Remember waiting for a commercial break in a TV show? You could count on it hitting at a certain time in your favorite show every week. When it did, you sprinted for that snack or drink or bathroom.

Sure, Clara asking “Where’s the beef?” was funny the first dozen times you saw it — but now you had things to do, so you did it on Wendy’s dime.  Thinking back, I believe we were actually grateful for commercials.

But now, according to a New York Times headline, “The Advertising Industry Has a Problem: People Hate Ads.” Citing several advertising industry sources, the Times article claims we’re overwhelmed with advertising now — at least in part because of the many digital venues now open to advertisers.

But that’s the same lament that’s been heard for decades — when billboards started popping up, when men walked around with sandwich board signs and even when Geritol sponsored the Ted Mack Amateur Hour on CBS. “Darn advertising is everywhere,” I’m sure has been a well-used phrase since advertising became a business.

That’s not to say there aren’t legitimate complaints. There are several specific issues consumers have with advertising today. Hubspot conducted a global survey of consumers to determine which advertising created the most negative and positive experiences.

Baddies

Generating the most negative ratings were Telemarketing Calls – with 76% of respondents reporting it as a negative experience. Other negative experience champs were Pop-Up online ads (63% reported them negative), Autoplaying Online Video Ads (48%) and Direct Mail (28%).

Not listed in the Hubspot survey was retargeting — advertising to people who visited your website. Some people call it “tracking” and consider it invasive. But most people don’t even know it’s happening,

Not So Bad

Online Display Ads, sponsored Facebook and Twitter Ads, and TV Commercials tied at only 8% negative. Even more impressive were the 30%-50% of respondents who actually reported a positive or somewhat positive experience with those types of ads.

Advertisers Defend Advertising

What happens when you ask advertisers why some consumers hate advertising? Most of my fellow consultants will say, “Consumers don’t hate advertising, they hate ‘bad’ advertising.” That’s baloney. What’s considered good advertising to one person is bad advertising to another. Some consumers think advertising should be entertaining or even funny.

I have one guideline — if it works, it’s good.

If it doesn’t work, it’s bad.

Consumers Hate Everything

So is advertising really a “problem”? Or is it just an easy story to write and make a fuss about? You can ask anyone what they “hate” and get plenty to write about. And that seems to be a specialty of The New York Times.

If you search Google (as I did) for “Why Some People Hate Advertising,” you’ll get about 837 Million results. But substitute “hate lawyers” for “hate advertising” and you’ll get about 171 Million results. Try “sunny days” and you’ll get 39.6 Million results. “Hate Dogs” get 198 Million results “Hate Babies” and get 152 Million results.

Who the heck hates dogs and babies?

Probably the same people who fall under the “Hate Everything” category, because that returns 781 Million results.

What’s Your Goal?

The goal of most advertising is to move people to act — ask for more information, request a quote, buy a product or service, change an opinion, or secure a pledge, donation or vote. Not everyone is going to like your message and your advertising. But if your advertising is effective and people are acting in response, you’re on the right track.

Bottom Line

If you can avoid the types of advertising that generate the most negative experience ratings, by all means do that. But if the only way to reach a prospect is to use one of the more negatively rated forms of advertising — like telemarketing — then do it. Just don’t call me. I hate telemarketing.