(This was sparked from a Seth Godin post called You’re Boring. It was brilliant. I had to write about it.)
You know you a boring business if..
1. You have a tri-fold brochure with little business cards that you had out to everyone you see.
2. You designed the said tri-fold in Publisher because you wanted to save a few bucks
3. You are using a type-font called Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier for your logo.
4. You decide not to blog because “I just don’t have the time.”
5. You use your initials for your company name.
6. The only marketing you do is yellow pages because you have been doing it for a decade. Why change a good thing? (I just threw up on myself)
7. You attend networking events and take as many business cards as possible but never help anyone out.
8. If your website says “Copyright 2002” or anytime before 2006.
9. All your collateral material looks different and there is nothing to pull it together.
10. You refuse to think outside the box and go out on a limb (marketing or anything else).
11. You get up after 9am.
12. If you photo-copy a flier and hand it out. Spend the extra money and get full color. Better yet, don’t use a flier. Doesn’t everyone?
13. You have an individual answering your phone that sounds like they just woke up from a nap or smoked a bowl.
14. YOU USE AN EMAIL THAT Ends with a phone or cable company: AOL, SBCGLOBAL, or the like.
15. You refuse to act on ideas until they are safe or your competitor does it. Ready, Fire, Aim.
16. You do not attend networking events because you have “better ways to spend my time.” You will be spending your time closing your business account at the bank.
17. You never have a new idea. You just copy others.
18. Social Media is scary to you. So you do the next best thing and ignore it.
19. You hard sell EVERYONE. Nobody cares. Put away your product or service. Can I get to know you first? I don’t give a crap if you can save me 20%.
20. You have goals. Wait. Well, you HAD goals but you didn’t write them down so… kind a moot point right?
The best things about having a boring business is that you can change. You can turn into the vibrant and growing company that will be the pride and joy of your life. Well, other than your children or significant other. 🙂
Robby Slaughter
21. You think the best way to deal with the Internet is to pay people to post fake positive statements. http://consumerist.com/5134066/belkin-caught-payi…
Alessandra
True, true, and true.
#22: You use WordArt, clip art, or animated GIFs in your promo materials because “they’re so much fun!”
James Paden
You forgot Verdana!
Jeb
Kyle, good list overall. I think some of these are a little elitist. “Get up after 9” “Use an email that ends with AOL, etc”.
I think one thing you have to keep in mind that the medium doesn’t determine the message. I’m sure there are some good brochures made in Publisher, not many though I grant you!
Brett Atkin
Great post.
#23 – You still use promotional gimmicks that worked in 2002
I would have to agree on the AOL / Comast / Earthlink emails. That’s just bad business.
I’m amazed at how many businesses have a web site but don’t use that domain for email.
derekmcclain
#24 – You are still waiting for this whole Internet thing to catch on.
derekmcclain
#25 – Bill Clinton was the president the last time you updated your Web site.
Jeff Geerling
You also should add Cambria or any of the other new Microsoft Office fonts.
And, you should add in #26 – Your website is managed using Microsoft FrontPage.
Peter Efland
Hehe, great post Kyle.
#26 Have an assistant printing out your emails for you coz you don´t know how Outlook works (trust me, it still exist)
#27 Have an assistant writing all your emails as you don’t know how to type.
#28 You mess with pics in Windows Paint Brush coz Photoshop is too confusing.
(I work with both #27 and #28.)