Why do you learn so much but it doesn't lead to sales?

Hello, this is Iguchi.

As a sole proprietor, I explore web marketing and sales promotion methods that can be practiced even with a small budget, and I repeat the process of hypothesis and verification every day.

In this note, I focus on marketing terms that you might have heard of but are often used in a surprisingly vague way. Based on my own research and real-life experience, I have summarized them in the simplest language possible.

I would be happy if I could deliver this in a way that even those who are not good with technical terms can think, 'I see, that's what it means.'

'I'm learning, but I don't really feel like I'm absorbing anything...'
Doesn't that ever happen to you?

It has happened to me many times.

Watching videos, reading books, taking notes.

Even though I spend a fair amount of time on it, when it comes time to practice, I stop and think, 'Wait, what am I supposed to do?'

While learning is fun, it often ends with 'thinking you understand'.

In the midst of that, what really clicked for me was the concept of the Learning Pyramid.

This teaches us that 'the degree of retention varies greatly depending on how you learn.'
In this article, we will look at what the Learning Pyramid indicates, and the

'effective learning methods' that we sole proprietors and freelancers can use starting tomorrow.After all, efficiently acquiring skills within limited time and gaining knowledge that can help clients is truly a

lifeline for our work.

What exactly is the Learning Pyramid?

First, what is the Learning Pyramid?

Apparently, it is a diagram proposed by the National Training Laboratories (NTL) in the United States that shows the relationship between learning methods and learning retention rates.

Looking at the diagram, the retention rate is higher at the base of the pyramid and lower at the top.

In other words, how much knowledge remains with you depends on 'how you learn.'

Generally, the following retention rates are indicated.

• Lecture: 5%

• Reading: 10%

• Audio-Visual: 20%

• Demonstration: 30%

• Discussion Group: 50%

• Practice by Doing: 75%

• Teach Others: 90%

When I saw this, I was honestly surprised, thinking, 'Wait, only 5% of a lecture is retained!?'

But when I think about it carefully, I certainly have some ideas about why that might be...

Let's visualize this with a familiar analogy! Let's think about a 'cooking recipe'.

You might not get it just by looking at these numbers.
So, let's think about it using a more familiar example.

For instance, suppose you are trying out a new recipe.

1. Just watching a cooking show on TV (Lecture/Audiovisual): Even if you think, 'Wow, that looks delicious!', when you actually try to make it yourself, you often end up thinking, 'Wait, what were the measurements for the seasonings again?' This might be what that 5%–20% retention rate is all about.

2. Reading a recipe book (Reading): If you read it thoroughly, you understand the steps, but when you actually pick up a kitchen knife, you might get confused, wondering, 'Wait, is this the right way to cut an onion?' That's a 10% retention rate.

3. Watching the teacher's demonstration at a cooking class (Demonstration): You watch the teacher's hand movements and are impressed, thinking, 'I see!', but when it's your turn, your hands are still clumsy. I guess that's about a 30% retention rate?

4. Discussing with friends, 'How can I make this recipe even more delicious?' (Discussion Group): When you exchange information like, 'Adding miso as a secret ingredient gives it more depth!', it's easier to remember. A 50% retention rate!

5. Actually cooking the dish yourself while looking at the recipe (Practice by Doing): This is definitely the best way! As you repeat the process of failing and succeeding, your body learns it. A 75% retention rate makes sense.

6. Actually teaching family or friends, 'That dish I made the other day is delicious, so I'll teach you how to make it next time!' (Teach Others): To teach others, you have to understand it perfectly yourself. You re-learn things in order to teach them, and you think about how to explain them clearly to the other person. This is the secret to a 90% retention rate!

What do you think? When you think about it using the cooking example, doesn't the pyramid principle make sense?

The 'Learning Pyramid' for sole proprietors and freelancers

So, how should we as sole proprietors and freelancers apply this learning pyramid? I've thought of a few examples.

Example 1: When learning a new Web design tool

• X Just keep watching the tool's official videos (Audiovisual: 20%)

• △ Reading through tutorial blogs (Reading: 10%)

• O

  • Ask questions about how to use it in an online community or participate in discussions (Group discussion: 50%)

  • Actually try your hand at creating a mock banner or website (Learning by doing: 75%)

  • Post about how to use it on social media under the title 'Beginner's Course for XX Tool' (Teaching others: 90%)

Example 2: If you want to deepen your SEO knowledge

• X Just watching a webinar on SEO one-sidedly (Lecture: 5%)

• Triangle Reading through specialized books on SEO (Reading: 10%)

• O

  • Exchange opinions with SEO experts and peers on social media (Group discussion: 50%)

  • Apply SEO measures to your own blog and verify the results (Personal experience: 75%)

  • Summarize and explain the knowledge to propose SEO measures to a client (Teaching others: 90%)

Looking at it this way, it is clear that the retention rate increases as you shift from passive learning to active learning, and finally to learning that involves output.

Summary: How we learn, as seen through the Learning Pyramid

Learning about the "Learning Pyramid" this time gave me many moments of realization.

It is easy to spend all our time on input, but I have realized once again the importance of outputting and teaching others in order to truly master something.

From now on, when learning new knowledge or skills, I intend to consciously take steps to "practice" and "talk about or teach it to someone else."

As sole proprietors and freelancers, we are required to keep learning constantly.

That is why I want to use the concept of the "Learning Pyramid" to aim for more efficient and effective skill development.

Thank you for reading until the end.

I hope this article provided you with a small realization or a hint for your own ideas, making you think, "Aha, so that's what it was!"

Following me would be a great encouragement.
I will follow you back as well ^^