I’ve put off posting this entry a couple of days because I’m afraid of upsetting people.
It’s not that “Field of Dreams” is a bad movie, it’s just that it’s poisonous to Internet marketers.
Here’s what I don’t like about it: you remember when Kevin Costner’s character is walking around outside and he keeps hearing a voice, saying:
If you build it, they will come.
It might have been a great plot device in the film, but it’s a terrible idea when it comes to online marketing. Seriously, it’s total crap.
People — especially those new to or unfamiliar to Internet Marketing — build a website and the sit back and wait for the traffic to come rolling in.
And it doesn’t. Crickets (well, virtual ones, anyway) are chirping.
Even when people know better, they sometimes burn all the available time, money, and energy building that site, and then there’s nothing left to put into marketing and promotion.
The fact is, if you build it, they won’t come.
Why not? Couple of reasons:
- They don’t know “it” is even there.
- They don’t really have a compelling reason to go “there.”
You may remember from an earlier entry that I’m am a proponent of the 90% Solution. The next time you’re at the beginning of a project, remember to follow it.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hey Matt,
I know you’re an experienced guy in the Internet Marketing world – but I just have to say you’re talking rubbish!
I built a website. It only took about a year and I just put it out there in cyberspace. And guess what!?
Within a couple of months I had a two people and a robot find it!
So there. Success!
I’ve placed my order for a new Mercedes SLR McLaren.
Yours self-deludedly,
Mike