As a small business owner, I’m on the lookout for how to market better. Stories have a special intrigue to me – well, to everyone really. That is why the story of a homeless man with a golden voice rocked my world. The inciting video happened in January 2011.

Everyone was super excited about Ted Williams being discovered – the man with the golden voice. When I listened to his video for the first time, his deep voice sent shivers up my spine. Excited, I carried my laptop to where my family was gathered in the living room and exclaimed: “Listen to this.” Lots of wows followed, validating my own reaction. If you haven’t seen it yet, here it is courtesy of The Associated Press:

As I studied the video, online marketing lessons for our small businesses began to pop up in my brain.  Then during the next interviews that followed the original, I was impacted even deeper!

Online Marketing lessons we can learn from the man with the golden voice:

Online Marketing Lesson #1: Put yourself out there.

Once Ted Williams started making his turnaround, he put himself out there. He was out on his chosen corner with his sign trying to get some money and maybe, just maybe, be discovered. If he hadn’t been consistently out there with his homemade sign, we would not know about the man with the golden voice.

What are you doing to put yourself out there with the marketing of your business online consistently?

Marketing Lesson #2: Be thankful for something small.

Did you notice in the first video how grateful the man with the golden voice was for the dollar? He kept thanking the guy and kept giving a few more “radio clips” for good measure.

If you are just getting started in your internet marketing, be grateful for that first genuine comment and a retweet or two! They each represent the attention of a very valuable person!

Lesson #3: Know your strength.

Ted’s sign declared that he had a gifted voice from God.  He knew his strength.

Do you know your strength? Do you know what you are passionate about? When you are working in your passion, you are energized – you are happy to get up each morning! Know your strength and then play to it.

homeless man with Golden voice

Lesson #4: Social media is powerful.

As my friend and mentor, Kenny Atcheson, said on his blog post, “Ted Williams is the homeless man with a unique voice that is deep, silky, and powerful, yet he may have continued to live on the streets if not for Youtube . . .  and some people say there is no opportunity out there.”

Social media is powerful and is available equally to everyone. Be sure you are making good use of it.

Lesson #5: Recognize where you have gone wrong and correct it.

Ted admits right off that he got into drugs and alcohol, but that he had been clean for two years now. He knew where he had gone wrong and admitted it.

Who of us hasn’t made a bad choice of one kind or another?  It reminds us all to recognize where we have gone wrong and then correct it! Something not working? Don’t be afraid to switch gears. My team’s motto is “plan; do; check; and adjust.”

Lesson #6: Be grateful for the basics of life.

On an interview on “The Early Show,” when they asked the man with the golden voice what he would like to get now, his answer was simple: “I just want a roof over my head and a kitchen to cook food in.”

How refreshing is that? Our society tends to program us to want more, bigger, better. But stop for a minute and be thankful for that roof and that kitchen . . . and that computer too!

And finally, Online Marketing Lesson #7: No matter what, be thankful to God for giving you life.

Again on “The Early Show” interview, Ted Williams said he was very appreciative to God and he spends an hour with Him every day. He added, “Even if I were still on that corner, I would be thanking God and spending time with Him.”

Now that is amazing! Be thankful for every breath you take. It is a gift from God.

Here is a Jan 2021 update about Ted.

I have a feeling we will continue to learn from the man with the golden voice as we all watch with interest his future life – more than just online marketing lessons! 

First posted May 2011

Updated May 2022