The other day a friend of mine put this question out on Facebook…
“Do you think the internet is going to continue on and on and on or do you think it’s gonna go bust — sort of spontaneously combust — at some point?”
None of us can predict the future so there’s really no way of knowing but most people thought, “That’s NEVER going to happen!”
It’s easy to live from a place of “things will never change” even though, deep down, we know that things always change.
There’s a quote that I love and it captures the truth about change…
“My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover but his son will ride a camel.” — Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
What this says to me is there’s a cyclical nature to pretty much everything — even online marketing!
Think about it…
Our predecessors used direct mail to connect with their customers and then we primarily started using email to get our message out.
Now Millennials are giving email a miss and turning to Messenger, WhatsApp or other chat apps.
So based on the cyclical nature of everything, I get a hunch that the generation after this one might find themselves right back at the beginning with direct mail!
You might be thinking, “That’s ridiculous, Marisa! That’s never gonna happen!” but let me ask you…
Are you 100% sure? Stranger things have happened…
The End of the Internet As We Know It
When you look at the technology life cycle (which traces the different stages of innovation in tech) it’s clear that things simply can’t keep accelerating at the current speed.
In other words, innovations in tech are not on an endless growth cycle.
Sooner or later things are going to hit a plateau and go into decline and what this means is the internet as we know it right now, might not be around forever.
Yes, it’s a scary thought BUT it’s not all doom and gloom and it definitely doesn’t mean you have to quit your online business and run out and do something else!
Because when it comes to starting and growing a profitable, purposeful business in any industry, in any time period, anywhere in the world, here’s what I know for sure…
It’s all about the marketing.
It’s all about getting the word out and connecting powerfully and effectively with the right customers because no matter what else is going on, no matter how much the industry changes, the world changes or your offer or service changes…
Damn good marketing is damn good marketing is damn good marketing!
And it always gets the job done.
It’s Not What You Want to Be Obsessed With
So here’s the thing…
Nothing ever stays the same and the future of powerful, effective marketing will shift and it could potentially morph and evolve — or even devolve — into hundreds of different formats.
For instance, it might return to direct mail, or even flyers in your neighborhood community space, or it might be some kind of high-tech AI-based Chatbot thing we haven’t even heard of yet.
But guess what? None of that matters.
What matters is your ability to communicate a message that attracts your clients and customers and keeps them coming back to you again and again.
The thing is: most entrepreneurs don’t get that.
I see so many people getting super obsessed about keeping up with the trends and doing the “latest, innovative thing” but they’re NOT obsessed enough about becoming a damn good marketer.
They’re way too busy chasing every tip and tactic out there but they’re not doing the thing that will help them get through every transformation that could happen online (and even offline), now and in the future.
I’m talking about building timeless, foundational skills that drive powerful, effective marketing.
Things like knowing how to work with persuasion and human psychology to build your customer base and knowing how to write great headlines and CTAs that can’t be ignored…
And understanding the art of connecting with people and creating genuine rapport.
Business owners and entrepreneurs have used these skills to survive and thrive through every change, evolution and innovation that have come before.
And these are the skills we need to survive and thrive whatever’s coming, in the future.
The reason Gary V continues to smash it on TikTok isn’t just because TikTok continues to smash growth records (hitting 1 billion monthly active users — years earlier than Facebook and Instagram reached that milestone), but because Gary V knows how to grab attention and keep it… day after day.
Building a Business that Stands the Test of Time
So if you and I were sitting across from each other right now and you asked me to share the one thing that will help you stay in the game, play it and WIN, this is what I’d say to you…
Get out of the hamster wheel of keeping up with marketing trends and tactics and get back to the basics.
(Note: Check out my video with 21 timeless online marketing tips).
Focus on becoming a damn good marketer.
Remember that the goal of riding that camel and the goal of driving that Land Rover is exactly the same… you want to get from point A to point B.
The goal of marketing is to get someone from not knowing who you are to someone who loves you and trusts you and buys from you again and again.
And when you become a damn good marketer — a damn great marketer — you’ll know that no matter what else happens, you can start and grow and sustain a business that stands the test of time.
If you want to know exactly how to communicate what you do in a way that captivates your ideal audience so they want to work with you and buy from you again and again (and these are all “damn good marketing” skills for sure :-)) join us virtually at our 10th annual Live Your Message LIVE! (This will probably be the last virtual event… we’ll likely be returning in-person next year).
This is a one-of-a-kind 3-day event where you’ll leave with your entire business (and big irresistible message) on one sheet of paper (including what to say, what to sell and what to do to grow your business now).
I’ve designed this event from the ground up to be the world’s only de-overwhelming business-building event…
And the world’s only business event where you’ll actually walk out with a SHORTER to-do list than when you arrived.
If that sounds like a refreshing change, then I invite you to join us! Register now BEFORE ticket prices go up.
Your turn…
If you could be the best of the best at one marketing skill, what would you choose? Speaking or copywriting or networking or something else?
Share in the comments… I read and reply to each one 🙂
Love it? Hate it? Let me know...
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Wow. Great post as always. Loud the volume. In this age where almost every folk is always striving to get ahead of the maddening crowd, the rat-race can be breathtaking, disconcerting and debilitating. This is simply frightening. The overarching message of this post is a clarion call to everyone chasing after the shadows, the mirage to take a break. Chill. And get back to the basics. Stop the obsessive fixation about the vehicle (medium of communication) which is unpredictable and will continue change. Instead, get laser-focused on your target customers connecting with them with the right message through good marketing. Market>Media>Message
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Boom! It sounds like you got the message loud and clear Law. <3
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Wow. Great post as always Marisa! Loud the volume. In this age where almost every folk is always striving to get ahead of the maddening crowd, the rat-race can be breathtaking, disconcerting and debilitating. This is simply frightening. The overarching message of this post is a clarion call to everyone chasing after the shadows, the mirage to take a break. Chill. And get back to the basics. Stop the obsessive fixation about the vehicle (medium of communication) which is unpredictable and will continue to change. Instead, get laser-focused on your target customers connecting with them with the right message through good marketing. Market>Media>Message
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Totally Law. Great takeaway. It’s exactly it. Go back to the foundations and where your true value lies.
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Oh how things change! I was just a young guy, 5 or 6 when I was introduced to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I had no idea that one day, they would be closing. We lived not far at all from the convention center. Mom would make a point to some how get tickets every year. As I got older I realized she didn’t have much money at all. She raised me as a single parent, but always made sure I enjoyed life and that I was dressed well. I would watch the ring leader guide acts into and out of the wring. The tamer was mind controlling the lions with his mesmerizing four legged stool pointing at them, one at a time. Then a beautiful fast riding lady rode from under the curtains, standing up side down on the back of a glitter and gold white horse. “Ladies and Gentlemen! Give me your attention at the center of the ring please!” The ring master shouted from behind the mega phone! Year after year we’d go, I thought it would last forever, until mom just couldn’t afford it. I later learned they wouldn’t be coming through our area any more. Mom was a traveling gospel singer, so taking after her, at about 16 years old, I started playing music and traveling with a band. Parliament-Funkadellic became my new circus show, starting with my first night club visit witnessing George Clinton scooting under tables shocking the ladies as he squeezed their legs. He was dressed in nothing but a sheet! Then came partying with the MotherShip connection. Meanwhile, my band members would tell me I sound like every one of Parliament-Funkadellic singers! I wished! It all just went away, except the memories and abilities that remain in me. One thing that stood out of it all, they were mesmerizing. They kept my attention from start to finish. My goal as an author, is to become a great copywriter and novelist, able to keep my readers attention from start to finish, with my messaging.
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Beautiful share Tony! I love hearing your background story and believe you have the gift of being mesmerizing! <3
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Yuval Harari’s book Sapiens gives a history of humankind going back to the Neanderthals 70,000 years ago until today. Change is the obvious constant in history: some call it progress but even a quick glance at our national and international problems today could question how all encompassing the word progress can explain or characterize our lives today. The clutch in the car is gone and the human driver will be gone tomorrow. The internet is here today but tomorrow we may be communicating telepathically. Neanderthals didn’t have the medicines and operative techniques that we have today but tomorrow we could possibly be bionic beings. If we survive our self-destructive tendencies, will we still be living on our blue planet or somewhere else in space. Will earth become the home of the seemingly indestructible cockroach?
I say all of this to encourage you to listen to this lady who seems to be relaxed enough while being mentally and emotionally aware of the trends in our society to hold our hands when it comes to sales. She is in the flow so join her for the duration and benefit from her wisdom.-
Appreciate your thoughtful comment, Jim!
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Hey Anne, how are you doing today? Hi Mary, thanks for asking, did you already hear about what happened yesterday in…
The arts of marketing has already been well known for decades by all those owners of the small mom-and-pop stores down the road. Just step into your customer’s shoes, lean in and get the chat going! Those ladies will come back for sure all over again (and also send their husbands, kids and girlfriends!)
It’s all about communication – the rest is technology!-
YES! Absolutely all about your message and how you communicate it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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