What Marketing and Fishing Rods Have in Common!

Whenever I get a chance to answer emails fromBecause the ad was displayed to a target
small business owners, they usually come to meaudience already the audience was already pre
with the big question; why am I failing. And I lookqualified to see your ad.
at them and I just wish we were in the matrixToo see this in action;
and I could give them a quick download of all theTake one fishing ad. And take one Fishing shop.
information I have for then and then thatMichael decided one day he was sick of breaking
question would never rise to their consciouseven each year. Then one day he had a
thought.revelation and he asked himself the question;
However, it's not the future just yet (but don'tHow do I increase my business from a $50,000
you worry having spent 4 years studying as abusiness to a $100,000 business? (hint, hint)
Medical Engineer I am well aware of where theWhat do you suppose he would do?
technology will take us and, the matrix days willHe realise he had too get smarter than his
come).competition on this subject. Up until now he had
So for now I will convey my concepts the oldonly been advertising in the paper and that is
fashioned way through word and mouth.when it hit him not everyone is a fisherman so as
The problem is small business owners are askinga result over 80% of his money would be spend
themselves the wrong questions.on people who don't have the slightest interest in
If you ask the question "How come my smallfishing. That means you are only making money
business is failing?" Your mind will look for reasonson 20% of you advertising budget. And I'm sure
for your failure, or something or someone toyou have heard of the old 80, 20 rule.
blame.So if Michael wants to increase his business he
Read on and I will tell you what the rightneeds to smarten up his advertising campaigns.
questions you have to ask yourself.This is why the Magazine became so popular
But for now the common reasons people findbecause it allowed businesses to only advertise to
their failure are:their target audience. These days it seems logical
"We don't have enough leads to make moreto advertise a fishing rod in a fishing magazine.
money."However, like I said in the 21st century
"We don't have the funding to spend moreadvertising costs are higher than ever and thus
money on advertising too generate the potentialthe ROI is only shrinking.
customers for our business."Next came along Radio and TV.
And you know what?Again, in the case of Michael's Fishing company; if
It's true advertising cost are going up and thushe was smart enough his advertising would only
the profit margins are getting smaller and smaller.go live when the fishing program was on. For the
So how can this problem be tackled?same reason not everyone was interested in
Before we will answer this question we must gofishing!!!
back in time to before the 21st century andWhich brings me to an important point, that I
analyse how small businesses back then used toconstantly see small business pour thousand of
acquire customers.dollars into and it gets them nowhere; unless it is
Before the millennium ticked over small businessesjust out side you business door, never ever put
acquired their customers through media inup a random bill board promoting your product or
chronological order starting when the first printservice because not everyone is interested in
came out and the Newspaper became the mainyour product or service.
source of communication. Small business wouldThe trick is too get your advertising message too
place their ad in the paper and the customersthe right people without interrupting everybody
would start flowing through the doors.else's day.
Then came along subject orientated MagazinesIf you can do this then you can spend your entire
which was a big breakthrough for small businessadvertising budget on the types of media that
because it had an increased ROI (Return ondraw in the highest ROI and thus make money
Investment) compared to the newspaper.for you and your family.
Why was that?