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Original poster

Would you find this advert endearing and effective or a bit cringeworthy and too personal?

203 replies

bakingbaker · 20/08/2023 14:06

What would you think if you saw a baker advertise his products on FB or Instagram by talking about their struggles, how they stay out in the cold until they've sold everything, dropped out their high paying career, how they pull constant all nighters or how they still managed to deliver your box out of A and E after a car crash.

Would you think it is a good strategy or would you think it's a bit too much?

More specifically what would you think of a post like this? Would you post it or leave it?

"I deliver my cakes by hand. 10 on my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back. My philosophy is that if we avoid getting tired, we cannot appreciate a night's rest. If we keep taking it easy, we cannot truly appreciate a glass of water or a hot meal. These are the little joys which make life worth living for me. I do not want it easy!"

or, a bit more personal:

"This business was meant to be co-run by two people - my ex-partner and I. I spent 2 years building up our bakery to the point that I was ready to share the journey with someone. So I rebranded for a fresh start for us this year. But they and I had different visions. I wanted to continue improving my baking, keep prices the same and pay myself the minimum salary while reinvesting most of the revenue back into my business. My partner prioritised delegating the workload to staff, increasing profits and cashing out. This isn't wrong in and of itself but my heart disagreed. It didn't make sense to harvest the first fruits when I could wait and harvest the whole rainforest. There is so much growth still left.

I've faced some tough choices on my journey. With the time commitments, I had to choose between my friends or my small business. Next it was my job or my small business. After that my academics or my small business. But this one really stopped me in my tracks: my partner or my small business. Do I love my business enough that I'd give up a future with someone? The double workload combined with the breakup left me empty. I needed to channel the negative energy into something positive.

This journey has taught me that nothing will happen unless you make it happen."

Thank you for your opinion

OP posts:
BeckyBlue · 20/08/2023 14:07

Mate, people just want to buy cake.

FionnulaTheCooler · 20/08/2023 14:09

I don't want to be trauma dumped on to try and guilt me into buying a product, no.

Gatekeeper · 20/08/2023 14:10

BeckyBlue · 20/08/2023 14:07

Mate, people just want to buy cake.

100%

I would cringe at all that and would want to buy you- if it is you- some lip stiffener

Tenpintonpin · 20/08/2023 14:10

What @BeckyBlue said. I'm actively put off by all that spiel and would go elsewhere for my cake.

stbrandonsboat · 20/08/2023 14:11

I'd steer clear in case you started weeping on my shoulder and telling me your life story.

It's a total cringefest and you'd be branded a snowflakey weirdo.

CurlewKate · 20/08/2023 14:11

All much too much.

Treacletoots · 20/08/2023 14:12

Take it from a marketer: what is your product and why do I want it.

Look at "what's in it for me" from your customers point of view. That's all. Anything else isn't relevant.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 20/08/2023 14:12

The second one in particular is very wordy, & there’s nothing in either post that tells you how good the products are.

I’d be worried that if I went to the bakery I’d be stuck for ages listening to them talking about this stuff when I just really wanted to buy something & go.

rainbowstardrops · 20/08/2023 14:12

I agree with previous replies! It's none of my business the struggles you've faced - especially the personal ones! We all have them!
It needs to be catchy and eye catching. I wouldn't buy from a sob story. Sorry.

Henddraig · 20/08/2023 14:12

I think lean more on how good the product is. That tends to sway me more.

continentallentil · 20/08/2023 14:13

It’s TMI for those in search of cake

But mostly people just see the cake and think ‘nice cake!’ They don’t read the bio waffle even when it’s just about the fact you got got your Madeira recipe from aunt Margot. So I wouldn’t worry about it.

Aquamarine1029 · 20/08/2023 14:13

I would avoid that bakery like the plague. What a load of bollocks.

rainbowstardrops · 20/08/2023 14:14

Imagine you're pitching to Dragons Den. Do you think they'd be impressed with your sob story?

AreolaGrande · 20/08/2023 14:14

BeckyBlue · 20/08/2023 14:07

Mate, people just want to buy cake.

🤣👏👏👏👏👏

Scarlet for ya OP.

AgnesX · 20/08/2023 14:14

It wouldn't make me buy their stuff. In the great scheme of things their "journey" doesn't really interest me (and the term "journey" is downright irritating 🙄).

monpetitlapin · 20/08/2023 14:14

Marketing professional here. Your marketing shouldn't be all about you. This is all about you. Your marketing should be about your customers' problems and how your product solves it (and how they will feel when they do).
Also one Facebook post isn't going to sell all your cakes, you have to show up consistently with your clear marketing message.
Hope that helps, sorry I'm running out of the door or I'd sugarcoat it more.

Hoppinggreen · 20/08/2023 14:16

It would put me right off

MeinKraft · 20/08/2023 14:17

I don't want to listen to that load of waffle and would actively avoid that bakery.

Just do a spiel about how your cakes are fresh and delicious.

LBFseBrom · 20/08/2023 14:17

It wouldn't impress me.

Everyone has struggles, I do not know one person, rich or poor, high or low, who hasn't. It's life.

It's good to talk but advertising goods is not the platform to discuss your past (or present), problems; there are other, legitimate, outlets for that.

Hbh17 · 20/08/2023 14:18

They are both awful, but the "journey" stuff is completely ghastly, and I would avoid the company at all costs. Just keep it about the product, and in no more than 2 sentences.

itsmyp4rty · 20/08/2023 14:19

I would avoid those cakes as they clearly only belong at a pity party. There's far too much cringe on SM and I scroll on by it all. It all just smacks of someone who is unprofessional, desperate and has poor time management.

Be upbeat and say how much you enjoyed making the cakes with really good quality pictures, tell people what you can do, how much they cost and how people get hold of them.

MaryQueenofSocks · 20/08/2023 14:20

Please, just don't.

Sparkletastic · 20/08/2023 14:20

My ex yoga teacher was like this. Very off-putting.

MeinKraft · 20/08/2023 14:21

I'd also worry about my cake turning up in one piece if the baker is running around balancing 30 of them on their arms and back.

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 20/08/2023 14:21

It would put me completely off. It sounds like begging, not marketing a decent product I might want to buy. We all work hard. The "dropped out of a high paying career" is even more jaw dropping - this person actively chose to pursue a lower paid job and is now whining poor me.

With this attitude why not just sit in the street with your arms outstretched for money. Write all that on the cardboard sign.