Do You Know What Your Customers Are Saying,Watching,Doing?

Here's a blast from the past…

"…The WWW now has many commercial sites that seek to get companies' messages to the public in a new and untested medium. While some hospitality companies have WWW sites, most do not, and restaurants are under-represented. Existing restaurant sites, however, make reasonably sophisticated use of the web's capabilities (e.g., text, graphics, sound, and interactive screens). The technology of the internet may allow marketers to take the ultimate step in mass customization, which is to create a distinct message (and package of product and services) for each customer. It almost certainly will allow personal interaction between restaurateurs and customers. "

This is a copyright excerpt from the Cornell Hotel Quarterly, Vol.31, No. 1…in 1996.

Yes, you read that right: in 1996!

Back then, when the web and sites were just getting started, restaurateurs didn't bother much with having a web site or doing any marketing on the Internet.

The problem is that 12 years later, far too many still don't.

How on Earth are you going to keep up with the way the world is moving? How will you know what your own customers are looking for?

What are their needs, interests; who are they listening to and what is being said?

One of the most famous copy writers in the world, Eugene Swartz, used to
attend every single movie that grossed over $100 million.  He purchased the
most common and highly subscribed magazines.

Why?

Because he wanted to stay in touch with the marketplace, with the common person, John and Jill Q. Public. He also knew that most people…particularly most marketing people he knew.…did not bother.

Swartz realized that this gave him a great advantage over the other copywriters and marketers of his day; because he could relate much better to what was going on around him.  When he knew what was happening, what folks were talking about, what they were interested in and why they did or believed things…he could market and sell his clients' products and services that much better.

So can you.

What do you think?  Agree….or disagree?  Care to throw your two cents' worth in too?  Just comment below…..