I pondered if the should be a Darwin Award winner but quickly decided against it since the business I am referencing has been in business for three decades.  However, with that said, we have recently seen many business like the Rocky Mountain News, one of Denver’s oldest businesses shutter it’s doors 4 months shy of 150 years in business.

Don’t live in the past. If your business is not evolving, you may be one day closer to shutting your doors.

To many of us long for “back in the day”. Human nature is to reflect back with a melancholy view that things were better. Maybe they were, maybe not. One thing for sure, marketing and customer communication has changed.

My almost Darwin winner this week is Papa J’s.

I award them the 1/2 Darwin award for their signage and living in the past. Look at both their website and the signage on the building. The website says they have been in business 32 years, the sign on the front of the building says 31 years in business.  I called to verify and it turns out they have been in business 33 years and nearing their 34th birthday. ( I would never hard code a sign or portion of my website with a date that is expired… marketing 1o1).

Papa J’s has excellent food and good service.  Both of these qualities have weathered the test of time. Yesterday’s success and more than 3 decades is a great achievement but this is no assurance for future success.  Change is here and no longer can we expect to rest on our heals of what worked yesterday.  Dont think for one minute that you will be able to attrack and maintain the attention of your customers for life if you are marketing the way you did just even 12 months ago, let alone, 5, 10 , 20 or 30 years ago (31, 32, 33 or what ever the real number is).

Google and the other also ran search engines, change their algorithms on a regular basis. Twelve months ago, how many in the mainstream had ever heard of Facebook or Twitter? Let’s be honest, not many.

Twitter has been offered over a billion dollars for their company that has been in existence for 3 years.  Why? Because Twitter and the other social medias companies now have the attention of the consumer. This is the method they have chosen to stay connected.

The question for business owners and marketing managers is ” are you keeping up?”

Here are a few recommendations we all should be observing.

1. Be nimble in your approach to marketing. Nothing is constant but change.
2. Stay connected with those who are in the eye of the tornado when it comes to marketing and communications.
3. Get a centralized database and CRM System. – Methods of communication may change, but being able to track your customers and how THEY prefer to communicate is critical. We highly recommend Infusionsoft.
4. Done hard code anything ( check out Papa js’ outdated sign and website).
5. Put yourself out there, be in the streams where the fish are. ( see my posts on grizzlies in the stream.

Everything has changed. Don’t be the next Rocky Mountain News.

To get attention, you must pay attention.