|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whats Your Marketing Attitude?
Entrepreneurs pay a lot of attention to the mechanics of marketing. They take workshops, read books, and hire consultants to find out how to do the best job they possibly can. With my own clients, I often discover that their knowledge of marketing techniques is quite good already. What they might lack is the right kind of marketing attitude.
Do any of the attitudes described below sound familiar? If so, you may be sabotaging your own marketing efforts. Read on for some possible solutions.
1. "I shouldn't have to market." If you are good enough at what you do, you tell yourself, clients should just come to you. Marketing is for products, not professionals. You have years of training and experience in your specialty, why should you have to spend your precious time on marketing?
This perception is extremely common among consultants and professionals, although many won't admit it. The fact is that successful marketing is a necessary part of business ownership. If you could get all the paying work you wanted without having to market, why wouldn't everyone be self-employed?
If you perceive marketing as a dirty business, try thinking of it as the diapers you need to change in order to have the joys of being a parent. But instead of focusing on what you dislike, tie your marketing chores to your vision of a successful business.
Visualize checks arriving in the mail when it's time to make a cold call, or picture a signed contract when preparing for a presentation. Post visual reminders (e.g. photos or clippings) at your desk of the reasons you became self-employed in the first place. Parents don't remember all the diapers when they're looking at the baby photos.
2. "I don't have time for marketing." There are only two situations where this can really be true: you're too busy doing the client work you already have, or you have other important responsibilities (e.g. an outside job or young children) taking up your time.
It's easy to believe that doing client work already contracted for is more important than marketing, especially when deadlines are tight. But if you always follow this policy, you will be locked into a feast or famine cycle, with no new clients waiting for you when the work is finished.
Whether your responsibilities preventing you from marketing are within the business or outside it, you need to allocate a minimum amount of time each week, no matter what. Even two hours per week can make a significant difference, if you consistently use that time for marketing.
Imagine that you have overslept, and are late for an appointment. You might skip breakfast, but would you leave the house without brushing your teeth? Of course not. If you are going to be successful in business, that's how automatic marketing needs to become for you.
3. "My marketing isn't working." It's true that there may be something wrong with your marketing. Perhaps your message is unclear or the tactics you're using are inappropriate for the audience. I find, though, that for the majority of business owners who say this, the real problem is not that their marketing isn't working but that they aren't working their marketing.
Let's say your business needs two new clients a month, on average. If, in your experience, you must make a detailed presentation, proposal, or initial consultation to three potential clients for one to say yes, you will need to make six of these presentations per month.
Now how many prospects do you need to have contact with for one to be interested in a presentation? Ten, maybe? That means you need to make contact with 60 prospects each month to land your two new clients. If you do this math for yourself, you may quickly find that the only thing wrong with your marketing is that there hasn't been enough of it.
Author: C.J. Hayden
Article URL: http://www.getclientsnow.com/march2000.htm
About The Author
C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Clients NOW! Thousands of business owners and salespeople have used her simple sales and marketing system to double or triple their income. Get a free copy of "Five Secrets to Finding All the Clients You'll Ever Need" at http://www.getclientsnow.com
Advertisement: Honest Riches - Click Here!
Advertisement: Lost AdWords - Click Here!
Advertisement: Get $1 Million A Month In Google Pay-Per-Click Ads Free! - Click Here!
Advertisement: Who Loves Money? - Click Here!
Advertisement: SEO Elite, the GrandDaddy of SEO Software - Click Here!
CNNMoney.com - 16 hours ago
Ace Marketing & Promotions Inc. (OTCBB: AMKT) announces that IMAX Theaters is piloting Proximity Marketing at its Palisades theater location in NY, ...
Bizjournals.com, NC - 12 hours ago
Database marketing firm Merkle Inc. has signed up the Limited as a new client in a three-year contract. The Columbia firm will analyze customer data to help ...
Merkle Selected by The Limited to Support Integrated Customer ... MarketWatch (press release)
all 17 news articles
Boston Globe
Bizjournals.com, NC - 17 hours ago
United Parcel Service Inc. rival FedEx Corp. will cut its marketing budget by more than 25 percent for 2009, the company recently disclosed on its blog. ...
FedEx cuts marketing spend by more than 25 percent Reuters
FedEx to reduce marketing budgets by 25% Brand Republic
all 43 news articles
Bizjournals.com, NC - 17 hours ago
Downtown Greensboro marketing firm Bouvier Kelly has won three awards from the Carolina Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society for its work with ...
CNNMoney.com - 7 hours ago
TMI's marketing plan includes a program where LTC facilities can lease the equipment necessary to perform skin assessments and store the necessary data ...
Wellstar/TMI Announces Estimated Three-Year Revenue Projections MSNBC
all 9 news articles
CNNMoney.com - 17 hours ago
Proton will start by marketing a variety of enhanced water products that provide health benefits for people and the planet as well as the commercial product ...
MSNBC - 4 hours ago
The initial stages of marketing the properties for sale have already begun, and the Company will expand those efforts now that the properties are completely ...
Indianapolis Star, United States - 14 hours ago
With a team of 25 brokers and additional market research, marketing, and client support staff, Summit Realty Group specializes in office, industrial, ...
MediaPost Publications, New York - 3 hours ago
by Erik Sass, 7 hours ago Katz Media Group is launching a new national marketing unit that will focus on creating custom solutions for advertisers that take ...
Katz Launches Katz Marketing Solutions Streaming Magazine
Katz Media Group Reorgs to Trim Costs MEDIAWEEK
Katz Media Group Launches National Marketing Unit to Exploit the ... Earthtimes (press release)
Radio Business Report - AdAge.comall 24 news articles
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI - Jan 7, 2009
... "controversy" they bring both fade quickly. It's called marketing. And whatever else Ann Coulter may be, she's superb at using TV to sell her books.
How To Perfect Your Marketing Message!
When it comes to your marketing message, the little things count. Trouble is, you'll never come to respect how much, until you make a commitment to science.Let... Read More
2 Step Marketing
Do it Right.I receive postcards all the time. The other day I received a postcard trying to sell me a copy machine. It had tiny, tiny lettering... Read More
Discovering The Benefits That Hook Your Prospect
Benefits! They're what marketing is all about. No doubt you've heard the mantra over and over: "Benefits, not features.. Benefits, not features."So how do you tell the... Read More
Joint Venture: 50 Power Secrets Of Joint Venture Marketing, Exposed
What is a Joint Venture?A joint venture is an agreement in which two or more businesses work on a project for a set period of time.Joint ventures... Read More
Coupons that Work
Turn a coupon into a business card (or vice versa).Coupons are seen everywhere; you clip them from the newspaper to save on groceries, you get them in... Read More
How to Set (and Get) the Right Prices
Which product feature of yours is every buyer keen to know about? Which sales tool closes prospects instantly? Your price. Yet, despite the far-reaching consequences of a... Read More
Increase Your Sales By Following-Up
The difference between a successful business and one that just gets by is that the business that is just getting by thinks that the marketing is over... Read More
Marketing Strategy and Template for Independent Professionals
Having a marketing strategy and marketing approach is very important. Thus, instead of recreating the wheel, here is a short, sweet, easy-to-understand marketing strategy template to help... Read More
Produce More Sales from your Email Promotions - Part 2
Do sales come from your ezine regularly? How many well-written articles do you submit per week to Online ezines? How often do you send thank you's and... Read More
How To Get Your Prospect To Take Action
There's really only one thing that separates Image advertising from Direct Response. Image advertising just wants you to think about a product in a certain way. Direct... Read More
Secrets of Trade Show Success
The ropers at Annie Oakley's Real Western Dudette Ranch were all riding high in the saddle. It was just before their first ecotourism and adventure travel trade... Read More
Metaphysical Marketing
The foundation of success is in your mind. You do not need to struggle, seek and strive to build your business. You can use mental and spiritual... Read More
The Power Of A Story
If you want your marketing to be effective, you absolutely must connect emotionally with your prospects. And one of the best ways to do that is by... Read More
Marketing Lessons From Apples iPod
Apple Computer just announced that their earnings from the last quarter more than quadrupled mainly due to robust holiday sales of the iPod digital music player. More... Read More
Work Backward And Make More Sales!
It goes against the grain, especially for those of us used to "business at the speed of light." But bear with me. I'm not trying to teach... Read More
6 Article Marketing Smarts: How To Get More Reprints And Exposure
Article marketing is the latest buzzword for marketers looking to promote their sites and products online. But how do you measure the success of your... Read More
Business to Business Direct Mail Sales Letters Need an Offer (and Heres Why)
In direct mail, the offer is the incentive or reward that you dangle in front of your prospects to motivate them to respond to your mailing. In... Read More
8 BIG Benefits To Selling Big Ticket Items
Ok, before we get down to the benefits of selling Big Ticket Items, we had better define what a Big Ticket Item is. A Big... Read More
7 Ways a Copywriter Can Help Your Business Succeed
Think you can't afford to hire a copywriter? Think again. Here are seven ways a copywriter can contribute to the success of your business.#1 ? Save you... Read More
Packaging Trends You Cannot Overlook (Part #2)
Part #26) Food safety is becoming paramount.What this means to you: No longer are the words tampering and bio terrorism buzz phrases. They are facts of life.... Read More
20 Tricks to Help Get That Envelope Opened
When your envelopes aren't opened, you can't make money! Beforeyou can get an order, the recipient of your mailing package mustfirst open the envelope. Unfortunately, many recipients... Read More
Creating Your Own Lead Capture Pages
Having a downline can be golden. A downline is a group of folks who have either signed-up or have already agreed to at least look at what... Read More
Ten Effective Ways to Capture Market
1.Evaluation of Existing Products / Therapies2.Assessment of New Products3.Market assessment of products for the defined markets ofBF- RoW with the objective of providing insight and directionfor short... Read More
7 Simple Marketing Tips
Here are 7 simple marketing tips to help you boost your sales and profits quickly. All are easy to use and work for any business.Tip 1: You... Read More
Maximizing Your Yellow Page Investment
Yellow Page users are the hottest of all prospects ? someone who has made the decision to buy, and now is looking for a place to do... Read More
Why Do You Need to be in the SERPS?
Why does your business need to be in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS)?Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing both have the same goal, which is... Read More
Large One?
Here's a proven, and truly easy way to start increasing your sales, immediately.All you need to do is add these 2 words to your selling system, and... Read More
Three Simple Keys Will Make Your Customers Stick
Do you spend a lot of time and energy courting prospective new customers, hoping to pump up your bottom line? If so, you're probably missing an untapped... Read More
Six Secrets to Creating Successful Tourism Marketing, Websites, Ads, Tradeshow Booths, & More
If you want to substantially increase your tourism prospects and sales without a lot of effort and expense, then read on and prosper. You are going to... Read More
Private Practice Marketing: A Soaking Wet Marketing Marvel
Last week I took our two boys on an all guy vacation to the Nickelodeon Family Suites Hotel in Orlando. It's the only one of it's kind... Read More
What Does Your Business Address Say?
If you are operating a business from your home and your post office address clearly indicates a home address, you may want to re-think your marketing strategy.A... Read More
10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Sales IMMIDIATELY!
Alright you've got yourself a nice website with a great design and a good steady traffic coming in...After that what are you going to do? Do you... Read More
High Response Marketing With Low-Cost Postcards
Postcards can drive a huge amount of traffic to your web site, generate a flood of new sales leads or produce a surge in any business activity... Read More
20 Tricks to Help Get That Envelope Opened
When your envelopes aren't opened, you can't make money! Beforeyou can get an order, the recipient of your mailing package mustfirst open the envelope. Unfortunately, many recipients... Read More
Your Marketing Plan - Prerequisite to Success
Marketing is a vital aspect of a business' operations. It has been said that, "Nothing happens in business until a sale is made". Marketing is about how... Read More
Raise Your Income!
How often do you sit around and wonder how to make more money and get more people to buy more from your company? It's one of the... Read More
Top Five Tips For Designing Marketing Strategies That Get Results
"But this won't work" said Steve. "I've tried it in the past and had no response." Does this sound familiar? My newer clients often resist implementing certain... Read More
Are Corporate Awards and Corporate Gifts Beneficial for Your Business?
With the increased challenges that all companies are faced with, many corporations have implemented various initiatives to continue to grow corporate earnings and shareholder value, some have... Read More
The Power of Thank You
Sometimes we loose site of the small things in life that are incredibly important. As a child growing up in America, most people are taught from a... Read More
15 Ways to Promote eLearning Programs
Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to illustrate one type of eLearning market. The tips work the same for other eLearning programs, including, but... Read More
Marketing Is A Long-Term Investment
"Dig your well before you're thirsty" is the title of a wonderful book by Harvey Mackay. It is smart advice for investing your money, "Save your money... Read More
What Does Your Business Card Say About You? - Making A Great First Impression!
Interesting article in USA Today that I read this week that I've also read about on Scott Ginsberg's blog. Think about this: What does your business card... Read More
The Building Blocks to Effective Marketing
The Building Blocks to Successful MarketingIt's More than Sales and AdvertisingBy Julie ChanceWhether you're a Fortune 500 company or a one person shop, to be successful, you... Read More
Why Most Marketing Videos Dont Work
Every now and then I will meet someone who has commissioned a marketing video that did not work for their company. It is a sad state of... Read More
Dont Think Like A Package Designer - Think Like A Customer
Some of the most successful package introductions have come from people who knew nothing about package design. How can that make sense? Designers are creative. They get... Read More
Deceptive Marketing and Procrastination
Procrastination is every marketers worst nightmare.This applies on three fronts.Firstly how many times have we waited to see how a company or product sells before joining?There is... Read More
The Marketing Plan and the Four P?s
The Marketing Plan section of the business plan demonstrates how a company will penetrate the market with its products and services. The Marketing Plan should include "the... Read More
Hello, My Name Is . . . What Your Name Tag Says About You
When you attend networking functions, what kind of name tag do you wear? One of those sticky things you scrawled your name on, or something a bit... Read More
The Top 10 Wild and Wacky Ways to Market Yourself for Big Visibility
In today's competitive world of business, it takes moxie and pizazz to sell a great product, idea, or service. This list will provide you with ten unusual... Read More
4 Steps To Increase Your Job Sign Marketing
It's no secret that using a job site sign can be an effective way to market your company's services to neighborhood homeowners. But most job sign marketing... Read More
Roping In Loyal Customers While Making An Extra Profit!
You've probably bought a book or two at one of the major chain bookstores. When you're checking out, you get asked if you have the "discount card."... Read More
Discount Promotional Items ? How to Save Money
It takes money to make money is an adage we hear everyday in the business world. So, when it comes to getting promotional items, you've got to... Read More