What the Hobbit CanTeach You About Online Marketing Success

I read the Hobbit many years ago and enjoyed the book far more that the Lord of the Rings. It's quite a short story, only just over 300 pages, but it's an exiting adventure story full of surprises. I'm rediscovering the story as I read it to my 10-year-old. I'd finished off a chapter in the middle of the book and it struck me that I face the same problems as the Hobbit faces running my online business.

There are quite a number of important ingrediants. Firstly there is a person who can be trusted, as they have already walked the paths and knows the likely pitfalls. Secondly Bilbo, he's the main character in the book, isn't alone on his journey. Bilbo takes advice from a number of sources, sometimes it works out and other times not.

The main point of the story is that Bilbo, together with his company are searching for treasure. They know that its likely to be a difficult journey and so prepare as best they can.

So the chapter that inspired me to write this article relates to when Bilbo has to continue the journey without his mentor. They come to a great forest called Mirkwood. Gandalf has his own important business to attend and so has to leave the group. What the wizard does though is give clear instructions - follow the path, beware of the river that crosses the path, and don't get distracted.

This is how it normally works in running a small business. You ultimately need to make the journey on your own, otherwise its not your business.

After a few days the group comes to the river, after a small mishap they cross the river and carry on. Then it all starts to go wrong, the group is tired and starts to get impatient. At one point they are virtually through the forest, but don't realize it. They spot lights off to the side of the path and, ignoring the advice chase the party that seems to be going on. When they arrive at the place it turns out to be nothing like they imagined, and they see another set of lights and off they go again.

This part above all reminded me of my own journey in online marketing. I have been given great advice on how to develop my business. I've trusted the advice and followed it for a while but then been distracted and chased another bright light that seemed better than the path I was on.

Seem familiar to you too?

The group gets into all sorts of problems then, and in fact never find the path again. I won't spoil the ending just in case you haven't read the book yet and plan to go and see the film! Basically Bilbo has to become very resourcefull to get himself and his group out of the problems they find themselves in.

It all makes for a good story, if they had simply followed the instructions and gone through the forest would have been boring but they would have gotten to where they had planned to.

I know I've been guilty of that - trying to make things complicated instead of just following a simple plan.

I now think building an online marketing business is a big enough adventure without going for the overly complicated options.

How about you?

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