Why “Inefficient” Marketing Wins in 2025
I’ve sat on this blog since Christmas 2024, I might even say 2023.
The Power Of Personal Touch :
In 2023 I went on a spontaneous trip to Hawaii for a weekend.
Entrepreneurship was brand new to me as I’d just started selling my services to business owners.
Take it as my little reward to myself for taking the leap.
The end of the trip I wanted something to remember it by, and I found myself in this tiny jewelry store in a side mall on the strip of Waikiki.
I met a nice older Chinese man named Tony, “Mr.Tony” I called him.
I spontaneously ended up buying a chain and a bracelet from him which he made sentimental through his service and well wishes on the trip and new business.
Fast forward 9 months and Mr.Tony sends me a text, *barely remembering I texted him prior for the appointment to see the store.
He sends another greeting for New Years, Valentines Day, and even Thanksgiving.
Every time he texts me, i’m reminded of the experience, the chain, the bracelet, the sentiment and overall Mr.Tony
Now why did I write all this,
Its to say, what do you think the guaranteed part of my next Hawaii trip will be? (Besides 7Eleven musubi’s)
GO SEE MR.TONY and buy something from him!!
I don’t even know what it’ll be, but guaranteed just for showing up to me, just from top of mind awareness, just for being a genuinely good human, (INEFFICIENTLY by the way, we all get those automated bots from big companies), I’m supporting his business, his wife and family, by buying from him and nobody else.
Its 2025, businesses are doubling down on something surprisingly simple :
Personal “Inefficient” Marketing
One-on-one texts, hand written notes, and other small thoughtful gestures, high-effort methods are proving more powerful than the broad reach of mass marketing campaigns. Why?
Because in an age of automation, personalization is king.
Automation is everywhere, AI writes emails, bots manage social media accounts and algorithms curate ads.
Sure automation is efficient, but its also made businesses feel.. robotic.
People do business with people,
and that starts with a sense of trust.
What keeps customers and clients is a genuine connection,
the simplest way to do that is to make them feel valued and not just like another data point, because valued customers turn into advocates for you and your brand.
Advocates are more likely to make referrals, leave glowing reviews and remain loyal.
The ROI on that $3 thank-you card? Potentially priceless.
In a consumer world run by scalability, numbers, and subscribers, we’re all craving authenticity.
When businesses take time to send something personal, it feelsreal and refreshing.
It’s not about being perfect, its about being human.
The Future is Personal
Efficiency may drive profits, but inefficiency builds relationships
Relationships are what keep businesses running and thriving in the long run
(and keep that ever so dreaded churn rate down)
So if you’re running a business in 2025, take the tiny bits of time it takes to add a personal touch.
It might feel small, but trust me
