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It’s the beginning of a new year and most of us have made
resolutions both personally and for business, i.e. lose weight, get in shape, get organized, get
more business, etc. etc. I recently read
an article that compared dieting and marketing. If you want results you have to work hard,
be consistent, find what works for you, and stick to a process over a given
period of time. Sound familiar?
Every successful business owner knows that running a business
isn’t easy. Every day there are new
challenges and it’s hard to stay on top of your game when you’re juggling so
many things. So what sets successful
businesses apart from the others? I
believe it’s Marketing Consistency.
Many times we see people who want immediate results and try
to get them by going to extremes by doing a lot of marketing in a single day, week, or month: sending out massive emails, posting to social media, offering special
discounts and coupons, etc. This
usually has disastrous results. They are
dissatisfied because they don’t see the immediate short term results they
expected. Then they give up and do
nothing which results in lots of frustration and a struggling business.
Other times, people only remember to work on their marketing
when things are slow. It seems natural
to focus on marketing at these times, however once business picks up they forget
about marketing. This results in another slow down in business which
generates a vicious cycle, that prevents a small business from growing
effectively. (kind of like yo yo dieting).
So, what’s the best way to market for a small business? We suggest stepping back and coming up with a
marketing routine/plan that makes sense to you and your small business, based on
your constraints and available resources; and then sticking to it. Set aside time to market or hire someone to do it for you. It is essential to your
on-going business.
So, what and how much time do you really need to spend marketing?
So, what and how much time do you really need to spend marketing?
Here are some recommendations -
Five ways to stay Top
of Mind with Clients and Prospects:
1. Reach
out/follow-up to current customers/clients – Phone calls, thank you cards, email,
personal visit, etc. A satisfied client
is your best referral source. It is very
important to stay in touch.
2. Send
out periodic newsletters to customers/clients & prospects at least once per
month. Include helpful tips that pertain
to your business. Perhaps offering a
monthly special.
3. Post
useful/helpful information to social media at the very least 3 times per week. Re-posting articles from other sources is OK
too, as long as they relate to your business.
4. Networking
– we recommend belonging to 3 networking groups – 1 closed, 1 open, and 1
community/civic oriented. Attend on a
regular and consistent basis. Stay
visible.
5. Blogging,
particularly video blogging. This is a great
way for people to get to know you, your product(s), and services. These videos can be posted to your social media
sites and in your newsletters as well.
We believe a foundation of marketing consistency is crucial
to a business. When marketing
consistency combines with great products and services, you’ve got a ‘recipe/diet’
for success and a boost to your ROI. Even when you have more business than you can
handle, it’s important to stay visible and 'Top of Mind.' Not doing so can leave a business struggling when it
could be growing. Make it part of your
routine. Put it on your calendar.
Still wondering how
to do it all yourself? This is our specialty. Contact us. We offer a complimentary 30 minute
consultation. Let’s discuss your
challenges and see if we can be of help to you and your business. Call today and schedule your appointment.
Happy Marketing,
Annette
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