Do you have this valuable business "super power" ? :)

[Dien Rice]

Several years go, I wandered into a restaurant...

I ate the food. I liked it.

I talked to the owner/chef. I liked the guy too...

I kept coming back.

While it was sometimes full... I noticed that it was often empty.

The owner was struggling.

You know why? He couldn't market worth a damn...!

His marketing 100% consisted of... his sign outside the restaurant. That was it. Nothing else...

When he thought it wasn't working, he changed the sign...

Now, anyone who's attended this forum for any length of time would know more about marketing than he would!

This was eye-opening to me... Some of us "marketing junkie" types live in our own little marketing-based world... And we think that everyone knows at least some of the basics of marketing.

The fascinating reality is - many small business owners don't!

I decided to help this restaurant owner... I could have gotten him started with an email list to his customers, but I didn't want a long term commitment emailing them (as I doubt if he could have taken it over if I left). So I helped him by writing media releases, and sending them to the media (with the restaurant owner listed as the contact person)...

He got a lot of media coverage, and he got customers!

But... There were so many things that could have been done to help him...

The point to this post is... Compared to many small business owners, you may have "marketing super powers!"

That is, the ability to make customers "magically" appear, by applying various marketing techniques, tactics, and principles...

Don't discount what you know! You probably know a lot more than the average small business owner out there...

You won't find this out unless you start talking to them. And you may surprise yourself...

Best wishes!

Dien

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Several years go, I wandered into a restaurant...

I ate the food. I liked it.

I talked to the owner/chef. I liked the guy too...

I kept coming back.

While it was sometimes full... I noticed that it was often empty.

The owner was struggling.

You know why? He couldn't market worth a damn...!

His marketing 100% consisted of... his sign outside the restaurant. That was it. Nothing else...When he thought it wasn't working, he changed the sign...

Now, anyone who's attended this forum for any length of time would know more about marketing than he would!

This was eye-opening to me... Some of us "marketing junkie" types live in our own little marketing-based world... And we think that everyone knows at least some of the basics of marketing.

The fascinating reality is - many small business owners don't!

I decided to help this restaurant owner... I could have gotten him started with an email list to his customers, but I didn't want a long term commitment emailing them (as I doubt if he could have taken it over if I left). So I helped him by writing media releases, and sending them to the media (with the restaurant owner listed as the contact person)...

He got a lot of media coverage, and he got customers!

But... There were so many things that could have been done to help him...

The point to this post is... Compared to many small business owners, you may have "marketing super powers!"

That is, the ability to make customers "magically" appear, by applying various marketing techniques, tactics, and principles...

Don't discount what you know! You probably know a lot more than the average small business owner out there...

You won't find this out unless you start talking to them. And you may surprise yourself...

Best wishes!

Dien

Geez, Dien. I started reading your post and the next thing I know, I've got 12 pages of notes and ideas, front and back, on my desk.

What the heck is going on?

I can identify with the business owner buying a new sign, as I sold signs for a brief time. That purchase is often the result of not knowing what else to do.

Hopefully, your post will generate some discussion among the members here. If not, thanks anyway, as I found it very valuable .

Ron

Great post Dien,

And you are absolutely right....

You could have turned helping your friend into a very nice side income.

Most anyone could... If they don't have anything to offer local business owners,
a good place to start is this 4-hour course at:
www.udemy.com/home-business/learn/v4/overview

They can use Leo's CashMob Profits eBook to get every business owner in town to know, like and trust them.
http://www.cashmobprofits.com/

They can get some instant credibility boosters to give away to local businesses.
One example: http://instantofflineconsultant.com/

They can turn the email marketing report and the others into a printed books with their name as the author.
Then they can give away printed or digital copies. Business owners will perceive them as an expert. Some
business owners will want to hire them to build an email list of local buyers for them. The Udemy course
will show anyone how.

This is just my 2 cents worth of unsolicited advice. None of the above links are my affiliate links.
Since Leo is a long time member of this forum it wouldn't be fair to him if I posted my CashMob
Profits affiliate link here.

I hope more SowPub'ers will take the plunge in 2017.

If you are a regular SowPub reader, poster or lurker... then you already know way more than most
business owners ever will. Get out there and help them... give them free tips and PLR reports branded
with your name and details.

Give More, Get More!

Cheers,
SteveSki
PS: After I wrote this post I was about to purchase the Instant Credibility Tools mentioned above. But I'm sure glad I checked my emails first and found that all of his Offline Tools are on sale until Friday. Check it out at http://www.offlinemarketingfiresale....omo-for-bruce/

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Several years go, I wandered into a restaurant...

I ate the food. I liked it.

I talked to the owner/chef. I liked the guy too...

I kept coming back.

While it was sometimes full... I noticed that it was often empty.

The owner was struggling.

You know why? He couldn't market worth a damn...!

His marketing 100% consisted of... his sign outside the restaurant. That was it. Nothing else...

When he thought it wasn't working, he changed the sign...

Now, anyone who's attended this forum for any length of time would know more about marketing than he would!

This was eye-opening to me... Some of us "marketing junkie" types live in our own little marketing-based world... And we think that everyone knows at least some of the basics of marketing.

The fascinating reality is - many small business owners don't!

I decided to help this restaurant owner... I could have gotten him started with an email list to his customers, but I didn't want a long term commitment emailing them (as I doubt if he could have taken it over if I left). So I helped him by writing media releases, and sending them to the media (with the restaurant owner listed as the contact person)...

He got a lot of media coverage, and he got customers!

But... There were so many things that could have been done to help him...

The point to this post is... Compared to many small business owners, you may have "marketing super powers!"

That is, the ability to make customers "magically" appear, by applying various marketing techniques, tactics, and principles...

Don't discount what you know! You probably know a lot more than the average small business owner out there...

You won't find this out unless you start talking to them. And you may surprise yourself...

Best wishes!

Dien

Thanks Dien.

We have recently run across a total IGNORANCE in Chambers of Commerce we are targeting, on USPS EDDM.

It is a case of us ASSuming all businesses know this, when the reality is, very few have heard of it, and dang few use it.

AND, it was a great lesson.

You don't have to be smart to start a business (ONE) and TWO, just cause you have a business doesn't mean you know how to run it PROFITABLY.

Getting customers for these guys is easy, they think we invented this stuff, cause they have never heard of it. I'd bet most salespeople calling on small businesses are surprised at how LITTLE the owner knows.

Your restaurant guy is TYPICAL, I think, of what is out there...

therefore, some
very
low hanging
FRUIT.

GordonJ