I got dragged in our Facebook group for saying brochures at coffee shops are bad marketing. Let's talk about it.
You know that moment when you think you’re dropping some solid wisdom… and then you get absolutely dragged for it? Yeah. That happened.
I made a post in our Facebook group about why leaving brochures at coffee shops isn’t the best use of your marketing budget—and let me tell you, the comment section blew up with everyone telling me I'm wrong.
Responses ranged from “I think it’s genius!” to “You never know who might see it!” to “Respect the hustle!”
To be clear: I’m all for hustle. But this just isn't hustle. Where's the strategy? In my humble opinion, it's just passive hope.
What I should’ve said in the post (and I’ll own this—context matters!) was that the brochure was for a business located 30 minutes away from this coffee shop, and was placed on a sad little shelf… next to the bathroom door… in a rundown coffee shop.
Now listen—if that coffee shop was in your neighborhood, filled with your ideal clientele, and you had a relationship with the owner or hosted a pop-up or event there? That’s different. That’s strategic visibility. That’s intentional.
But tossing a few brochures at a café in a totally different town and calling it a day? That’s not marketing. That’s….littering with extra steps.
So why do I feel this isn't the best ROI?
1. It’s not targeted.
Marketing should be intentional. If your ideal clients live 30 minutes away from where your business is located, you’re not just playing the long game—you’re playing the wrong game.
2. It lacks connection.
Real marketing builds relationships. It creates a moment. It educates, invites, and converts. A dusty flyer by the toilet doesn’t do any of that.
3. It’s not measurable.
How will you know if that flyer actually works? You won’t. You can’t track it. You can’t follow up. It’s a “drop and pray” approach—and friends, our businesses deserve better than that.
4. It’s passive.
Real hustle requires effort and engagement. Meeting people. Telling your story. Following up. Creating value. Marketing is not just about being seen—it’s about being remembered. A flyer can’t smile. It can’t educate. It can’t represent your brand the way you can.
So what is real hustle?
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Showing up consistently where your ideal client actually is
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Creating content that teaches, inspires, and connects
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Collaborating with local businesses you actually share an audience with
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Using digital tools to follow up and stay top of mind
Marketing isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about being in the right places with the right message at the right time.
So yes—I deleted the post (thanks to Olivia). But I also wanted to bring the convo here, because there’s a lesson in it.
Sometimes we learn out loud. Sometimes we get dragged. Sometimes we get humbled by the comment section. And sometimes, we write a blog post to laugh about it and move on.
Marketing your business isn’t about dropping brochures off and running. It’s about building something intentional, sustainable, and smart.
And if that means I take a little heat in the Facebook group every now and then? So be it.
