Reply to: FAO : Anyone at Parasol

[Drewster]

If your connection is routed via another country then you just see a simple add no flashing ball.

I assume I am routed via another country.... and I still get the 'kin Football.........

....although when I have accessed from ClientCo I don't think I do.... although I didn't actually login... so that might make a difference.

[Churchill]

Dear Churchill et al.

We’re actually very flattered to be generating so much debate but I did think it was worth replying, just to answer a few of your points.

I work in ClearSky’s marketing team and the reason we advertise on Contractor UK is because it is the most influential and authoritative forum available to contractors in the UK and, although we are aware some of you have found the football ad to be a bit distracting, we have seen a very large number of contractors finding it genuinely useful and clicking on the ad to request additional information on operating as a limited company and about ClearSky Accounting. We have to balance this with some of the negative feedback that is appearing here. I would repeat the advice a number of posters have submitted here on blocking the ads if you don’t like them or they’re not relevant to you.

In the spirit of making our marketing less annoying though, please let me know how often you’d like to see the ads refreshed. And if you work in graphic design and want to suggest what our next campaign should look like, we’d love to hear from you. We promise to use any good ideas or at least put the funny ones on our blog.

We do know that the line “We get a kick out of helping you succeed” is a bit cheesy but it’s a direct quote from our MD who genuinely does get excited when he sees long term clients achieve their ambitions like buying a second home. Sad but true.

I’m more than happy for any of you to get in touch with any feedback you might have on this ad or anything else. It all helps and you can PM here or email me at steven.proud@parasolgroup.co.uk

Steven

Steven, thank you for your response.

FFS get rid of the bastard football, it is annoying. My pet gerbil is epileptic and has had a number of seizures directly attributable to your advertising campaign!

p.s.
I haven't got a gerbil but if I did have and if it were an epileptic then I'm sure your advert would cause it serious problems.

[NickFitz]

We do know that the line “We get a kick out of helping you succeed” is a bit cheesy but it’s a direct quote from our MD who genuinely does get excited when he sees long term clients achieve their ambitions like buying a second home. Sad but true.

I’m more than happy for any of you to get in touch with any feedback you might have on this ad or anything else.

Some of the regulars on here would be quite happy with an animation of a yuppie kicking a beggar...

[PRC1964]

Dear Churchill et al.
{blah}
suggest what our next campaign should look like
{blah}
Steven

It's the sheer sexism of singling out the all male football world cup that gets me. Why have you ignored the female beach volleyball going on right now in Shanghai? I bet you could find some cracking pictures to use there.

[threaded]

want to suggest what our next campaign should look like, we’d love to hear from you

How's about a dog bounding up from the background, like the ball.

'Cause it's after the ball innit.

[MarillionFan]

Dear Churchill et al.

Bollocks

Steven

FTFY

[AtW]

I work in ClearSky’s marketing team and the reason we advertise on Contractor UK is because it is the most influential and authoritative forum available to contractors in the UK

I thank you...

[Steven@Parasol]

FAO: Anyone at Parasol

RE: Your current advertising campaign - aka "The annoying flashing football"

Dear Sir/Madam,

Firstly, thank you for your economic support of the CUK forum.

I fully understand that in the current economic climate new and innovative approaches are required to “get your corporate message across” and to attract new business. However, your current advertising message does have a tendency to annoy. In fact, it gets right on my norks!

Yours faithfully,

Churchill
(The Dog, not the fat, dead ex-Prime Minister.)

Dear Churchill et al.

We’re actually very flattered to be generating so much debate but I did think it was worth replying, just to answer a few of your points.

I work in ClearSky’s marketing team and the reason we advertise on Contractor UK is because it is the most influential and authoritative forum available to contractors in the UK and, although we are aware some of you have found the football ad to be a bit distracting, we have seen a very large number of contractors finding it genuinely useful and clicking on the ad to request additional information on operating as a limited company and about ClearSky Accounting. We have to balance this with some of the negative feedback that is appearing here. I would repeat the advice a number of posters have submitted here on blocking the ads if you don’t like them or they’re not relevant to you.

In the spirit of making our marketing less annoying though, please let me know how often you’d like to see the ads refreshed. And if you work in graphic design and want to suggest what our next campaign should look like, we’d love to hear from you. We promise to use any good ideas or at least put the funny ones on our blog.

We do know that the line “We get a kick out of helping you succeed” is a bit cheesy but it’s a direct quote from our MD who genuinely does get excited when he sees long term clients achieve their ambitions like buying a second home. Sad but true.

I’m more than happy for any of you to get in touch with any feedback you might have on this ad or anything else. It all helps and you can PM here or email me at steven.proud@parasolgroup.co.uk

Steven

[Spacecadet]

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by my time sheet signer what football site I was reading...
I've avoided CUK during the day since then and will probably continue to avoid it untill the ads change to something more subtle

[Ravello]

RE: Your current advertising campaign - aka "The annoying flashing football"

Dear Sir/Madam,

Firstly, thank you for your economic support of the CUK forum.

I really like your advertisement!

I would suggest some alternates that arrive every so often, for variety: could we have rugby balls and tennis balls, squash balls, cricket balls, etc.?

In fact, anything that gets right on churchill's norks!

Yours faithfully,

threaded
(The one and only, well apart from the others.)

I'm not convinced that reference to goals, and the slogan "we get a kick out of helping you succeed" works well with tennis balls, squash balls etc.

Either way I'm with Churchill on this one the ads are annoying and probably counter-productive.

[FiveTimes]

People without ad-blocking software get an annoying flashing football advert (apparently). Try disabling your ad-blocking software to have a look.

If your connection is routed via another country then you just see a simple add no flashing ball.

[Scary]

People without ad-blocking software get an annoying flashing football advert (apparently). Try disabling your ad-blocking software to have a look.

[HairyArsedBloke]

I know I'm fick 'n all dat, but what is this football?

I have some old toot about clarity or clear sky flashing about in the top right corner but since I have to scroll down so much to get to the content it disappears (which also shows how stupid the layout is).

[Churchill]

RE: Your current advertising campaign - aka "The annoying flashing football"

Dear Sir/Madam,

Firstly, thank you for your economic support of the CUK forum.

I really like your advertisement!

I would suggest some alternates that arrive every so often, for variety: could we have rugby balls and tennis balls, squash balls, cricket balls, etc.?

In fact, anything that gets right on churchill's norks!

Yours faithfully,

threaded
(The one and only, well apart from the others.)

ftfy

Thanks girls!

[mudskipper]

re: Your current advertising campaign - aka "the annoying flashing football"
... It gets right on my moobs!

ftfy