A couple of times a year we hear about shark attacks. We hear of beaches getting closed and the effect that has on tourism and the local businesses. One shark attack it seems can stop things in their tracks. From the ISAF 2008 Worldwide Shark Attack Summary, the official report on global shark attacks, there were only 59 confirmed cases of unprovoked shark attacks in 2008. (Remember that is unprovoked. If someone is provoking a shark, you had it comin’.) Of the 59 attacks there were 4 fatalities. Think of the number of swimmers around the world and of that huge number only 59 were attacked and 4 were killed. After hearing about 1 shark attack we would second guess a quick jump in the ocean. We fear sharks in spite of this small number of incidents.
When is the last time you heard about a deadly deer incident on the news? Not lately I’m sure. Every year, 150 to 200 people die in deer-vehicle collisions nationwide. Keep in mind that these are fatalities. This number is minute compared to the thousands of “unprovoked” deer car accidents..”attacks”. When is the last time you thought twice about driving down a country road because of the crazed blood-driven deer?
How does this translate to marketing, business and the web?
We fear sharks much more than we fear deer. I’m sure we can all agree on this. Sharks are easier to focus our fear on. We watch “Shark Week” on cable. We don’t watch “Deer Week”. We think about sharks and what they can do to us and ignore deer. We think the sharks can kill us, but the deer are friendly. Who do you focus on in your business? I’m guessing your competitors. You fear they may eat your market share and put you out of business.
You need to start worrying more about the deer.
The web has created a new meaner kind of deer. This deer can gobble up your market share; you business life. Let’s say you own a plastics recycling business. You buy scrap plastic, clean it, reform it, and then sell it. You know who your main competitors are and you watch them closely. There is a new competitor ready to jump out in front of your car at any second. It’s me…or someone like me. Why worry about me? I’m no plastic recycler. This is true, but I am an internet marketer. I can build a website in 1 weekend that will look better than yours, get more visitors than yours, and get more paying customers than yours. I can contact your competitors and have them do all the work and servicing for me while I broker the deal. The customer doesn’t care, even if you think they do. If I can provide close to the same service at a slightly lower price, I’ve got your market share. Scared yet?
How to stop a charging deer
Now let’s be clear, I have no interest in going into the plastics business. But I could. Now is the time to start taking your internet marketing seriously. Your website is horrible and you know it. You don’t think marketing your business on line is worth the money and effort. You’re dead wrong. You need to take charge online while your competitors are still sleeping. It’s very hard to beat momentum. Once you have momentum online how are your competitors going to stop you or even slow you down? They can’t, at least not without some great effort and expenditure of time and money. Have your internet marketing plan evaluated. What’s that…you don’t have an internet marketing plan. You better get one. Have someone look at your website to see if your reaching the right audience with the right information. Have someone get a true reading of how your site is performing on the search engines. After all, if you can’t be found you don’t exist. Is your current website/internet marketing provider the person to use? Honestly, absolutely not. You want an impartial third party. You can keep your current provider to do the work after the evaluation…as long as they know how to make things work correctly. Of course if they knew how to do that, they probably would have already done it.
Deer are scary but do not fear…
your new marketing plan is right around the corner. It’s time to get it done while the deer are sleeping and the sharks are full.
Follow/Friend me!