If the BIG guys Do, why not You?

If Giants Advertise, Why Aren’t You? Today, we are looking at marketing and the need for advertisement amidst all the digital stuff, social media, the bars, and all of that. I was having a conversation with a colleague and this subject or marketing and ads came up, so I decided to share some insights to help all of us. Is there a need. Do I need to place ads as a small business owner or whatever business I’m running? Is it necessary? Can’t I use any other smart means and forget about paid ads? I’m going to share some data with you that will amaze you. Then we’ll look at a few things that you need to do as a small business owner, whether you’re an enterprise or a brand, to increase sales and revenue and establish your name and brand. If the Giants Are Doing It, Why Aren’t You? Here’s the thing. When the top-performing companies in the world, the big names we all know and admire, are pouring billions into advertising, that should tell you something important. Let’s talk data. According to recent reports from 2024 and 2025, Amazon, the global e-commerce giant, spent a staggering $31 billion on ads in a single year. Think about that. This is a company everyone already knows, yet they still invest heavily in making sure people don’t forget them. Why? Because they understand that visibility is a currency in today’s market. And it pays back, Amazon reportedly gets a 300–400% ROI on their ad spend. That’s massive. And they’re not alone. Microsoft spent somewhere between $25 to $30 billion last year, focusing on enterprise marketing, cloud services, and especially pushing platforms like LinkedIn. Even a company like Google, the company that sells ads, spends billions on its ads. Why? Because even they need to stay visible. The numbers don’t lie. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, invests heavily to keep its brand relevant across platforms. Their average return on ad spend is around 200%. It’s a cycle that works: visibility brings clicks, clicks bring conversions, and conversions bring revenue. Let’s go to the beverage world; Coca-Cola reportedly spends $4 to $5 billion every year on advertising. And we all know how visible that brand is. They’re everywhere. From billboards to Instagram reels, Coca-Cola’s branding is hard to miss. They don’t stop because they know attention is short-lived; you have to keep earning it. Even Apple, the tech minimalist’s dream brand, spent $2 to $3 billion on advertising in 2024. They could rely on word of mouth or loyal customers, but they chose not to. Why? Because they understand the principle: You can’t sell a secret. If people don’t know, they won’t buy. So here’s the question I want you to honestly ask yourself: “If these companies—who are already known, trusted, and highly profitable are consistently placing ads, what makes me think I can grow my business without it?” Advertising isn’t optional. It’s essential. The moment you stop being seen is the moment you start becoming invisible. No matter how good your product or service is, if no one knows about it, it won’t sell. Advertising isn’t just a smart strategy. It’s a survival tool in today’s competitive marketplace. The 5% Who Win — A Lesson from Working with Authors Over the past decade, I’ve worked with thousands of authors—coaching, guiding, and helping them publish and promote their books across platforms like Amazon. And here’s a sobering truth I’ve discovered: 95% of authors I’ve worked with never invest in advertising. And guess what? They don’t sell. They launch their book, post a few times on social media, expect their friends and family to share it, and then wait. Some even get discouraged after a few weeks when the sales don’t roll in. But the 5%—the rare few who strategically run ads—they win. They make consistent sales, build loyal tribes, hit bestseller charts, and get repeat readers. What’s the difference? Investment. They see advertising as a seed, not an expense. And the harvest? Visibility, sales, credibility, and momentum.