Skip to main content

Of Manhole Covers and Marketing

Of Manhole Covers and Marketing

You've probably heard the question asked, "Why are manhole covers round?" Answers vary from the obvious ("because manholes are round") to the more obscure. Wikipedia offers several possibilities. My personal favorites?

  1. A round manhole cover cannot be accidentally dropped into the round hole it covers.

 

  1. The circular shape makes the heavy covers easier to roll.

 

  1. Round castings are easier to machine lathe than those of another shape and less expensive to produce in a size wide enough for a person to fit through.

 

  1. The round shape makes it easy to replace an open cover without having to line up the corners.

 

  1. A round tube holds up better against the earth's compression surrounding it than a shape with corners would.


If I were to guess, I'd say it's probably a combination of all these things (and maybe more) that made round manholes and manhole covers so popular.

Which brings me around to marketing.

Like a manhole cover, the best shape for your company's marketing is also round. More to the point, the best approach to your marketing is a well-rounded one. Just as the reasons for using a round manhole cover are many and varied, so too are the reasons for choosing each specific element in your marketing plan. The big difference? In marketing, there is no one-size-fits-all.

As you consider new marketing opportunities for your company -- and reexamine existing channels you're not sure are still working as effectively as before -- ask yourself, "How well does this approach fit with my overall marketing plan?" If the answer is "not very well" or the reasons you come up with for trying it aren't very sound, you know where that idea should go: straight into the file shaped like a manhole cover.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Custom Notepads are a Perfect Promotional Tool

Want to give your business a gift that keeps giving? You can do this by giving gifts to other people. According to the ACI 2019 Impressions study , promotional products bring some of the highest rates of return on advertising, trumping all other forms of media. Consumers surveyed said they were nearly 2.5 times more likely to have a favorable opinion of promotional products compared to online advertising, and consumers under 55 preferred a promotional product message over EVERY other advertising medium (including print, online, or traditional mass media). Data shows the average household in the U.S. owns 30 promotional items, which means if there are 120 million households in America, over three billion company logos are floating around at any moment! Looking for a fun but practical promo gift for your clients and prospects? Custom printed notepads are a great, economical option. Notepads are designed for utility and flexibility, meaning people can take them anywhere and will cer...
Post a Comment
Read more

Affordable Offline Marketing for Your Small Business

Do you have a small business that could use a revenue boost? Most marketing strategies are crafted around costly advertising campaigns, but there are many free or affordable tactics you can use to grow your business at any stage. Here are a few offline marketing fundamentals to get you started, no matter how small your budget! 1. Take part in local events. Sales are based on relationships, and relationships require connection. Network in proactive ways by attending or taking part in local events. Get to know other small business owners and have your business card or flyer ready; you never know when the opportunity will present itself! 2. Create customized stickers or labels. It's not just a kid thing – people truly enjoy stickers! Create a colorful custom sticker and pass them out anywhere your target users might be. Stickers and labels can be used on car windows, water bottles, notebooks, and more. 3. Start a simple rewards system. One of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grow Creativity with the Brainstorming Strategies of Walt Disney

From Tarzan's treehouse to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Disney's creative team has spent decades constructing fantasy lands depicted in Disney movies. Bringing dreams to life is Disney's business, and its empire spans 11 theme parks, a town, four cruise ships, dozens of hotels, and many waterparks and restaurants that help guests experience the happiest place on Earth. The dreamers, or "Imagineers" at Disney are the brains behind the vision. Peter Rummell, who served as chairman of the Imagineers for 12 years, said creativity doesn't just happen . It has to be engineered: "It is a process and if you don't understand that and if you sit around and wait for the lightning bolt, you're not going to be very productive." Walt Disney himself was a master of creative thinking and brainstorming. Not only was he talented in discovering ideas, he knew how to convert possibilities into reality. One associate said this about Disney: ...
Post a Comment
Read more