Marketing overkill is getting to me. My medical newsletters and other letters too, of course, use an approach that is a surefire way to turn me off.

There are teaser lines that grab my attention. Here’s a classic, “What you are doing wrong (sic), to lose belly fat.” Oh, oh, oh. What, what what? You click on it and get 40 pages of what you shouldn’t believe, and testimonials from a horde of satisfied users of whatever it is that you won’t get to know till you have reached the end of this very tedious hardsell.

After paragraph one, I am not reading,I am skimming as I scroll, looking for the kicker, the end result of all this schmooz. Then I am not even skimming, just scrolling. I am thinking, Does it ever end???? I want the bottom line. Life is too short, I don’t even know what they are selling. I click out. Instantly I get a pop-up that basically says, “Arrggghhh, don't go -- DON’T GO – HERE IS A DISCOUNT!!!!”

Too late, you blew it.

I have serious doubts about any device, or pill, or book, or regimen that is going to help me if the seller is peeing all over my leg to get me to try it. And I resent the assumption that I am so stupid I need 40 pages to convince me.

Infomercials on TV affect me the same way. Sometimes I do want to try the product and I am waiting for the phone number to be flashed on the screen. A half hour later, they are still gushing (gushing also offends me)about what this product will do for you, but no phone no. Now if I don't see the number in 5 minutes, I change the station.

If you want me to loosen the purse strings, all you marketing wizards out there, tell me what you’ve got, tell me how it helps and how it is different, tell me what it costs. I will allow you a couple of testimonials from satisfied customers. I don’t want this spiel to take more than a page. Anything longer than that loses me. Edit, edit, edit.

I realize the reason these letters are offered free with some advice and information that is actually new and helpful is because the ads defray their costs and you are not asked for a subscription fee. But the ads aren't doing the job, unless most people aren't like me and actually enjoy spending their lives with the seller's message eating away at them.

xx Teal