--- title: Clueless in California… description: Clueless in California… --- - [ABOUT US](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-communication-strategy) - [ARTICLES](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/download-logistics-marketing-papers) - [BLOG](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog) - [CONTACT US](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/contact-us-to-make-3pl-marketing-process-better) - [860-866-6523](callto:8608666523) [![Logistics Marketing Advisors](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/Logistics_Marketing_Advisors%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/lma-logo-472x80.png)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/) - [HOME](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com) - [Strategy + Brand](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-communications-strategy-3pl-brands) - [Market Research](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/target-marketing-research) - [Positioning and Messaging](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/market-positioning) - [Marketing Planning](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-plan-logistics-marketing) - [Branding](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/branding-for-logistics) - [Advertising and Collateral](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-communications-strategy-3pl-brands/advertising-collateral-sell-sheets) - [Inbound Marketing](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/go-to-market-strategy-logistics) - [Content Creation](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/go-to-market-strategy-logistics/content-marketing-mix-for-supply-chain) - [Lead Nurturing](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/go-to-market-strategy-logistics/better-prospecting-with-lead-nurturing) - [Content Marketing Packages](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/go-to-market-strategy-logistics/strategic-marketing-plan-packages) - [Digital Marketing](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/increase-sales-with-digital-marketing) - [Website Development](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/website-development-logistics-marketing-objectives) - [Online Marketing](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/online-marketing-strategy) - [Website Audit](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/logistics-website-review) - [Public Relations](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/pr-plan-and-public-relations-services) - [Publicity](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/pr-plan-and-public-relations-services/publicity) - [Thought Leadership](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/thought-leadership-logistics-marketing) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # LOGISTICS MARKETING BLOG November 21, 2014 ## [Clueless in California…](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/clueless-california) by [Jim Bierfeldt](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/author/jim-bierfeldt) / [No Comments](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/clueless-california#comments-listing) / Posted in [Inbound Marketing](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/inbound-marketing), [Marketing Logistics](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/marketing-logistics) ![Jim Bierfeldt](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/Logistics_Marketing_Advisors%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Jim_Bierfeldt-150x150.jpg) Jim Bierfeldt is the founder and chief strategist at Logistics Marketing Advisors, a marketing firm that helps logistics businesses define and communicate their value, and then translate that value into revenue. - - - - - [mailto:?body=https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/clueless-california&text=Clueless%20in%20California…](mailto:?body=https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/clueless-california&text=Clueless%20in%20California…) So the other day, one of my clients gets a hit on their pay per click (PPC) campaign. It was from a company in California that wanted to sell this logistics company search marketing services. Yes, that’s right. This marketing company clicked on a PPC ad (requiring the company they were soliciting to PAY for the click), then went to this company’s website to complete a form requesting a meeting to discuss their services, with the wildly enticing come-on that they “work with tier one companies.” ![Clueless](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Clueless-300x237.jpg?width=300&height=237&name=Clueless-300x237.jpg)**This is the definition of the word “clueless.”** Some (not many) non-marketing companies are unaware of the difference between paid and organic on a search results page. But one would assume a marketing company ***would be***. Did they just not care? This is one (extreme) example of marketing that indiscriminately blasts out solicitations hoping for some sort of response. Lazy and disrespectful. Not to mention ineffective. My firm did some research last year that asked about 200 buyers of logistics services what advice they would offer logistics businesses who would like to build a relationship with them. We combed through hundreds of comments and, by far, the dominant theme was “**KNOW MY BUSINESS**.” Feedback included comments from shippers who were frustrated at the number of providers who failed to do any homework at all prior to contacting them: “Before starting a full conversation, know my business model, customers and needs. Generic sales pitches from rookies are a turn-off.” “You would be amazed at how many 3PL representatives just walk in the door and brag about what their team can do.” [Check out my eBook](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-logistics-services-ebook) summarizing the complete research. There’s a better lead generation strategy than indiscriminate prospecting of random companies. It involves learning about your prospects’ biggest challenges and creating content that answers their questions and solves their problems. This [inbound marketing for logistics](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/go-to-market-strategy-logistics/content-marketing-mix-for-supply-chain) is aimed at getting your best prospects to ***contact you***, not the other way around. It’s more effective and, ultimately, more respectful of your prospect’s time. ### Related posts [Logistics Marketing has Become a Game of Hide-and-Seek – in Reverse](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/logistics-marketing-hide-and-seek-in-reverse) November 21, 2014   /   No Comments [Empathy is Key With Marketing Logistics Services](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/empathy-key-marketing-logistics-service) November 21, 2014   /   No Comments [Which Content Gating Strategy is Right for Your Logistics Business?](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/which-content-gating-strategy-is-right-for-you) November 21, 2014   /   No Comments [How to Market Logistics Services: New Research Provides Direct Advice from Buyers](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/how-to-market-logistics-services) November 21, 2014   /   No Comments ### Recent Posts [![Logistics Marketing has Become a Game of Hide-and-Seek – in Reverse](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/logistics-hide-and-seek-crop.jpg) Logistics Marketing has Become a Game of Hide-and-Seek – in Reverse September 29, 2021](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/logistics-marketing-hide-and-seek-in-reverse) [![Empathy is Key With Marketing Logistics Services](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/marketing-empathy-rev.jpg) Empathy is Key With Marketing Logistics Services December 8, 2020](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/empathy-key-marketing-logistics-service) [![Which Content Gating Strategy is Right for Your Logistics Business?](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/content-gating-strategy-382421741-crop.jpg) Which Content Gating Strategy is Right for Your Logistics Business? December 1, 2020](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/which-content-gating-strategy-is-right-for-you) ### Blog Categories - [3PL lead generation (2)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/3pl-lead-generation) - [Brand Positioning (9)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/brand-positioning) - [gdpr (1)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/gdpr) - [gdpr legislation (1)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/gdpr-legislation) - [Inbound Marketing (13)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/inbound-marketing) - [Logistics Lead Generation (7)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/logistics-lead-generation) - [Logistics Marketing (16)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/logistics-marketing) - [Logistics PR (1)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/logistics-pr) - [Logistics Sales (11)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/logistics-sales) - [Logistics Websites (4)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/logistics-websites) - [marketing 3PL services (1)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/marketing-3pl-services) - [Marketing Logistics (34)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/marketing-logistics) - [Marketing Metrics (8)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/marketing-metrics) - [Miscellaneous (10)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/uncategorized) - [Selling Logistics Services (17)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/blog/topic/selling-logistics-services) ### HubSpot Certficiations [![AgencyPartner](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/AgencyPartner.png)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-communication-strategy) [![MarketingSoftware](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/MarketingSoftware.png)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-communication-strategy) [![InboundCertified](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/hubfs/InboundCertified.png)](https://www.logisticsmarketing.com/marketing-communication-strategy) Copyright © Logistics Marketing Advisors. 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