy Tips & Tools
photo credit: wotthe7734
Sometimes it’s the smallest thing that can trip up an otherwise fine promotion.
In my AdoptShoppe email bag came a little missive about a new children’s product that’s being promoted at up upcoming product expo.
So far, so good. But here’s the problem. Notice the link:
For more information on the ABC Kids expo please visit: http://www.abckidsexpo.com/
I know what they meant, but wow, that’s not what it says at first glance.
A better way would have been to write ABCKidsExpo.com. Why no one did strikes me as um, careless.
My husband went to school with a Richard Head. His parents should have been shot or at least strongly counseled before they burden their son with a name like that.
Some names, like Chuck, have been forever barred from the new baby name pool because of a single, almost 50-year old rhyming song, The Name Game. (Feel free to do your own comedy here.)
Same thing with links and URLs. Make sure you look at the URLs your client gives you. If problematic, rework it or use TinyURL.com or a similar service.
Otherwise? Well, you get what you get … and then some.
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Kevin Darbro | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
Took me a minute, but I got it.
You are absolutely right, and it’s important to remember this when you think up your own domain names. I remember back in the day, 1999 or so, I thought an online dating site called “me at you dot com” would be great, so I registered “meatyou.com”. Of course, upon reflection, I had to laugh.
Graham Strong | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
Hi Roberta,
I saw one like this the other day! I couldn’t remember exactly where, so I did a quick search — it was something to do with a therapist… Only how do you avoid reading like the_rapist if you really are a therapist?
Anyway, I came across this list of “unfortunate” URLs. I like the one for lawyers the best:
http://www.adpunch.org/entry/accidental-bad-urls-of-companies/
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Do Blogs Work?
Roberta Rosenberg | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
@Kevin … I’ve had boyfriends for whom ‘meatyou.com’ would apply … good point about the domain names, as well. Thank you!
@Graham … hmm, rapist? therapist? I’m feeling a connection. Thanks for the link … major needed laffs today!
Tom Chandler/Copywriter Underground | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
The smart copywriter would simply refuse to place URLs and phone numbers in their work.
Sure, clients wouldn’t enjoy any return on their marketing investment, but it would certainly be safer for us.
Tom [safety first] Chandler
Tom Chandler/Copywriter Underground’s last blog post..Yet Another Argument in Favor of Writers Blogging
Roberta Rosenberg | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@Tom – phone numbers are the worst. I learned to call each # myself. Good thing, too. One time, prestigious association client gave us an order # to use for their ad partners catalog. Before we released to printer, we called the #. It was a phone sex line. Wow, major save.
Graham Strong | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
Hey Roberta,
That’s a whole new lesson in proofing. Stuff like that happens *all* the time. One of my major charity clients — a real stickler for getting everything exactly right — sent out a package that had a wrong phone number. And not in the fine print, the big call-out on the front…
Everyone assumes the address, phone, email, etc. is correct and rarely looks closely at it. I’ve taken to focusing on those things more carefully now (whenever I’m involved in the layout proofing stage, anyway…) It’s certainly in the details…
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Do Blogs Work?
Bob LeDrew | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
My favorite: A web site that helps you find out what agent works for what celebrity:
http://www.whorepresents.com
Bob LeDrew’s last blog post..And they say nothing happens in Ottawa.
Roberta Rosenberg | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@Bob – hahahahaha, thanks. I bet they actually picked that one on purpose. (Went to college with the late Don Adams’ agent. Am I too cool or what?