Sunday, August 19, 2012

Once Upon A Time...

Late last night, after the dinner, the conversation turned to politics and one of my Republican friends made the claim that under this administration, the number of people living in “poverty” increased from 28 million to 45 million.

My other friend, a Democrat, indicated that this number was erroneous because the government is only counting “cash payments” and not food stamps, housing subsidies and other public assistance programs as part of the income to households. Thus, he exclaimed, the number of people living in “poverty” has really remained the same.

Do you think that either of these two guys, as a result of this conversation, changed their opinions about who should be the next president?

Of course not!!

Analysis and presentation of facts rarely change the opinions of people we are trying to persuade.  What does change people’s minds are stories that the other side MAY be able to relate to and identify with. 

When was the last time you told a story about your bowling center or family entertainment center that influenced people enough to want to bowl?  So few bowling centers tell “marketing stories” on their Facebook page, their website or even in their blog that it is silly.

Here is an opportunity that costs almost nothing and almost all we do is use it these tools as a cheap form of putting out fliers and price specials.  YIKES!!

Look at all the great things we do when it comes to fund raising, teaching kids a lifetime sport, working to support veterans (BVL) as well as being one of the most affordable forms of FAMILY entertainment.

But who knows this?  You, me and the lamppost! 
And last time I checked, lamp posts didn’t have any money.

Stop all the price selling and start telling.