Decades before the birth of the Internet or digital ads, many companies understood the importance of providing value before the sale. John Deere understood this in 1895 when they published the first issue of The Furrow, an agricultural journal focused on giving away free content that helped farmers run their businesses better. John Deere rightly acknowledged that by serving the farmer and helping him build his business, he would need more of the products John Deere provides. By 1912 The Furrow was distributed to an astonishing 4 million consumers. Publication continues today.
Jesse Bryan has a wonderful article talking about something we love to preach here at Wide Eyed, connecting with your customers with content.