Unless you have been living under a rock, then you know that the country is in the midst of a financial crisis. Jobless rates are through the roof, homes are in foreclosure, the stock market is volatile, and businesses are closing.
I could spend the next hour giving my opinion on why we are in the mess that we are in, but that would only spark a debate that may not be entirely appropriate for an Internet marketing blog. Instead, I will share with you my vision on how we, as Internet marketers, have the power to make things better.
Most people agree the solution to our crisis lies in job creation. The problem is that those with political power differ on how to create these much needed jobs.
Democrats feel the solution is in infrastructure repair. Fixing the roads creates jobs, they say. While I won’t argue that many roads need a face lift, I will argue that this is a temporary solution. Once the repairs are done, the jobs disappear.
Republicans submit that the solution lies in creating a more hiring friendly atmosphere for big businesses. They suggest lowering corporate taxes and eliminating needless regulations. The more money big business saves, the more likely they will be to hire. More people on the payroll means more taxpaying citizens and higher revenues for the federal government. Maybe. It’s either that or the more offshore outsourcing big business will do.
Both parties have their fans. The Democrat solution results in higher campaign contributions from government contractors. The Republican solution results in higher campaign contributions from the rest of corporate America.
Unfortunately, neither party has a vested interest in mentioning what the real solution is: Entrepreneurship.
It’s true. The very thing that built this country will save this country, once the people wake up and accept this.
Small businesses are the heart and sole of America. They always have been and they always will be. Imagine how many jobs would have been created if the $700 billion in corporate bailout money went towards government secured loans for mom and pop shops. Entrepreneurs create jobs. One small business may not have the employment roster as a large corporation, but collectively, they are a force to be reckoned with.
So, how do we play a part in the fixing of America? Simple, by committing yourself to helping your business and other small businesses succeed and grow.
As Internet marketers, we have knowledge that a very small percentage of the country has. We know how to generate leads. We know how to create more traffic. We know how to build businesses.
We know all of this because we spend countless hours researching, asking questions on forums, and split testing until the cows come home. The problem is that most IMers don’t recognize the power that they hold.
Ask any business on Main Street how to set up a squeeze page. They will look at you like you are from another planet. They think Fan Pages are for rock stars and social marketing is for kids. We know better and it’s time that we hit the streets in numbers, sharing our knowledge with the small businesses of America.
Whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned marketing professional, you know more about Internet marketing than just about every small business owner in your town. They need your help, so give it to them.
What would happen if every Internet marketer on the Warrior Forum decided that they were going to go out and help just five businesses a month get more customers. I’ll tell you what would happen: a snowball effect.
Small businesses pay you to help them get new customers. New customers pay the small businesses for their products or services. As profits increase, companies expand, jobs are created, and tax revenues explode.
In a perfect world, there would be a man with starter pistol yelling, “On your mark, get set, go”, but we know that man doesn’t exist. There will not be a day that everybody decides to help themselves and their neighbors at once, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot start making a difference one Internet marketer at a time.
Get out there. Hit the streets with your knowledge. Design websites, set up Fan Pages, teach email marketing. There is a lot of money to be made in offline consulting and the rewards go beyond just financial. Every small business that you help save is like saving a piece of America.
If you too believe that entrepreneurship can save the country, pass this message along to every Internet marketer that you know, beat it into the brains of your elected officials, and take action yourself.
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Great article EBR, I couldn’t agree with you more that we are empowered to change the landscape of this country.
I used to spend a lot of time pondering politics, It brought me feelings of disenpowerment as I could not directly affect any of the outcomes I felt so strongly about.
Im glad to say that now I feel like I am making more of a change than I ever thought possible, and I owe it all to IM. I built giving 5% towards charity into my business and that has motivated me to work harder than ever.
Thanks for writing this article we are truly an army with great potential for job growth in America, and we need a leader to send into the direction of the fight!
Yes, I know that we can help. You know that we can help. Sadly, most of the local businesses aren’t willing to invest what needs to be invested to make the true changes that can revolutionize their business. Oh well, if they do, they do. If they don’t can’t say I didn’t warn them.
The funniest excuse I’ve heard is “I don’t need IM. I’ll stick to (fill in blank).” Realtors love this excuse and it cracks me up every time I hear it!
Hear! Hear! I second that thought! In fact, it’s the message I use, when talking to local businesses about online/offline marketing. I once owned a butcher shop and deli. We had a great product, but I was a chef, not a marketer. I believe I went out of business for this very reason.
Traditional marketing was expensive and you could not track results either, but what was the alternative (in 1995). There is a cost effective alternative now and it is up to IMers to spread the word.
Small businesses will be more effective in turning this economy around, than the big multinational corporations. Revitalize Main Street, USA! We have the tools! Passion is contagious!
Brian, this is a nice move and I guess I have learn something from this post as well. It is high time we let them know what IM can do (we should not teach them though but build it for them).
Keep on the good job man.
this is so true brian..
Great post Brian! I agree wholeheartedly and have, for the past few months, tried to make a difference in my small community. It seems that, according to the google adwords search tool, there’s “nobody” searching for any businesses in my area. I know that can’t be true & I understand that the tool I’m using isn’t geared, directly to how I’m using it so I need to consider the intent of the searcher, but my analytics are telling me that I’m driving a small number of customers to my clients from South America. Yikes, especially considering that they are “local services” and I’m in Pennsylvania, so that’s not helping. I must be doing something wrong, or I need to relocate to South America. I’m one of many, I’m sure, that are missing something … but having said that, I’m not giving up!
I’ll probably p*ss some people off saying this. Small business IS the heart and soul of America, Canada, Australia and the UK. Small business provides 60% of jobs in those countries. But a lot of people in IM have no clue how to help a small business owner get customers or sell tangible products. There’s far too much focus on MMO and infoproducts and too many people that call themselves marketers don’t know how to market anything BUT infoproducts and MMO. But you’re right – if every “marketer” could help 5 small businesses that sell tangibles, it would change the economy.
Don’t want to rain on the patriotic parade but the fact is most people are not equipped to be entrepreneurs. They don’t have the temperament, self-discipline or ability to self-analyze their situation. I’ve worked with business owners for 20+ years and many should never have gone into business in the first place. They simply weren’t cut out for it.
While I love to see good people make the leap to being a business owner (far different in my opinion from being an entrepreneur), I don’t think that alone will solve the country’s ills. One of the key elements of our success as a country was our self-sufficiency. We produced our own food. We had natural resources for steel, energy and manufacturing. We developed a strong work force and we used to produce well-educated kids out of high-school. In a recent study, they concluded that a high school graduate in 1965 had the educational equivalence of a third-year college student today. As you might remember, graduating high school used to mean something.
We’ll never fulfill our destiny until we educate our children properly – including letting the ones who want to pursue a trade to do so, bring manufacturing back to our shores and encourage business ownership and entrepreneurs to do what they do best. When we do that, our middle class will thrive and that was the real secret of our unprecedented financial success – a strong middle class.
Steve, I don’t think that you are raining on anyone’s parade. You are right on with your comments.
A self sufficient America used to be a reality, but now is a dream. Oil can’t be drilled and farmers are being paid not to grow.
My mantra isn’t designed to be a fix all, but it is certainly a start.
I agree with not only EBR’s post, but Carlos’ comment as well. Even though small businesses are struggling, they’re not willing to invest in themselves to improve their situation. Like you, Carlos, I’ve warned people (politely) about the need to get going online. If they just don’t get it, I guess there’s not a whole lot more I can do.
I also realize that part of the problem lies with me. Maybe I’m not doing a good enough job selling the service. I’m always asking myself, “How do I get the message across to these small businesses?” It’s like the IM thing is just too unknown for them to want to take the plunge (even though it’s not that big of a plunge).
Anyway, great post.
This is a very motivational post. Offline marketing is very much a win win exchange. Small businesses need IM more than ever today.
I gotta find a way to put this into my sales pitch.
I’m thinking of the:
1. The recession relief Package
2. The recession boost Package
3. The recession elimination Package
Even though our country my be in a depression.
You’re preaching to the choir here, EBR. I’ve been a small business evangelist for 20 years.
The great thing about marketing on the internet is that it doesn’t matter what your background, education, credit score, or even criminal record is. The internet is the great equalizer.
A big part of my experience is in the Employment field. I’ve been suggesting for years that the unemployed invest $500 and 10 hours a week out of their job hunting efforts and commit to learning what it takes to create some online income. Set realistic initial goals. Avoid the “get rich quick” pitfalls that most rookies fall for. Model someone you can trust.
Perfect just one skill at a time that you can offer to small businesses for money. i.e. If you have a finance background you already know the language. Offer your new marketing skill to that niche.
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers,
Brenda
EBR has a great point and a piece of a large collection of ideas which need to be combined for a complete solution. Problem is we seem to try and solve complex issues these days by conveniently fitting the solutions into sound bites and a swing for the fences mentality. Whatever happened to trying a multitude of small ideas. Thanks EBR for your ideas!
Thanks for sharing that with us E.B. I myself have said for years now that the good ole U.S. is becoming a service oriented society and we are seeing that come into fruition. The world will never be the same as it used to be because of the Web, so as entrepreneurs we have to embrace it and use it to our advantage as much as possible. This one simple fact, is where small business owners need to be educated in my opinion anyway!
Blown away by this post. I think you hit the nail right on with this one.
There are more small family own businesses that hire more employees than all the corporate employees in the US based on US Government Stats.
Dan
Great post EBR! I see many business in my local area going out of business simply because they don’t know how to attract new customers or keep the old ones coming back. Times are changing and businesses must know how to adapt or they will become extinct. That’s where we come in to show them how to use the new technology like social media, sms messaging, mobile websites and such to get more customers and stay in business.